iPad Pro Are the M4 speakers that bad?

[Webcat86]

Strange scenario... speak for youself.
For me and probably for many people it's much more convient to have speakers in a laptop or tablet that are good and lound enough that you don't need to move from room to room with a bluetooth speaker (in addition to your device) just to make up for it...
And that you can use airpods only whe you choose and not all the time cause the speakers are not good or loud enough (especially if there are other noises like cooking, water, washing machines at the same time)

Other environmental noises are almost always a problem though, when competing with tablet speakers. I think we're descending to levels that are borderline ridiculous if we're now saying the speakers aren't even loud enough to use at home.

The speakers are what they are: adequate tablet speakers. My point was not that you need external devices to hear any sound, it was if you want a substantially better audio experience.

 

[NVDA]

The M4 speakers are horrid compared to the 2018 Pro.

 

[erasr]

Been listening to a couple of podcasts on YouTube this week and honestly, the speakers on the M4 11” are pretty bad for muffled speech.

I compared it to my iPhone and that was much clearer.

So far this is the only major negative for me. I love the 11” but yes, speakers are muffled are quite poor actually.

 

[Digitalguy]

Other environmental noises are almost always a problem though, when competing with tablet speakers. I think we're descending to levels that are borderline ridiculous if we're now saying the speakers aren't even loud enough to use at home.

The speakers are what they are: adequate tablet speakers. My point was not that you need external devices to hear any sound, it was if you want a substantially better audio experience.

Quality is always somewhat subjetive, volume is not....
And this is far from borderline riduculous. In many situations I wouldn't be able to hear properly a regular iPad or an iPad mini due to other noises while I can hear my 12.9" M1. And this happens frequently since I use my iPad most of the day while doing something else. You don't use the iPad like that only use it on your couch? Well that's you, not necessarily everyone else.

 

[Webcat86]

Quality is always somewhat subjetive, volume is not....
And this is far from borderline riduculous. In many situations I wouldn't be able to hear properly a regular iPad or an iPad mini due to other noises while I can hear my 12.9" M1. And this happens frequently since I use my iPad most of the day while doing something else. You don't use the iPad like that only use it on your couch? Well that's you, not necessarily everyone else.

No I don’t use it on my couch exclusively but if noise was an issue I would use my AirPods. Whether I could turn any device above it wouldn’t be the main thing, because that noise would still be audible and a distraction.

 

[Surfsalot]

Quality is always somewhat subjetive, volume is not....
And this is far from borderline riduculous. In many situations I wouldn't be able to hear properly a regular iPad or an iPad mini due to other noises while I can hear my 12.9" M1. And this happens frequently since I use my iPad most of the day while doing something else. You don't use the iPad like that only use it on your couch? Well that's you, not necessarily everyone else.

no point they have a answer for everything lol

 

[Digitalguy]

No I don’t use it on my couch exclusively but if noise was an issue I would use my AirPods. Whether I could turn any device above it wouldn’t be the main thing, because that noise would still be audible and a distraction.

Well not for me, especially if I have having lunch or dinner, I hate having airpods in my ears while eating, or sometimes I just don't want to wear them for too long as I find that tiring... But everyone is different, my point is not to dismiss those who are different from us as a minority that is virtually irrelevant, because we have no idea of how people use their devices.

 

[DeepSix]

I would carry a BT boombox around but you shouldn't have to. It's unfortunate that a device so expensive can't put out good sound.

 

[Surfsalot]

If you want the better speakers have to buy the 13" forget the 11".

 

[Webcat86]

Well not for me, especially if I have having lunch or dinner, I hate having airpods in my ears while eating, or sometimes I just don't want to wear them for too long as I find that tiring... But everyone is different, my point is not to dismiss those who are different from us as a minority that is virtually irrelevant, because we have no idea of how people use their devices.

if you’re having a sit-down meal then you aren’t walking around a noisy environment as originally stated, and a Bluetooth speaker will be easy to use if needed.

I haven’t dismissed anyone or said anyone is wrong for not liking the speakers. I’ve said tablet speakers are inherently limited and can’t satisfy anyone looking for a truly high quality sound, so invest in an external device if it’s that important to you.

 

[Digitalguy]

if you’re having a sit-down meal then you aren’t walking around a noisy environment as originally stated, and a Bluetooth speaker will be easy to use if needed.

I haven’t dismissed anyone or said anyone is wrong for not liking the speakers. I’ve said tablet speakers are inherently limited and can’t satisfy anyone looking for a truly high quality sound, so invest in an external device if it’s that important to you.

I have my meals in my kitcken and sometimes either the dishwashing machine or the washing machine, which are both there, may be running at the same time. The fact that this is not the case in your house doesn't mean that in a lot of apartments this is not the case... Again I am mainly talking volume

 

[Webcat86]

I have my meals in my kitcken and sometimes either the dishwashing machine or the washing machine, which are both there, may be running at the same time. The fact that this is not the case in your house doesn't mean that in a lot of apartments this is not the case... Again I am mainly talking volume

You're putting words in my mouth. I don't recall saying that my situation is the only one, nor that nobody uses their iPad away from the couch, nor that it isn't ever used when there is background noise.

Let's take your situation. You're sat down in your kitchen. You've chosen that the appliances need to be running precisely at that moment and I assume there's good reason for that. But what is the reason that you can't use an external speaker here? Originally you said moving from room to room, but you aren't moving from room to room with an iPad in one hand and your dinner in another hand. You're staying in the kitchen while you eat.

We have a speaker in our kitchen to use while cooking or eating. Why? Because it's not only louder than our phone or iPads could ever be, it also has vastly superior sound quality.

If better sound is a priority for you, buy a decent speaker that stays in your kitchen.

 

[Surfsalot]

We don’t want bt speakers lol we want same speaker sound as previous iPad pros not worse
theend.

 

[Digitalguy]

You're putting words in my mouth. I don't recall saying that my situation is the only one, nor that nobody uses their iPad away from the couch, nor that it isn't ever used when there is background noise.

Let's take your situation. You're sat down in your kitchen. You've chosen that the appliances need to be running precisely at that moment and I assume there's good reason for that. But what is the reason that you can't use an external speaker here? Originally you said moving from room to room, but you aren't moving from room to room with an iPad in one hand and your dinner in another hand. You're staying in the kitchen while you eat.

We have a speaker in our kitchen to use while cooking or eating. Why? Because it's not only louder than our phone or iPads could ever be, it also has vastly superior sound quality.

If better sound is a priority for you, buy a decent speaker that stays in your kitchen.

You talked about "strange scenarios" earlier.... Anyway, after my meal I am moving around the house (brushing my teeth etc) and I don't want to have to mess with an external speakers if mine are loud enough

 

[Jackbequickly]

It amazes me how people think they can fill the room with music from their iPad. The speakers are meant to please the user when using the device! I laugh at people who run their iPad volume at 100% and wonder why it distorts and now their iPad speakers sound bad.

 

[Digitalguy]

It amazes me how people think they can fill the room with music from their iPad. The speakers are meant to please the user when using the device! I laugh at people who run their iPad volume at 100% and wonder why it distorts and now their iPad speakers sound bad.

Laugh as much as you want, personally I hardly ever listen to music with iPad speakers (I use headphones or speakers for that), only videos, and by the way they never distort at max volume, so you clearly have no experience

 

[Webcat86]

You talked about "strange scenarios" earlier.... Anyway, after my meal I am moving around the house (brushing my teeth etc) and I don't want to have to mess with an external speakers if mine are loud enough

The "strange scenario" referred to using speakers or headphones. Which you've now said you do anyway...

Laugh as much as you want, personally I hardly ever listen to music with iPad speakers (I use headphones or speakers for that), only videos, and by the way they never distort at max volume, so you clearly have no experience

But ok. You now want to watch videos while cleaning your teeth and patrolling your house, with such frequency and for such durations that headphones are somehow not appropriate.

It's interesting that you can stay in one place long enough to listen to music with headphones or speakers, but somehow video requires different parameters.

 

[Webcat86]

We don’t want bt speakers lol we want same speaker sound as previous iPad pros not worse
theend.

And nobody has said that's an unfair expectation.

But the reality is you do think they're worse and there are extremely simple solutions: you can replace the M4 with an M1, or you can buy speakers or headphones.

But you've decided none of those options are good enough and that it's a better use of your time to complain about for days on end instead.

 

[Surfsalot]

And nobody has said that's an unfair expectation.

But the reality is you do think they're worse and there are extremely simple solutions: you can replace the M4 with an M1, or you can buy speakers or headphones.

But you've decided none of those options are good enough and that it's a better use of your time to complain about for days on end instead.

And you have argued for days lol have you even tried them side by side? Guessing no.

 

[Webcat86]

And you have argued for days lol have you even tried them side by side? Guessing no.

Don't need to, I haven't made any claims about their quality. All I've said is tablet speakers are, by design, never going to be amazing so anyone who wants more can, and should, buy higher quality accessories.

 

[NVDA]

It amazes me how people think they can fill the room with music from their iPad. The speakers are meant to please the user when using the device! I laugh at people who run their iPad volume at 100% and wonder why it distorts and now their iPad speakers sound bad.

I laugh at people like you who will defend design flaws and downplay what others are experiencing. What does music have to do with this? Just listen to speech in comparison to previous iPad Pros and it’s terrible. You’ve made two laughable assumptions there, good job buddy!

 

[bluegt]

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Please submit your feedback at https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad/

Once completed, please post in this thread to confirm submission: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-feedback-on-ipad-pro-m4-speakers.2430539/

 

[Digitalguy]

The "strange scenario" referred to using speakers or headphones. Which you've now said you do anyway...



But ok. You now want to watch videos while cleaning your teeth and patrolling your house, with such frequency and for such durations that headphones are somehow not appropriate.

It's interesting that you can stay in one place long enough to listen to music with headphones or speakers, but somehow video requires different parameters.

yep, because as I said I watch while doing other things (I work from home most of the time).
Music is something I listen to when I have guests or just my girlfriend at home or when I am on the go. I rarely do it alone at home, that's why it's not the same thing.

 

[Webcat86]

yep, because as I said I watch while doing other things (I work from home most of the time).
Music is something I listen to when I have guests or just my girlfriend at home or when I am on the go. I rarely do it alone at home, that's why it's not the same thing.

I'm not judging or telling you how to use your iPad. Nor am I saying the speakers aren't worse than on previous models.

All I'm saying is, help yourself out a little.

 

[erasr]

Are some of you actually arguing that it’s ok to have poor sound on this iPad because we should be using external speakers or headphones? 😂

The whole point is that this iPad has considerably WORSE sound quality than the iPad Pro 2018, for example.

That is a serious downgrade and is clearly making people unhappy.

I often just press play on a video, without connecting headphones or speakers. Amazing, huh! The fact that a human might press play and expect decent sound through their quad speaker iPad Pro. Too much to ask for, clearly!

My iPhone 14 has far better quality sound.

It’s a significant downgrade from older iPads. That’s the mad thing. Thinner, yes, but really muffled sound with some speech.

Not good. Full stop. No arguments.