All iPads Is iPad Air 2019 good in handling 300 page PDF?

[Justin Tan]

Hi, as I’m studying, my school does provide pdf file for my textbook, and I found it hard to use on my iPad Air 2.

Every time when I open it, it seems that there is a few layer of each page and it take some time to load. When I edit it by drawing or highlighting it, the app files crashed immediately and it is really troubling.

Thinking to get the iPad Air 3 but not sure if the A12 professor can handle it, or should I go for the pro instead as my budget is kind of limited, and if i should go for the pro, might as well wait for the updated version as the iPad Pro had been released for some time.

 

[BootLoxes]

All i do is read pdfs on my air 3. The longest I have is around 1700 pages with no lag.

300 should be nothing. The power difference between the air 2 and air 3 are quite huge.

That said, if you have the extra cash, then get a pro. All the extra features are worth it imo. Plus the 2020 ipads might release in spring or summer

 

[dsusanj]

It should work fine. I keep opening large PDFs (a couple of hundred pages, textbooks as well) in PDF Expert and Notability on the mini 5 (which is essentially the same as the Air 3) without issues. I also have the 12.9" 2018 Pro which I mostly use for annotating but again, Air 3 should be perfectly capable for what you need.

 

[Justin Tan]

All i do is read pdfs on my air 3. The longest I have is around 1700 pages with no lag.

300 should be nothing. The power difference between the air 2 and air 3 are quite huge.

That said, if you have the extra cash, then get a pro. All the extra features are worth it imo. Plus the 2020 ipads might release in spring or summer

but do you try editing or drawing them? Moving further,it seems that every page of my pdf consists a few layers, and if that’s th case, does it differ a lot?
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It should work fine. I keep opening large PDFs (a couple of hundred pages, textbooks as well) in PDF Expert and Notability on the mini 5 (which is essentially the same as the Air 3) without issues. I also have the 12.9" 2018 Pro which I mostly use for annotating but again, Air 3 should be perfectly capable for what you need.

but do you try editing or drawing them? Moving further,it seems that every page of my pdf consists a few layers, and if that’s the case, does it differ a lot?

 

[OBirder]

but do you try editing or drawing them? Moving further,it seems that every page of my pdf consists a few layers, and if that’s th case, does it differ a lot?

Maybe you should tell us what program you use.

I used PDFExpert on my Air 2 with 1000 to 1300 pages and it worked fine.

 

[Justin Tan]

Maybe you should tell us what program you use.

I used PDFExpert on my Air 2 with 1000 to 1300 pages and it worked fine.

I used the original Apple files app to view the PDF file. Did tried Adobe on my iPad air 2 and does saw slightly improvement, hardly crash after editing by using it but still take some time to load the pdf especially when switching through different pages

 

[sracer]

The number of pages a PDF file contains doesn't tell the true story of how an iPad will handle it. A 300 page PDF file made up of full-page scanned images will be more problematic than a 3000 page PDF that consists of text.

What are the file sizes of the PDFs that are causing problems?

 

[Justin Tan]

The number of pages a PDF file contains doesn't tell the true story of how an iPad will handle it. A 300 page PDF file made up of full-page scanned images will be more problematic than a 3000 page PDF that consists of text.

What are the file sizes of the PDFs that are causing problems?

Approximately 300 pages with 400mb + using files.

 

[ericwn]

Hi, as I’m studying, my school does provide pdf file for my textbook, and I found it hard to use on my iPad Air 2.

Every time when I open it, it seems that there is a few layer of each page and it take some time to load. When I edit it by drawing or highlighting it, the app files crashed immediately and it is really troubling.

Thinking to get the iPad Air 3 but not sure if the A12 professor can handle it, or should I go for the pro instead as my budget is kind of limited, and if i should go for the pro, might as well wait for the updated version as the iPad Pro had been released for some time.

Buy from Apple with return policy, try the cheaper one and send back if not sufficient.

The amount of pages on a pdf doesn’t matter that much compared to the overall file size for example.

 

[sracer]

Approximately 300 pages with 400mb + using files.

That's helpful. I recommend getting any iPad Pro with a minimum of 4GB of RAM. That would be all but the 9.7 Pro.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hi, as I’m studying, my school does provide pdf file for my textbook, and I found it hard to use on my iPad Air 2.

Every time when I open it, it seems that there is a few layer of each page and it take some time to load. When I edit it by drawing or highlighting it, the app files crashed immediately and it is really troubling.

Thinking to get the iPad Air 3 but not sure if the A12 professor can handle it, or should I go for the pro instead as my budget is kind of limited, and if i should go for the pro, might as well wait for the updated version as the iPad Pro had been released for some time.

The A12 processor should be able to handle it just fine.

 

[rui no onna]

That's helpful. I recommend getting any iPad Pro with a minimum of 4GB of RAM. That would be all but the 9.7 Pro.

Agreed.

@Justin Tan
The Air 3 should be fast enough at rendering the PDFs but the crashes you're experiencing are due to lack of RAM. Definitely trying getting an iPad with at least 4GB. Sadly, only the very expensive 3rd gen 1TB iPad Pros that have more than 4GB RAM.

 

[muzzy996]

I went through this with the developer of PDF Expert when I was experiencing significant lag navigating around pages in my engineering drawings for work. The slow regeneration of graphics on certain pages in some of my PDFs would be similar in PDF Expert as well as Notability or Adobe’s app as well only to different degrees.

I ended up sending sample files to Readdle’s support team to test and the conclusion drawn by them was that the files that I had were simply too graphically intensive to render efficiently. File sizes were not huge, nor were page counts. These were pages 24x36 in size printed from CAD software with lots of vector information within them. Large areas of hatching or topographic contouring can sometimes slow things down in my experience. Here’s an exact quote from their email:

“I am afraid this file contains lots of graphics and such a situation can not be avoided while working with this file in the current version of the app. PDF Expert relies on iOS component and although we can not influence the system component itself, the situation might be improved in the future iOS updates. We will also investigate possibilities to improve the situation in the future updates of the app. Also, the issue is file-specific and you can try rasterizing your file using third-party solutions.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.”

The solution for me has been as suggested by them to rasterize some of the content that I’m receiving from my engineers to review. I’ll re-PDF the review sets that I get from them down to 11x17, opting to print as image and setting a reasonable resolution that I can still see detail in. This will often result in larger file sizes as things go from vectorized to raster but performance can go up.

Again this is just one experience, certainly more of an exception rather than a rule but from this experience I can honestly say that there’s more to performance rendering PDF files on iOS than JUST page count and PDF file size.

 

[Zapdoc]

All i do is read pdfs on my air 3. The longest I have is around 1700 pages with no lag.

300 should be nothing. The power difference between the air 2 and air 3 are quite huge.

That said, if you have the extra cash, then get a pro. All the extra features are worth it imo. Plus the 2020 ipads might release in spring or summer

Bit how about the new iPad 10.2 for this use ?

 

[ericwn]

I went through this with the developer of PDF Expert when I was experiencing significant lag navigating around pages in my engineering drawings for work. The slow regeneration of graphics on certain pages in some of my PDFs would be similar in PDF Expert as well as Notability or Adobe’s app as well only to different degrees.

I ended up sending sample files to Readdle’s support team to test and the conclusion drawn by them was that the files that I had were simply too graphically intensive to render efficiently. File sizes were not huge, nor were page counts. These were pages 24x36 in size printed from CAD software with lots of vector information within them. Large areas of hatching or topographic contouring can sometimes slow things down in my experience. Here’s an exact quote from their email:

“I am afraid this file contains lots of graphics and such a situation can not be avoided while working with this file in the current version of the app. PDF Expert relies on iOS component and although we can not influence the system component itself, the situation might be improved in the future iOS updates. We will also investigate possibilities to improve the situation in the future updates of the app. Also, the issue is file-specific and you can try rasterizing your file using third-party solutions.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.”

The solution for me has been as suggested by them to rasterize some of the content that I’m receiving from my engineers to review. I’ll re-PDF the review sets that I get from them down to 11x17, opting to print as image and setting a reasonable resolution that I can still see detail in. This will often result in larger file sizes as things go from vectorized to raster but performance can go up.

Again this is just one experience, certainly more of an exception rather than a rule but from this experience I can honestly say that there’s more to performance rendering PDF files on iOS than JUST page count and PDF file size.

Thanks much for sharing!

 

[Zapdoc]

Hi, as I’m studying, my school does provide pdf file for my textbook, and I found it hard to use on my iPad Air 2.

Every time when I open it, it seems that there is a few layer of each page and it take some time to load. When I edit it by drawing or highlighting it, the app files crashed immediately and it is really troubling.

Thinking to get the iPad Air 3 but not sure if the A12 professor can handle it, or should I go for the pro instead as my budget is kind of limited, and if i should go for the pro, might as well wait for the updated version as the iPad Pro had been released for some time.

Sorry just realised this post was about iPad Air - wondered how the new 10.2 would be with this large off file as I have just bought one today

 

[rui no onna]

Bit how about the new iPad 10.2 for this use ?

As mentioned, really depends on PDF complexity.

This file managed to crash GoodReader on the iPad Air 2 just searching for msata when I had 4 background apps (Safari - 130 tabs, Marvin 3 ePub Reader, Settings, Gmail). Worked fine when I force closed all background apps. It actually used to crash GoodReader just turning pages on 2GB RAM iPads even when it was the only app open. It seems like whatever was causing that issue got fixed (I submitted the crash report).

https://thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hmm_pdf/x131e_hmm_en_0b48698_03.pdf

The one from the OP seems far more problematic.

I'm unable to use PDF Expert right now as it keeps crashing upon launch on Air 2 and Pro 9.7. Quite possibly due to a PDF file that was left open on both since a new install of PDF Expert on 5th and 6th gen works fine.

 

[Justin Tan]

That's helpful. I recommend getting any iPad Pro with a minimum of 4GB of RAM. That would be all but the 9.7 Pro.

If that's the case, then need to go for the iPad pro which is slightly pricier?
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I

Agreed.

@Justin Tan
The Air 3 should be fast enough at rendering the PDFs but the crashes you're experiencing are due to lack of RAM. Definitely trying getting an iPad with at least 4GB. Sadly, only the very expensive 3rd gen 1TB iPad Pros that have more than 4GB RAM.

Personally I am not really sure if the processor matters more than the ram. The air 2 I am using now has 2gb ram and A8X processor. But if ram is the most important factor in handling the PDFs, then iPad pro is significantly better than the air 3? Or air 3 is enough to handle it as it has A12 Bionic in it
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I went through this with the developer of PDF Expert when I was experiencing significant lag navigating around pages in my engineering drawings for work. The slow regeneration of graphics on certain pages in some of my PDFs would be similar in PDF Expert as well as Notability or Adobe’s app as well only to different degrees.

I ended up sending sample files to Readdle’s support team to test and the conclusion drawn by them was that the files that I had were simply too graphically intensive to render efficiently. File sizes were not huge, nor were page counts. These were pages 24x36 in size printed from CAD software with lots of vector information within them. Large areas of hatching or topographic contouring can sometimes slow things down in my experience. Here’s an exact quote from their email:

“I am afraid this file contains lots of graphics and such a situation can not be avoided while working with this file in the current version of the app. PDF Expert relies on iOS component and although we can not influence the system component itself, the situation might be improved in the future iOS updates. We will also investigate possibilities to improve the situation in the future updates of the app. Also, the issue is file-specific and you can try rasterizing your file using third-party solutions.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.”

The solution for me has been as suggested by them to rasterize some of the content that I’m receiving from my engineers to review. I’ll re-PDF the review sets that I get from them down to 11x17, opting to print as image and setting a reasonable resolution that I can still see detail in. This will often result in larger file sizes as things go from vectorized to raster but performance can go up.

Again this is just one experience, certainly more of an exception rather than a rule but from this experience I can honestly say that there’s more to performance rendering PDF files on iOS than JUST page count and PDF file size.

So in short, you mean reducing the something like resolution of the pdf does let the iPad work better? And if that's the case, what application should I use to do so?

 

[rui no onna]

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Personally I am not really sure if the processor matters more than the ram. The air 2 I am using now has 2gb ram and A8X processor. But if ram is the most important factor in handling the PDFs, then iPad pro is significantly better than the air 3? Or air 3 is enough to handle it as it has A12 Bionic in it

A12 Bionic just means it can render faster. That doesn't help you with the crashing.

That said, Air 3 has A12/3GB vs just A8X/2GB on the Air 2. Is the extra 1GB RAM enough? Won't really know until you try.

Maybe borrow an iPad Air 3 or 2017/2018 Pro from someone just to test. Or maybe send it to someone who has 3GB or 4GB RAM devices privately via Dropbox or something along with notes on where it often crashes so they can test for you.

Current iPads being sold have the following:

10.2" iPad 7th gen, Apple A10, 3GB RAM

10.5" iPad Air 3, Apple A12, 3GB RAM

11" & 12.9" iPad Pro 3rd gen, Apple A12X
64GB - 512GB, 4GB RAM
1TB, 6GB RAM

 

[Justin Tan]

If that's the case, might as well I just try it in the Apple store? But will it take a long time to send the files from my iPad to the iPad in the store using airdrop and the file is size is around 400mb

 

[rui no onna]

I just transferred a 200MB zip file from an Air 2 to a 5th gen and it only took a few seconds. To be honest, I think most of those seconds were only because it took me a while to choose the folder to save to on the the 5th gen.

I guess question is if AirDrop is allowed on Apple Store iPads.

 

[Isamilis]

I read lot of references with 1000-2000 pages. A lot. No issues so far. Only new opening (create indexes) may take slightly slower. I used Apple’s internal pdf viewer and Kybook

 

[ericwn]

If that's the case, might as well I just try it in the Apple store? But will it take a long time to send the files from my iPad to the iPad in the store using airdrop and the file is size is around 400mb

What’s a long time for you? This shouldn’t take too long with Airdrop.

Demo units might also run a modified demo OS so the tests might not be that accurate.

Since Apple has a good return policy you might as well try this at home.

 

[muzzy996]

So in short, you mean reducing the something like resolution of the pdf does let the iPad work better? And if that's the case, what application should I use to do so?

If you’re iPad only then I have no idea what the answer to that is. My workflow utilizes OneDrive to store PDF files that I need to QC for my projects. I primarily work on a Windows PC (HP mobile workstation) so I have access to Acrobat DC and PDF Exchange which I use to do the conversion if needed by printing with print as image option enabled.