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iPad Pro iPad Pro… is that it?

James Godfrey

James Godfrey

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
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So I don’t know about everyone else but I am hugely disappointed with the iPad Pro line up… new chip and hover, seriously is that it for 18 months of development? Even just adding miniLED to the 11” would have been something, but I am majorly disappointed. I can see iPad Pro sales simply flat lining this year.

Does anyone think this might be one of those short refresh cycles where we see an M3 refresh in 6-12 months…

It just seems very odd that so much effort was put into the 10th gen base iPad which actually has some features which are better than the Pros (landscape orientation, Magic Keyboard folio etc)… it no wonder apple didn’t have an event. What a shambles the line up is right now…

To me it feels like Apple is focusing their attention far more on the cheaper iPad line up and has just given up improving the pro line up at this stage… base line major refresh, Mini again major refresh, iPad Air basically an 11” pro but without a few bells and whistles, the pros are just stagnant now and seriously not worth the asking price at all.
 
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The current Air is from 2020, the Pro is from 2018, the Mini from 2021. The iPad 9 dates back to 2013 design wise. It was overdue for a rethink.

Yes, Apple decided to do some new tech in the midrange model this year, and do mostly a spec bump on the Pro. No different from 2020 when they enabled an extra GPU core, gave all Pros 6GB of RAM instead of just the 1TB models, and stuck on a new camera package while the Air got a total redesign.

Given that the M2 is mostly a small spec bump, there wasn’t much reason for Apple to then pour tons of new tech into it, especially if the MiniLED screens still aren’t ready for prime time on the 11” size.

You’re going to see a new gen Pro in 2024, most likely. Apple’s been keeping to a roughly 18 month refresh cycle on it, so I’d expect March or so.

Fun fact: the *only* iPad chassis design that didn’t see multiple generations are the first gen and the iPad 2. Everything else got at least two models or more.
 
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Well, the iPhone lineup is pretty much the same situation no real updates since the 12 except ProMotion, Dynamic Island, updated A series chip (except for the standard models), ProRes video recording and new colors is all we got since 2020.
 
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MisterSavage said:
Was really hoping I'd be tempted to upgrade from my 2018 IPP. I wasn't.
Click to expand...
It’s a massive upgrade to the 2018 if you use the iPad for high level stuff - various feature on apps like Photoshop don’t even work due to lack of ram. Hover is big too. But I think the next refresh is the big one.
Lakersfan74 said:
Well, the iPhone lineup is pretty much the same situation no real updates since the 12 except ProMotion, Dynamic Island, updated A series chip (except for the standard models), ProRes video recording and new colors is all we got since 2020.
Click to expand...
That’s not a small update, really. You’re minimising the tech advances and hoping for what? Depends what you’re looking I guess, and how often you expect life changing upgrades for but my iPhone 13 pro is leaps ahead of my prior iPhone XR and 8 plus.
 
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Lakersfan74 said:
Well, the iPhone lineup is pretty much the same situation no real updates since the 12 except ProMotion, Dynamic Island, updated A series chip (except for the standard models), ProRes video recording and new colors is all we got since 2020.
Click to expand...

Your "all" list + 48MP RAW were significant to me - I upgraded from 12PM to 14PM and am quite happy with it.
 
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MarkC426 said:
The only reason would be if you need 'M' only features.....😁
Hey I am still getting along great with my 1st gen iPad Pro (6 years so far).
Will try and get another year out of it.....;)
Click to expand...

Now my 9.7" IPP is definitely feeling clunky. If that was my only iPad I would be upgrading.

cupcakes2000 said:
It’s a massive upgrade to the 2018 if you use the iPad for high level stuff - various feature on apps like Photoshop don’t even work due to lack of ram. Hover is big too. But I think the next refresh is the big one.
Click to expand...
I don't. Gaming and viewing content mostly. Everything I use it for still performs great.
 
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My gut feeling is that this was the last update to both models and that they will be replaced by different screen sizes with even more expensive price points. Perhaps something like dual Thunderbolt ports, or "omg, the base model lost the headphone jack but now the Ultra gets one? What on Earth was Tim thinking?"
 
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I am purchasing the new 11-inch iPad Pro next week. But also I am coming from a 6th generation iPad. Yes, the M2 chip is overkill for iPad, but, it will be more future proof. The extra RAM will certainly help. This upgrade isn't for everyone, but I am very excited to get mine soon.
 
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GMShadow said:
The current Air is from 2020, the Pro is from 2018, the Mini from 2021. The iPad 9 dates back to 2013 design wise. It was overdue for a rethink.
Click to expand...
Current Air is a 2022 with M1 chip - pretty nice machine. Fits in the smaller Magic Keyboard. My wife has a pink one with the white keyboard. Should stay competitive for a few years with the M1.
 
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Either this is trolling or some people have very unrealistic ideas about how upgrades and developments work. Designs don’t get major upgrades every year. Upgrades are usually incremental and you get major upgrades periodically or when something is wholly redesigned.
 
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Ivabign said:
Current Air is a 2022 with M1 chip - pretty nice machine. Fits in the smaller Magic Keyboard. My wife has a pink one with the white keyboard. Should stay competitive for a few years with the M1.
Click to expand...
Hes talking about the design, which was debuted in 2020
 
GMShadow said:
The current Air is from 2020, the Pro is from 2018, the Mini from 2021. The iPad 9 dates back to 2013 design wise. It was overdue for a rethink.

Yes, Apple decided to do some new tech in the midrange model this year, and do mostly a spec bump on the Pro. No different from 2020 when they enabled an extra GPU core, gave all Pros 6GB of RAM instead of just the 1TB models, and stuck on a new camera package while the Air got a total redesign.

Given that the M2 is mostly a small spec bump, there wasn’t much reason for Apple to then pour tons of new tech into it, especially if the MiniLED screens still aren’t ready for prime time on the 11” size.

You’re going to see a new gen Pro in 2024, most likely. Apple’s been keeping to a roughly 18 month refresh cycle on it, so I’d expect March or so.

Fun fact: the *only* iPad chassis design that didn’t see multiple generations are the first gen and the iPad 2. Everything else got at least two models or more.
Click to expand...
Iirc the iPad 5th and 6th gen used a modified Air 1 chassis that removed the orientation/mute switch and modified speaker holes.
www.macrumors.com

New 9.7-Inch iPad Teardown Confirms It's Basically an Original iPad Air

iFixit has shared a brief teardown of Apple's new 9.7-inch iPad unveiled last week, and unsurprisingly, the tablet looks just as much like an...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
 
All products have been meh, not just iPad.

Some interesting suggestion have been put out like - global economy is on the down so no point bringing the good stuff this year, leave it for 2023/24 when we will have more consumer spending.

There is also the shortage of chips and maybe other logistical costs which make some innovations unviable at the moment or not profitable enough.

I’d say 2024 is the big year for something interesting but hoping it’s next year.
 
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MarkC426 said:
Hey I am still getting along great with my 1st gen iPad Pro (6 years so far).
Click to expand...
Me too, but a 9.7 model. I had the battery replaced (i.e., I took it to Apple and they swapped it for a refurb) in January and that gave it a second wind. I'm nervous about what iPadOS 16 will do to it, though.
 
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1BadManVan said:
Hes talking about the design, which was debuted in 2020
Click to expand...
Missed that - since the look of the machine falls pretty far down the list of features, it didn't compute as something that was that important. It is a slab of glass and aluminum. Like a prom date - what is under the dress is what matters.
 
Ivabign said:
Missed that - since the look of the machine falls pretty far down the list of features, it didn't compute as something that was that important. It is a slab of glass and aluminum. Like a prom date - what is under the dress is what matters.
Click to expand...
Haha, yup I agree. The new models all look modern enough, only so much you can do with a tablet without hurting its functionality.

Though to be fair, the looks of the new m2 MacBooks is what finally prompted me to buy one. So looks still have some factor
 
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