iPad iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad Air 10.5 - Value?

[geekiemac]

I appreciate every comment, unfortunately all it does is fog my brain. I know the Pro 10.5 has better speakers, a better camera, a better GPU and more Ram, I just can’t get past the fear of getting a bright spot and the fact that the Pro 10.5 might lose iOS updates two years earlier than the Air.

I just wish the Air had a bit of love. Everything seems so biased against it. I feel like a fool liking it.

Don't. I also chose the Air 3 and despite all the bashing, and the heavy pro-Pro opinion in this thread, I've decided not to change it, for pretty much the same reasons as you. I'm happy with it. It fulfils all my needs. I won't change it for a device that looks better on some specs but is older and where a probability exists it might get hit by a screen issue which is perhaps why Apple pulled the plug on this model after only one year. Like we say in German, it's better to have a sparrow sitting on your hand than a dove on the roof.

Besides, if you step outside the MacRumors / anglophone galaxy, you'll see that this Air 3 does indeed get more love. It's a great device. Also, my impression is that people who bash the Air 3 are 10.5 Pro users who have never really tried out the Air 3 the way you have, by using both devices side-by-side for a couple of days. You are entitled to your opinion and your choice, and if the Air 3 suits you, and you're happy with it, keep it.

 

[Josieb1]

Don't. I also chose the Air 3 and despite all the bashing, and the heavy pro-Pro opinion in this thread, I've decided not to change it, for pretty much the same reasons as you. I'm happy with it. It fulfils all my needs. I won't change it for a device that looks better on some specs but is older and most probably plagued by a screen issue which is perhaps why Apple pulled the plug on this model after only one year. Like we say in German, it's better to have a sparrow sitting on your hand than a dove on the roof.

Besides, if you step outside the MacRumors galaxy, you'll see that this Air 3 does indeed get more love than it does here. It's a great device. Also, my impression is that people who bash the Air 3 are 10.5 Pro users who have never really tried out the Air 3 the way you have, by using both devices side-by-side for a couple of days. You are entitled to your opinion and your choice, and if the Air 3 suits you, and you're happy with it, keep it.

Thank you

 

[geekiemac]

Thank you

You're welcome

I must admit that after reading this topic, I was quite shaken by my choice, too. So it took me a lot of thinking and researching (outside of MacRumors) to figure this out for me. I used my Air3 for a whole day on all the things I want to use it for and found that indeed, it is really what I'm looking for. Perhaps the ProMotion screen in the 10.5 Pro is better. But it comes with a huge trade-off, which is the risk of a screen issue I'm not willing to take. I also prefer the new A12 with neural engine which will probably perform better in apps using machine learning techniques. These will become more and more frequent. So from a longevity / sustainability point of view, the Air3 is a winner for me.

Perhaps the Air3 has issues we don't know about yet. But hey, while you can't manage unknown risks, you can at least mitigate known risks against your own risk appetite.

 

[AJB1971]

I'm not sure you had much of a choice there...

True, but I’ve never previously purchased AppleCare preferring to self-insure. If I’d put that money aside for every Apple product I’d purchased and deducted the costs of any repairs, then I would be well ahead. Also, I’m not accident prone so that negates one of the benefits AppleCare+.

In terms of Promotion, I think it depends on how your brain processes what it is seeing as to how noticeable the difference is. It’s a case of how it interprets the movement of objects from one place to another and fills in the missing information.

It’s not something people complained about before Promotion was introduced, but the benefits will be apparent to some after using a display equipped with it.

I also wonder if how you interact with the device plays a part in how noticeable it is. If you tend to use fast, sweeping motions, then the difference will be more apparent than if you use smooth and graceful movements.

For example, I’ve noticed that I seem to scroll in gradual steps when reading long articles. Effectively, I just look at the top half of the screen rather than reading from the top to the bottom and then scrolling down. This is a subconscious action and may explain why I don’t notice the benefits as much as some other people.

I doubt that the difference in brightness between the Air 3 and Pro 10.5 is noticeable in most conditions.

As far as value is concerned, I do think that the Pro 10.5 represents better value at the moment, but the bright spot issue would have swayed me towards the Air 3. I think both are excellent devices.

 

[Josieb1]

You're welcome

I must admit that after reading this topic, I was quite shaken by my choice, too. So it took me a lot of thinking and researching (outside of MacRumors) to figure this out for me. I used my Air3 for a whole day on all the things I want to use it for and found that indeed, it is really what I'm looking for. Perhaps the ProMotion screen in the 10.5 Pro is better. But it comes with a huge trade-off, which is the risk of a screen issue I'm not willing to take. I also prefer the new A12 with neural engine which will probably perform better in apps using machine learning techniques. These will become more and more frequent. So from a longevity / sustainability point of view, the Air3 is a winner for me.

Perhaps the Air3 has issues we don't know about yet. But hey, while you can't manage unknown risks, you can at least mitigate known risks against your own risk appetite.

Thank you again. I definitely wasn’t wowed by the Pro-Motion. I tested scrolling and swiping on the home screen and within apps with both devices side by side and they performed exactly the same. Maybe this was because of the A12 processor. I certainly never saw everything different between the screens. The only difference I could see/hear were the speakers and the camera, neither enough to justify the risk of buying a two year old device with potential issues, even with Applecare.

Anyway the Pro 10.5 has been returned now.

 

[Storminbalders]

No. The screen is identical. The Pro has Pro-Motion, that’s the only difference but I honestly couldn’t tell the difference.

That's one to be sure. The other big one is that the pro's screen is much brighter at 600 nits.

 

[Fenhalls]

Like we say in German, it's better to have a sparrow sitting on your hand than a dove on the roof.

English proverb: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Probably imported from other languages/cultures. It is first found in English in John Capgrave's The Life of St Katharine of Alexandria, 1450:

"It is more sekyr [certain] a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a‐boue."

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-bird-in-the-hand.html

 

[Josieb1]

That's one to be sure. The other big one is that the pro's screen is much brighter at 600 nits.

A bit brighter, but not much.

 

[Fenhalls]

I just wish the Air had a bit of love. Everything seems so biased against it. I feel like a fool liking it.

If you believe that you've done the right thing then it shouldn't bother you what anyone else says or thinks. Dwelling on such matters is a complete waste of time. Besides, that way madness lies.

 

[masotime]

@Josieb1 ignore the pile-on about the 10.5" Pro being the better option. The only thing that matters is that you're satisfied with your choice - it's your purchase, your money.

Ignore the thread and have some fun with your iPad. That's the whole point about Apple experience anyway - enjoying the product without having to think about technical details.

 

[Josieb1]

If you believe that you've done the right thing then it shouldn't bother you what anyone else says or thinks. Dwelling on such matters is a complete waste of time. Besides, that way madness lies.

Thank you. I just need to survive another week without doubt and the Air can’t go back anyway!
[doublepost=1555246344][/doublepost]

@Josieb1 ignore the pile-on about the 10.5" Pro being the better option. The only thing that matters is that you're satisfied with your choice - it's your purchase, your money.

Ignore the thread and have some fun with your iPad. That's the whole point about Apple experience anyway - enjoying the product without having to think about technical details.

Thank you. I will.

 

[EugW]

Thank you. I just need to survive another week without doubt and the Air can’t go back anyway!

I bought the Pro, but if it hadn't been the price it was here in Canada, I would have bought the Air. If you don't care about the quad speakers and you don't see the benefits of ProMotion, then you're good, and you'll get iOS updates for longer than the Pro. So, stop worrying about it.

 

[Storminbalders]

I bought the Pro, but if it hadn't been the price it was here in Canada, I would have bought the Air. If you don't care about the quad speakers and you don't see the benefits of ProMotion, then you're good, and you'll get iOS updates for longer than the Pro. So, stop worrying about it.

Same here in the UK. It was £130 cheaper for the Pro. Made it a no-brainer for me.

 

[gahig ulo]

a pro is a pro so i would rather get it.if the air/mini got the better gpu i would get it.my pro 10.5 runs smoother than my mini 5 in gaming like bulletforce etc.the only downside of the old pro is it will get hot faster than the air 3(10nmvs7nm)i tried doing gaming side by side i can confirm this,the pro also feels faster navigating the UI its even faster than my xs max.the pro 10.5 overclock to 2.4gz while doing intensive task but the a12 can do 2.5ghz so in theory its faster by .1 ghz.

 

[Macpiglet]

I appreciate every comment, unfortunately all it does is fog my brain. I know the Pro 10.5 has better speakers, a better camera, a better GPU and more Ram, I just can’t get past the fear of getting a bright spot and the fact that the Pro 10.5 might lose iOS updates two years earlier than the Air.

I just wish the Air had a bit of love. Everything seems so biased against it. I feel like a fool liking it.

There isn’t a right or wrong choice. We all weigh the variables differently, and it doesn’t matter if other people might have chosen differently

 

[Fenhalls]

There isn’t a right or wrong choice. We all weigh the variables differently, and it doesn’t matter if other people might have chosen differently

Actually, invariably there is. It's just that we don't often know which it is ahead of time.

 

[masotime]

I think more precisely, there’s no right or wrong choice that works for everyone. Each person has to make choices depending on their wants / needs. Trying to argue endlessly about technical / budgetary superiority is pointless when context (budget, personal use cases, existing equipment etc.) varies so much.

 

[tps3443]

I appreciate every comment, unfortunately all it does is fog my brain. I know the Pro 10.5 has better speakers, a better camera, a better GPU and more Ram, I just can’t get past the fear of getting a bright spot and the fact that the Pro 10.5 might lose iOS updates two years earlier than the Air.

I just wish the Air had a bit of love. Everything seems so biased against it. I feel like a fool liking it.

The iPad Air 3 has my love. I think it’s a fine tablet. First of all, it is a new iPad with a A12 processor and a full size screen. There’s no other option for this. Without spending way more, or getting a smaller screen on a Mini 5.

Be happy with what you have. It only gets bashed sometimes because it is almost head to head with the 2nd gen iPad Pro. So, people are going to analyze the two top to bottom and pick apart the advantages or disadvantages. Or even make them selves feel better about there purchase, or for keeping there older iPad Pro 2nd gen for longer.. It’s just normal human behavior to do this, and justify you’ve made the right choice.

The A12 processor is more efficient, with a faster IPC performance than a A10X. So, just opening things up and closing them on a lighter load basis will most likely be a little snappier than a A10X.

The iPad Air is brand new. It works. and it’s fast. Just keep it and be happy!

The iPad Air 3 was meant to replace the old iPad Air 2. And it has done this by a long shot over and over again! It was never intended to compete with any iPad Pro. Consumers have just chose to do that on there own.

I think all iPads are excellent. And each is better in its own way for what that person is doing. And for someone who wants a new product, and a great experience how could the iPad Air 3 ever be the wrong choice?

Good luck, and enjoy it.

 

[chrisforpm]

The iPad Air 3 has my love. I think it’s a fine tablet. First of all, it is a new iPad with a A12 processor and a full size screen. There’s no other option for this. Without spending way more, or getting a smaller screen on a Mini 5.

Be happy with what you have. It only gets bashed sometimes because it is almost head to head with the 2nd gen iPad Pro. So, people are going to analyze the two top to bottom and pick apart the advantages or disadvantages. Or even make them selves feel better about there purchase, or for keeping there older iPad Pro 2nd gen for longer..

The A12 processor is more efficient, with a faster IPC performance than a A10X. So, just opening things up and closing them on a lighter load basis will most likely be a little snappier than a A10X.

The iPad Air is brand new. It works. and it’s fast. Just keep it and be happy!

The iPad Air 3 was meant to replace the old iPad Air 2. And it has done this by a long shot over and over again! It was never intended to compete with any iPad Pro. Consumers have just chose to do that on there own.

I think all iPads are excellent. And each is better in its own way for what that person is doing. And for someone who wants a new product, and a great experience how could the iPad Air 3 ever be the wrong choice?

Good luck, and enjoy it.

Great post!! I enjoy mine, it’s a perfect mid range tablet. The 6th gen being at the lower end and iPad pro’s at the top end. You won’t get all of the features of a Pro (even a 2 year old one) but the benefits far outweigh the trade offs.

 

[jameseld82]

The iPad Air 3 has my love. I think it’s a fine tablet. First of all, it is a new iPad with a A12 processor and a full size screen. There’s no other option for this. Without spending way more, or getting a smaller screen on a Mini 5.

Be happy with what you have. It only gets bashed sometimes because it is almost head to head with the 2nd gen iPad Pro. So, people are going to analyze the two top to bottom and pick apart the advantages or disadvantages. Or even make them selves feel better about there purchase, or for keeping there older iPad Pro 2nd gen for longer.. It’s just normal human behavior to do this, and justify you’ve made the right choice.

The A12 processor is more efficient, with a faster IPC performance than a A10X. So, just opening things up and closing them on a lighter load basis will most likely be a little snappier than a A10X.

The iPad Air is brand new. It works. and it’s fast. Just keep it and be happy!

The iPad Air 3 was meant to replace the old iPad Air 2. And it has done this by a long shot over and over again! It was never intended to compete with any iPad Pro. Consumers have just chose to do that on there own.

I think all iPads are excellent. And each is better in its own way for what that person is doing. And for someone who wants a new product, and a great experience how could the iPad Air 3 ever be the wrong choice?

Good luck, and enjoy it.

What a fantastic post!!

I have to admit I had my reservations about the Air 3 but after going to Apple over the weekend I really did like it. I spent time looking at it and have to admit it really ticks all the boxes for me.

Overall I have to agree with Macpiglet there is no right or wrong choice. It is our decision to make when making purchases, especially expensive ones. When I'm looking at buying anything to do with technology I will watch you tube reviews and read users comments but at the end of the day I make the decision by what I feel suits me the most.

 

[EugW]

This was posted a few days ago in another thread but I don’t think it was posted here.

Pro has faster SSD write speed than Air.
Pro has faster iMovie export speed than Air.
Pro is USB 3 but Air is USB 2.

Not deal killers for the Air by any means and I suspect most wouldn’t even care actually, but just little tidbits to know about.

 

[OS-SEX]

This was posted a few days ago in another thread but I don’t think it was posted here.

Pro has faster SSD write speed than Air.
Pro has faster iMovie export speed than Air.
Pro is USB 3 but Air is USB 2.

Not deal killers for the Air by any means and I suspect most wouldn’t even care actually, but just little tidbits to know about.

[doublepost=1555369556][/doublepost]I purchased the new Air yesterday and it's exactly what I was looking for. I just wanted an updated version of my beloved Air 2 that would last me for the next 4 to 5 years. Perfect.

 

[Jarrodbcall]

I appreciate every comment, unfortunately all it does is fog my brain. I know the Pro 10.5 has better speakers, a better camera, a better GPU and more Ram, I just can’t get past the fear of getting a bright spot and the fact that the Pro 10.5 might lose iOS updates two years earlier than the Air.

I just wish the Air had a bit of love. Everything seems so biased against it. I feel like a fool liking it.

I think a lot of it has to do with what you value. I think the Pro has a few more flashy features but more longterm drawbacks. Since I know that I tend to sell and buy iPads often, I decided on the pro. But I would recommend the Air for individuals who are looking to buy an iPad to hold on to for a while because of the chip and chance of screen issues in the pro.

 

[antisomnic]

As far as I’m aware the pro has 3 things on the air. 4 speakers, 120ghz display and a flash for the camera. For me, I never listen to music or anything sound intensive on my iPad where the 2 speakers wouldn’t cut it, the display doesn’t seem laggy to me at all, and I NEVER take photos or videos with my iPad, only use the front camera for face time. On top of all this the A12 is way better than the A10X, except for the GPU

Plus coming from the budget iPad the speakers on the new air seem awesome.

 

[Lancetx]

People should simply get whatever they feel best with. It's not like either device is a bad way to go. For me, I went with the 10.5" Pro because the brighter ProMotion display, superior speakers and rear camera were all important to me. The A10X with 4GB vs the A12 with 3GB is basically a wash really in the end. They'll both have basically the same usable lifespan and I'll be ready to upgrade to a newer model again in 2-3 years anyway.