iPad pro 9.7 or iPad 6th Gen?

[pensaa]

Long story short - I'm looking to try an iPad without breaking the bank, so looking on the second hand market here in NZ.

I've done a fair bit of research into both an iPad Pro 9.7 & an iPad 6th Gen. Both selling for quite similar prices, although I can buy a brand new 32gb 6th Gen for the price of an iPad Pro 9.7

I'm stuck as to what one to aim for as both seem to have their perks, i.e 6th gen has the better A10 processor but the iPad pro has better camera's and 4 speakers as opposed to the 6th gen's 2.

What are your thoughts on this? I suppose a lot of it would depend on what i want to use the iPad for as well.

 

[44267547]

As you said, it depends what you are using your iPad for. If it’s for simple media consumption, the 9.7 iPad Pro is still very much capable of handling those types of tasks, and it has a laminated display, which the sixth GEN iPad does not have. And the 9.7 iPad has the quad speakers, True tone, but does not obviously have the upgraded processor the sixth Gen iPad has.

 

[sosumi99]

I have a hard time seeing what the upgraded processor gets you. I have the 9.7 iPad Pro and there's never been anything -- even demanding games -- that it couldn't handle. I certainly wouldn't give up the laminated screen, speakers, and TrueTone though.

 

[musicpenguy]

I’d go pro the better speaker, SmartKeyboard support, and other various improvements are there - given the price is close enough

 

[Crow_Servo]

IMO, the 9.7” Pro is still the best 9.7” iPad on out there for the reasons others have already stated. Laminated display (which also makes it thinner), True Tone, better camera and smart Keyboard support are all good reasons.

The 6th gen is solid for its price, though. Has many nice qualities.

 

[pensaa]

Awesome replies, cheers guys. Scored me a nice 128gb Rose Gold 9.7 pro last night. After reading your replies I also agreed that the Pro was the best option

 

[Makayla]

When I search online the 9.7" pro still costs more than the 6th gen.

 

[44267547]

When I search online the 9.7" pro still costs more than the 6th gen.

Personally, I would pay a higher price for the 9.7 iPad Pro over the sixth GEN iPad. Simply because I think the quad speakers, true tone, laminated display Trump the six GEN iPad for me. Even with a faster processor with the sixth GEN iPad, those other subtlety details with the 9.7 Pro make the difference for me, and I don’t have much use for an Apple Pencil.

 

[Makayla]

Personally, I would pay a higher price for the 9.7 iPad Pro over the sixth GEN iPad. Simply because I think the quad speakers, true tone, laminated display Trump the six GEN iPad for me. Even with a faster processor with the sixth GEN iPad, those other subtlety details with the 9.7 Pro make the difference for me, and I don’t have much use for an Apple Pencil.

That's what I am thinking. When a two-year-old device costs more than a brand new one there has to be reason.

Though with newer CPU the 6 gen might have a little longer life time left at this point.

 

[rui no onna]

Personally, I'd opt for the brand new 6th gen for the battery.

Features-wise, the Pro 9.7 has a lot more high-end niceties. However, it's also got the shortest battery life I've seen on an iPad even when brand new. Don't get me wrong, it's still way better than smartphones, laptops and other tablets. It's just a bit of a disappointment after the iPad 4.

After two years of my normal usage (the iPad is my most used tech device, maybe around 80-90% of my tech usage), my Pro 9.7 is now down to just 7-8 hours of onscreen time. Iirc, it was 9-10 hours brand new. Meanwhile, the iPad 5th gen gets me more than 16 hours and since the A10 chipset has better power saving features compared to A9, I expect it to do just as well or better.

 

[JPack]

Personally, I'd opt for the brand new 6th gen for the battery.

Features-wise, the Pro 9.7 has a lot more high-end niceties. However, it's also got the shortest battery life I've seen on an iPad even when brand new. Don't get me wrong, it's still way better than smartphones, laptops and other tablets. It's just a bit of a disappointment after the iPad 4.

After two years of my normal usage (the iPad is my most used tech device, maybe around 80-90% of my tech usage), my Pro 9.7 is now down to just 7-8 hours of onscreen time. Iirc, it was 9-10 hours brand new. Meanwhile, the iPad 5th gen gets me more than 16 hours and since the A10 chipset has better power saving features compared to A9, I expect it to do just as well or better.

I agree this is an important point to consider.

The iPad (2018) has a 20% higher Whr battery compared to iPad Pro 9.7". A used device will have even less available capacity.