iPad Pro iPad has become quite useless and I regret purchasing it

[igauravarora]

Now, this will depend on the individual use case but I want to share my experience.

I bought iPad Pro 12.9 M1 6 months ago, I had the Air 2 previously. Initially I used to use it as a multimedia/Youtube device and was so impressed by the display and speakers. But as I bought the MacBook Pro 16, the use case of iPad Pro has completely diminished for me.

I mostly use my laptop and don't even pick up my iPad Pro anymore. I knew beforehand that iPad was severely limited in software. I don't know why this even exists anymore. Even the baseline MacBook Air has good value and could do heck more than the iPad.

Most of my gripes are with the software, it just cannot do much. It doesn't even have a good video player where I can watch local dolby vision content, the ones on the App Store are unnecessarily expensive. On my MacBook I can use Subler to convert an mkv DV file with 4-5 clicks and watch it on the QuickTime player. Everything is unnecessarily complicated on the iPad.

The files app is a hot mess as well on iPadOS 14. I haven't upgraded to the 15 as I have read posts about the battery life gone down to the *******. There isn't even the progress bar for copying/pasting files to and from the iPad and It sometimes fails when doing that. Every time I use the files app, I fold my hand and pray for it to go smoothly. The widgets on the iPadOS 15 has messed up the spacing on the home screen as well. Instead of adding some features the update has been an annoyance for the users. ymmv.

I am not an artist or a gamer. I did thought about picking up the Apple Pencil for the heck of it but I read forum posts about how it doesn't jive well with screen protectors so I just gave up on that idea.

Then I thought I could use it to read books but this damn thing is not that easy to hold or read on without getting fatigued eyes and hands.

It's a shame that such a good hardware is just completely hampered by the bad software experience.

For me, this has been the most regretful purchase I have ever made in my life. I am thinking about selling it but I don't know if it will fetch any good value where I live. I wished I had purchased a Mac mini or the Air instead of the iPad. Another Mac could have actually helped me in web development or other hobbies that I like exploring from time to time.

 

[Adarna]

Similarly I wish I did not buy my 2018 iPad Pro 11" as the cost of display replacement is more than the cost of a 2021 iPad 10.2". To think i just view media on it. If the 10.2" display goes broke it would be a simple thing to sell it at ~$100 and buy a future ~$300 iPad.

When I upgrade by ~2025 I'll just go with the ~$300 iPad. Upgrade after that would occur in the early 2030s.

If I could do a redo on my iPad past purchases it would look something like this

• 2011 iPad 2 32GB instead of 16GB
• 2017 iPad 5th Gen 32GB
• 2023 iPad 10th Gen 64GB

 

[Wando64]

ymmv.

Indeed

 

[igauravarora]

Similarly I wish I did not buy my 2018 iPad Pro 11" as the cost of display replacement is more than the cost of a 2021 iPad 10.2". To think i just view media on it. If the 10.2" display goes broke it would be a simple thing to sell it at ~$100 and buy a future ~$300 iPad.

When I upgrade by ~2025 I'll just go with the ~$300 iPad. Upgrade after that would occur in the early 2030s

I agree. I was and still am indifferent about my old Air 2. It wasn't that expensive maybe that's why I didn't regret purchasing it. The baseline iPad might be the best one to get down the road and hopefully it gets a laminated display in the future.

 

[Adarna]

I agree. I was and still am indifferent about my old Air 2. It wasn't that expensive maybe that's why I didn't regret purchasing it. The baseline iPad might be the best one to get down the road and hopefully it gets a laminated display in the future.

~80% of all iPads shipped globally are the 10.2" I bough the 2018 iPad Pro because of the redesign, display and speakers. Use case did not change

When having no change of use case just default to buying the base model.

I bought a 2012 iMac 27" Core i7 BTO and I am replacing that with a 2022 iMac Pro M1 Pro base model when it ships by Feb 2023. My use case has changed little. I am replacing as a form of preventative maintenance and to get software/security updates until 2032.

 

[James Godfrey]

Yeah I agree although I have both an iPad mini and Pro, I just feel like Apple are really letting the iPad down at the moment especially the Pro models, and as each year passes it’s getting harder and harder for people to justify the price tag of the pros.

Even reviewers are advising getting quality refurbished 2018 iPad Pro models to this day, now that is concerning considering that device is nearing 4 years old now…

that’s the equivalent to being recommended to buy the iPhone X or XS over the current gen iPhone, or the Apple Watch series 4 over the current gen… something which is seldom recommended at this point.

 

[TiggrToo]

Now, this will depend on the individual use case but I want to share my experience.

I bought iPad Pro 12.9 M1 6 months ago, I had the Air 2 previously. Initially I used to use it as a multimedia/Youtube device and was so impressed by the display and speakers. But as I bought the MacBook Pro 16, the use case of iPad Pro has completely diminished for me.

I mostly use my laptop and don't even pick up my iPad Pro anymore. I knew beforehand that iPad was severely limited in software. I don't know why this even exists anymore. Even the baseline MacBook Air has good value and could do heck more than the iPad.

Most of my gripes are with the software, it just cannot do much. It doesn't even have a good video player where I can watch local dolby vision content, the ones on the App Store are unnecessarily expensive. On my MacBook I can use Subler to convert an mkv DV file with 4-5 clicks and watch it on the QuickTime player. Everything is unnecessarily complicated on the iPad.

The files app is a hot mess as well on iPadOS 14. I haven't upgraded to the 15 as I have read posts about the battery life gone down to the *******. There isn't even the progress bar for copying/pasting files to and from the iPad and It sometimes fails when doing that. Every time I use the files app, I fold my hand and pray for it to go smoothly. The widgets on the iPadOS 15 has messed up the spacing on the home screen as well. Instead of adding some features the update has been an annoyance for the users. ymmv.

I am not an artist or a gamer. I did thought about picking up the Apple Pencil for the heck of it but I read forum posts about how it doesn't jive well with screen protectors so I just gave up on that idea.

Then I thought I could use it to read books but this damn thing is not that easy to hold or read on without getting fatigued eyes and hands.

It's a shame that such a good hardware is just completely hampered by the bad software experience.

For me, this has been the most regretful purchase I have ever made in my life. I am thinking about selling it but I don't know if it will fetch any good value where I live. I wished I had purchased a Mac mini or the Air instead of the iPad. Another Mac could have actually helped me in web development or other hobbies that I like exploring from time to time.

I have a 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 and and M1 Air. Both are used and both serve totally different use cases.

My only issue is sometimes forgetting which device I'm on and trying to use my fingers to pinch to zoom in the Air...

 

[Mackilroy]

I am not an artist or a gamer. I did thought about picking up the Apple Pencil for the heck of it but I read forum posts about how it doesn't jive well with screen protectors so I just gave up on that idea.

Just to chime in on this - I've used Pencils on two different iPads with screen protectors (and one without). The drawing experience was essentially the same, outside of the difference in the feel of the Pencil on glass vs. a screen protector. Perhaps there are low-quality screen protectors that hinder it, but you can spend as little as $15 (and possibly less now) and have a great experience.

 

[sparksd]

It's clearly just not the device for you. My experience with the 2021 12.9 has been good. I completely disagree regarding price for video apps - good options are there for less than $10. And I quite enjoy reading books on my 12.9, more so than using my Mini 6 or Kindle Oasis - and that includes reading in bed. Stick with a laptop, sounds like you'd be much happier.

 

[Isengardtom]

Everyone has different use cases of course. For me the ideal setup is iPad (Pro) + iMac

but as I've mentioned before I hate laptops. for me the iPad Pro is the superior content consumption / communication system whereas the iMac is the superior work station.

but I understand off course that that implies a certain budget and also understand that some people prefer to have a laptop. Which makes sense if you only have one device. But when you like two, iPad + iMac is the way to go for me

 

[QuietGamer]

Shows just how well Apple has all the bases covered. My usages have been the opposite. After using a M1 Air since release as my couch driver I recently switched to a 12.9 M1 Pro w/MKB as my couch driver. The main driving force was the awful screen on the Air which after 30-45 min my eyes were watering. Paired with my AirPods Max I can watch Roadkill https://www.motortrend.com/roadkill/. while she watches the girl shows on the TV (Married at First Site) and she gets OUR couch time requirements filled. The Pro screen is great.

 

[JPack]

Unless your workflow needs touch input or rear camera, the iPad Pro will end up as a glorified $1,099 media consumption device.

If your job is creating on-site reports, like insurance or compliance, the iPad Pro will work well.

In our organization, most iPad Pro users reverted back to using a detachable PC like ThinkPad X12 and Surface Pro 8. Even though iPad Pro was snappier and had much better battery life, users weren't able to continue their workflow seamlessly like on a detachable PC.

Basically, if your job requires a iPad Pro, you'll definitely know it. It's not really something you try out to learn that it's a better tool for your job.

 

[ouimetnick]

That’s why I don’t use my 2017 iPad Pro much. It’s annoying doing light media consumption on say YouTube, realizing you want to write up a decent reply or comment and wishing you had a real physical keyboard to use. A Mac can do so much more than an iPad could ever do.

I had a poor experience with the Files.app as well. Everyone was suggesting 3rd party apps to do what Apple should have already baked in.

I wish Apple didn’t restrict higher storage tiers to the Pro model. I’d buy an iPad Air if they offered it in 512GB or 1TB.

 

[MauiPa]

Summary: didnt research what an iPad was, didn’t really want one. An iPad is an excellent tablet and an excellent tablet experience. It is not a laptop and is not a good laptop experience

 

[Night Spring]

I use my iPad Pro mostly as a reading device. To read books, browse the Internet, read and post on forums (Currently posting this from my iPad Pro). I also watch a lot of YouTube videos on my iPad. When I need to do some extended typing, I use my iMac, although I can type on the iPad if I need to. When I used to commute to work, I managed to get a fair amount of work done on my iPad. I stopped using laptops when the iPad Pro came out, and I doubt I'll buy another laptop again. I always found the laptop keyboard to get in the way when I wanted to just read. I loved the original iPad when it first came out, and the bigger iPad Pro is even better. For me, the iPad is a device I pick up first thing in the morning, and I don't put it down unless I'm eating, or go for a walk, or sit down at the iMac to type something.

As for file management, I use an app called FileBrowser. It's a lot better than Apple's File app, and has been around since the App Store first opened.

 

[SeenJeen]

Out of my iPhone, MBP, Apple Watch and 2018 iPad Pro, the iPad is my least used device. Heck I even use my e-ink Kindle more than my iPad.

I can't see myself buying another iPad unless there's a fundamental shift in iPadOS, and I don't think that's going to happen.

 

[igauravarora]

I have a 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 and and M1 Air. Both are used and both serve totally different use cases.

My only issue is sometimes forgetting which device I'm on and trying to use my fingers to pinch to zoom in the Air...

Hahaha that must be annoying

Just to chime in on this - I've used Pencils on two different iPads with screen protectors (and one without). The drawing experience was essentially the same, outside of the difference in the feel of the Pencil on glass vs. a screen protector. Perhaps there are low-quality screen protectors that hinder it, but you can spend as little as $15 (and possibly less now) and have a great experience.

Oh that's good to hear. Do you draw on the iPad? or is it just the writing part? The problem I read was in the drawing part where the lines get curvy or wobbly.

It's clearly just not the device for you. My experience with the 2021 12.9 has been good. I completely disagree regarding price for video apps - good options are there for less than $10. And I quite enjoy reading books on my 12.9, more so than using my Mini 6 or Kindle Oasis - and that includes reading in bed. Stick with a laptop, sounds like you'd be much happier.

I agree it's not the device for me anymore. I actually tried nPlayer plus which I found to be quite good but lacks Dolby Vision support. The expensive one I was referring to was Infuse 7. It has that subscription model which I despise especially for a video app. I also have a kindle oasis 3 which I use everyday and the reading experience is a drastic difference to me. My eyes start hurting after sometime on the iPad which is not the case for the kindle.

Summary: didnt research what an iPad was, didn’t really want one. An iPad is an excellent tablet and an excellent tablet experience. It is not a laptop and is not a good laptop experience

I did actually and I have the air 2 for 5-6 years so I knew what an iPad is/was, it was just that my expectations were quite high for what I hoped and in contrast to what I experienced.

 

[robertosh]

I’m still keeping my 2017 Pro (9,7) and is bored in a corner, I’m just keeping it as I’m developing a game, other than that, I think that will be my last iPad for a while. Im not consuming so much media these days so an iPad makes no sense for me anymore

 

[skoor2]

Same here. I bought primarily for the mini-led screen. And assuming Apple was going to make Ipados actually useful. However, the mini-led blooming is pretty bad. The files app is a joke. And the iPad can not even format an external SSD.

The new MacBook Pro mini-led screen is is much less and a real OS, so I got the 16.

I still have the 12.9 Pro mini-led. If they improve iPads 16,I might keep it. If not, it goes. Right, now it is essentially an expensive Max like iPhone without any cellular - i.e. a paper weight.

 

[igauravarora]

I use my iPad Pro mostly as a reading device. To read books, browse the Internet, read and post on forums (Currently posting this from my iPad Pro). I also watch a lot of YouTube videos on my iPad. When I need to do some extended typing, I use my iMac, although I can type on the iPad if I need to. When I used to commute to work, I managed to get a fair amount of work done on my iPad. I stopped using laptops when the iPad Pro came out, and I doubt I'll buy another laptop again. I always found the laptop keyboard to get in the way when I wanted to just read. I loved the original iPad when it first came out, and the bigger iPad Pro is even better. For me, the iPad is a device I pick up first thing in the morning, and I don't put it down unless I'm eating, or go for a walk, or sit down at the iMac to type something.

As for file management, I use an app called FileBrowser. It's a lot better than Apple's File app, and has been around since the App Store first opened.

Oh wow! the iPad Pro is the perfect device for you from what you wrote. I'll check that file browser app

 

[igauravarora]

Out of my iPhone, MBP, Apple Watch and 2018 iPad Pro, the iPad is my least used device. Heck I even use my e-ink Kindle more than my iPad.

I can't see myself buying another iPad unless there's a fundamental shift in iPadOS, and I don't think that's going to happen.

Kindle is the best purchase I have ever made contrary to the iPad. I hope there is a shift in the iPadOS but I doubt it will happen.

 

[rui no onna]

I use my iPad Pro mostly as a reading device. To read books, browse the Internet, read and post on forums (Currently posting this from my iPad Pro). I also watch a lot of YouTube videos on my iPad.
...snip...
I always found the laptop keyboard to get in the way when I wanted to just read.

Same here. I greatly dislike the non-removable physical keyboard on laptops. I even went through a few Windows convertibles and UMPCs before eventually getting the iPad 2. Tried some Windows and Android tablets afterwards to avoid Apple's storage tax but that just ended up being a costly experiment in frustration so I went back to buying iPads.

I have a bunch of e-ink devices but wireless downloading of non-store content on those is a pain so unless I've got a migraine, I still read primarily on the iPad.

 

[bevel]

Somehow the arguments put forward by both sides in this thread resonate with me

Bought iPad Pro 12.9 in 2019. Thought specs looked great and intended to use it for web dev. Didn’t do my research. It’s supports none of the tech stack for open source web dev. Massive waste of money.

I ended up giving it to my mum and bought an MBP 16

She loves it and uses then pencil all the time. The massive screen is great for her bad eyesight

Honestly I am amazed how good it is for her. She loves it and really uses it

But it’s not for pros - not devs anyway. Buy a Mac

 

[igauravarora]

Same here. I bought primarily for the mini-led screen. And assuming Apple was going to make Ipados actually useful. However, the mini-led blooming is pretty bad. The files app is a joke. And the iPad can not even format an external SSD.

The new MacBook Pro mini-led screen is is much less and a real OS, so I got the 16.

I still have the 12.9 Pro mini-led. If they improve iPads 16,I might keep it. If not, it goes. Right, now it is essentially an expensive Max like iPhone without any cellular - i.e. a paper weight.

Exactly!

One feature that I wished was that to use iPad Pro to restore my iPhone like in the finder on macOS. I doubt there would be any major shift in the iPadOS.

 

[LogicalApex]

I've said it many times, but the iPad Pro line has really run out of rope IMHO. I don't see how Apple continues it since the 2021 iPP is already so over specced for anything possible on an iPad.

Perhaps Universal Control was just the start though and we'll start to see a richer iPad + Mac picture that makes it a more compelling package.