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iPad Pro I want the iPad Pro 13 + MK, but can't justify it...

Sensamic

Sensamic

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 26, 2010
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Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.

I even though about buying it to use as a laptop replacement, keeping the Air for tablet use in hand, but again, way way expensive for that. I also have an M3 iMac, which is so fast and great that it's actually better to use when at home. I don't actually need a laptop except for a very few times when working outside, but in that case, the M4 MacBook Air is 999€, has better battery life, full fledged OS, better keyboard, ports...

In Europe, the base M4 iPad Pro is 1400€, and ideally the perfect model would be with 5G, which costs more than 1500€, plus 300€ for the Magic Keyboard. That's too much for a device that's really not a necessity in my case.

13 iPad Air is nice, but if I were to buy a 13 iPad as a laptop replacement or just for fun, I would prefer the Pro, since the Magic Keyboard is way nicer, 120Hz, OLED screen, FaceID...

Maybe when the new M5 comes out, it will go down in price, but not that much. Apple prices in Europe are just crazy in the last couple of years...
 
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If you don't already have a Mac device in your household then the Macbook Air M4 would probably be better for you, as you already have a iPad Air M2. Otherwise the iPad Pro M4 13” + MKB is honestly a fantastic device to use, even if expensive.

Also i highly doubt the iPP M5 will be cheaper, it will be the same price or slightly more i reckon.
 
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I know the feeling. I bought the magic keyboard for my M4 iPad Pro as well (shame they don't offer the Smart Keyboard any more), I use it maybe 10% of the time, and its a great experience every time I do because of how easy it is to attach and detach the iPad by way of the magnets.

I have no advice for you, as someone who baulked at the price, still bought it, and continues to use the keyboard while whining about the price every step of the way. 🙃
 
Sensamic said:
Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.

I even though about buying it to use as a laptop replacement, keeping the Air for tablet use in hand, but again, way way expensive for that. I also have an M3 iMac, which is so fast and great that it's actually better to use when at home. I don't actually need a laptop except for a very few times when working outside, but in that case, the M4 MacBook Air is 999€, has better battery life, full fledged OS, better keyboard, ports...

In Europe, the base M4 iPad Pro is 1400€, and ideally the perfect model would be with 5G, which costs more than 1500€, plus 300€ for the Magic Keyboard. That's too much for a device that's really not a necessity in my case.

13 iPad Air is nice, but if I were to buy a 13 iPad as a laptop replacement or just for fun, I would prefer the Pro, since the Magic Keyboard is way nicer, 120Hz, OLED screen, FaceID...

Maybe when the new M5 comes out, it will go down in price, but not that much. Apple prices in Europe are just crazy in the last couple of years...
Click to expand...
Get the M2 and old MK. Silicon series are too powerful for iPad usages.
 
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Abazigal said:
I know the feeling. I bought the magic keyboard for my M4 iPad Pro as well (shame they don't offer the Smart Keyboard any more), I use it maybe 10% of the time, and its a great experience every time I do because of how easy it is to attach and detach the iPad by way of the magnets.

I have no advice for you, as someone who baulked at the price, still bought it, and continues to use the keyboard while whining about the price every step of the way. 🙃
Click to expand...

Same here. I waffled but updated to the M4 13" & new MKB from the M1 12.9 + MKB and am really happy that I did. The OLED display is outstanding and I really like the new MKB. I've forgotten the ouch factor.
 
Sensamic said:
Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.
Click to expand...
I’ve looked at the iPad Pro and it’s really tempting, but I use my iPad for the same thing you do and I just can’t justify it. I have an iPad Air 4th gen with A14 and other than not getting some new features like stage manager, it does everything perfectly. i’ve never used it and felt I wish it could get this done faster.

It’s the same with my M2 MacBook Air. Especially now with some of the sales I’m drooling over the M4 in that beautiful blue color. I think this is just me looking at new and shiny, but I won’t be getting anything out of it.

So far I’ve been able to not click the buy button on anything. Maybe next year
 
Sensamic said:
Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.

I even though about buying it to use as a laptop replacement, keeping the Air for tablet use in hand, but again, way way expensive for that. I also have an M3 iMac, which is so fast and great that it's actually better to use when at home. I don't actually need a laptop except for a very few times when working outside, but in that case, the M4 MacBook Air is 999€, has better battery life, full fledged OS, better keyboard, ports...

In Europe, the base M4 iPad Pro is 1400€, and ideally the perfect model would be with 5G, which costs more than 1500€, plus 300€ for the Magic Keyboard. That's too much for a device that's really not a necessity in my case.

13 iPad Air is nice, but if I were to buy a 13 iPad as a laptop replacement or just for fun, I would prefer the Pro, since the Magic Keyboard is way nicer, 120Hz, OLED screen, FaceID...

Maybe when the new M5 comes out, it will go down in price, but not that much. Apple prices in Europe are just crazy in the last couple of years...
Click to expand...

I’ve literally just made this move myself: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...set-up-replacement-of-my-work-15-mba.2459866/

My hand was forced after being made redundant last week and having to send my 15” MBA back to the company…

But having an M4 Mac Mini; I didn’t want another MacBook, but wanted a more portable device this time around, so I can use it for reading (Kindle, magazines etc)

I managed to get the M4 iPad Pro (brand new/sealed) and Apple Magic Keyboard (brand new/sealed also) on eBay for UK for just under £1200 delivered

Amazon UK have ‘Buy in 5’ live currently and I thought about that; but I’d have been paying nearly £1800 - really glad I looked on eBay UK now :)
 
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Sometimes I just hate it, but it’s like shut up and take my money. I got the M4 11” iPad Pro. Wish I had got the 13” since now they have iPadOS 26. I do believe it could now do most of what I want away from home/office instead of lugging around a 16” MBP that I regret buying and stays in my bag for the most part.
 
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Sensamic said:
Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.

I even though about buying it to use as a laptop replacement, keeping the Air for tablet use in hand, but again, way way expensive for that. I also have an M3 iMac, which is so fast and great that it's actually better to use when at home. I don't actually need a laptop except for a very few times when working outside, but in that case, the M4 MacBook Air is 999€, has better battery life, full fledged OS, better keyboard, ports...

In Europe, the base M4 iPad Pro is 1400€, and ideally the perfect model would be with 5G, which costs more than 1500€, plus 300€ for the Magic Keyboard. That's too much for a device that's really not a necessity in my case.

13 iPad Air is nice, but if I were to buy a 13 iPad as a laptop replacement or just for fun, I would prefer the Pro, since the Magic Keyboard is way nicer, 120Hz, OLED screen, FaceID...

Maybe when the new M5 comes out, it will go down in price, but not that much. Apple prices in Europe are just crazy in the last couple of years...
Click to expand...
Personally, I don’t think too many Apple product owners spend much consideration of the “justifying” aspect of an Apple purchase. Not sure that has ever Benz the case. I remember buying my first 128 Mac in 1984. When I was done buying the IW printer, external disk drive etc I spent about $3,500 (in 1984).

I’ve continued over the years to buy latest versions of Apple Macs, iPhones and MacBooks without giving much thought to the incremental cost.

I think for many Apple product owners it’s always been more a matter of want versus need.
 
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sparksd said:
Definitely a user-by-user experience; I find the new 13" to be quite fine as a tablet away from the MKB.
Click to expand...
It’s just the keyboard I have trouble with. Voice dictation works well, but not always practical. Scribble is frustrating. The small keyboard is ok but a bit too small. The big one is fine but requires sitting in a certainly way to use properly. I wish they would make the keyboard totally customisable. Size, position, windowed, break-in-half-able. It’s a real issue for me and makes the tablet a bit of a pain over my phone.
 
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cupcakes2000 said:
It’s just the keyboard I have trouble with. Voice dictation works well, but not always practical. Scribble is frustrating. The small keyboard is ok but a bit too small. The big one is fine but requires sitting in a certainly way to use properly. I wish they would make the keyboard totally customisable. Size, position, windowed, break-in-half-able. It’s a real issue for me and makes the tablet a bit of a pain over my phone.
Click to expand...

I definitely do not like doing much typing on any tablet - for that I use the MKB. Typing on the phone is horrible for me as I have hand tremors.
 
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sparksd said:
I definitely do not like doing much typing on any tablet - for that I use the MKB. Typing on the phone is horrible for me as I have hand tremors.
Click to expand...
Yeah I use the MK too. But laying around using it tablet form is what I’m talking about really. Anyway - it’s not a major issue but it could definitely do with some innovation around typing on screen using your fingers whilst holding something the size of a sheet of paper.
 
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Sensamic said:
Anyone else in the same boat?

The iPad Pro 13 M4 plus the new Magic Keyboard is so cool, but completely overkill and overpriced for my needs (basic web browsing, reading forums, light productivity work, etc). I instead bought an iPad Air 11 M2 last year.

I even though about buying it to use as a laptop replacement, keeping the Air for tablet use in hand, but again, way way expensive for that. I also have an M3 iMac, which is so fast and great that it's actually better to use when at home. I don't actually need a laptop except for a very few times when working outside, but in that case, the M4 MacBook Air is 999€, has better battery life, full fledged OS, better keyboard, ports...

In Europe, the base M4 iPad Pro is 1400€, and ideally the perfect model would be with 5G, which costs more than 1500€, plus 300€ for the Magic Keyboard. That's too much for a device that's really not a necessity in my case.

13 iPad Air is nice, but if I were to buy a 13 iPad as a laptop replacement or just for fun, I would prefer the Pro, since the Magic Keyboard is way nicer, 120Hz, OLED screen, FaceID...

Maybe when the new M5 comes out, it will go down in price, but not that much. Apple prices in Europe are just crazy in the last couple of years...
Click to expand...
My M1 , 2 TB SSD , is still going strong, wicked fast,and has zero issues with anything,including the Apple Keyboard. Save some money, buy the M-1 iPP, it doesn’t dissapoint.
 
Cheffy Dave said:
My M1 , 2 TB SSD , is still going strong, wicked fast,and has zero issues with anything,including the Apple Keyboard. Save some money, buy the M-1 iPP, it doesn’t dissapoint.
Click to expand...
Or M2 as it has already 80% limit charging which I found very good for battery life.
 
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