I think we can extend that observation to any computer platform that has plateaued like the Mac, iPhone, iPad and many other examples.
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iPad Pro I returned my M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2TB
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I think we can extend that observation to any computer platform that has plateaued like the Mac, iPhone, iPad and many other examples.
Been that way for me on PCs since Haswell. I did take the opportunity of 7 EOL last year to switch/sidegrade to ultra SFF ULV Coffee Lake with HEVC hardware decode.
I’m not sure I’d phrase it as “can only support so many product lines”. I’m pretty sure Apple could support more and still make huge profits, it’d just be less profit than they make now (Samsung would be an example of a company that operates this way). Apple choose to only support so many product lines.
I think 11 inch will be fine to be honest. More portable and I think is a better combo for my mac
You say this but then go on to say that your usage basically consists of web browsing and media consumption. Seems inconsistent, as the only real limitations of iPadOS are found when performing more demanding workflows.
Well, with 2TB of movies ,one probably could make several trips around the world and not have a rerun other then seeing the world several times. 
If one uses tons of Safari tabs, the RAM helps reduce/eliminate reloads albeit not really worth upgrading to if one doesn't need the extra storage.
The high storage allows one to keep a lot of local content. I was once stuck in a hospital overseas with no wifi and crappy cellular for a month. Having tons of ebooks, comics and videos on the iPad was really useful.
I'm not so sure the iPad Pro would nuke MacBook sales even if it could run macOS, which we all know would be less than stellar on a touch first device. First of all, look at what you can buy a MacBook Air for then try to buy the equivalent spec iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard. Let's look at the 512GB model base MacBook Air since it will have identical 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU like the M1 iPad Pro. The MacBook Air is $1249. The equivalent iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard are $1749. $500 is not something to sneeze at. Many people would continue to buy the MacBook Air and Pros, particularly when the newer more powerful 14" and 16" models come out. I own a 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil combo, and it's easily my favorite device, but the value proposition isn't there anymore with the M1 powered MacBook Air. To each their own of course.
You can extend that to the 2018 since the A12X and A12Z have identical CPU performance and only minor GPU performance differences. This and the nearly identical form factor and peripheral support (Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2) between the 2018 and 2021 iPad Pros are precisely why I chose not to upgrade my 2018. There's simply not enough difference. The 2018 iPad Pro was a substantial departure from the iPad design language and brought FaceID and USB-C, plus the A12X which have all proven to be very future proof.
May as well get a refurb 2018 no different hardly, save a heap of bucks.
And this is why you weren't satisfied. You never needed an iPad Pro to begin with. A baseline iPad checks all of these boxes just fine.
Depends on whether getting the 2018 now would require one to upgrade sooner. These things get firmware support for 5+ years. Three years from now (2024), the 2018 iPP would be 6-years old. How well will it cope then? The Air 2 and Pro 9.7 aren’t doing so hot now.
Exactly. I’ll never understand ‘I bought a screwdriver and it makes a lousy wrench’ logic. Maybe buy the tool you need instead of the one you think is the coolest?
As an artist, iPads have been revolutionary. The ability to carry a full fledged studio with you wherever you go is nothing short of game changing. Every brush, every color, every kind of paper you ever wanted, all in one A4 sized package that you can throw in your bag.
Procreate 5.2 is going to have 3D paint and AR visualization capabilities! On an iPad!!!!
Once I had seen ProMotion on my 1st gen 12.9 in action compared to iPad base or Air, there was no going back. I waited and read instead of rushing to order a 12.9. My M1 11 inch is perfect for me.
I somewhat agree, which is why I'm having a very difficult time justifying to myself upgrading my 2018 11" iPad Pro (though didn't buy it until March of 2019). While the M1 is awesome in my MacBook Air, not sure if I need it as a upgrade in my iPad. And now that I've got the M1 MacBook Air, I think the 12.9" would be overkill. I had a gen. 1 12.9" iPad Pro way back when they first came out, but didn't have a MacBook at that time.
I'm actually thinking maybe I want the re-designed (rumored) iPad mini instead of upgrading the 11" iPad Pro to a new 11" or a 12.9". Could be the mini-Pro I've wanted with just the right balance of size, form-factor and speed, especially if it supports the Apple Pencil 2 (or a shorter mini-sized Pencil).
Quite possibly - an older one. You can go back all the way to 2015 an get 12.9”.
But you got me, it was intended as hyperbole.
My point being: a lot of people buy “pro” devices because that “pro” makes other devices seem unprofessional and it makes them doubt if that standard iPad is really good enough to stream video on or read the web on.
There are a huge number of people who just go out and buy the biggest, most expensive thing even though they don’t need anywhere near the horsepower.
If that’s their thing, cool, let them. If you can afford that sort of thing, who am I to tell you that you shouldn’t?
I probably react a little too harshly to that because I’ve always been the person in my circle who people ask what hardware they need for [task] and I’d tell them honestly. I’d tell them what they’d need so it would still be good in a couple of years.
Sometimes, though, people still went and bought stuff that was hundreds or thousands of euros/dollars more expensive and absolute overkill for their purposes. Just because it had “pro” in its name or because the cool kids had it. Or their decidedly un-tech savvy parents panicked and thought you definitely needed 16GB, 2TB, GeForce whatever for MS Word.
Once again, though, whatever floats your/their boat.
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Thanks to everyone that posts on MacRumors. Even if I disagree, everyone‘s posts are insightful and often informative. BTW, Apple is a great company that allows customers to return used items after 14 days of use.
I bought a 2021, 12.9, 256 GB as my fist iPP, and I am loving it. I am not a creative professional, but the ipad suits my workload perfectly as a highschool bio and chem teacher. The online platforms work just as well with iPadOS as any “computer” OS. I decided to complement my pro with an apple keyboard, apple mouse, and Logitech crayon. I can use productivity apps from apple, google, and microsoft with ease. Using TEAMS for online conferencing with my students works just as well, if not better than using a computer. With the crayon I can write directly on the screen during conferencing and while marking submitted work, which you all know a Mac can’t do.
The reason why I love the iPP more than my 13 inch Mac Pro is that when I am done work with the laptop I set it aside. With the iPP, I still continue to use it as a consumption device for the remainder of the day. So cost of a macbook Air plus iPad (non-Pro) is more than the cost of the iPP. Plus the screen on the 12.9 inch iPP is killer.
But each to their own. All of those returned iPPs will find a good home where they will be enjoyed.
I bought a 2021, 12.9, 256 GB as my fist iPP, and I am loving it. I am not a creative professional, but the ipad suits my workload perfectly as a highschool bio and chem teacher. The online platforms work just as well with iPadOS as any “computer” OS. I decided to complement my pro with an apple keyboard, apple mouse, and Logitech crayon. I can use productivity apps from apple, google, and microsoft with ease. Using TEAMS for online conferencing with my students works just as well, if not better than using a computer. With the crayon I can write directly on the screen during conferencing and while marking submitted work, which you all know a Mac can’t do.
The reason why I love the iPP more than my 13 inch Mac Pro is that when I am done work with the laptop I set it aside. With the iPP, I still continue to use it as a consumption device for the remainder of the day. So cost of a macbook Air plus iPad (non-Pro) is more than the cost of the iPP. Plus the screen on the 12.9 inch iPP is killer.
But each to their own. All of those returned iPPs will find a good home where they will be enjoyed.
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I add my self to the people that don't "need" any iPad but just loves to do almost anything on a 12,9 iPad pro. I am a developer and I reaaaaaly regret not having the possibility to develop on iPad due to its limited OS. But as a tool to use in the house to consume and produce content with that form factor is unreplaceable, in my opinion
Exactly. I didn't need a 12.9" Pro, I have the 2020 model. All I do is read books on it and a little internet. It's the big screen I was interested in.
I did try to import some photos loaded onto a SD card and inserted into a dock that I use for my MBP and Note 10+ with zero problems. I couldn't import the photos onto the iPad that way so I gave up.
Not sure if I'll buy another iPad in the future. I could easily live without and just use my phone and 16" MBP.
Well, I just got my 12.9 iPad Pro 2TB, and I'm keeping it. It is AWESOME! My MacBook Pro has been collecting dust for a while, and now I can safely relegate it to the scrap heap. If I need a "real" computer, I will use my iMac. But for on the go, this iPad Pro is AWESOME!!!!
Not sure why not- I do that daily into a variety of apps.
Exactly. I still use an iPad Pro 9.7". Until iPadOS gets more software development features, beyond just Xcode Playgrounds, I have literally zero reasons to upgrade. Four years after it was released the original iPad Pro is still fast enough. The only thing I notice is a lack of memory sometimes, but it's not a big deal. I'm used to apps getting terminated in the background thanks to the iPhone.
I find the iPad to be an excellent training device. I use it mainly for reading technical books and watching Udemy classes.
Ideally, I'd like A14 (for low power) + 12-16GB RAM + 1TB + 5G. I'm more than fine skipping ProMotion, Mini-LED or quad speakers. Apple doesn't make exactly what I want though so I have to choose from what's available.
Last time I used a PC with 4GB RAM was in the Windows XP days and even XP didn't suffer from reloads like iPadOS does.
When high RAM and 1TB trickle down to lower end models (or they finally give us swap), that's when I move away from the Pros. Unless of course, Apple starts using OLED with PWM on lower end to mid-range models. Those give me migraines.
People who ask me what to buy usually get exactly what I recommend. Of course, most are frugal or have other priorities and are not at all interested in spending more for tech than they have to.
No one should use a tablet without a good stand. It leads to a bad posture. This is how I am actually doing here with the old 10.5: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pe.2299889/page-3?post=29995008#post-29995008
There are many good tablet stands out there (the one from the link is wishacc and for books), what I don’t recommend is using while lying on the bed. Of course the desk where they both stay should be high so your eyes are on the same level as the iPad screen, to avoid another bad posture which tires your neck.
I also think the 12.9 is too big and heavier so it will only please a few users which need it for drawing or something specific. Not too small and not too big is what works for most people.
There are many good tablet stands out there (the one from the link is wishacc and for books), what I don’t recommend is using while lying on the bed. Of course the desk where they both stay should be high so your eyes are on the same level as the iPad screen, to avoid another bad posture which tires your neck.
I also think the 12.9 is too big and heavier so it will only please a few users which need it for drawing or something specific. Not too small and not too big is what works for most people.
I keep hitting refresh on news from GitHub on CodeSpaces. Between CodeSpaces and the update to Swift Playgrounds, my admittedly light coding aspirations will be met.