iPad Pro iPad Pro 2021 release, in March or Fall?

[BlackJacques]

Like a lot of people here, trying to figure out if I should wait or buy a 2020 11". Sure all the rumors by the most reliable leakers point to a March release, if not Q2. However, seems like Pros historically have only gotten updated every 16-18 months like clockwork, isn't that right? If that held, seems like Fall could potentially be more likely.

Plus Digitimes saying that Ennostar will start manufacturing mini-Leds in March. In the past, when more concrete Apple component manufacturing leaks started, was there only a lead time of less than a month before the product was unveiled? or has it taken longer historically to manufacture enough quantities?

If it's the Fall, I'd probably buy a 2020 model right now. Anyone care to speculate?

 

[Synna]

Like a lot of people here, trying to figure out if I should wait or buy a 2020 11". Sure all the rumors by the most reliable leakers point to a March release, if not Q2. However, seems like Pros historically have only gotten updated every 16-18 months like clockwork, isn't that right? If that held, seems like Fall could potentially be more likely.

Plus Digitimes saying that Ennostar will start manufacturing mini-Leds in March. In the past, when more concrete Apple component manufacturing leaks started, was there only a lead time of less than a month before the product was unveiled? or has it taken longer historically to manufacture enough quantities?

If it's the Fall, I'd probably buy a 2020 model right now. Anyone care to speculate?

I ordered an 11" Pro cellular model via my carrier at the end of December and I received it yesterday. The longer the wait was, the more I got tempted to immediately send it back and wait for the rumored new model in March, however, with no big design changes, the 2021 11" possibly not getting MiniLED and the fact that it took almost two months under the current circumstances to receive the current 11", I am now thinking of keeping the 2020 version, as it would probably take quite some time to be able to receive a 2021 model.

This doesn't really answer your question, I know. What I wanted to say is: Even if they release a new Pro in March and you decide to get one now, I think you might be "able to live with it". But, of course, as always, one should wait as long as possible.

 

[AutomaticApple]

However, seems like Pros historically have only gotten updated every 16-18 months like clockwork, isn't that right?

The world was a much different place 16-18 months ago. COVID-19 has really changed how things work at Apple.

 

[Never mind]

Why don’t you wait until March, which is just a few days away. Even wait a couple weeks or even three weeks after that, then make your decision. No one here knows for sure and the safer bet is just to wait a little bit

 

[James Godfrey]

It will come in March guaranteed the 2020 model is basically the 2018 model with a better camera, it was a extremely minor refresh to keep the pro line fresh due to miniLED being delayed... if miniLED wasn’t delayed it would have been released alongside the Air.

I would 100% wait at this point.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I ordered an 11" Pro cellular model via my carrier at the end of December and I received it yesterday. The longer the wait was, the more I got tempted to immediately send it back and wait for the rumored new model in March, however, with no big design changes, the 2021 11" possibly not getting MiniLED and the fact that it took almost two months under the current circumstances to receive the current 11", I am now thinking of keeping the 2020 version, as it would probably take quite some time to be able to receive a 2021 model.

This doesn't really answer your question, I know. What I wanted to say is: Even if they release a new Pro in March and you decide to get one now, I think you might be "able to live with it". But, of course, as always, one should wait as long as possible.

I'd be happy with this as well. As someone with a 2020 iPad Pro 11' Cellular - that's what I'm going to do. I'm not even going to bat an eye at this iPad even if it has everything. I'm very happy with this iPad and hope to use it for a few more years before I think of updating. And I got it this year, so lol.

 

[rgarjr]

Wait until after March and see

 

[pdoherty]

Like a lot of people here, trying to figure out if I should wait or buy a 2020 11". Sure all the rumors by the most reliable leakers point to a March release, if not Q2. However, seems like Pros historically have only gotten updated every 16-18 months like clockwork, isn't that right? If that held, seems like Fall could potentially be more likely.

The 2020 Pro release was a real iPad 3 thing. It’s a seriously warmed-over previous-gen and I don’t even count it. Which makes it 3 years old at this point.

 

[barkomatic]

I have a 2020 iPad Pro that I got on launch day a year ago. I love it but I’d definitely wait as the rumored processor alone will be worth it. If it really blows me away I might even put this one up for sale.

 

[Apple1976s]

I was going to buy for sure but honestly my iPad 8 is great.

 

[The Game 161]

They won't wait til fall. that will likely be a focus of iPhones and then the new Macs.

 

[NastyMatt]

There seems to be a lot of these "when is the new iPad out" "should I wait" threads - not sure why people think anyone on this forum has any inside information ? It's all pure speculation on here.

If you might want a new version of an iPad - hold on. If not, buy one. Simple. In fact, this goes for all tech, it all gets updated regularly. No matter what tech you buy there will be something better within a year.

 

[BlackJacques]

There seems to be a lot of these "when is the new iPad out" "should I wait" threads - not sure why people think anyone on this forum has any inside information ? It's all pure speculation on here.

If you might want a new version of an iPad - hold on. If not, buy one. Simple. In fact, this goes for all tech, it all gets updated regularly. No matter what tech you buy there will be something better within a year.

What was the last sentence in my original post? I was asking for speculation. Cuz you know, it's an internet forum. For people who like to buy Apple gadgets and speculate about what's coming and when. A good chunk of the news posts and user threads here are speculation. The title of the website contains the word rumors. You could have skipped this thread and moved on with your life if you didn't care for it but instead you wanted to be that guy and voice objection that you don't care for this thread. Ok. Guess you just want to live up to your username or you skipped your morning coffee. Take care of yourself and hope your pandemic goes better. Cheers.

 

[Dave245]

Jon Prosser has said Airtags, iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard in March.

 

[BigMcGuire]

There seems to be a lot of these "when is the new iPad out" "should I wait" threads - not sure why people think anyone on this forum has any inside information ? It's all pure speculation on here.

If you might want a new version of an iPad - hold on. If not, buy one. Simple. In fact, this goes for all tech, it all gets updated regularly. No matter what tech you buy there will be something better within a year.

I think a lot of people here have disposable income and get really sore when they buy something and a month or two later, something better comes out.

I'm of the different opinion... These are tools to make my life better, nothing more. I don't use devices just to use them. When I got my 2020 MBP 13' i7 a month before the M1 came out, did I cry, pout, and get angry at Apple? Heck no... these are tools. I need this to do my job and use Parallels with Windows... but even if not, who cares, tech is ALWAYS advancing. If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

 

[The Game 161]

I think a lot of people here have disposable income and get really sore when they buy something and a month or two later, something better comes out.

I'm of the different opinion... These are tools to make my life better, nothing more. I don't use devices just to use them. When I got my 2020 MBP 13' i7 a month before the M1 came out, did I cry, pout, and get angry at Apple? Heck no... these are tools. I need this to do my job and use Parallels with Windows... but even if not, who cares, tech is ALWAYS advancing. If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

very true

people's current device doesn't stop being great just because a new device is out lol

 

[pdoherty]

What was the last sentence in my original post? I was asking for speculation. Cuz you know, it's an internet forum. For people who like to buy Apple gadgets and speculate about what's coming and when. A good chunk of the news posts and user threads here are speculation. The title of the website contains the word rumors. You could have skipped this thread and moved on with your life if you didn't care for it but instead you wanted to be that guy and voice objection that you don't care for this thread. Ok. Guess you just want to live up to your username or you skipped your morning coffee. Take care of yourself and hope your pandemic goes better. Cheers.

Totally agree. So tired of people gatekeeping, going to the trouble to detail for us all, in text form, why we shouldn’t bother contributing to the forum (speculation or not). Just move on if it’s not of interest to you, people. We really don’t need to hear about why we shouldn’t have a conversation, speculative or not.

 

[pdoherty]

I think a lot of people here have disposable income and get really sore when they buy something and a month or two later, something better comes out.

I'm of the different opinion... These are tools to make my life better, nothing more. I don't use devices just to use them. When I got my 2020 MBP 13' i7 a month before the M1 came out, did I cry, pout, and get angry at Apple? Heck no... these are tools. I need this to do my job and use Parallels with Windows... but even if not, who cares, tech is ALWAYS advancing. If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

Some of us are anticipating the upgrade not because of a new CPU or more RAM, etc, but because we’re hopeful Apple fixes the faulty engineering/chassis that has led to all the unresponsive screen issues.

So there are more reasons than just “muh faster!” for us to be interested in the new models.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Some of us are anticipating the upgrade not because of a new CPU or more RAM, etc, but because we’re hopeful Apple fixes the faulty engineering/chassis that has led to all the unresponsive screen issues.

So there are more reasons than just “muh faster!” for us to be interested in the new models.

Seems like every new generation has its problems that get slowly ironed out (tho sometimes not) over time. But yep, you make a good point.

 

[rui no onna]

Unless the iPad Pro gets A15X/M2 chipset or something, I don't see it getting released in Fall when all the new iPhones are sporting a newer chip. Maybe June WWDC at the latest.

I think a lot of people here have disposable income and get really sore when they buy something and a month or two later, something better comes out.

I'm of the different opinion... These are tools to make my life better, nothing more. I don't use devices just to use them. When I got my 2020 MBP 13' i7 a month before the M1 came out, did I cry, pout, and get angry at Apple? Heck no... these are tools. I need this to do my job and use Parallels with Windows... but even if not, who cares, tech is ALWAYS advancing. If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

I'm still using 2017 iPad Pros as daily drivers. They work perfectly well (10.5 battery aside). Now that I can use the iPad with mouse, I actually do want FaceID when I didn't care for it before. However, these devices are expensive. I don't want to pay $2K a pop (with tax) just to settle for the 2020 models which are really practically the same as the 2018.

At the very least, I want 5G support on my next iPad. It actually makes a difference in my area with AT&T. I get ~15 Mbps on my iPhone SE on fake 5G with occasional slowdowns/timeouts while browsing whereas the iPhone 12 gets ~30 Mbps in the same location. Of course, that could be a result of using a Qualcomm modem instead of Intel but either way, it should get a speed boost.

If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

Lol, I wish I had bought more stocks in March last year. I honestly didn't expect the market to soar this high during COVID. I knew it was a good time to buy but at that time though, there were concerns of layoffs and the job market wasn't looking too good so I held on to my cash (but kept existing investments).

 

[BlackJacques]

I think a lot of people here have disposable income and get really sore when they buy something and a month or two later, something better comes out.

I'm of the different opinion... These are tools to make my life better, nothing more. I don't use devices just to use them. When I got my 2020 MBP 13' i7 a month before the M1 came out, did I cry, pout, and get angry at Apple? Heck no... these are tools. I need this to do my job and use Parallels with Windows... but even if not, who cares, tech is ALWAYS advancing. If I could tell the future then I'd be a wealthy man.

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

I agree with almost everything you said. However, there's a big diff between buying now and having a better device for the same money come out six months later vs one month later. I'm ok with the former but would be unhappy with the latter. Hence asking how people remember historically how Apple rumors hew to eventual releases. The rampant leaker mill is March. I'm offering an alternate possibility for people to speculate on for our amusement pleasure.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I agree with almost everything you said. However, there's a big diff between buying now and having a better device for the same money come out six months later vs one month later. I'm ok with the former but would be unhappy with the latter. Hence asking how people remember historically how Apple rumors hew to eventual releases. The rampant leaker mill is March. I'm offering an alternate possibility for people to speculate on for our amusement pleasure.

Agreed, I've been going here for 9 years - I hear ya. Love talking about the what if. I enjoy threads like this and I enjoy the opportunity to type out my opinion. I definitely see people are different than me. I picked up a 2020 iPad Pro 11' cellular not too long ago knowing that next few months a new Pro could be coming out. <shrug> I think I'm becoming an old fart. lol.

Definitely agree with the reading amusement pleasure. New tech is something I find a hobby to read.

This rumor mill thing is becoming a profession / a reputation - and it's amazing how they still get some stuff wrong. lol. All in good fun. Threads like yours are a blast to read. I do appreciate it.

 

[Christopher Kim]

What I don't get is people act like these new devices all of a sudden invalidate the previous generation. I know someone today using a 10.5 iPad Pro as a daily driver in education. And.... I can't use a 2020 iPad Pro 11? These advances are getting so tiny that a lot of $ is spent on incremental upgrades. My good friend is still using his iPhone X daily. That guy has saved a LOT of $ on his phone vs what I've done. There's really not much that he can't do that I can on my 12 Pro Max.

I may be getting older but ... I'm finding this need to always have the latest tech is having a far more detrimental effect on my bank account in return for tiny features I don't even use. I should have kept my 2018 iPad Pro 11. I should have kept my 2017 MBP. I'd be thousands richer had I and not that much worse off.

If one can wait, more power to them. These are tools - not necessities for most people - so if I can't justify the need for one now, it really isn't a need, it's a want. So in that case, waiting seems logical if it's a want.

I agree with almost everything you said. However, there's a big diff between buying now and having a better device for the same money come out six months later vs one month later. I'm ok with the former but would be unhappy with the latter. Hence asking how people remember historically how Apple rumors hew to eventual releases. The rampant leaker mill is March. I'm offering an alternate possibility for people to speculate on for our amusement pleasure.

@BigMcGuire, while I definitely agree with that, similar to @BlackJacques, for me it's not feeling that the old device suddenly won't work (and I agree some ppl post with that sort of energy). It's that if you buy from Apple, you're buying (at full price!) something that has older technology (understanding full-well it may still work fine and totally meet your needs), and if a new one comes out just a few months later, the feeling you get that you could've maximized your dollars better in hindsight.

If you play the mental exercise of imagining you buy the 2020 iPP now, at full price, and the new 2021's come out a few weeks later (and while we speculate that maybe it's not a huge upgrade, we don't know what we don't know!), I know I for one would feel a bit silly. The magnitude of that feeling is subjective, and differs among people of course, but to me I know I would feel like I didn't maximize value.

 

[TheRealAlex]

Really October 2021. Because Summer or Q2 2021 is scheduled as the MacBook Pro and Mac Redesign launch window. And Holiday Q4 2021 will be the iPad Pro 2021 iPhone Launch. That’s just how it is. We have years of Data on Apple’s release schedule.
Most important same as the iPad Pro 2018 Never got the A11 Bionic A11X never existed I have posted the chart below. There will be NO A14X Apple will skip the A14X in favor of the A15 iPhone 13 CPU “upcoming” and the A15X upcoming 5nm+ CPU.

Apple silicon - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

So I expect 2021 to be Very expensive for Apple Fans.

new 14” MacBook Pro new Macs (summer 2021)
new iPad Pro (Fall 2021)
new iPhone 13 120hz (Fall 2021)

 

[KittyKatta]

very true

people's current device doesn't stop being great just because a new device is out lol

One good thing about being on the wrong side of an upgrade cycle nowadays is that these iPad updates are barely any different than the previous 2 generations.

For me, I sold my 12.9 and had to use a Pro9.7 and it didnt change my workflow one bit because iPadOS works the same on pretty much any iPad out there. So, while I'm sure A14X will be a great processor, there's zero rumors about Apple actually making any Pro software that will take advantage of more power so I really doubt Gen5 will be able to do something that a Pro11 (2018) or Air 4 can't do.