iPad Air 2 to iPad Pro 10.5 worth it?

[tonyz123456]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but can those who had the iPad Air 2 and upgraded to the new 10.5in pro version share whether it was worth it? If so, what tangible benefits were gained? I'm most likely going to use my iPad as a consumption device and likely will only add the Apple Pencil.

The main draw is the display - is it worth it?

 

[44267547]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but can those who had the iPad Air 2 and upgraded to the new 10.5in pro version share whether it was worth it? If so, what tangible benefits were gained? I'm most likely going to use my iPad as a consumption device and likely will only add the Apple Pencil.

The main draw is the display - is it worth it?

My opinion, is The 120 HZ display is the most notable upgrade, alongside the processor improvements with the quad speakers. It's also significantly brighter. But the question of being worth it, depends if you would appreciate the upgraded features and how you would use the iPad Pro.

Also, This other iPad thread listed below offers similar comparisons and discussions.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-air-2-owners-thinking-of-10-5.2048907/

 

[omgitscro]

I have purchased a new iPad about every 1.5–2 years. With the Air 2, I purchased it thinking that it might replace my MacBooks (I'm a PhD student in mathematics and I use up piles of paper and I use several programming languages to work). I bought a keyboard for it (Microsoft Foldable Keyboard) and the Pencil by 53. Both worked well for a while, but it was clear that I couldn't sell my MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

1.5 years later, with the 10.5" Pro + Pencil & Smart Keyboard, I am finally ready to sell my MacBooks. I haven't touched physical paper in two weeks and (using my iMac at school as a server) my coding environments are sufficiently good that the iPad wins overall. The display (which is miles ahead of my Air 2 and MacBooks), the speakers, and the responsiveness of the device (even in iOS 11) make the upgrade well worth it.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Deciding if it is "worth it" has got to be a choice you make. If you have extra funds yes if not the Air2 is still a great iPad.

 

[AidenL]

From my own experience, and my thread on here, I think it depends on what you use your iPad for.

Im actually returning my Pro and doing another year with an Air 1.

 

[maflynn]

is it worth it?

Only you can really determine whether its worth the cost. The screen is gorgeous, it does have that nice Promotion feature, but will you see that when watching movies? No. Is that feature worth plunking down 600+ dollars, probably not. The 10.5 has other enhancements that help justify the purchase, at least it did for me (and I didn't own an Air).

Worth is subjective, but I like what the IPP has to offer.

On the flip side, if you're not sure, then ask yourself what would an iPad have to have for you to buy it?

 

[scupking]

If you need the pencil and 4 speakers then get it. I had the pro 10.5 for a week and comparing it side by side with my air 2 it loaded some things a few seconds faster and other things the same. To me it wasn't worth $700 for a few seconds on some apps. Also in my case my air2 screen looked better. Yes the 4 speakers on the pro are great, the battery life was better and the screen size was nice. I'm going to see how next years 10.5 is. Also the air2 is still more comfortable to hold.

 

[UBS28]

Same for me. It just seems just like an iPad Air 2 that loads apps faster. Didn't think it was worth upgrading. And my 5"5 iPhone 6S plus can do all the same things I do with the iPad while being way more
mobile.

I'm still thinking about the 12.9 iPad Pro however.

 

[sparksd]

As maflynn noted, it's very subjective. I had some funds available and I considered the same upgrade (from 128GB LTE Air 2 to something similar in 10.5) but found that none of the changes were significant enough to me to warrant it. I don't have a need or desire for a pen, the additional speakers don't matter as I always use headphones or earbuds, and the display change wasn't enough to entice me. I ended up buying an 8" Galaxy S2 Tab (I have other Android devices) and I'm actually finding I'm using it more than the Air 2. Point being, individual need and preferences vary widely and you need to look at the deltas between the devices and determine if it's worth the cost to you.

 

[ninaco]

I went back to the Air 2 this morning while my new 10.5 Pro was charging. It was so frustrating using that virtual keyboard. I needed to write an email, and it took so long! Not because of any issue with the Air 2, but due to my own problems typing on that on-screen keyboard.

For me, going to the Pro was worth it just for the ASK! Yeah, it was another $159, but it’s what takes the ipad to the next level. I also appreciate the Pro’s bigger & better screen and much improved speakers. Speed-wise I don’t notice a lot of difference.

If you are only wanting to go the 10.5 due the improved display, I don’t think it’d be worth it. There’s a difference, but I don’t think it’s worth spending nearly $1k. It depends on your priorities, though.

 

[sparksd]

I went back to the Air 2 this morning while my new 10.5 Pro was charging. It was so frustrating using that virtual keyboard. I needed to write an email, and it took so long! Not because of any issue with the Air 2, but due to my own problems typing on that on-screen keyboard.

For me, going to the Pro was worth it just for the ASK! Yeah, it was another $159, but it’s what takes the ipad to the next level. I also appreciate the Pro’s bigger & better screen and much improved speakers. Speed-wise I don’t notice a lot of difference.

If you are only wanting to go the 10.5 due the improved display, I don’t think it’d be work it. There’s a difference, but I don’t think it’s worth spending nearly $1k. It depends on your priorities, though.

I agree - using the on-screen keyboard on the Air 2 for any significant amount of typing is a pain - it uses a large amount of real estate and requires that the tablet be laying flat. I use a lightweight Microsoft Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard if I have much to type. I have a QODE keyboard case but I need the keyboard so rarely that I prefer to use a thin smart case and separate keyboard as needed.

 

[tonyz123456]

Thanks for the feedback and the link to the other thread. I went to the Apple Store today to play around with it. While very impressive, I think I'm going to hold off for now on the 10.5 iPad for a lot of the reasons articulated by others. I had the chance to get a small discount on one without tax so was tempted but will pass.

 

[44267547]

Same for me. It just seems just like an iPad Air 2 that loads apps faster. Didn't think it was worth upgrading. And my 5"5 iPhone 6S plus can do all the same things I do with the iPad while being way more
mobile.

I'm still thinking about the 12.9 iPad Pro however.

Some times I see this as the 10.5 not being a big enough for Leap for some that already own the 9.7 Air 2 in terms of size, where as if they upgrade to the 12.9 iPad Pro, that's a significant jump in the overall size and display, where it feels completely different.

 

[bwhinnen]

As everyone says it is subjective. For me it came down to wanting to draw again and the ability to have the pencil was the draw card (no pun intended). I opted for the 10.5 over the 12.9 due to portability. I felt more inclined to carry something of a form factor I was used to rather than something bigger.

I have a 2011 11” MacBook Air for the same reason.

The pluses are:
- Pencil
- True tone display (it’s gorgeous)
- The brighter display, comparing to my Air 2 the difference is night and day

Other than that it is just a quicker version, but for me those pluses were worth it. My son wins out as he got my 128GB Air 2 to replace his old 32GB Mini 2 (which was always full).

I only got the 64GB version as I also got LTE this time and have a 200GB plan (soon to be family) and was only using 28GB on the Air 2.

You won’t go wrong either way. Both are beautiful devices.

Brett

 

[Vivian125]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but can those who had the iPad Air 2 and upgraded to the new 10.5in pro version share whether it was worth it? If so, what tangible benefits were gained? I'm most likely going to use my iPad as a consumption device and likely will only add the Apple Pencil.

The main draw is the display - is it worth it?

It really depends if your iPad Air 2 is still working then why would you upgrade??

Speakers: Yes, it has excellent 4 stereo speakers.

Performance and Features : Yes, because it doubled the score of an iPad Air 2, and it runs iOS 10 built with it and can run iOS 11 PAR with iPhone 8, along with MORE BETTER BATTERY, PENCIL CAPABILITIES, which is not present on iPad Air 2, along with IMPROVED CAMERA with FLASH

Display : No, You're not an eagle to differentiate between 120Hz vs 0Hz on iPad Air 2.. You're just a Human with a 20/20 Vision WITH GLASSES or worse... so it's really worthless and everything from iPad 3 and above is already EXCELLENT for it's retina display.

Design : No, because iPad Pro 10.5 is soo 2013, that came from over 4 years ago and others will say your still using iPad Air 1st GEN!!
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It really depends if your iPad Air 2 is still working then why would you upgrade??

Speakers: Yes, it has excellent 4 stereo speakers.

Performance and Features : Yes, because it doubled the score of an iPad Air 2, and it runs iOS 10 built with it and can run iOS 11 PAR with iPhone 8, along with MORE BETTER BATTERY, PENCIL CAPABILITIES, which is not present on iPad Air 2, along with IMPROVED CAMERA with FLASH

Display : No, You're not an eagle to differentiate between 120Hz vs 0Hz on iPad Air 2.. You're just a Human with a 20/20 Vision WITH GLASSES or worse... so it's really worthless and everything from iPad 3 and above is already EXCELLENT for it's retina display.

Design : No, because iPad Pro 10.5 is soo 2013, that came from over 4 years ago and others will say your still using iPad Air 1st GEN!!

Truelaley sister, So TRUE!!! The only negative side of iPad Pro 10.5 is the DESIGN which is so old now like you're still using an iPad Air 1.. Other people won't care that much because of putting so much effort so Others Will Try hard just to Show Off The Latest iPAD!!!

 

[ShaunAFC3]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but can those who had the iPad Air 2 and upgraded to the new 10.5in pro version share whether it was worth it? If so, what tangible benefits were gained? I'm most likely going to use my iPad as a consumption device and likely will only add the Apple Pencil.

The main draw is the display - is it worth it?

I think the iPad Pro 10.5 is definitely a fantastic tablet and the best iPad available today especially the very very ridiculously powerful A10X chip and that 120Hz ProMotion technology in the screen/display and more and judging by the reviews and users it is is a beast of a tablet and IOS 11 will definitely make the iPad Pro 10.5 even better.

But since I have a iPad Air 2 which I owned for nearly 2 years now and still in very good condition and runs very well and the battery life is still fantastic and the things that I use it for are really pretty casual like web browsing, video watching and playing games, and set it and the iPad Air 2 is still very powerful and fast enough and still great for those type of things that I use my iPad Air 2 for.

I would love to upgrade to the new iPad Pro 10.5 but at the moment and I am definitely very happy with using my iPad Air 2 for another year or 2 before upgrading to a way newer and much more better iPad Pro 10.5 model in the future.

 

[RicD]

After comparing my iPad Air 2 to the iPad Pro 10.5, truly I could not justify any reason upgrading my iPad Air 2; not enough difference making upgrade worthwhile. The iPad Air 2 is fast, mine has 128 GB, and is cellular as well.

If, for your work you have need to use a pen of course the iPad Pro would be a better fit. My iPad Air 2 is used with MS Office, Apple iWork, Google office apps and many other Google productivity apps, use it with databases having much data, photo editing, scan documents, transferring files, and the like, of course the normal surfing, email. Notice, I neither play games nor edit videos for them possibly the iPad Pro would prove much improved over the iPad Air 2.

Yes, the Pro is sometimes faster opening apps, but truth be known after the app is open on either iPad you will not see any appreciable difference working within your app. The screen size of either may be a detriment for some; at times the iPad Air 2 screen size feels cramped same as the iPad Pro 10.5 would.

Also, my iPad Air 2 is paired with the Belkin QODE keyboard; $120-ish; an amazing combination. Excluding video editing and that genre, the iPad Air 2 is equal to and can sometimes outperform our 2010 MBP and Chromebooks.

Hope the above helps someone.

 

[promotorx]

From my own experience, and my thread on here, I think it depends on what you use your iPad for.

Im actually returning my Pro and doing another year with an Air 1.

i did the same. $300 more for better camera, speed, but lower resolution, heavier and bigger to hold. Not worth it.

 

[DNichter]

Absolutely. 10.5 is the best computer I've owned.