iPad Pro Any pitfalls to buying an M1 iPad Pro at this point?

[TJ82]

I have a 12.9 A12 iPad Pro and love it but my partner has commandeered it to study with 😒

Thinking we should pick up another one, maybe an M1 version from eBay. Any downsides to buying that gen at this stage? Doesn’t look like they can really redesign an iPad that much at this stage and the M1 should be able to handle anything software feature-wise coming next year (though it’s Apple and they’re great at this game). I’m thinking it’s a relatively FOMO safe buy, but haven’t been following along much lately.

 

[rui no onna]

No OLED? The next iPad Pros are rumored to get OLED displays.

Personally, I'm not interested in OLED (until they get rid if PWM) and I expect to keep my M1 iPP for at least 5 years. Most likely longer.

 

[LogicalApex]

Intel iPad?

Based on what we know today. M1 IPP is a safe buy. Woot! Recently had them for dirt cheap.

What apple adds to the next IPP that may age them is unknown since it isn’t out yet.

Currently, the M1 and later IPP are insanely overpowered for iPad workloads except in a few very niche areas. If you were in that area you’d know.

 

[curnalpanic]

Intel iPad?

Probably a Surface.

 

[xxFoxtail]

There was a wild and probably inaccurate rumor of the M2 (and later) iPads getting a watered down version of macOS from about a year ago. Maybe there's some internal testing of this. But, I guess that can be considered a downside to the M1 iPad Pro. I wouldn't make any purchases based off this rumor though. The M1 iPad Pro is still a great device.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1583065617950613504

 

[HDFan]

That version doesn't support WiFi 6e.

I’m thinking it’s a relatively FOMO safe buy, but haven’t been following along much lately.

Depends on how you intend to use it. Performance differences between the M1 and M2 are minimal for most applications.

 

[one more]

For now anything M1 is totally fine. At some point Apple might want to introduce something M2+ “exclusive” just to encourage people to upgrade, but this game was going on ever since the beginning of IT (better, faster, tra-la-la).

Right now I would only upgrade for an OLED screen, yet I am an Air guy, so will probably wait for another few years before it makes it there. Air 5 does everything I need, and more.

 

[Sanlitun]

No in fact I regret moving to M2. I felt the display was better on the M1.

 

[Regulus67]

I bought a second iPad Pro 12.9" M1 this spring. Because I love it, but needed more storage space. So I went for the top model, with 2TB. The other has 256GB. I picked it up on a sale. A bit later the M2 version arrived. But I have absolutely no regrets. The M2 cost twice as much, with the 2TB.

The first iPad I bought was the first iMac Pro 12.9", with 128 GB. I had that for years. And I am planning to keep my new M1 2TB version for many years. I bring the 256GB version with me to work, or long trips. Because I work abroad, as a Tower Crane driver. Mostly one or two weeks at a time, and have a week or two off.

 

[darngooddesign]

There was a wild and probably inaccurate rumor of the M2 (and later) iPads getting a watered down version of macOS from about a year ago. Maybe there's some internal testing of this. But, I guess that can be considered a downside to the M1 iPad Pro. I wouldn't make any purchases based off this rumor though. The M1 iPad Pro is still a great device.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1583065617950613504

I don't believe that "source". If they do MacOS it will run on M1 and newer devices.

 

[Shortpay]

iPad Pro M3 will be out within 3-9 month from today.

 

[George Dawes]

Tbh they’re all overkill considering how the os hasn’t really kept up with the hardware , especially anything using Apple silicon m series , like having a Lamborghini to do a weekly shop at Tesco

 

[subjonas]

The only other advantages the M2 iPP has over the M1 that I know of, besides the chip and camera bump up, is Wifi 6E (vs 6 on M1) and Pencil Hover support.

Here’s a comparison from 9to5Mac:

M2 iPad Pro vs M1 iPad Pro: How do they compare? - 9to5Mac

This detailed guide covers the M2 iPad Pro vs M1 iPad Pro when looking at performance, specs, and all the differences.

9to5mac.com

 

[DeepSix]

Waiting for the M25 before I upgrade.

 

[PegasusTenma]

Waiting for the M25 before I upgrade.

There is a London traffic joke here somewhere.

 

[PegasusTenma]

I bought a second iPad Pro 12.9" M1 this spring. Because I love it, but needed more storage space. So I went for the top model, with 2TB. The other has 256GB. I picked it up on a sale. A bit later the M2 version arrived. But I have absolutely no regrets. The M2 cost twice as much, with the 2TB.

The first iPad I bought was the first iMac Pro 12.9", with 128 GB. I had that for years. And I am planning to keep my new M1 2TB version for many years. I bring the 256GB version with me to work, or long trips. Because I work abroad, as a Tower Crane driver. Mostly one or two weeks at a time, and have a week or two off.

We were in the same spot! I had my 1st gen 128 gb 12.9 iPad Pro unti last week, when I got the M1 with 1TB for £999. I would have gotten the 2TB one since it was just 100 gbp more, but it was ooo.

how are you finding it so far?

 

[Regulus67]

The XDR display is superb. I move all my photos and videos to the 2TB version. And I got DaVinci Resolve installed. But still in the process of learning how to use the app.
I have also used Shapr3d. At the moment, I do not use it. Because it has subscription. Too expensive for me. I had a one year sub, but used it only for 2 months. As I was as too busy at work. So that was a waste of money. I will get 1-month subscriptions later, when I know I will use the app.

The 12.9" version is fantastic when you draw with the pencil. A lot better than the first iPad Pro version. And very convenient to attach it to the side, where it also charges the battery. Not like the first version, with lightning charging.

I have also tried Lidar scanning, but that is a bit of hit and miss. Very difficult to get useful 3D scans.

 

[Macalicious2011]

I have a 12.9 A12 iPad Pro and love it but my partner has commandeered it to study with 😒

Thinking we should pick up another one, maybe an M1 version from eBay. Any downsides to buying that gen at this stage? Doesn’t look like they can really redesign an iPad that much at this stage and the M1 should be able to handle anything software feature-wise coming next year (though it’s Apple and they’re great at this game). I’m thinking it’s a relatively FOMO safe buy, but haven’t been following along much lately.

I have not had any issues with my M1 iPad. Face ID works brilliantly and so does the official Apple Pencil but also 3rd party ones that only cost a fraction.

Don't worry about power. It's plenty powerful. You will run into software limitations way before you even get close to exploiting the full power of the device. Buy a refurbished one and save yourself a a big chunk of change.

 

[Fraserpatty]

I am considering getting an M2 and passing my M1 down to my daughter who still has the 2016 pro 9.7 inch. I want to be as optimized for any Apple AI that may be coming soon as I can, I do not want an OLED screen. Is the neural engine on the M2 substantially better than on the M1?

 

[LogicalApex]

I am considering getting an M2 and passing my M1 down to my daughter who still has the 2016 pro 9.7 inch. I want to be as optimized for any Apple AI that may be coming soon as I can, I do not want an OLED screen. Is the neural engine on the M2 substantially better than on the M1?

At this point. I’d wait until M3 is out. The M1 to M2 iPad Pro upgrade is so small it just isn’t a good migration path.

 

[Fraserpatty]

At this point. I’d wait until M3 is out. The M1 to M2 iPad Pro upgrade is so small it just isn’t a good migration path.

I have just heard so much about the strong possibility that the next iPads will have the OLED display. I’m just not the slightest bit interested either in paying extra for that or for risking the possibility of burning in.

 

[LogicalApex]

I have just heard so much about the strong possibility that the next iPads will have the OLED display. I’m just not the slightest bit interested either in paying extra for that or for risking the possibility of burning in.

Sure, but then you can scoop up an M2 at close out prices as retailers clear stock. The M1 was on deep discount recently as Woot! Was dumping Amazon stock of them at super low prices to clear space for the M2 since they are current.

I know we often get “wait until the next release” memes in tech that make you go “tomorrow never comes”, but the changes here are extremely small.

I’d also not worry all that much about burn in. Apple has been shipping OLED in iPhone Pros since the X. I don’t see the forums flooded with burn in posts.

But it is your money. Enjoy it as you see fit!

 

[Fraserpatty]

Sure, but then you can scoop up an M2 at close out prices as retailers clear stock. The M1 was on deep discount recently as Woot! Was dumping Amazon stock of them at super low prices to clear space for the M2 since they are current.

I know we often get “wait until the next release” memes in tech that make you go “tomorrow never comes”, but the changes here are extremely small.

I’d also not worry all that much about burn in. Apple has been shipping OLED in iPhone Pros since the X. I don’t see the forums flooded with burn in posts.

But it is your money. Enjoy it as you see fit!

Thanks, and I value your opinion!

 

[Macalicious2011]

I know we often get “wait until the next release” memes in tech that make you go “tomorrow never comes”, but the changes here are extremely small.

Correct. Furthermore newer Apple products tend to be very expensive. The price difference between an M1 and M2 ipad is big £591 vs £830.

Both are hamstrung by the same iPad OS. In a blind test you would not be able to tell which is which.

With time, 1-2 generation older apple products have become the best value. They also allow you spare changes for cases, accessories, keyboards, screen protectors etc.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I have a

The Surface 7 is as high as you can go and still put MacOS on it. The 7+, which has much better hardware options such as 32gb ram & replaceable ssd, unfortunately also has an 11th gen chipset, which is too new. Mac OS doesn't have the drivers to support it or anything newer than that. …until you start looking at an ARM surface to stick ARM Mac OS on. …which is guess is still better than what Apple offers…. eh, depends what you want to do with your tools.