iPad Pro I returned my M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2TB

[theotherphil]

I think the problem here is the pricing on the iPad Pro. Like the OP said, the Macbook Air M1 is cheaper. If it cost less I bet he wouldn't have returned it. People's expectations go up in proportion to price of an item/service. It's a double edged sword (people can think the most expensive plumber is best when they're not, or like the OP, see an item as not worth the price). It's the same with a person's salary - they're willing to put up with more stress/junk at their job depending on pay. Businesses have to walk a fine line with this in their pricing strategy (and employers with compensation strategies) but here Apple clearly failed.

That's your lesson for today! (LOL Sorry, I'm a prof. in real life..)

But did they though? There’s a number of people here who are happy with theirs. I purchased the 1TB 12.9” as an upgrade from the 2018 model. I’m very happy with mine in performance, extra storage, 5G, extra memory and amazing screen and that’s before I do any “work”. By purchasing the “pro” models, I get more use between upgrades and a better resale value at the other end which adds to the long term value.

Value for money is entirely subjective and clearly Apple hit the mark for a large number of people.

 

[kp98077]

The folio cover or folio keyboard? I’ve loved the Smart Keyboard on my 10.5 iPP.

It’s just the cover. No keyboard. Super lightweight. Apple brand.

 

[macguy2021]

How do you use an iPad then? When it’s in my lap while I’m sitting down my arm keeps my hand hovering over it. That’s how I interact with it. When I’m laying on a couch, same thing, I have to lift my arm up to touch the vertical positioned screen. It’s the same effort to interact with it if it was a Mac with a touch screen. It does get tiring over time and that’s why when laying down I’ll use my MacBook Pro if I’m going to be interacting with it. Movies are fine since I can rest my arm while watching.
I’ve also found when trying out the Touch Bar MacBook Pro that I have to move my hands slightly to reach and interact with the Touch Bar.

Using Apple’s (and your) logic, the Touch Bar is very unnatural as well.

I don’t want full blown macOS on the iPad, I just wish iPadOS was more capable. They’ve already brought features from the Mac to the iPad (and vice-versa) with out combining them.

People claim that Apple doesn’t want to hurt Mac sales. That excuse is ullshit. Steve Jobs always said that Apple wasn’t afraid of a device cannibalizing another device. Look at what happened to the iPod once the iPhone took off.

When I use my iPad its in my lap, I'm hunched/leaned forward looking down, and my arms are always resting on an armchair or in my lap. I have to rest them against something as I cannot hold them up on their own for very long. I don't hold it up at eye level nor do I use a stand unless I'm using a keyboard. The only time my iPad is upright vertical is if I'm watching a movie or typing using the keyboard stand. I never pick my arm up to touch it. I'd die. My arms would fall off! I don't know too many people who can hold their hands out like that long term without hinging off of something. To touch a MacBook's screen you'd have to lift you arm up in the air. It's a lot more muscle fatigue. It's not a natural experience. Only thing is worse is a touch screen iMac. You'd have to use a convertible laptop to be comfortable and then I'd argue that it is a worse touch experience on macOS than an iPad and not to mention the risk of breaking. It's like foldable phones. Too much can go wrong. I'll never own a folding device with screens like that. It seems very unnatural to fold things with cables in between or screens. The phone is even worse as you are folding not only the display cables and have hinges to go bad but you are bending the dang screen too. Totally not worth any $$$$.

The Touch Bar is flat on the keyboard. You aren't picking your arm up at all. Just reach a bit further with your typing fingers to tap something. You are still putting your arm weight on the laptop. Whether or not the Touch Bar is useful is a totally different conversation that isn't about ergonomics! But ergonomically it isn't near as uncomfortable.

The Apple of today is not like the Apple of yesteryear. They said they'd never do a big phone or a stylus or what have you. I prefer the Tim Cook-era Apple. I respect Steve, but almost all of my favorite Apple product generations have come after him. The products themselves, some of them were Steve era and some were after but in the case of iPhones, iPads, etc I started liking them during a generation that was after Steve's time. I would hate to see the Mac hurt by iPad sales, it is too good of a device to be "cannibalized" as you roughly put it. There is room for all 3 devices.

 

[watchmainspring]

When I use my iPad its in my lap, I'm hunched/leaned forward looking down, and my arms are always resting on an armchair or in my lap. I have to rest them against something as I cannot hold them up on their own for very long. I don't hold it up at eye level nor do I use a stand unless I'm using a keyboard. The only time my iPad is upright vertical is if I'm watching a movie or typing using the keyboard stand. I never pick my arm up to touch it. I'd die. My arms would fall off! I don't know too many people who can hold their hands out like that long term without hinging off of something. To touch a MacBook's screen you'd have to lift you arm up in the air. It's a lot more muscle fatigue. It's not a natural experience. Only thing is worse is a touch screen iMac. You'd have to use a convertible laptop to be comfortable and then I'd argue that it is a worse touch experience on macOS than an iPad and not to mention the risk of breaking. It's like foldable phones. Too much can go wrong. I'll never own a folding device with screens like that. It seems very unnatural to fold things with cables in between or screens. The phone is even worse as you are folding not only the display cables and have hinges to go bad but you are bending the dang screen too. Totally not worth any $$$$.

The Touch Bar is flat on the keyboard. You aren't picking your arm up at all. Just reach a bit further with your typing fingers to tap something. You are still putting your arm weight on the laptop. Whether or not the Touch Bar is useful is a totally different conversation that isn't about ergonomics! But ergonomically it isn't near as uncomfortable.

The Apple of today is not like the Apple of yesteryear. They said they'd never do a big phone or a stylus or what have you. I prefer the Tim Cook-era Apple. I respect Steve, but almost all of my favorite Apple product generations have come after him. The products themselves, some of them were Steve era and some were after but in the case of iPhones, iPads, etc I started liking them during a generation that was after Steve's time. I would hate to see the Mac hurt by iPad sales, it is too good of a device to be "cannibalized" as you roughly put it. There is room for all 3 devices.

The Steve years were the best. We got the iPod, the iPhone, the MacBook pro. He also kind of saved Apple. He also made Apple one of the top 3 tech companies in the world.

I know I'm kind of straw-manning this reply but in my experience he made the best products.

 

[Bluetoot-]

RIP to the homie

that’s why I sold my older iPad. It was supposedly faster than a computer but all it did was really browse the web.

I mean I can play real games on my MacBook Air (lol). I should have gotten more memory, though. Oh well.

 

[SkiHound2]

I think the problem is they don’t do a non-Pro 12.9 inch. I (and others it seems) want the large screen, but I don’t need the power of the Pro chip, or any of that multiple camera, LiDAR nonsense.

Obviously Apple have calculated that they’ll make more money from people who’ll buy more iPad than they really want, than they would if they sold a cheaper iPad to meet those people’s requirements.

I've thought the same thing. A 12.9" geared towards basic tasks and media consumption could be very attractive to folks. At least to me. As consumers we might want devices geared to our exact needs and wants, but companies can only support so many product lines. So I'm not holding my breath for a non-Pro 12.9.

 

[Surfman]

Buyers remorse. /the end

If you have a 13” M1 Air and a 11” iPad you don’t need a 12.9 unless replacing both.

Lol to all those complaining about using on the lounge ?

 

[mdhaus72]

Initially I was head over heels for the specs on the new iPad pro m1; however, after using it, I decided to return it:

1. It's too large to use casually or comfortably on a couch or chair. Your wrist tires. You essentially have to turn it into a laptop with some sort of accessory. The only reason I went for 12.9" was because of the new screen---I "had" to go with 12.9" it was the only way to get the best display. My 2018 11" pro is the perfect size, it seems.

2. The operating system is highly limited and practically the same as iOS. So for most tasks I ended reaching for my phone before the iPad. What a disappointment that the operating system, even in 2021, is still juvenile.

3. I already have an M1 Air which is worlds ahead of this iPad due to MacOS. It was also cheaper than the iPad Pro, a more primitive and limited device. Also, the M1 air gets better battery life.

4. The return on investment was terrible. I paid a ton for this device and it was essentially a big phone.

Obviously, everyone has a right to spend their money the way they choose. That being said, your post reads a lot like "reassurance" and like you are trying to justify why you returned it (or had to?).

The difference between the 11" and the 12.9" is less than two inches and a half-pound. I've used every size iPad that has been made and every one of them has been portable when needed...whether it be in bed, on a couch, in a coffee shop or wherever I go. You do not have to "turn it into a laptop" - I know a lot of people who use it as a traditional tablet with no keyboard. And they don't have to do physical therapy to strengthen their wrists, either!

The operating system is fine...and the beta for OS 15 is really good. It addresses a lot of issues that people have been asking about. No, it's not MacOS. But...wait for it - IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE! AND LIKELY NEVER WILL BE!

A MacBook is a MacBook and an iPad is an iPad. An iPad is NOT DESIGNED TO REPLACE A MACBOOK! Apple has NEVER said that it was their intention to murder their own laptop line! So if you are bummed that the iPad can't fully replace your laptop, that's on you - not them.

Finally....I'm not sure how the iPad could be confused with being a "big phone." It literally has no ability to make phone calls, unless you utilize wireless functionality in some way. It's cellular option is data-exclusive.

 

[macguy2021]

The Steve years were the best. We got the iPod, the iPhone, the MacBook pro. He also kind of saved Apple. He also made Apple one of the top 3 tech companies in the world.

I know I'm kind of straw-manning this reply but in my experience he made the best products.

I don't doubt Steve's importance to the company at all. He did save Apple when he came back. I just seem to really like the modern Apple products in each class and what they've done with the products since then. But without the iPhone, I wouldn't have had the iPhone 6 Plus, etc. I wasn't into the iPhone until the 6 Plus came around. I really didn't like the earlier versions of iOS with it's skeuomorphic design and all of that and I much preferred the rounded off design, etc. That's why we had and still have so many 6 style phones with different internals. It was peak iPhone design IMO especially the Plus versions.

 

[mdhaus72]

Web browsing, Reddit, reading NYT, fitness training planning, watching movies.

You prefer to watch movies on an iPhone with a much tinier screen when you have an iPad available? LOL...OK....

 

[mdhaus72]

To be honest I think most peeps who have been considering or on the fence about making the plunge from a MacBook to an iPP as their main device had their decisions made for them at WWDC this year.

WWDC was the make or break for the iPP for a lot of users, and I think considering the power of the current gen, if Apple were to utilise it they would have done it this year, and it’s now safe to say the iPP will be a large iPhone for many years to come unfortunately.

I think what annoys the fans of the device the most is the fact it COULD be an absolutely amazing device but Apple chooses to restrict it time and time again, and people have just given it a last straw now.

No....the problem is that people keep expecting Apple to turn the iPad into a device that will nuke the sales of their laptop line - which they have ZERO reasons to do.

 

[James Godfrey]

No....the problem is that people keep expecting Apple to turn the iPad into a device that will nuke the sales of their laptop line - which they have ZERO reasons to do.

Yeah I have always said, I can never see Apple ever bringing MacOS to the iPad, even dual booting… it’s just never going to happen IMO…

 

[Surfman]

OP has another thread complaining about lightening cables no good lol, go figure.

 

[killramos]

It’s always entertaining, year after year, how people are somehow shocked their iPad is still a glorified toy.

I love my iPad, but I don’t pretend it’s not a toy.

 

[Duckyduckbumps]

It’s always entertaining, year after year, how people are somehow shocked their iPad is still a glorified toy.

I love my iPad, but I don’t pretend it’s not a toy.

Well, if so it’s a toy on which many of us are doing professional work. I designed many toys on my toy, when I was working as an illustrator for a toy company.

Re. Ergonomics, the Studio Proper X Lock case with hand strap has been an essential for me, on my 2017 iPad Pro. Either that or an equivalent product.

 

[1rottenapple]

How do you use an iPad then? When it’s in my lap while I’m sitting down my arm keeps my hand hovering over it. That’s how I interact with it. When I’m laying on a couch, same thing, I have to lift my arm up to touch the vertical positioned screen. It’s the same effort to interact with it if it was a Mac with a touch screen. It does get tiring over time and that’s why when laying down I’ll use my MacBook Pro if I’m going to be interacting with it. Movies are fine since I can rest my arm while watching.
I’ve also found when trying out the Touch Bar MacBook Pro that I have to move my hands slightly to reach and interact with the Touch Bar.

Using Apple’s (and your) logic, the Touch Bar is very unnatural as well.

I don’t want full blown macOS on the iPad, I just wish iPadOS was more capable. They’ve already brought features from the Mac to the iPad (and vice-versa) with out combining them.

People claim that Apple doesn’t want to hurt Mac sales. That excuse is ullshit. Steve Jobs always said that Apple wasn’t afraid of a device cannibalizing another device. Look at what happened to the iPod once the iPhone took off.

yes Apple sales are mainly iPhone then iPad. Macs are smaller and smaller portion of their profits. Heck other tahb 2020 with covid, Mac sales weren’t that big compared to the iphone and iPad. They could care less if they cannibalize their sales.

I agree as well i don’t want macos on the iPad… Apple doesn’t want it, other than a vocal minority on these forums people don’t want it. Theres a reason why people buy iPads these days more so than mac. It’s easier, faster, and more accessible. It’s something you can give to your mom or grandma and they know how to use it. And if you want to use the more advanced features ok you can. Split screen, download more software, buy Apple Pencil, use thunderbolt Ports. They just need to add a little more pro side features like ram.

 

[DMG35]

I have to be honest here, but I'm finding it really hard to find things that my M1 1TB 12.9" model does significantly faster than my wife's 2020 model. And by siginifcantly I mean really noticeably faster. Its honestly amazing how good the A12z chip already was. It's not as a significant upgrade as I thought it would be.

 

[1rottenapple]

If I had a 2018 12.9, I’d stick with that for a couple more years.

I know I’d have to look more into it but I think a refurbished 12.9 would be great.

 

[agsystems]

But did they though? There’s a number of people here who are happy with theirs. I purchased the 1TB 12.9” as an upgrade from the 2018 model. I’m very happy with mine in performance, extra storage, 5G, extra memory and amazing screen and that’s before I do any “work”. By purchasing the “pro” models, I get more use between upgrades and a better resale value at the other end which adds to the long term value.

Value for money is entirely subjective and clearly Apple hit the mark for a large number of people.

Really lots of people trying to justify their 2018 model. Hardly an issue I always sell my old gear to fund the next model - if you do that then you will feel a lot better about your purchase. Back on topic, the 2018 it’s a major upgrade and I have no regrets

 

[1rottenapple]

I have to be honest here, but I'm finding it really hard to find things that my M1 1TB 12.9" model does significantly faster than my wife's 2020 model. And by siginifcantly I mean really noticeably faster. Its honestly amazing how good the A12z chip already was. It's not as a significant upgrade as I thought it would be.

How is the screen brightn for every day task? is max brightness for drawing higher than the 2020 iPad?

 

[agsystems]

Really lots of people trying to justify their 2018 model. Hardly an issue I always sell my old gear to fund the next model - if you do that then you will feel a lot better about your purchase. Back on topic, the 2021 it’s a major upgrade and I have no regrets

 

[cardfan]

I've thought the same thing. A 12.9" geared towards basic tasks and media consumption could be very attractive to folks. At least to me. As consumers we might want devices geared to our exact needs and wants, but companies can only support so many product lines. So I'm not holding my breath for a non-Pro 12.9.

If only there was a 12.9 that didn’t have the fastest chip or the best screen. Or 5g.

 

[Zdigital2015]

To be honest I think most peeps who have been considering or on the fence about making the plunge from a MacBook to an iPP as their main device had their decisions made for them at WWDC this year.

WWDC was the make or break for the iPP for a lot of users, and I think considering the power of the current gen, if Apple were to utilise it they would have done it this year, and it’s now safe to say the iPP will be a large iPhone for many years to come unfortunately.

I think what annoys the fans of the device the most is the fact it COULD be an absolutely amazing device but Apple chooses to restrict it time and time again, and people have just given it a last straw now.

I have a 2017 12.9” iPad Pro 512GB which I love and use for lots of productivity apps and content consumption, but until Apple takes some of the self imposed shackles off of iOS, I have zero incentive to upgrade to a new iPad Pro. Apple just gave me another year of not spending any money on their most expensive iPads. The mini is the only model I care about for the next 12 months. Good job Apple.

 

[Soccerrick10]

The Steve years were the best. We got the iPod, the iPhone, the MacBook pro. He also kind of saved Apple. He also made Apple one of the top 3 tech companies in the world.

I know I'm kind of straw-manning this reply but in my experience he made the best products.

It’s funny you should compare then to now. I’m old enough to remember the launch of the Macintosh. Ironically enough, the complaints back then for the Mac are the same as the new iPad Pro - good processor and hardware, expensive memory for storage, poor depth of software. That’s true through the whole early years of Mac, Lisa, iPhone and iPad. The higher tier iPods were the first really successful new product introduction. It took Steve leaving and bringing back a beautiful operating system in NEXT to get the computer products moving in the right direction.

The second thing I find interesting is that Apple delivered exactly what they promised. They never said they would give us an M1 processor with MacOS in an iPad. I know, I’m guilty of it as well. But, the ones disappointed were dreaming of what “could be” and not listening to what it “will be”. I have mixed feelings, there is so much potential if they could just give us a little more. Even today, part of me thinks they have yet to announce the good stuff.

Finally, we are frustrated when we compare the cost relative to a MacBook Air. I’m more worried the new MacBooks will be on par or higher cost than the 2021 iPads. But, like my kids, I want it all, I want it now and I want it free.

 

[Rafterman]

To each their own...

But I have to say, reason 4 (I already have an M1 Air which is worlds ahead of this iPad due to MacOS) is like saying "I have a lawnmower, so I don't need a snow blower. Two completely different tools for two different jobs.