So, I don't see that there is going to be a big difference. A couple more speakers and a depth camera, perhaps more RAM and a faster processor. What do you all think??? Worth waiting or not?
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iPad iPad Air or wait for new iPad Pro 11" (2021)?
- Thread starter TopDownDriver
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I would wait. But I’m biased because I don’t need an iPad at all. If I did I would want to see whether the rumors for Mini-Led are true (if they’re important to you). Are 120Hz and slightly better speakers important to you? Do you regularly edit demanding videos in high resolutions and need every possible bit of computing power?
If you don’t need any of the above then the Air’s a great mid price range device.
If you don’t need any of the above then the Air’s a great mid price range device.
Why wait just 6 month? Why not 2 yr for the next next Pro? Just upgrade when you need or want to since there will always be something better on the horizon.
Really comes down to what you use your iPad for.
I use my iPad for work and would never settle for anything less than the best that Apple had to offer.
If yours is mostly consumption, the current air will more than suffice.
All but one of the differences you list are differences between the Air 4 and the current Pro (the Air 4's processor is faster in single core, but slightly slower in multi-core). So if those are the things that matter to you there's no need to wait: you just decide whether you want the Air 4 or the current Pro.
The big changes people are expecting for the next Pro are the widely-rumoured mini-LED display and probably a newer processor. Nobody knows how long you will have to wait for that, and nobody knows whether Apple will change the price when they release it. If you have no urgent need to buy the iPad then you can wait until it's released and see. But unless those things sound like a big deal to you I'd not bother waiting myself.
The big changes people are expecting for the next Pro are the widely-rumoured mini-LED display and probably a newer processor. Nobody knows how long you will have to wait for that, and nobody knows whether Apple will change the price when they release it. If you have no urgent need to buy the iPad then you can wait until it's released and see. But unless those things sound like a big deal to you I'd not bother waiting myself.
My only iPad to date was the original, and I gave that up years ago. I am not an Apple user, and am not part of their infrastructure (frankly I hate it and how restrictive it is). I use Windows on my PCs (many) and have Android on my phones (did have an iPhone for a while early on and found it to be a pain).
I am looking for an iPad to use in the field with Lightroom, to read the NYT, and take with me generally when travelling. USB-C is essential (which is something I am finally happy to see Apple has come around to - kicking and screaming). I also feel that along with Android and Windows I will now have access to all potential applications.
Personally, the thought of an iPad as a creation device is ludicrous at best. Which is why I question the practical differences between the iPad Air and iPad pro to be almost insignificant. Personally, I wonder with the new Pro if they would discontinue the 11" iPad Pro in favor of the Air? They are just too similar at $200+ difference in price.
Going to wait until Prime Day as I am sure there will be deals on iPads at that time and make up my mind. Form factor wise, I strongly prefer the Surface Pro X, but they need to convince me that they are committed to ARM and that the x64 emulation actually works well. So far, a disappointing device at best! Don't think Android offers anything in a tablet form that the phone doesn't do better.
We shall see. Open to any and all perspectives, insights and thoughts.
I am looking for an iPad to use in the field with Lightroom, to read the NYT, and take with me generally when travelling. USB-C is essential (which is something I am finally happy to see Apple has come around to - kicking and screaming). I also feel that along with Android and Windows I will now have access to all potential applications.
Personally, the thought of an iPad as a creation device is ludicrous at best. Which is why I question the practical differences between the iPad Air and iPad pro to be almost insignificant. Personally, I wonder with the new Pro if they would discontinue the 11" iPad Pro in favor of the Air? They are just too similar at $200+ difference in price.
Going to wait until Prime Day as I am sure there will be deals on iPads at that time and make up my mind. Form factor wise, I strongly prefer the Surface Pro X, but they need to convince me that they are committed to ARM and that the x64 emulation actually works well. So far, a disappointing device at best! Don't think Android offers anything in a tablet form that the phone doesn't do better.
We shall see. Open to any and all perspectives, insights and thoughts.
Lightroom is arguably a content creation application. And LumaFusion works quite well on iPads, more responsive on the recent Pros than Final Cut is on relatively recent MacBook Pros. Affinity Photo is also decent.
However, regardless if you're doing content creation or not, the iPad Air 4 may suit you. The reason I am waiting for the 11" Pro in 2021 (assuming Apple actually releases one), is for mini-LED, 5G, and Face ID. I already have a Touch ID iPad Pro 10.5" and don't want to get another Touch ID iPad. I like Touch ID on the iPhone, but like it less on the iPad.
Mini-LED doesn't sound like such a great thing. In fact it pales compared to OLED (which I have on my 4k laptop - which I use for editing). As for 5g, my phone has it and can act as a hot-spot using 802.11ax - why would I want another bill to put it in my tablet.
Not trying to be argumentative. Just working through the though process.
Not trying to be argumentative. Just working through the though process.
OLED is great, but won't be coming to iPads any time soon. However, I find the black levels on the current iPads leaving me wanting better. Mini-LED isn't comparable to OLED, but if done correctly, it should be a significant improvement over the current models.
BTW, I pay CAD$5 a month for my wife's 4 GB per month 4G LTE data plan for her iPad 7 (2019). That's US$3.75 per month. I know it's not 5G, but if I'm getting a cellular model in 2021, it's going to have to be a 5G model, since I keep my devices a very long time. I won't be getting another iPad for many years after this, unless it breaks.
I've been ready to upgrade my iPad Pro 10.5" for about a year. Was disappointed with the 2020 iPad Pro refresh and then extremely tempted by the iPad Air, but I've ultimately decided to wait. My iPad Pro 10.5" is still serving my needs outside of lackluster battery life.
ProMotion, better speakers, slightly larger 11" screen, MicroLED (assuming that's not 12.9" only) are enough for me to wait given that my current needs are met. Plus, I'm actually excited for the net Pro. The lackluster Pro update and the impressive Air update means Apple must have some plans to differentiate the Pro again.
ProMotion, better speakers, slightly larger 11" screen, MicroLED (assuming that's not 12.9" only) are enough for me to wait given that my current needs are met. Plus, I'm actually excited for the net Pro. The lackluster Pro update and the impressive Air update means Apple must have some plans to differentiate the Pro again.
I am a teacher who is using my 2018 iPad Pro to teach in the classroom. iPad is mirrored to the projector via an Apple TV, I annotate on pdf documents in notability with the Apple Pencil. Also use other tools such as the camera app or screen recording to create screencasts, edit and upload them using LumaFusion.
None is particularly heavy work, but I use my iPad enough hours in the day that I am willing to pay for the best model and performance and well at the time, the iPad Pro model was the only option available to me (I wanted both the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard).
Pretty much all the current rumours about the next iPad Pro pertain to the 12.9”. There’s hardly been any talk about the next 11”, so there’s speculation it might be discontinued, especially with the new Air 4 having a very similar form factor. So if you decide you want a 11” Pro, I would seriously consider getting the current one while it’s still out.
Are you saying the next Pro may only be 12.9" and the Air will be the 11" iPad. I can see how that would make sense. However, is it backed up by anything?
I made my purchasing decision base on this knowledge too. Since apple is bringing air 4 closer to ipad pro 11, it make perfect sense that they have one ipad in different budget segment.
iPad Mini - Niche market
iPad 10.2 (for the mass) - Base Tier
iPad Air 4 (Looks and feel like pro) - Mid Tier
iPad Pro 12.9 - End Tier
I don't believe it's going to happen, the 10.9in was made to differentiate it from the 11. And the gap would be too big. 330 base, 500 mini, 600 air and 1000 max. No, the 800 pro has its place, and A14X, quad speakers, promotion and RAM will make the difference. Now 12.9 might be the only one to get mini led to justify the additional $200 like Samsung put oled in the 12.4 to justify the additional $200. It hope it won't be the case, but it might. But the 11 pro won't disappear from the line...
Just spoke to a friend who is with Apple. It is being considered as a way to consolidate the line up.
Entry - 10.2
Mini - 7.9
Air - 10.9
Pro - 12.9
The amount of memory and or other options will fill in the gaps. Seems to make sense as they want to move them all to USB-C and the latest peripherals.
Entry - 10.2
Mini - 7.9
Air - 10.9
Pro - 12.9
The amount of memory and or other options will fill in the gaps. Seems to make sense as they want to move them all to USB-C and the latest peripherals.
I'll believe it when I see it...
If there is no new 11 Pro with mini-LED, I will be annoyed but not overly pissed, but I just won’t buy anything. The reason I won’t be pissed is mainly because I’m stuck working at home most of the time these days anyway so I have less need for a new iPad Pro. Nonetheless, I still want one.
I will not consider the iPad Air 4, because it is not enough of an upgrade for me, given that like my iPad pro 10.5, the Air 4 still has Touch ID, 4 GB RAM, LTE, and standard LCD.This will change with the ARM Macs coming soon, FCPX will be smooth as butter.
And for that you get the best model? Lol, such a waste. Wouldn't it be better to save the money and perhaps buy something that you benefit from?
Personally, if I had been someone who uses the Pencil a lot, I'd consider the iPad Pro worth it for the convenience of Apple Pencil 2 alone (at least back when Air 4 wasn't an option).
Work provides me with a Windows desktop. For home/personal use, I'm ~85% iPad, ~10% iPhone and ~5% PC so the iPad gets prioritized for upgrades. Since I use it the most, I think it's just fair that the iPad gets a bigger chunk of the tech budget.
Honestly, on 10-11", what I really want (based on existing tech) isn't available:
Apple A14 (for longer battery)
6-8GB RAM
1TB
5G
MSRP: $1299 or less
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Such as?
For a product I use daily in and outside of the classroom, I don't really consider it a waste of money. It's really paid for itself. Better specs (4gb ram, A12X, USB-C port which now supports external storage, better camera), I also do a fair amount of gaming on my iPad and am pleased at the performance of games such as Grimvalor (which does support the 120hz display).
I was upgrading from the 9.7" iPad Pro and in 2018, there really wasn't any other alternative. The entry level iPad was a step down compared to what I already had, and Apple had just refreshed the form factor with the 2018 iPad Pro, together with a new way of docking the Apple Pencil and a new Smart Keyboard design.
I don't think there's really anything else I could have bought at that point (or even now) that can replace my iPad in terms of what I use it for, and I say it's been worth every penny.