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iPad Pro Buy 10.5 now or hold out for 2018?

D

darksider95

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 29, 2013
9
8
Hey everyone,

I'm currently debating whether I should upgrade to the iPad 10.5 from the iPad Air 2.

My rationale for upgrading are:

The iPad has already replaced my MacBook with everything except for long-form writing and scanning documents. Currently, with my iPad I've tried using Bluetooth keyboards, but they often lag - hence I often have to go to the MacBook. Having tried the Apple Smart Keyboard in stores, I feel this problem could be resolve with the 10.5.

Secondly, I create a lot of artwork with my iPad using a simple stylus. I feel I would benefit from the precision of the Apple Pencil.

Finally, my sister recently broke her MacBook Air and if I was to buy the 10.5, I could give her my MacBook as a replacement.

My hesitations are:

As stated above the iPad Air 2 had already replaced my MacBook for everything except long-form writing and scanning. The scanning is very important for how I create my artwork as I will start on paper before going digital to add colours and textures. Does anyone know if a good way to scan high quality documents into the iPad to overcome this issue?

My second concern is far more superficial but I'm worried that if I buy now I might miss out on a better upgrade next year. With the new iPhone X, with it's edge to edge screen and face unlock, it is likely these features will eventually make it to future iPads.

I'm far from an Apple or technology expert and would really appreciate your advice in regards to whether you would buy the 10.5 in my position or wait.

Thank you!

Darksider95
 
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I would go ahead and upgrade while the sales are good throughout the holiday. The 10.5 is a huge upgrade from the Air 2. I wouldn’t expect the next iPads to gain the Face ID or edge to edge display simply because of cost, it would be at least a $1500 iPad adding the retail Apple Tax . While the A11X will significantly improve gpu and cpu effeciency it won’t be another massive jump like the A10X was. Even if it was a great improvement it wouldn’t really matter because the current 10.5 and 12.9 are ridiculously powerful in their own respect and unless you would be doing intensive gaming or photo/video rendering then the A11X would be of little benefit. Look at your Air 2 for example, essentially 50% of performance of the new iPad pros yet it runs perfectly on iOS 11 let alone once iOS 11.1 drops. iOS 11 is really only just truly beginning to capatilize on the Air 2’s three cores and 2 gigs of ram, let alone the iPad Pro’s 6 cores and 4 gigs of ram.
 
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I’d wait if I were CERTAIN that the iPad Pros coming in 2018 would be redesigned and supporting Face ID. However, given the hardships in manufacture for he iPhone X, I am taking rumours about this redesign with a grain of salt. I’d just buy the current one (which is almost ridiculously overpowered anyways) instead of waiting for something that MIGHT be released but most likely won’t.
[doublepost=1509357499][/doublepost]Also, I upgraded from an iPad Air 2 to the 10.5 Pro... it’s night and day difference in performance.
 
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a lot of sales going on right now, if you need or can use it immediately I'd go ahead and get it.
most everything Apple has going right now will be upgraded in the next cycle or two so you could always keep it pristine and sell it in order to upgrade later...

just my .02...
 
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chedder’mac said:
a lot of sales going on right now, if you need or can use it immediately I'd go ahead and get it.
most everything Apple has going right now will be upgraded in the next cycle or two so you could always keep it pristine and sell it in order to upgrade later...

just my .02...
Click to expand...
The A11X gonna make it very tempting next summer.
 
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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—who has an “okay” track record for predicting upcoming Apple products and upgrades—he told investors on 10/09/17:

“We predict iOS devices to be equipped with TrueDepth Camera in 2018F will include iPhone X and 2018 new iPhone and iPad models. Because of this, we believe more developers will pay attention to TrueDepth Camera/ facial recognition related applications. “

Just last week, I upgraded from Air2 to the 10.5. I got the Pencil and Smart Keyboard too. Like you, I debated whether to buy new iPad now or wait until 2018/2019 for the next iPad Pro that would get rid of home button or feature face ID.

I decided to buy now because I needed it for taking notes and sketching. It also has a bigger screen than the Air2 (I really notice the size difference). I wanted the 10.5 to replace my MacBook Pro when it comes to smaller productivity tasks, like answering emails and research. If I need to use Excel, then I’ll use my MacBook or iMac. Fortunately, Best Buy was selling the 10.5 (64gb) for $525 last week.

I plan to sell my Air2. If there’s a re-designed iPad Pro 10.5 next year in June or Sept, featuring face ID and slimmer bezels without the home button, then I’ll just sell my 10.5.
 
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strategicthinke said:
I’d wait if I were CERTAIN that the iPad Pros coming in 2018 would be redesigned and supporting Face ID. However, given the hardships in manufacture for he iPhone X, I am taking rumours about this redesign with a grain of salt. I’d just buy the current one (which is almost ridiculously overpowered anyways) instead of waiting for something that MIGHT be released but most likely won’t.
[doublepost=1509357499][/doublepost]Also, I upgraded from an iPad Air 2 to the 10.5 Pro... it’s night and day difference in performance.
Click to expand...
exactly. Mind you these are all rumors and nothing is set in stone. I would buy now, if a refresh does in fact come out next year, you can always sell the current one for the new one
 
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As stated by others above, there is always going to be a new device around the corner.

I’d worry less about what is coming and determine whether or not you need it (or can make use of it realistically), now.

If you don’t need the pencil then i’d argue that there’s very little point in bothering with the iPad pro at all, whether it is now or next year.

If you CAN make effective use of the pencil, and it will make a real difference to your day to day activity, 6-9 months is as lot of time to wait for the convenience or productivity improvement.

For me, the ipad has eliminated random sketch paper from my desk.

Paper that just causes clutter, gets lost, looks untidy, etc.

As a result, all of my random scribbling, idea, scans of important documents, etc. are all in notes where i can file them, search them, view them on any device, etc.

Next year’s model will definitely be faster, but if you were to buy the current model now, it will likely be plenty usable for the next 3-5 years or so. If you wait until next year, that will likely be good for 3-5 years in total as well.

Just mostly comes down to whether or not having it now is of any real benefit other than “oh shiny!”
 
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Thank you everyone for all of your advice, it was incredibly helpful.

I’ve decided to purchase the 10.5. I went to test the Apple Pencil and I can tell it is going be very useful for my artwork. Additionally with the Smart Keyboard, I’ll be able to do all of my writing on the device as well.
 
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Hey satchmo thanks for the tip :)

I'm from the UK and Argos are doing a 10% off deal. Additionally, I'm selling the iPad Air 2 to a friend which is another reason I chose to pull the trigger on the 10.5.
 
throAU said:
As stated by others above, there is always going to be a new device around the corner.

I’d worry less about what is coming and determine whether or not you need it (or can make use of it realistically), now.

If you don’t need the pencil then i’d argue that there’s very little point in bothering with the iPad pro at all, whether it is now or next year.

If you CAN make effective use of the pencil, and it will make a real difference to your day to day activity, 6-9 months is as lot of time to wait for the convenience or productivity improvement.

For me, the ipad has eliminated random sketch paper from my desk.

Paper that just causes clutter, gets lost, looks untidy, etc.

As a result, all of my random scribbling, idea, scans of important documents, etc. are all in notes where i can file them, search them, view them on any device, etc.

Next year’s model will definitely be faster, but if you were to buy the current model now, it will likely be plenty usable for the next 3-5 years or so. If you wait until next year, that will likely be good for 3-5 years in total as well.

Just mostly comes down to whether or not having it now is of any real benefit other than “oh shiny!”
Click to expand...
This. I feel that this is what most people forget. I love gadgets and kept buying until I realized that I don’t half the features on new stuff. I just got me a 2017 iPad and it’s great. When I feel that it stops serving me then I’ll go Pro.
 
linkgx1 said:
This. I feel that this is what most people forget. I love gadgets and kept buying until I realized that I don’t half the features on new stuff. I just got me a 2017 iPad and it’s great. When I feel that it stops serving me then I’ll go Pro.
Click to expand...

Other than the lack of the pencil and smart connector the ipad 2017 is a pretty strong device.

If i wasn't 100% sold on the pencil, i would have bought one.

It's a big step up in price (base device cost, plus the pencil, plus the macbook USB C charger, plus the keyboard), but i really do make use of it. Others value may vary.
 
With a discount, the 10.5 is a great deal. It supports ARKit, HEVC encoding, and has 4GB of RAM (compared to 2GB on its predecessor 9.7" pro). It will be supported for quite sometime.
Having said that, if you're paying full price and can wait, it is always better to wait for the next gen release.
 
Go for the 10.5” i did the same thing 3 months ago,from air2 to this
I do t see anything bigger for the upcoming 10.5” 2018
I think only the bigger one could see some dimensions and weight reduction
 
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I’m wondering what they will add to the iPad next year. I want to upgrade my air 2 to whatever it is, but want more than a processor upgrade.
 
WinterWolf90 said:
I’m wondering what they will add to the iPad next year. I want to upgrade my air 2 to whatever it is, but want more than a processor upgrade.
Click to expand...

It will get a faster cpu/GPU and maybe cheaper for the same storage.

Or same price for more storage.

I doubt there will be a huge change but it will definitely be improved.

At the end of the day though trying to speculate on future tech shouldn’t affect your purchasing decisions too much.

If you need something today (it will give you a real benefit today) buy today.

Waiting for some as yet unknown future fantasy device just means that for the whole time until then you are not getting the benefit of today’s hardware.

If you can live without it now (or it’s not worth buying now for you), then the question is why can’t you continue to live without it next year too. And so on.
 
throAU said:
It will get a faster cpu/GPU and maybe cheaper for the same storage.

Or same price for more storage.

I doubt there will be a huge change but it will definitely be improved.

At the end of the day though trying to speculate on future tech shouldn’t affect your purchasing decisions too much.

If you need something today (it will give you a real benefit today) buy today.

Waiting for some as yet unknown future fantasy device just means that for the whole time until then you are not getting the benefit of today’s hardware.

If you can live without it now (or it’s not worth buying now for you), then the question is why can’t you continue to live without it next year too. And so on.
Click to expand...

I dont need anything today, just wanting an upgrade really. If all it is is a processor and GPU update I will pass. I have an iPad 3 and air 2 and just want to pass the air 2 onto my boyfriend who has my iPad 3 at the time.
 
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