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iPad Pro iPad Pro 12.9 Help

I

imattM2

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 14, 2021
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Hi everyone, long time lurker, first time poster!

I’m finally in the market for a 12.9 iPad Pro, was going to purchase just after Christmas in the new year.

Do you think I would be better off waiting for the new versions which are rumoured if they’re due to drop in March/April? It’s not urgent that I have one this very second… just trying to read the room what anyone else thinks.

Thanks! ?
 
I have the current generation and think it’s very good. I personally wouldn’t wait.
 
Sadly, rumors of release dates now have to be taken in the context of things like parts availability, factory idling due to COVID resurgence, etc pushing them back. Given that, I would just buy the current gen iPad Pro 12.9 and enjoy it, because otherwise you might find yourself waiting longer than you expected.
 
I wouldn't pay full price but Micro Center has the base model for $899. I would and did buy one at Best Buy w/ that price match.
 
I would not probably wait. The current models are on sale at Best Buy for $899 which is a pretty good deal. My mistake they are not on sale. My two cents remains the same. I would probably not wait.

The new models that are rumored are not likely to have anything earth shattering. The current models are outrageously overpowered for the OS. The camera is probably about as good as you will ever want for an iPad. The 12.9" already has the mini LED screen. And there is no guarantee there will even be new models next year.
 
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Buy now (on offer if you can find one).

The great thing about the pro, is the extended life, compared to standard iPad.
As mentioned above, they are overpowered for majority of uses, so will still be high spec'd in years to come.

Replying here on my 1st gen iPad Pro (2015).
 
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Thanks everyone, my Christmas is ruined as I ponder!????‍♂️?
 
As others have said, there will always be a newer and better model, the new features might not be groundbreaking, and there might be limited availability when the new model is released. That said, I'm someone who always waits as long as I can before upgrading. I recently upgraded my 2017 standard iPad to a 12.9" iPad Pro, and I love it. The only flaw is the blooming that you might have read about, but I only notice it with bright white elements on black backgrounds (as in movie end titles), and only when I'm watching in the dark -- in other words, a couple minutes out of every several hours of viewing. The deeps blacks under normal viewing more than make up for it. Also, when you decide to buy, check Best Buy online. I lucked out and found an open-box unit in perfect condition for $200 off at the closest Best Buy to where I live.
 
There's been some good discounts recently so if you need it soonish, I wouldn't bother waiting.

If you do wait, be prepared for that rumored March/April release date to be anywhere between March to November (or heck, maybe even the year after).
 
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Also to consider, supplies may run short, the longer you wait....;)
With the global component shortage.
 
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I was in this boat last Christmas. Sometime in November, I bought the 12.9 that had been out for roughly 8 months and in January, at the end of the holiday return window, I got cold feet and returned it.

I knew that a new 12.9 was coming and I didn't want to be caught spending $1,500 or so on a model that would be rendered obsolete in 2 or 3 months.

Turned out that the new 12.9 with M1 and XDR didn't come out until the very end of May. I couldn't get my hands on one until mid June.

So I went 6 months without the 12.9 and I felt it constantly. I used the 2018 11" I had, but was pining for that larger iPad. Yet with every passing week, I kept thinking, there's no point, the new one will be announced any day now.

Am I happier I waited the 6 months? Not really. If I could go back in time, would I plonk down $1,500 on the 2020 12.9 rather than have the glorious new M1 with XDR? I probably would.

The M1 makes no practical difference to my workflow. The XDR is nice, but I use my iPad for writing and work, not watching movies. (The XDR iPad is also a tad heavier and thicker.)

Point being, the 2020 iPad would have been fine.

The next 12.9 might have a glass back and wireless charging, but I strongly suspect it won't be a significant step up from the 2021.

And when it appears is anyone's guess. But it could be a while.
 
I've never understood this way of thinking. If you want a piece of hardware and your life will improve because you own that piece of hardware, then why would you wait?

On the other hand, if you're just looking for the latest and greatest, go ahead and hold out. Honestly, the 2021 iPad Pro featured huge hardware upgrades, and I purchased my 2020 weeks just before it was announced. Do I wish I had some of the new features? Of course. Do I regret my purchase? Not one bit. But I don't suffer from technological FOMO.
 
robertfrancis70 said:
The next 12.9 might have a glass back and wireless charging, but I strongly suspect it won't be a significant step up from the 2021.
Click to expand...
A glass back....the most pointless of features...IMHO.
Make it more robust, not like a chandelier.

My iPad sits in a Silicon case, so who even knows what the back looks like.
 
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I purchased the M1 iPad Pro 12.9 (128GB Wifi) a couple weeks ago, I am excited to open it either Christmas Day or for New Years.

I'm honestly too excited with it that I can't "wait" until the next version comes out next year or the year after
 
I recently gave my father my first gen iPad Pro 11” and I found a used mint condition iPad Air on Swappa to replace it for me. I don’t even notice a difference and I’m a power user. If you want the sweet new LED screen for the 12.9” I would highly recommend Swappa.
 
robertfrancis70 said:
I knew that a new 12.9 was coming and I didn't want to be caught spending $1,500 or so on a model that would be rendered obsolete in 2 or 3 months.
Click to expand...
Not the newest you mean. Obsolete means "no longer produced or used. Out of date". The iPP is usable for years and at least for me obsolete means when I cannot get the security updates. For a 2021 iPP that will happen in 2028-2030. The 8Gb RAM is a hedge about future iOS updates.
 
imattM2 said:
Do you think I would be better off waiting for the new versions which are rumoured if they’re due to drop in March/April?
Click to expand...

ImattM2 waits till March/April to see that the new version then costs an extra 100 bucks and is out of stock for months ?
 
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iPadified said:
Not the newest you mean. Obsolete means "no longer produced or used. Out of date". The iPP is usable for years and at least for me obsolete means when I cannot get the security updates. For a 2021 iPP that will happen in 2028-2030. The 8Gb RAM is a hedge about future iOS updates.
Click to expand...

iPadified, you're right, I was being hyperbolic.
 
Phuz01 said:
I've never understood this way of thinking. If you want a piece of hardware and your life will improve because you own that piece of hardware, then why would you wait?

On the other hand, if you're just looking for the latest and greatest, go ahead and hold out. Honestly, the 2021 iPad Pro featured huge hardware upgrades, and I purchased my 2020 weeks just before it was announced. Do I wish I had some of the new features? Of course. Do I regret my purchase? Not one bit. But I don't suffer from technological FOMO.
Click to expand...

If it's simply a want rather than a need, then I can understand the willingness to wait.

Personally, I'm happy to skip the 2020 Pro. I didn't want to spend $1900 with tax (12.9 1TB LTE) for something that's essentially equivalent to the 2018 Pro (certified refurb: $1400 with tax but was constantly out of stock back in 2020).
 
iPad pros typically have been refreshed once every 18 months, so the 2022 will likely be released only by fall, which is a considerable time away. Also there will always be a new version in the works, buy whenever you need it. Unless of course the launch is like in the next few weeks.
 
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