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btx926

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 26, 2011
6
0
I have a 2017 Pro, the 11 inch. The battery shows 70% health and is having fast drain issues. It needs to be replaced. That said, given the age, I'm trying to decide if I should just replace it. I'm not really a pro-worthy user. I use it for surfing the web from my easy chair more than anything. I do play the occasional game, and will watch tv on it when I travel (which I haven't done in several years). Should I replace the battery or move on? If I move, it will be either a regular ipad or an air...thanks!
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,264
Official battery replacement is $99, iirc. I think Apple still gives you $200 trade-in for the iPad Pro 10.5.

If I were you, I'd just trade in and get the iPad 9th gen. The 9th gen is not prone to white spot and is noticeably faster. It's only $129+tax after your trade-in.
 

FlyingDutch

macrumors 65816
Aug 21, 2019
1,403
1,248
Eindhoven (NL)
I have a 2017 Pro, the 11 inch. The battery shows 70% health and is having fast drain issues. It needs to be replaced. That said, given the age, I'm trying to decide if I should just replace it. I'm not really a pro-worthy user. I use it for surfing the web from my easy chair more than anything. I do play the occasional game, and will watch tv on it when I travel (which I haven't done in several years). Should I replace the battery or move on? If I move, it will be either a regular ipad or an air...thanks!
There is not such a thing as a 11” iPad Pro 2017: are you speaking about the 2018 model ?
 

nathan_reilly

macrumors 6502
Apr 2, 2016
361
1,113
I feel my 2017 iPad Pro (12.9) is still quite usable. It does not limit me. I would replace the battery unless you are itching for new functionality. There will always be new iPads to buy.
 
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BigDO

macrumors 65816
Dec 9, 2012
1,353
2,123
Official battery replacement is $99, iirc. I think Apple still gives you $200 trade-in for the iPad Pro 10.5.

If I were you, I'd just trade in and get the iPad 9th gen. The 9th gen is not prone to white spot and is noticeably faster. It's only $129+tax after your trade-in.

I agree on the trade in , since a 2017 Pro *will* eventually develop a white spot if it hasn’t yet.

I wouldn’t replace it with a non-laminated model though, the difference (air gap) is glaring and to me very distracting.
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,264
I agree on the trade in , since a 2017 Pro *will* eventually develop a white spot if it hasn’t yet.

I wouldn’t replace it with a non-laminated model though, the difference (air gap) is glaring and to me very distracting.

Eye of the beholder. I have laminated 120Hz and non-laminated 60Hz iPads and switching between them doesn't bother me at all.
 

btx926

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 26, 2011
6
0
My bad, it is the 2017 10.5. As for white spots, I do see two fuzzy dime sized white spots when looking at white browser screens -- is that what you are referring to? I only see them when the screen is white. Thanks for the input!
 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Dec 20, 2009
3,285
3,446
Bc Canada
My bad, it is the 2017 10.5. As for white spots, I do see two fuzzy dime sized white spots when looking at white browser screens -- is that what you are referring to? I only see them when the screen is white. Thanks for the input!
Yup, that’s the issue. All three of my kids Air 3’s had that as well, all replaced under apple care.

The 9th gen or Air 4 will both be great upgrades. The biggest things you’re missing is the quad speakers and promotion display
 

nathan_reilly

macrumors 6502
Apr 2, 2016
361
1,113
My bad, it is the 2017 10.5. As for white spots, I do see two fuzzy dime sized white spots when looking at white browser screens -- is that what you are referring to? I only see them when the screen is white. Thanks for the input!
Some folks are picky but if those spots don’t bother you, I stand by my suggestion to replace the battery. upgrade for features you can’t live without, otherwise, conserve!
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,264
Some folks are picky but if those spots don’t bother you, I stand by my suggestion to replace the battery. upgrade for features you can’t live without, otherwise, conserve!

When the cost to replace the battery is $99 and the cost to upgrade is $129, I’m much more inclined to do the upgrade.

The A13 on the 9th gen is also a lot more efficient/low power compared to the A10X so battery on that shouldn’t degrade as quickly.

My Pro 10.5 (A10X) has pretty bad battery as well but the 6th gen (A10) is still doing quite well despite heavy use.
 
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lixuelai

macrumors 6502a
Oct 29, 2008
965
337
Not worth it paying Apple to replace the battery. Worth it if you can do it yourself. The 10.5 is still very capable.
 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Dec 20, 2009
3,285
3,446
Bc Canada
When the cost to replace the battery is $99 and the cost to upgrade is $129, I’m much more inclined to do the upgrade.

The A13 on the 9th gen is also a lot more efficient/low power compared to the A10X so battery on that shouldn’t degrade as quickly.

My Pro 10.5 (A10X) has pretty bad battery as well but the 6th gen (A10) is still doing quite well despite heavy use.
It’s funny you say that about the 6th gen. I’ve owned one since the week they were released, passed down to my wife now. It’s crazy how great of battery life that thing still gets. And she constantly forgets to charge it and lets it drain down into the red.
 
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BigDO

macrumors 65816
Dec 9, 2012
1,353
2,123
My bad, it is the 2017 10.5. As for white spots, I do see two fuzzy dime sized white spots when looking at white browser screens -- is that what you are referring to? I only see them when the screen is white. Thanks for the input!

Yep that’s exactly it.
 

ACG12

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2015
860
746
I’d spend the $100 and get a battery replacement from Apple since you’ll get “new” refurbished unit.
 

Isamilis

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2012
2,191
1,074
My bad, it is the 2017 10.5. As for white spots, I do see two fuzzy dime sized white spots when looking at white browser screens -- is that what you are referring to? I only see them when the screen is white. Thanks for the input!
If this didn’t bother you, and iPad is still perfectly usable, better option is replace the battery.
 
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Jupiter9

macrumors member
Jul 2, 2021
62
62
I may have won the sillicon lottery but my 10.5" Pro I bought at launch shows no signs of a white spot and still works as new. For me it's the best device Apple has released.
 
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sierrablue

macrumors regular
Sep 21, 2021
107
50
I also won the lottery. I bought two new 10.5's for my wife and I for Christmas in 2017. I bought them on sale at Target for $499. No white spots and batteries are still ok. They both still work great.
 

Student of Life

macrumors 6502a
Oct 13, 2020
791
916
I love my 10.5 iPad Pro. Its battery is running out very fast so im leaning towards the battery replacement. With the folio case its so thin to carry around, granted there is no track pad but the Apple Pencil comes in clutch. I dont even mind the white spot because its so convenient to move around.
 
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