Are the older iPad's proving better better?

[gixxerfool]

I’ve used almost every manner of iPad since the iPad 2. I just bought myself a new iPad Pro 12.9”. I was actually surprised at how much better it was than previous iterations. It’s a very well put together device and I think Apple nailed it with this one.

 

[MisterSavage]

I’ve used almost every manner of iPad since the iPad 2. I just bought myself a new iPad Pro 12.9”. I was actually surprised at how much better it was than previous iterations. It’s a very well put together device and I think Apple nailed it with this one.

Me too. I’m so happy with my new IPP. No regrets.

 

[Royksöpp]

Technically no. Of course the model with upgraded components will be better. However, when you throw in design and build quality that’s when things get interesting. The 10.5 is the 6s of iPads. A solid product with solid performance and no compromises. The 11 is proving to be more of a 6. It introduced a jump in design along with a complete disregard for function in favor of appearance. The 11 is cutting corners. (No pun intended) The plastic pencil cover, the thinner frame, the antenna bands, thinner glass, etc... The evidence runs rampant on this forum so anyone defending it comes off like an overzealous fanboy, sorry not sorry. Don’t get me wrong. I love apple. I purchased an XR and a MacBook Pro this year. I even bought the 11! It didn’t feel premium to me. Performance wasn’t worth the very high upgrade cost. I returned it in less than a week. It’s really a shame that they dropped the ball with the 11. It’s a first generation product and mistakes are a given. There is just far too many for Apple’s standards.

 

[OLDGUYWITHAHIFI]

I've had five iPads in recent years. Not one of them was bent.

 

[Alaxlmartin]

It looks to me that the older iPads meaning the iPads Mfg.ed before these new iPads, are proving to be better in their build quality with a lot less people with complaints about them.

No, the new ones are fine with a solid case

 

[Virgilinsanity]

I have an iPad Air 1st edition from 2013. Still ticking.

Same here. It just keeps on going. For my needs, it would be hard to justify a new version. What do people do with their old retired iPads?

 

[aevan]

Technically no. Of course the model with upgraded components will be better. However, when you throw in design and build quality that’s when things get interesting. The 10.5 is the 6s of iPads. A solid product with solid performance and no compromises. The 11 is proving to be more of a 6. It introduced a jump in design along with a complete disregard for function in favor of appearance. The 11 is cutting corners. (No pun intended) The plastic pencil cover, the thinner frame, the antenna bands, thinner glass, etc... The evidence runs rampant on this forum so anyone defending it comes off like an overzealous fanboy, sorry not sorry. Don’t get me wrong. I love apple. I purchased an XR and a MacBook Pro this year. I even bought the 11! It didn’t feel premium to me. Performance wasn’t worth the very high upgrade cost. I returned it in less than a week. It’s really a shame that they dropped the ball with the 11. It’s a first generation product and mistakes are a given. There is just far too many for Apple’s standards.

What is Plastic Pencil cover? Pencils were always plastic and they never had covers. Also, if glass is thinner, it’s to make the device thinner, I really doubt it is cheaper.

Anyway, no function vas disregarded in favor of appearance. In fact, they managed to increase the work area on the same size (for 11”) and to decrease the large volume of the 12.9” - this is a very, very functional decision. Also, you’re completely disregarding everything else that is a functional change - Pencil charging and storage, double tap on the Pencil, Face ID for easier unlocking, every side being the same making the device truly orientation agnostic....

The problem is that there is no evidence that these iPads are cutting corners, let alone “running rampant”. That’s just it, it’s exactly the opposite - this is one of the best designed devices in Apple’s history, but for some reason, some people are trying really hard to justify their buying decisions. You returned yours - it’s fine. It doesn’t make the new iPad bad, you just didn’t like it. For the majority, it does feel premium - if you read the comments of owners, you’ll see they feel this is the most premium iPad yet. It is the pinnacle of iPad - functionally, practically, aesthetically and performance-wise. It is pricey, but it is in no way ‘cheap’ and the only corners that were cut were those on screen, in a very sophisticated way, actually, when you think how it’s actually not simple at all to round off LCD screens.

 

[Royksöpp]

What is Plastic Pencil cover? Pencils were always plastic and they never had covers. Also, if glass is thinner, it’s to make the device thinner, I really doubt it is cheaper.

Anyway, no function vas disregarded in favor of appearance. In fact, they managed to increase the work area on the same size (for 11”) and to decrease the large volume of the 12.9” - this is a very, very functional decision. Also, you’re completely disregarding everything else that is a functional change - Pencil charging and storage, double tap on the Pencil, Face ID for easier unlocking, every side being the same making the device truly orientation agnostic....

The problem is that there is no evidence that these iPads are cutting corners, let alone “running rampant”. That’s just it, it’s exactly the opposite - this is one of the best designed devices in Apple’s history, but for some reason, some people are trying really hard to justify their buying decisions. You returned yours - it’s fine. It doesn’t make the new iPad bad, you just didn’t like it. For the majority, it does feel premium - if you read comments of owners, you’ll see they feel this is the most premium iPad yet. It is the pinnacle of iPad - functionally, practically, aesthetically and performance-wise. It is pricey, but it is in no way ‘cheap’ and the only corners that were cut were those on screen, in a very sophisticated way, actually, when you think how it’s actually not simple at all to round off LCD screens.

It's a polarizing product. We all have our opinions. While I disagree with you completely, It's always nice to read a romance novel on a tech forum.

This cute little guy is what I meant by Pencil cover. The big gaping hole left by his absence is one of two weak points, the other being the microphone cut out on left side.

 

[aevan]

It's a polarizing product. We all have our opinions. While I disagree with you completely, It's always nice to read a romance novel on a tech forum.

This cute little guy is what I meant by Pencil cover. The big gaping hole left by his absence is one of two weak points, the other being the microphone cut out on left side.

More a fact sheet than a romance novel.

And it’s only polarizing because of the price that pushed a lot of people out of buying it (and, just to be clear, I agree it’s unpleasantly expensive). Now, people who can’t justify the expense are creating a “feel better” narrative, trying to present older generations as better and current generation as cheap and flimsy. It’s human nature.

But the whole thing is going so overboard, it is creating insane paranoia where some people are putting their iPads in steel-reinforced cases, others are confusing Apple’s 400 micron variance statement with images of fully bent iPads (which is not what they meant by “acceptable variance”) and calling them ‘boomerang iPads’, etc. etc.

That “cute little guy” may be the weak point if you try to bend your iPad with bare hands, just like eye sockets are weak points of a human being if you try to puncture inside someone’s skull with your fingers. So, bad design? No, just don’t go around poking people in their eyes, please, and everything will be fine. Likewise, treat your iPad normally, and it’s not going to bend.

At the same time, this iPad is not only the fastest iOS device by a large margin (and one of the fastest mobile computers on the market), not only the most portable large-screen iPad, not only the most practical iPad Pro (due to the new Pencil mechanic), it also looks and feels the best. So, why are people so eager to bash it? Let’s be honest: yup, because it’s really expensive and a lot of people won’t be upgrading because of that. So it’s easier to believe it sucks. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. The only debatable thing here is whether all the improvements are worth the asking price - and that debate is a different matter. But, taking the cost out of the equation, it is the best iPad ever made and one of the best Apple computers ever made.

So, to answer the thread question: are the older iPad proving better? No. But they cost less, and for some people, that is a perfectly good reason to choose them instead.

 

[Senglish]

Coming from a 1st Gen 9.7” pro, I love my new 11” iPad. However, some things were better on the old iPad. The new one feels more flimsy, but it’s thinner, so that’s expected. The sound from the speakers is clearly superior on the old 9.7 iPad, but may sound better on the new one when using headphones. Then there’s the issue of no headphone jack on the new one. The USB adapter works but it sometimes disconnects the Wi-Fi when inserted and I have to waste time turning things on & off to get the Wi-Fi back, this shouldn’t happen on such an expensive device.

So, while I really enjoy my new iPad pro 11”, my older one has some advantages.

 

[nathan_reilly]

Nope. Pencil 2, FaceID, are just 2 key differences from the previous gens. But if it helps you to think of the 2018 iPad pros as a 3rd gen device, have at it.

eeeeeshhhhh you don't get it, huh? The very fact that you needed to say "2018" means that you're identifying them as different from the earlier generations of this model. Like, the first time apple made an iPad Pro, there was no need to call it the first iPad Pro. But as soon as there was a second, voila. And this is absolutely the 3rd "Pro" iPad (ITS THE NAME YO) that apple has made...thus the 3rd generation.

Maybe you're thinking of cars, where a platform might last a few model years? Like Subaru's first generation outback, '94 to '99...

 

[ivnj]

What do people do with their old retired iPads?

Alarm clock

 

[Fthree]

It is crazy that a person would come on here and complain that they could easily bend their iPad. If you are semi responsible with your stuff you will keep it nice. It would literally take some sort of awkward drop or putting something on the iPad or just plain bending it to actually bend. Buy a cover and put it in one of the hundred and fifty billion backpacks and cases available.

 

[anthony13]

It looks to me that the older iPads meaning the iPads Mfg.ed before these new iPads, are proving to be better in their build quality with a lot less people with complaints about them.

No I wouldn’t say that at all. In fact what I think I might say is that people are fickle and love to latch on to a story. The embracement of hyperbole regarding the bending and screen problems in particular are really baffling for me. Much like people being upset about Apple releasing a software patch to assist in decaying batteries (which is a thing that happens to a finite product, and regardless of price, the iPhone is actually not a long life product), I find the ‘outrage’ a bit disturbing. I choose to give Apple my money for my devices and they owe me nothing more and nothing less than that product is billed as. I say none of this with ill will toward any one who actually has received a bent iPad, as that is a thing that has happened and is a documented truth. What I don’t understand are the people who post pictures (not necessarily on these boards) of iPad’s that are clearly not bent, but rather a case of people who are down right looking for the problem where none exists. What I do know, is that Apple serves my professional purposes on a performance level that competitors don’t come close too. I appreciate and admire the minimalistic design both in form and function. Finally, I am not, and never have been, a member of any message boards dedicated to Samsung, Windows, or any other competitors devices. The reason for that is that I come to Mac boards to be part of the wonderful community that supports product questions, function and in this case rumours (when making a new purchase) that are really helpful to me. I’m not the person that knows everything about every product and am happy to get those answers from the informed here. But wow is it a bit disheartening to occasionally find such negativity about a perceived problem that is in fact exaggerated by a lack of actual definciency. To be clear, not aimed at any one or any thread including this one, but the new iPad Pro has been killing it for me and I keep coming to this board to find new tricks and such and being inundated with negativity.

 

[pat500000]

I still have the very first ipad! It’s running on ios 3.2.2.

 

[kazmac]

Depends on the user and the luck of the draw.

For me, yes, older models are better. I am glad many folks have new iPPs that work as intended and are just fine.

However, hearing that irresponsive touch issues are cropping up again on this new gen is a huge no purchase for me.

And outside of ram limitations, the budget 2018 iPad works just fine for me. So if the new model and/or iPad mini get a ram bump and pencil capabilities (the mini), I’ll get one as long as the housing doesn’t change.

 

[Cape Dave]

That’s not how generations work.

Every key tech inside the new Pro existed in the previous gen. True Tone, Promotion, Apple Pencil, Smart Connector, all of it is still here but improved, based on the lessons Apple learned from previous two versions and other devices.
Not only that, they also improved technology from other devices, like Face ID which is actually better on iPad than on iPhone. This iPad is furthest from a Gen 1 product you can get. This iPad couldn’t have been made as the first iteration. It is the iPad Apple wanted to make three years ago, but couldn’t.

To paraphrase Schiller: 1st gen my ass.

Yeah, cuz that worked out so well with the Mac Pro One generation and then, whoops, full redesign needed.

 

[pika2000]

Apple iPad design peaked around the release of the 9.7 iPad Pro and the 2nd Gen iPad Pros.

Honestly EVERYBODY and their grandma knows better than to buy Apple 1st-gen anything.

Original iPad (had one, was a dog by the 1st iOS update), original Apple Watch (I have one... same), iPad Retina (that too, + replaced after 6 months), iPhone 6 Plus (Bendgate), iPhone 5 (paint chipping off), iPhone X (too small, discontinued), original iPod Nano (exploded), original iPod Photo (useless), MBP 2016 (Keyboard, slow), 2008 MBA (slow as hell), 2018 MBA (still slow as hell + overpriced). The list goes on and on and on.

The fact that we now have Boomerang iPads was sort of expected. They had to have some sort of show-stopping issue, otherwise it wouldn't be a 1st gen Apple product.

This. I too had the original iPad. It was so useless after the update as even Safari crashes at startup thanks to the minuscule 256MB RAM.

Although I appreciate the bleeding edge users trying out new products, I myself never buy first gen Apple products anymore, and thus I’ve been a happy Apple user (iPhone 6S, Apple Watch series 2, etc). People think Apple is “worse” now, but that’s because there’s no Steve Jobs’ reality distortion field anymore. In reality it’s the same pattern.

 

[aevan]

Yeah, cuz that worked out so well with the Mac Pro One generation and then, whoops, full redesign needed.

You either haven't read or understood what I said, because your comment has nothing to do with what I'm saying.

 

[Bogstandard]

I am on my third iPad
iPad 4 looked and performed flawlessly, plus the battery life and endurance was impressive.
ipad Pro 12.9 ver 2 was fine for 6 months and then the screen became randomly unresponsive (has a glass screen protector from first boot up).

iPad Pro 12.9 ver 3. Worked flawlessly for 2 months, then the display became randomly unresponsive, then more frequently un responsive on the right hand side of the display (used a glass screen protector from 1 month).
It also gets hung up on keeping the screen in correct orientation.
It is now an irritant to use. I was not going to upgrade to this device, but i dislike the home button .
The face ID though, has been spot on....superior to the xphones in speed and accuracy.
Apple care is probably going to be as necessary as a case with these increasingly complex iterations.

My observations...