iPad Pro Buy last year's 12.9 inch ipad pro?

[revyaanshu]

Ipad pro 9.7 user here since launch. Was planning on upgrading this year due to the small size of the 9.7 for proper word processing and spreadsheets. But looking at the prices of the new iPPs I decided NOT TO!

Instead, I was thinking of buying the last gen 12.9 256gb with ASK . I will be using it as pretty much my primary device on the go although I have a mid 2012 Macbook Pro at home. Usage is workin on pages and spreadsheet, emails, watching movies/ youtube, casual browsing. Plan to use it for a couple of years atlst.
Since its now discontinued, I would get it for a cheap price. Will the A10x show its age in a year or 2?

 

[Absrnd]

The 2017 Ipad Pro is still a beast to use, the only problem you might encounter in a year or 2, that some heavy specialized apps might run better on the newer processor in 2 years.
you'll certainly be fine for the next year, then decide to upgrade, or wait until the 2020 refresh

 

[revyaanshu]

The 2017 Ipad Pro is still a beast to use, the only problem you might encounter in a year or 2, that some heavy specialized apps might run better on the newer processor in 2 years.
you'll certainly be fine for the next year, then decide to upgrade, or wait until the 2020 refresh

Which is fine considering I am not a graphic designer or video editor. As I said I'll primarily use it for basic tasks like office apps Web browsing and videos and some gaming. My current 256gb ipad pro 9.7 with ASK works good enough for me apart from the screen size else would have used it for another year.

If the ipad 12.9 can hold up well till 2021, Ill be more than satisfied.

 

[kasakka]

IMO the ASK is a poor product. It costs as much as a good mechanical keyboard but feels like a ****** cheap one. It would also add a lot of weight to the 12.9" model. I've stuck with the virtual keyboard on my 12.9" 2nd gen and it has worked pretty well for me but I don't write long documents on it or anything. The screen is large enough to have a full 60% size keyboard on screen in landscape orientation and surprisingly that is not bad to type on.

I'd probably rather get a bluetooth keyboard than the ASK if you need a keyboard.

I don't see the 12.9" 2nd gen becoming underpowered in years. There's barely anything taking advantage of its power even now but I enjoy the large screen for a more desktop like experience. I've been very happy with it overall, the only drawbacks I see are physical size and weight. Of course FaceID is also better but not a deal breaker for me.

The new model fixes the size and reduces the weight slightly which is nice, but for me it brings several drawbacks as well. It remains to be seen if the sharper edges will feel less comfortable, the lack of a headphone jack is annoying and requiring cable swaps or adapters if you want to use the iPad charger for both your iPhone and iPad is a chore.

The biggest slap in the face to me is that the previous gen Apple Pencil apparently won't work with the new iPad Pro. I can understand it not clipping to the side for charging/pairing, but using it with a USB-C adapter should have been fine. So basically they made this expensive peripheral a future paperweight just because.

 

[Porterhouse]

I'm considering this as well. I'm okay with my fifth generation iPad, but I'd like to be able to use Apple Pencil.

Did they lower the price? (Obviously, I can see the prices now, but I don't know what they were last week.)

 

[tbayrgs]

It’s what I’m planning on doing, as soon as my preferred configuration appears in Apple’s refurb store. Already have the matching accessories from my first gen 12.9 so going this route will same me close to $700 vs. uograding to the just released 3rd gen.