iPad Disappointed with the current iPad range

[Unregistered 4U]

So, to sum up your dilemma—you want a lighter Android tablet thats cheap but are curious about iPads yet you don’t want to come near the bezels in any way. Got it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Well, the Huawei M5 8.4" tablet has no bezels, so of course you’d want the replacement device to be similar.

 

[sunking101]

I didn’t say there are differences per use cases. I myself prefer TouchID. The convo was about who would exclusively choose a tablet over the presence of a physical home button, no matter it’s function.

For me it's a case of been there, done that. I wore out the home buttons on my iPhone 4 and 5. Had to use the floating home button on the screen and you know how annoying that can be. So after five years of using Android flagship phones with no physical home button it felt like I'd got a time machine back to 2015 when I went to view the iPad Air. I literally could not believe it had a physical home button. Get outta here Apple! The yesteryear bezels I can live with but the home button...man. No way. Once upon a time Apple was all about design, it was the trend setter.

 

[Mainsail]

Other than unlocking, I almost never use the home button on my base iPad 7. I just swipe up to go home, same as a Pro model. Not sure why this is a big deal unless the bezel is a show stopper.

 

[bobsamm]

Tap to wake is another bonus.

 

[RevTEG]

Who makes a tablet decision based on a home button??

wait... I liked your comment and then I remembered that I did that! I wouldn’t buy the mini 5 because of the home button. My ”old” iPhone X doesn’t have it. My current gen 12.9 doesn’t have it. So I wouldn’t go backwards to “old” tech.

However, I still think the OP should just stick to what he already has if he doesn’t like current iPad offers.

 

[sunking101]

wait... I liked your comment and then I remembered that I did that! I wouldn’t buy the mini 5 because of the home button. My ”old” iPhone X doesn’t have it. My current gen 12.9 doesn’t have it. So I wouldn’t go backwards to “old” tech.

My feelings exactly.

 

[playtech1]

The iPad line is a bit of a mess at the moment.

If I could wave my magic wand there would be just three basic models: iPad Mini, iPad 11, iPad 12.9, but with a few more configuration options, perhaps processing power and type of camera unit if Apple want to upsell a 'pro' config to resist putting their latest CPU / camera on the basic model.

The range could then share a consistent aesthetic and basic feature set (e.g. USB-C, FaceID, thin bezel design, pro-motion display, etc.) instead of the crazy mix you have now.

I love my new iPad Mini in use, but it looks identical to the 2012 model and the bezels seriously date it. How is Apple, a design leader, still selling an 8 year old design?

Still, OP should just pony up for the 11 (or wait a few weeks if rumours are true of new models).

 

[PBG4 Dude]

FaceID doesn’t work when you’re wearing a face mask.

My mom is in Asia and she prefers the home button over pulling down a mask just to unlock, pay or password.

Your mom could set up an alternate face with her mask on. Look under Face ID in settings.

 

[fgengineer]

I actually like Touch ID better that Face ID. However, I don’t like bezels either so I would want a design that Apple does not yet have.

 

[aevan]

My Huawei M5 cost me $300 and it has no real bezels to speak of, no physical home button (there is a touch sensitive fingerprint reader button) and no light bleed etc. You shouldn't have to scale to the top of Apple's range just to get these now common attributes. Spec-wise I'm happy with the iPad Air but not whilst it's in that 2015 casing. I'm not a massive tablet user so the iPad Pro is overkill and expensive for what I would use it for. I tend to live on my Note 12 Plus or MacBook.

Apple is expensive and does keep the best features for the most expensive versions of their products. With that said, when they do stuff, they really push them to the limit. Does your Huawei M5 have antialiased Liquid Retina rounded corners and bezels of the same size all around the tablet? No. Of course, I know what you're about to say: you don't care about these things, you just want smaller bezels. I get what you're saying, but that's not the Apple way. They will go overboard in specific details and charge premium for them.

This does trickle-down to cheaper models in time. It happened with the iPhone, it will happen with the iPad. Probably in a few years. As it is - iPad Air is an excellent tablet. Bezels aside, it is really fast, with a great display and it comes with the best stylus (well, other than Pencil 2) and the best tablet app store and tablet optimized apps on the market. So, I guess it still is the best option in that price range.

 

[scupking]

One of the reasons the iPad 7 and air have bezels and are the size they are is so the Smart Keyboard is large enough to be comfortable to use. I think someday Apple will make the normal iPad or air like the pro 11 just without the fancy camera stuff, normal A series processor and maybe none laminated screen.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Just so we’re all on the same page, this is the device in question with “no bezels to speak of”.

 

[Seanm87]

It does feel like apple is milking the hell out of this design. Then again how much can a slab of aluminium and glass change?

As for the home button, as others have said you don't even need to use it with iOS 13.

 

[bpeeps]

My Huawei M5 cost me $300 and it has no real bezels to speak of, no physical home button (there is a touch sensitive fingerprint reader button) and no light bleed etc. You shouldn't have to scale to the top of Apple's range just to get these now common attributes. Spec-wise I'm happy with the iPad Air but not whilst it's in that 2015 casing. I'm not a massive tablet user so the iPad Pro is overkill and expensive for what I would use it for. I tend to live on my Note 12 Plus or MacBook.

Then it sounds like an Android offering is better for you. It meets more of your needs than the iPad lineup does.
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Just so we’re all on the same page, this is the device in question with “no bezels to speak of”.

I guess giant top and bottom bezels don't count to OP.

 

[daimos]

Your mom could set up an alternate face with her mask on. Look under Face ID in settings.

Bad idea. She will look similar to a lot of faces with masks.

 

[johnmacward]

Nope. I wanted an iPad Air but the antiquated physical home button is a dealbreaker. Who mentioned cheap? An iPad Pro is overkill for my needs. The pricing of the iPad Air is fine, I just find the design offputting.

Jesus, some people's problems... what's exactly wrong with the physical home button? It's an Apple design trait thats existed since the very first iPhone - not an unusual thing to find on 80% of their currently used offerings - Right up to their iPhone 8 and all of their cheaper iPad's. It works well, the latest Touch-ID's are really fast and you have the option to become buttonless with a Pro... Thanks for coming out to just complain, must have been good to get that off your chest...

 

[Richard8655]

I actually like the current design of the regular iPad series. The bezel and slight heft to me shows sturdiness. The thin Pro models are too prone to handling damage for my preference (i.e., bending, other complaints).

I can see the home button dislike. I don't really mind it, but the fact it's mechanical leaves me the feeling it might eventually fail from extended use, dust clogging, whatever. So an electronic touch version preferred here too.

 

[retta283]

I think the Air bezels are acceptable, even as an iPP owner. But it is a dated design, it looks fairly similar to the design iPads have used since the first Mini in 2012. I can't see the lineup transitioning to smaller bezels until 2022 at least. Apple has fallen into the habit of spec bumps without external changes every few years (iPad mini, iPod touch).

 

[Shanghaichica]

I have the 2017 iPad Pro and the iPad mini 5. Both have gone buttons with Touch ID. I have no issues with the hone button.

 

[sunking101]

Jesus, some people's problems... what's exactly wrong with the physical home button? It's an Apple design trait thats existed since the very first iPhone - not an unusual thing to find on 80% of their currently used offerings - Right up to their iPhone 8 and all of their cheaper iPad's. It works well, the latest Touch-ID's are really fast and you have the option to become buttonless with a Pro... Thanks for coming out to just complain, must have been good to get that off your chest...

I've already explained why I don't like physical home buttons in 2020. Apple have dropped them from their phones but not their bread & butter iPad models. Too bad, they lost a sale.
As for complaining, it's a tech forum and Apple are around five years out of date with their iPad (*not Pro) hardware.

 

[revmacian]

I've already explained why I don't like physical home buttons in 2020. Apple have dropped them from their phones but not their bread & butter iPad models. Too bad, they lost a sale.
As for complaining, it's a tech forum and Apple are around five years out of date with their iPad (*not Pro) hardware.

So, why didn't you dislike the home button on iPads five years ago? The only thing that has changed between then and now is that the iPad Air 3 is actually more powerful than its predecessors.

 

[rui no onna]

So, why didn't you dislike the home button on iPads five years ago? The only thing that has changed between then and now is that the iPad Air 3 is actually more powerful than its predecessors.

OP mentioned mechanical home buttons on his iPhone 4 and 5 failed. I reckon he'd have been okay with iPhone 7/8 style home button. Perhaps not quite happy but at least tolerated.

 

[KittyKatta]

It is a dated design, it looks fairly similar to the design iPads have used since the first Mini in 2012.

That’s why I can’t blame the OPs cynicism. One of the biggest justifications for the “Apple Tax” was “You’re paying for design”. But, to someone who took a several year break from Apple, you could see how it would be shocking to see how little the design has changed with so many Apple products.

Personally, I’m excited that Jony Ive left. He’s responsible for so many iconic Apple products but I feel like under Tim’s “Recycled Parts” business plan then he’s been so restricted from doing anything radical. Maybe new product designers can shake things up.

 

[brucemr]

I've already explained why I don't like physical home buttons in 2020. Apple have dropped them from their phones but not their bread & butter iPad models. Too bad, they lost a sale.
As for complaining, it's a tech forum and Apple are around five years out of date with their iPad (*not Pro) hardware.

Generally agree w/ you on iPad home button/ big bezels (bezel issue is mainly on top and bottom)/ dated design. They are expected to do same with new budget SE2 iPhone in 2020 lol.

But, old design aside, you said the 8.4” M5 is too heavy and cumbersome. That thing is tiny and light weight vs. any of the current iPads except the mini (it is very similar to mini in size and weight). Even if you splashed on the smaller iPad Pro, it will be a monster in both size and weight vs. what you have now.

 

[1rottenapple]

Nope. I wanted an iPad Air but the antiquated physical home button is a dealbreaker. Who mentioned cheap? An iPad Pro is overkill for my needs. The pricing of the iPad Air is fine, I just find the design offputting.

Buy a refurbished model. You can find sales in 11 pro. Also try swappa. They have good buyer protections. The 11 are awesome. If media consumption is your goal it has excellent sound with separate tweeters.
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Yep, living that overkill iPad Pro lifestyle myself.

I know me too but love the speakers, and the big screen is great for multi-tasking.