iPad Pro 12.9 screen - IPad Pro 3 good solution today?

[shakopeemn]

I want to use a large screen Ipad for a sheet music application. I have an opportunity7 to purchase a 3rd generation with 256Gb for about half the price of 5th gen today.

The 3rd gen Pro has been out almost 4 years and I want to avoid a sluggish experience.

Is the 3rd generation Pro from 2018 still a good all around?

 

[ericwn]

I’m not sure that displaying sheet music would be very taxing. My kids play around with my old first generation one and don’t seem to encounter issues consuming content.

 

[Digitalguy]

I want to use a large screen Ipad for a sheet music application. I have an opportunity7 to purchase a 3rd generation with 256Gb for about half the price of 5th gen today.

The 3rd gen Pro has been out almost 4 years and I want to avoid a sluggish experience.

Is the 3rd generation Pro from 2018 still a good all around?

I have that exact same model and the M1 version and I use it at least as much as the M1, the speed difference is definitely not big, the only difference is reloads, for sheet music (I play the piano so I also use it for sheet music) you won't see any difference at all. If I only used it for that I would have had no need to upgrade, even my old 2015 model would have been ok. Just make sure the battery health is decent.
Personally I might be selling my 2018 in the future at around 500 so I would say the price you are getting is fine (assuming it's half of the base model M1)

 

[shakopeemn]

I have that exact same model and the M1 version and I use it at least as much as the M1, the speed difference is definitely not big, the only difference is reloads, for sheet music (I play the piano so I also use it for sheet music) you won't see any difference at all. If I only used it for that I would have had no need to upgrade, even my old 2015 model would have been ok. Just make sure the battery health is decent.
Personally I might be selling my 2018 in the future at around 500 so I would say the price you are getting is fine (assuming it's half of the base model M1)

Thank you for your personal take. I've been using the KeyScore application with an Ipad 9 which uses the microphone to follow and turn the page.

I'm just not sure when it comes to the Ipad Pro how well the processor will work with IOS 15 and 16. I know the M1 is alltogether different experience.

I'm not sure what I can do about the battery life situation, be prepared to replace..

 

[shakopeemn]

I’m not sure that displaying sheet music would be very taxing. My kids play around with my old first generation one and don’t seem to encounter issues consuming content.

Thanks ericwn. I wouldn't think it would be taxing, but the app does use the microphone to follow and turn the page.

That's great news that a Gen 1 seems to be doing ok, but I do know that my expectations aren't necessarily the same for my kids! 😉

 

[Digitalguy]

Thank you for your personal take. I've been using the KeyScore application with an Ipad 9 which uses the microphone to follow and turn the page.

I'm just not sure when it comes to the Ipad Pro how well the processor will work with IOS 15 and 16. I know the M1 is alltogether different experience.

I'm not sure what I can do about the battery life situation, be prepared to replace..

I downloaded the app and wow, how is this app free? It looks great! Moving to 12.9 will be a huge upgrade vs the iPad 9 size. In terms of speed the 3rd gen is basically on par with the iPad 9, it even has more RAM.
I am not sure what worries you about the microphone. The 2018 works with iPadOS 15 just as well as it worked with all the previous versions, not any slower at all. Justs reloads more, but if you use the iPad 9, that one reloads even more.
Honestly outside reloads the speed difference with the M1 is barely noticeable (very noticeable instead vs the original iPad pro).
The 2018 iPad pro is still an amazing device, even today. If it had more RAM I wouldn't have bought the M1 (mini led is not something I care about)

 

[Logan131]

I use KeyScore with the 3rd Gen iPad Pro and it works great. The 12.9" screen is so important and I couldn't use the smaller devices for sheet music. I wish Apple made a bigger one!

 

[shakopeemn]

I use KeyScore with the 3rd Gen iPad Pro and it works great. The 12.9" screen is so important and I couldn't use the smaller devices for sheet music. I wish Apple made a bigger one!

Thanks Logan for the feedback. I picked up the 12.9 and am quite happy the size for displaying the pages. I've just started using KeyScore and need to learn more on organizing the music library.

I also appreciate the larger display more than I thought I would for websites. I can see where other threads are discussing the possibility of installing MacOS on the iPad pro lineup down the line.