2018 iPad

[joeblow7777]

I’m kind of stumped on if this is worth upgrading to from a Mini 4.

I had the Mini and the 2017 model side by side in Best Buy today, and the 2017 was definitely smoother in its performance (and the 2018 will of course be even more so) but the thickness and air gap in the display are quite noticeable compared to the Mini. I think if this had been in the body of an Air 2 rather than an Air 1 it would have been a no brainer for me, but I’m worried that I’ll miss the sleekness of my Mini 4...

 

[Richard8655]

I had both the 10.5 Pro and 5th gen, and prefer the 5th gen display. The air gap is unnoticeable to me, and I actually prefer the separation. The sensitivity to pressure and screen distortion of the laminated bothered me. I can press as much as I want with no such anomolies with the 5th (and now 6th) gen. I wouldn’t hesitate to go with today’s model as the best value out there.

 

[rui no onna]

I’m kind of stumped on if this is worth upgrading to from a Mini 4.

I had the Mini and the 2017 model side by side in Best Buy today, and the 2017 was definitely smoother in its performance (and the 2018 will of course be even more so) but the thickness and air gap in the display are quite noticeable compared to the Mini. I think if this had been in the body of an Air 2 rather than an Air 1 it would have been a no brainer for me, but I’m worried that I’ll miss the sleekness of my Mini 4...

I expect if this had the Air 2's display, it would be $399 instead of $329.

 

[thadoggfather]

I expect if this had the Air 2's display, it would be $399 instead of $329.

It just sucks people upgrading from air2 who don’t do their research are getting a screen downgrade

 

[rui no onna]

It just sucks people upgrading from air2 who don’t do their research are getting a screen downgrade

Quite honestly, I expect most aren't going to care. That said, Air 2 is still fast enough that one could delay upgrading for at least another year.

 

[Glideslope]

Big improvement. Double the RAM or more and way faster SoC.

...and pencil support on a non laminated display. Please, it's for Pre School.

 

[hajime]

I am relatively new to iPad. Why people on this thread seems not to be interested in the just announced iPad 9.7 2018? Compared with the iPad PRO I have, it is much cheaper yet be able to work with the Apple Pencil and have the same battery life. Seems to be a pretty good deal if you are not looking for the fastest which apps probably can't take advantage of. Am I missing something?

 

[sracer]

I’m kind of stumped on if this is worth upgrading to from a Mini 4.

I had the Mini and the 2017 model side by side in Best Buy today, and the 2017 was definitely smoother in its performance (and the 2018 will of course be even more so) but the thickness and air gap in the display are quite noticeable compared to the Mini. I think if this had been in the body of an Air 2 rather than an Air 1 it would have been a no brainer for me, but I’m worried that I’ll miss the sleekness of my Mini 4...

If there is no updated Mini, i’ll have no problem replacing my current 32 GB Mini 4 and 128GB 1st gen 12.9 Pro with this 2018 ipad. I’m fine with an Air 1 style body at this price point.

 

[LovingTeddy]

I am relatively new to iPad. Why people on this thread seems not to be interested in the just announced iPad 9.7 2018? Compared with the iPad PRO I have, it is much cheaper yet be able to work with the Apple Pencil and have the same battery life. Seems to be a pretty good deal if you are not looking for the fastest which apps probably can't take advantage of. Am I missing something?

If Apple Pencil is something you want, then this iPad is good to buy with this price. I already have iPad Pro and I don’t see anything interest to me. A10 maybe. But my iPad 2017 runs just fine. I fact I just ordered one refurbished 128GB LTE version with huge discounts. This would be more than enoug for me.

 

[FeliApple]

I'm happy that the 9.7 size is still getting attention from Apple. If they discontinue it, that would be a shame, it being the classic iPad size since its inception.
As for how long it will last, I reckon that for quite a while. Please, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but if you maintain its original iOS version (11), the battery will last a long time, performance will be top notch and app support is really slow currently to drop. iOS 9 is almost fully supported as of now - I couldn't download exactly two apps I wanted to only so far on my 9.7 Pro on iOS 9, so iOS 11 should have quite a while left. Also, this means that for those who update, if the 2GB of RAM are confirmed - which is what I suppose it will have - this probably means longer support for 2GB RAM devices, namely the Air 2, Pro 9.7 and iPad 5.

 

[hajime]

If Apple Pencil is something you want, then this iPad is good to buy with this price. I already have iPad Pro and I don’t see anything interest to me. A10 maybe. But my iPad 2017 runs just fine. I fact I just ordered one refurbished 128GB LTE version with huge discounts. This would be more than enoug for me.

Yes, I need Apple Pencil. I bought iPad Pro 12.9 two weeks ago. I can still return it by first week of June. Whichever one I get this year, I plan to use it for at least 4-5 years. Best to get 2018 model but don’t know when 12.9” 2018 will be out.

 

[JPack]

Also, this means that for those who update, if the 2GB of RAM are confirmed - which is what I suppose it will have - this probably means longer support for 2GB RAM devices, namely the Air 2, Pro 9.7 and iPad 5.

iOS updates depends on the processor. It's the reason why Apple advertises A10 and hides the RAM information from marketing materials. Apple iOS updates rely on Apple application processors.

A8 devices will support up to iOS 12, A9 up to iOS 13, etc.

 

[FeliApple]

iOS updates depends on the processor. It's the reason why Apple advertises A10 and hides the RAM information from marketing materials. Apple iOS updates rely on Apple application processors.

A8 devices will support up to iOS 12, A9 up to iOS 13, etc.

I have read that, but then they are quite weird. Why doesn't the 9.7 Pro support split screen and slide over all active on iOS 11 and the first 12.9 Pro does? If they both have the A9X. It doesn't make any sense. If you won't use RAM as a bottleneck, then make it work with the A9X chip, and... Don't use RAM as a bottleneck. My 9.7 Pro isn't even on iOS 11, and the use case isn't very practical on concrete terms, but it does show a flaw.

 

[rui no onna]

I have read that, but then they are quite weird. Why doesn't the 9.7 Pro support split screen and slide over all active on iOS 11 and the first 12.9 Pro does? If they both have the A9X. It doesn't make any sense. If you won't use RAM as a bottleneck, then make it work with the A9X chip, and... Don't use RAM as a bottleneck. My 9.7 Pro isn't even on iOS 11, and the use case isn't very practical on concrete terms, but it does show a flaw.

Just because an iOS device receives a firmware update doesn't mean it supports all the features for that update. As far as lacking features go, this one actually makes sense (similar to the Air 1 not getting split view because of insufficient RAM).

 

[JPack]

I have read that, but then they are quite weird. Why doesn't the 9.7 Pro support split screen and slide over all active on iOS 11 and the first 12.9 Pro does? If they both have the A9X. It doesn't make any sense. If you won't use RAM as a bottleneck, then make it work with the A9X chip, and... Don't use RAM as a bottleneck. My 9.7 Pro isn't even on iOS 11, and the use case isn't very practical on concrete terms, but it does show a flaw.

Apple uses feature rationing in order to sell products.

The iPad Pro 12.9" (2015), 12.9" (2017), and 10.5" all have 4GB of RAM. Yet, they all support slightly different multitasking features under iOS 11. It's Apple's way of encouraging consumers to buy the latest and most expensive product every year.

 

[hajime]

Apple uses feature rationing in order to sell products.

The iPad Pro 12.9" (2015), 12.9" (2017), and 10.5" all have 4GB of RAM. Yet, they all support slightly different multitasking features under iOS 11. It's Apple's way of encouraging consumers to buy the latest and most expensive product every year.

I guess some of us (including me) are played by Apple.

Last year, they released rose gold version of the iPP 10.5" but on purpose did not make this version available for iPP 12.9".

 

[macgeek18]

I just bought the 5th gen and I’m still within the return period but I never used the Apple Pencil with my IPP so I won’t use it now. The A10 doesn’t seem like a big jump either.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Yes, I need Apple Pencil. I bought iPad Pro 12.9 two weeks ago. I can still return it by first week of June. Whichever one I get this year, I plan to use it for at least 4-5 years. Best to get 2018 model but don’t know when 12.9” 2018 will be out.

It will probably be announced at WWDC at beginning of June... Which happens around June 4. Then you probably will need wait for a week to get it. I doubt store will have them right away

 

[B.A.T]

I'm using a four year old mini 2 (32GB) that currently works but is a bit slow. Apple will give me $95 to trade it in which makes an upgrade cost me only $234. I suppose I could complain about that like many of you on this forum love to do but I'm not going to do so.

 

[hajime]

It will probably be announced at WWDC at beginning of June... Which happens around June 4. Then you probably will need wait for a week to get it. I doubt store will have them right away

One concern is that if iOS 12 will be "previewed" at WWDC and available few months later, then it means more unpredictable waiting.

https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-12/

One main reason to get the 2018 version is that new iOS versions seem to support only 3-4 years old hardware. If I settle for the 2017 version at this "possibly" almost end of cycle, I lose one year.


Given that I can still return the IPP in June, one way is not to care about any rumors and come back in June. Then, decide what to do. Another way is to just settle with the current iPP 12.9" and never look at any news about iPad until few years later. I have spent way way too much time on this.

 

[FeliApple]

Just because an iOS device receives a firmware update doesn't mean it supports all the features for that update. As far as lacking features go, this one actually makes sense (similar to the Air 1 not getting split view because of insufficient RAM).

Yeah I know. I just think it's being crippled a little too fast. How's the Air 1 on iOS 11? I have read here that it wasn't all too well compared to older versions and other iPads. It supports it and removes features, only to still have performance decrease anyway.
No other iPad - correct me if I'm wrong - had 2GB of RAM when the Air 1 was launched; yet, the 12.9 Pro was precedent for 4GB. Apple still skimped on RAM. For people who update their iPads regardless of performance drop statements by other people, it doesn't look all too well for iOS 12 or 13.

Apple uses feature rationing in order to sell products.

The iPad Pro 12.9" (2015), 12.9" (2017), and 10.5" all have 4GB of RAM. Yet, they all support slightly different multitasking features under iOS 11. It's Apple's way of encouraging consumers to buy the latest and most expensive product every year.

What does (or doesn't) the 10.5 support compared to the first 12.9 Pro?

 

[hajime]

I just bought the 5th gen and I’m still within the return period but I never used the Apple Pencil with my IPP so I won’t use it now. The A10 doesn’t seem like a big jump either.

What about from A10 to A10X. Is it a big jump?

 

[EugW]

Yeah I know. I just think it's being crippled a little too fast. How's the Air 1 on iOS 11? I have read here that it wasn't all too well compared to older versions and other iPads. It supports it and removes features, only to still have performance decrease anyway.
No other iPad - correct me if I'm wrong - had 2GB of RAM when the Air 1 was launched; yet, the 12.9 Pro was precedent for 4GB. Apple still skimped on RAM. For people who update their iPads regardless of performance drop statements by other people, it doesn't look all too well for iOS 12 or 13.

What does (or doesn't) the 10.5 support compared to the first 12.9 Pro?

2010: 256 MB RAM in iPad <-- This thing was basically crippled at launch, which is why I didn't buy it.
2011: 512 MB RAM in iPad 2 <-- I bought one of these.
2012: 1 GB RAM in iPad 3 <-- Good it got 1 GB RAM but the CPU was too slow for the resolution.
2012: 1 GB RAM in iPad 4 <-- Decent.
2013: 1 GB RAM in iPad Air <-- OK but the 1 GB RAM was lame, so I waited.
2014: 2 GB RAM in iPad Air 2 <-- I bought two of these.
2015: 4 GB RAM in iPad Pro 12.9"
2016: 2 GB RAM in iPad Pro 9.7" <-- Lame!
2017: 4 GB RAM in iPad Pro 10.5" and 12.9"
2017: 2 GB RAM in iPad 2017
2018: ?2 GB RAM in iPad 2018

The two longest surviving and best supported models have been the iPad 2 and the iPad Air 2, both being available for sale for about 3 years. Strategic purchasing paid off for me. The iPad 2 was OK until 2015, until iOS 9, which is too slow on it. The iPad Air 2 is still fine 4 years later, on iOS 11, and I suspect the iPad Air 2 will be OK on iOS 12 too.

I am now waiting for the 4 GB iPad 2020 non-Pro before considering an upgrade.

 

[Jetcat3]

2GB of ram confirmed. Also the A10 clock appears turned down a bit (2.22Ghz) compared to the iPhone 7 (2.34Ghz).

 

[EugW]

2GB of ram confirmed. Also the A10 clock appears turned down a bit (2.22Ghz) compared to the iPhone 7 (2.34Ghz).

Interesting. I didn't think it would be necessary to downclock the CPU in an iPad. I guess this is a good way of binning their chips though. The iPad doesn't need top speeds, since it is an entry level device.

Do you have a link?

[EDIT]

Ah, I see:

https://www.imore.com/ipad-6#geekbench

~3250/5850

Still not a ginormous improvement over the 1830/4450 of the iPad Air 2, at least for multi-core. It's about 1/3rd faster multi-core.