All iPads Advice: upgrade from iPP 11” 2018?

[AppleMango]

Hi guys.

I know it’s highly subjective and maybe even pointless, but I’d like some input from others…

I’ve been using the 2018 iPP with the keyboard and pencil for the last years. It served as a laptop replacement for a while before getting a MacBook Pro, I travel with it quite frequently on airplanes and use it for mails, messages, a little foto editing, sometimes a little music editing/recording, streaming…

When the new iPad came out I didn’t really care about it that much.

I still have AppleCare and just replaced my one for a new one with a fresh battery.

Now I have a new OLED tv at home and it’s my first one and it’s the first time I started caring about the blackest black .

But I also notice I’m just a bit depressed in the winter blues and started looking into the iPads and now want one.

But realistically I wouldn’t need it.

I do wonder however if it would be a good time now since I don’t expect to get iPadOS 19 next year?


let me know what you think guys…
Thank you!

 

[Student of Life]

Honestly this is tricky because what you want only comes in the Oled iPad, you will get a close experience with the 12.9 iPad pro M1-M2 because of the mini-led screen. If you want to stay with the 11 inch screen, the M4 is the only choice.

You could get an 11 iPad Pro M1-M2 and still be able to use your Magic Keyboard, pencil etc, which will save you a ton of money, but it wont satisfy that OLED itch you have. It would be more of the same, just a better chip if one is being honest. At the end of the day it all comes down to what you really want and what you are willing to pay.

 

[blkjedi954]

Hi guys.

I know it’s highly subjective and maybe even pointless, but I’d like some input from others…

I’ve been using the 2018 iPP with the keyboard and pencil for the last years. It served as a laptop replacement for a while before getting a MacBook Pro, I travel with it quite frequently on airplanes and use it for mails, messages, a little foto editing, sometimes a little music editing/recording, streaming…

When the new iPad came out I didn’t really care about it that much.

I still have AppleCare and just replaced my one for a new one with a fresh battery.

Now I have a new OLED tv at home and it’s my first one and it’s the first time I started caring about the blackest black .

But I also notice I’m just a bit depressed in the winter blues and started looking into the iPads and now want one.

But realistically I wouldn’t need it.

I do wonder however if it would be a good time now since I don’t expect to get iPadOS 19 next year?


let me know what you think guys…
Thank you!

What @Student of Life said, is exactly right. But i would drive the point home that if you do opt for the 11 inch M4 iPP, you would need to replace the Apple Pencil AND the Magic Keyboard. Now, that is a big undertaking for just OLED if you use it as a laptop replacement. But if you are intending on using it primarily for consumption, then you could probably ditch the Apple Pencil Pro & Magic Keyboard AND keep your 2018 with the accessories and satisfy your OLED need with the M4 iPP alone. Unless of course, money is no object. Good luck on your decision either way!!

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you have your heart set on the M4 11,” go ahead and buy. There is no reason to wait. I have been very happy with mine.

 

[lillefot]

I have just upgraded my 2018 11-inch iPad pro with smart keyboard and Apple pencil to the iPad pro 11 M4 with magic keyboard and pencil Pro. I did so because I found a decent Black Friday offer, and wanted to replace it before the Apple-support will drop on it. Also the smart keyboard was quite worn, and decided to drop out every now and then. But I have used that iPad a lot, and have been very happy with it.

I notice that the M4 has better response time on things like simple internet-surfing. Also, the magic keyboard opens up for a different use of the iPad. So I now tend to not touch the screen anymore, just use the keyboard and the pro pen. The screen is probably better, but somehow I got used to it within a few minutes of use, so now I don’t notice it anymore 😂

Did I need to upgrade now? Probably not yet. But I am very satisfied with my purchase. Wonder if I still will use it in 2030… 😊

 

[Greenmeenie]

I’m an artist who’s still rocking a 2018 11” iPad Pro as well. It’s my main content creation & media consumption device. 👍🏼 I’m also tempted by the new OLED iPad Pro for the very same reasons you mentioned. But I resisted this Holiday Season since I recently bought a new iPhone 16 Pro Max as well as an iPad mini 7 with an Apple Pencil pro for when I really wanna travel light. It’s the perfect size digital sketchbook when on the go. ✍🏼 😉 I know I’ll upgrade my iPad Pro eventually. Now is just not the time. But don’t feel guilty about treating yourself to one of the new OLED iPad Pros if you can afford it. I say go for it. Hey, you only live once, and those OLED screens sure are sweeeet. The colors really pop & the blacks are truly black.

 

[Christopher Kim]

I made this upgrade (2018 11" iPP to 2024 11" M4 iPP) a few months ago. I also didn't *need* to upgrade, but felt the *want* as I had held off upgrading the 2018 for the last 5 years or so.

I also had the Apple Pencil 2 / Magic Keyboard, and essentially got new ones of both along with the M4 iPP (new MK and Apple Pencil Pro). I'm very happy with mine, but just note that like all new tech, after a few months, the "newness" wears off and you get used to it (incl. inky black levels of the OLED!), especially because your iPad usage doesn't change.

Still love the device, but given you agree it's a "want" and not a "need", some considerations:
- You can comfortably afford the cost
- At this point, it'd be great to get a discount and not pay full price (there were some nice deals during Black Friday, but still lots of holiday sales at various retailers if you live in the US)
- Would be great if you could either sell your existing 2018 iPP / MK / Pencil 2, or even gift it to someone who could really use it (given I think the "value" of it to someone who doesn't have one, is much higher than the actual current secondary market / resale value of it). I was able to give mine to my kid (who had an older iPad Air 2) so it was a huge upgrade for them

 

[sonicrobby]

Hi guys.

I know it’s highly subjective and maybe even pointless, but I’d like some input from others…

I’ve been using the 2018 iPP with the keyboard and pencil for the last years. It served as a laptop replacement for a while before getting a MacBook Pro, I travel with it quite frequently on airplanes and use it for mails, messages, a little foto editing, sometimes a little music editing/recording, streaming…

When the new iPad came out I didn’t really care about it that much.

I still have AppleCare and just replaced my one for a new one with a fresh battery.

Now I have a new OLED tv at home and it’s my first one and it’s the first time I started caring about the blackest black .

But I also notice I’m just a bit depressed in the winter blues and started looking into the iPads and now want one.

But realistically I wouldn’t need it.

I do wonder however if it would be a good time now since I don’t expect to get iPadOS 19 next year?


let me know what you think guys…
Thank you!

I would say it depends on your financial situation and value of the new iPad. I had originally bought the m4 iPad Pro because of all the shiny new features. But when it came down to it, $2500 was just too much for me to justify on the iPad and its accessories so I ended up returning it.

What I did thought was monitor Facebook marketplace, I was able to get one that was a few months old for a significant discount. It was a much lower storage capacity, no nano texture, and not the color I wanted. But hard to pass up such a deal.

If you’re buying new, now is probably not the BEST time. I would imagine once the m5 iPad Pro get released next year (likely around the same time as iOS 19) the m4 will go for a heavier discount. But I know that itch of wanting something now.

So if you really want new, the questions are: do you want to wait for a better price after the m5 is released? And does the high cost of the new iPads play a factor in this decision.

I find shopping the used market a lot more fun. It’s a daily search to find a good condition device and a good value. You do need to be aware of what to look for. I’ve boughten stolen devices that were iCloud locked without knowing it

 

[xxFoxtail]

My mother is still using the 2018 11" iPP with MKB, has no problems with it. But, putting that side by side with my new M4 11" iPP. The M4 certainly feels like a more polished and modern version of it. The screen is night and day.

The 2018 iPP is likely one year away from Apple considering it vintage. iPadOS 18 may very well be the last major OS version it supports, though we don’t know this for sure.

Then again, the 2018 iPP still runs like it did back when it was released. Some things load a little slower than the M4 model, though still pretty snappy.

Unfortunately, the OLED display on my iPad ruined every other screen I own. I want to get a new TV, new computer monitor. If I could update my car's infotainment screen and my MacBook's, well I would.

Ultimately, it's up to you whether if you can justify the purchase or not. I've only had mine for a few days and I absolutely love it. It was a bit expensive, but it can easily last you another 7 years. Right now is probably the best time to purchase one. Sales on the iPad itself, Magic Keyboard and pencil. If you regret it after, just return to the store.

 

[Abazigal]

@AppleMango Any updates on whether you have upgraded or still holding on to your current 2018 iPad Pro? This coming from the owner of a 2018 iPad Pro who did in fact upgrade earlier in the year. 😬

 

[AppleMango]

Hello guys and gals,

a fortunate coincidence around Christmas let me get the new 2024 IPP 11" with the whole shebang, trading my old setup basically with a family member who now enjoys the upgrade as well!
Funnily, I had kept all the original boxes and even wraps, so as I just swapped my old iPad within Applecare for a new battery, it looked brand new.

I absolutely didn't need it, but now that it's here and I've been using it for a couple of days I can see a clear difference and I'm very glad and grateful for the lovely surprise.

Thank you for your lovely and helpful answers, I hope you have a great start into the new year!

 

[FlyingDutch]

Hello guys and gals,

a fortunate coincidence around Christmas let me get the new 2024 IPP 11" with the whole shebang, trading my old setup basically with a family member who now enjoys the upgrade as well!
Funnily, I had kept all the original boxes and even wraps, so as I just swapped my old iPad within Applecare for a new battery, it looked brand new.

I absolutely didn't need it, but now that it's here and I've been using it for a couple of days I can see a clear difference and I'm very glad and grateful for the lovely surprise.

Thank you for your lovely and helpful answers, I hope you have a great start into the new year!

It clearly depends on your usage. For many users there basically is no difference from a 2018 and a 2024 iPP.
I’m using an M1 iPP and I’m not planning an upgrade any soon.

 

[zedsdead]

I was trying to hold out with my 2018 11” iPad Pro, but i cracked the screen in a few places which is a lot of cost to put into it, and it was getting slow with lots of browser tabs and multitasking.

The M4 is definitely an upgrade in most ways (especially the screen), but so far the battery life isn’t impressive to me.

The new keyboard is better in most areas, such as the trackpad and function row (expect being more back heavy since it is pushed father back), and the new pencil is excellent. The speakers are a tad thinner sounding, but still good.

Performance is truly excellent, the M4 generation of chips are outstanding. The biggest reason I see an upgrade is probably due to the increased RAM and single core performance more than anything else as the A12X was still powerful enough for most tasks.

 

[Digitalguy]

The 2018 iPP is likely one year away from Apple considering it vintage. iPadOS 18 may very well be the last major OS version it supports, though we don’t know this for sure.

Based on the number of OS updates all previsous pro iPads got, the 2018 pro should get iPadOS 19 and stop there

 

[FlyingDutch]

Based on the number of OS updates all previsous pro iPads got, the 2018 pro should get iPadOS 19 and stop there

… and maybe a few security updates after that, which is quite good considering its age

 

[Digitalguy]

… and maybe a few security updates after that, which is quite good considering its age

After the end of OS updates, security updates are only partial, only for critical security issues, but personally I don't care in the slightest about security updates on iPad. While I am not someone who never updates, I could use a device that has not been updated for many years if it works and sometimes I purpusely avoid some of the last OS updates if they are known to impact performance. For now I am on iPadOS 17 on most of my devices, and on 13 on some of the oledest, like the 9.7 pro. I might leave my 2018 on 17 forever, if no app that I care for requires 18.

 

[FlyingDutch]

After the end of OS updates, security updates are only partial, only for critical security issues, but personally I don't care in the slightest about security updates on iPad. While I am not someone who never updates, I could use a device that has not been updated for many years if it works and sometimes I purpusely avoid some of the last OS updates if they are known to impact performance. For now I am on iPadOS 17 on most of my devices, and on 13 on some of the oledest, like the 9.7 pro. I might leave my 2018 on 17 forever, if no app that I care for requires 18.

The battery will be a problem much earlier than iOS for old devices

 

[topocalypse]

As for the 11-inch models only, and thinkign about upgrading from 2018, i think there's only two genuine options:
- Used M1
- New M4
(As the 2020?, and the M2 are just marginally better than previous models)

- Arguements for M1 would be: the external monitor stage manager thingy would be useful (if you use it), I would. good for having a few windows up like messaging, emails, many stocks. It's like Samsung DeX which I used before. futureproofing (but again, it's used and 3+ years old so the battery might be degraded as well).

- Arguements for M4: genuinely the best iPad yet. OLED. unlimited power, best screen, best battery (since it's new). But you are gonna be shelling out a lof of money. if you have money to burn then get this one.

P.S. i'm coming from iPad 3 (2012). LOL so anything is a night-and-day upgrade - even the 2018 iPad Pro lol.