iPad Pro 2021 iPad Pro vs Air 4

[The-Real-Deal82]

Currently on iPad OS, hardly any different to what a entry level or ipad air can do. As rui no onna showed, some games may not be compatible on the A12 IPad 8th Gen. The extra RAM is more useful though, so one can have far more Safari tabs open, more apps open in the back ground, stuff like that.

The M1 really shines on the Macs though, where Mac OS takes full advantage of its abilities.

Yeah I was trying to gage whether all this talk about Geekbench scores and ‘blowing away’ made much difference and you’ve answered my question.

This thread can be summarised as saying the Pro is a better iPad, no doubt. However the Air is also a very good and capable iPad. The need for the pro boils down to personal usage and the ‘no brainier’ comments are misleading for those who just use an iPad as a general device.

 

[Surfman]

Currently on iPad OS, hardly any different to what a entry level or ipad air can do. As rui no onna showed, some games may not be compatible on the A12 IPad 8th Gen. The extra RAM is more useful though, so one can have far more Safari tabs open, more apps open in the back ground, stuff like that.

The M1 really shines on the Macs though, where Mac OS takes full advantage of its abilities.

Not everyone wants Mac OS.
I use the iPad as my only device, i want the biggest best there is, wouldn’t want to run my business , and leisure use with a Air or a 8th gen lol.

 

[snipr125]

Not everyone wants Mac OS.
I use the iPad as my only device, i want the biggest best there is, wouldn’t want to run my business , and leisure use with a Air or a 8th gen lol.

Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the biggest and best Surfman, everyone can spend their hard earned money as they please.

 

[one more]

Not everyone wants Mac OS.
I use the iPad as my only device, i want the biggest best there is, wouldn’t want to run my business , and leisure use with a Air or a 8th gen lol.

Again, this depends on our particular needs/wants. If you need or want an iPad Pro, you have no choice but to get it and enjoy everything it has to offer. For others, myself including, Air 4 is perfectly sufficient right now and could remain so for the next several years. I run my own business from my iPhone 12 mini and Air 4, no issues. The only time I need to boot up my old MBP is when I need to work with some old legacy complex PDF files, which no iPad could handle, including the latest M1 Pros. The choice is ours.

 

[snipr125]

Again, this depends on our particular needs/wants. If you need or want an iPad Pro, you have no choice but to get it and enjoy everything it has to offer. For others, myself including, Air 4 is perfectly sufficient right now and could remain so for the next several years. I run my own business from my iPhone 12 mini and Air 4, no issues. The only time I need to boot up my old MBP is when I need to work with some old legacy complex PDF files, which no iPad could handle, including the latest M1 Pros. The choice is ours.

One more, you got the same daily combo as me! 12 mini and the IPad Air 4 have like the perfect symbiotic partnership. Little and Large!

 

[Surfman]

I am the opposite 12 pro max and 12.9” iPad Pro lol.

 

[one more]

I am the opposite 12 pro max and 12.9” iPad Pro lol.

I could have done it, but I move a lot for my work, so the size and weight matter more to me. 😉

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

My devices are an iPhone 12 and iPad Air 4. I don’t use these for work though. I have an iPhone 11 as a work phone but it’s barely used other than the odd call. I couldn’t do my day to day work on any iPad or even a Mac for that matter, so a PC laptop it is.

There’s nothing wrong with needing the best Apple products and there’s nothing wrong with being content with what the mid tier devices offer. I choose to spend my money on things that interest me and right now iPhones and iPads are further down the list than they used to be.

 

[Hicksmat1976]

I'm in the market to replace my old Air2 but I'm holding off to see if they have any upgrades planned for the regular iPad before committing to a pro. The air, being not that much cheaper than an 11" pro, I don't get who would buy the air now?

 

[kristalsoldier]

Absolute truth...in landscape which is how an iPad should be used anyway it was wacky and frustrating...bu bye to it

What do you mean by “how an iPad SHOULD be used…”? It can be used anyway a user sees it fit. There no right or wrong way, unless you have evidence to the contrary.

 

[one more]

I'm in the market to replace my old Air2 but I'm holding off to see if they have any upgrades planned for the regular iPad before committing to a pro. The air, being not that much cheaper than an 11" pro, I don't get who would buy the air now?

iPad Pro 11” still starts at 799$ and Air 4 - at 599$. For some people 200$ difference qualifies as being “much cheaper”. Sure, if you compare Air 4 256 GB vs Pro 11 128 GB the price difference narrows, but I currently use 17.5 GB of my 64 GB (everything is in the cloud), so Air is perfect for my needs and I can put those 200$ elsewhere. A bonus, if you like. 😉

 

[jsmith1]

That’s like people paying extra for a 4 wheel drive vehicle and never leaving the payment but saying well I could if I wanted even though it’s never needed I have it lol

 

[4look4rd]

Unless there are significant changes to iPadOS the iPad Pro 2018 is by far the best value device.

 

[Chompineer]

Air 4 has a much faster single core than A12X, the same as the M1, so in daily use it will feel faster, just like M1. And the GPU is actually slightly faster than the A12X.

From personal experience, I'm telling you it doesn't. There is no issue with iPad's feeling slow. 99% the speed of light isn't going to feel slower than c itself.

Benchmarks are a cute parlour trick to embellish, but they rarely translate to large perceivable differences in normal use.

 

[Digitalguy]

From personal experience, I'm telling you it doesn't. There is no issue with iPad's feeling slow. 99% the speed of light isn't going to feel slower than c itself.

Benchmarks are a cute parlour trick to embellish, but they rarely translate to large perceivable differences in normal use.

Based on what you say ("large perceivable differences"), A10X and M1 are both just as good, and in a way they are... since they both feel generally fast.
What I am actually saying here is that in daily use you'll feel the single core performance difference, not the multicore.... Can you feel the difference between A10X and A12? Yes. Is it much? No. Same thing with A12 vs A14.
Now can you feel the difference between A12 and A12X or A14 and M1? No, unless you do rendering or things that take advantage of the GPU like powerful games.
So what you say applied much more to multicore (which IS what I was saying) than to single core...

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

That’s like people paying extra for a 4 wheel drive vehicle and never leaving the payment but saying well I could if I wanted even though it’s never needed I have it lol

Dude, have you been to Michigan? I stay on the pavement, but I desperately want a 4 wheel drive car to help me in the snow. This fall/winter I am getting one.

 

[snipr125]

iPad Pro 11” still starts at 799$ and Air 4 - at 599$. For some people 200$ difference qualifies as being “much cheaper”. Sure, if you compare Air 4 256 GB vs Pro 11 128 GB the price difference narrows, but I currently use 17.5 GB of my 64 GB (everything is in the cloud), so Air is perfect for my needs and I can put those 200$ elsewhere. A bonus, if you like. 😉

Outside of the US the pricing difference is even more e.g. in the UK it’s £200 difference between the base Air 4 and the Pro 11 models, which is $284. So the savings are obviously greater.

However there is only £20 difference between the 256 GB model and the base Pro 11 128 GB, so a better value proposition to get the base Pro 11, if one was prepared to spend £750 ish on an iPad.

 

[Achillias]

I would never get the iPad Air just because of the 60hz screen. When you're used to 120hz the difference is night and day.

 

[jsmith1]

Dude, have you been to Michigan? I stay on the pavement, but I desperately want a 4 wheel drive car to help me in the snow. This fall/winter I am getting one.

No I never have thank god...🤪 I’ll make sure I rent a Jeep if I do )

 

[Crow_Servo]

Based on what you say ("large perceivable differences"), A10X and M1 are both just as good, and in a way they are... since they both feel generally fast.
What I am actually saying here is that in daily use you'll feel the single core performance difference, not the multicore.... Can you feel the difference between A10X and A12? Yes. Is it much? No. Same thing with A12 vs A14.
Now can you feel the difference between A12 and A12X or A14 and M1? No, unless you do rendering or things that take advantage of the GPU like powerful games.
So what you say applied much more to multicore (which IS what I was saying) than to single core...

I know the X and Z version of the A12 give it a leg up over the regular A12, but I wonder if these powerful games will all keep the A14 in mind, like Divinity has done. I’m not saying forever, but at least for the next year or so.

I imagine once these powerful games drop support for the A12X/Z, that’s when the A14 will be left behind, so who knows when that will be. They’re all great chips apparently.

 

[1BadManVan]

I know the X and Z version of the A12 give it a leg up over the regular A12, but I wonder if these powerful games will all keep the A14 in mind, like Divinity has done. I’m not saying forever, but at least for the next year or so.

I imagine once these powerful games drop support for the A12X/Z, that’s when the A14 will be left behind, so who knows when that will be. They’re all great chips apparently.

My hope is they just keep integrating built in graphic settings, most of the newer more powerful games do. That way it keeps it available for the older chips but gives the more powerful ones room to flex

 

[Flint456]

I thought about getting the iPad Pro but went for the Air 4 since I already own the M1 MacBook Pro with 16gb. I just use the iPad for light browsing, Netflix, some gaming, and Youtube. Plus it didn't hurt that I got the Air 4 for the price of the iPad 8.

 

[Crow_Servo]

My hope is they just keep integrating built in graphic settings, most of the newer more powerful games do. That way it keeps it available for the older chips but gives the more powerful ones room to flex

That seems fair. I know when I was on a Mini 4, I upgraded it to the Mini 5 mainly for the graphics improvements I’d get on PUGB Mobile. It was nice to have access to the game before the upgrade, though, even though the graphics settings had to be set very low.

 

[jsmith1]

My hope is they just keep integrating built in graphic settings, most of the newer more powerful games do. That way it keeps it available for the older chips but gives the more powerful ones room to flex

I heard they might be working in Angry Birds Pro edition maybe that will help.

 

[jsmith1]

I thought about getting the iPad Pro but went for the Air 4 since I already own the M1 MacBook Pro with 16gb. I just use the iPad for light browsing, Netflix, some gaming, and Youtube. Plus it didn't hurt that I got the Air 4 for the price of the iPad 8.

Good choice for a side piece