Unlike the Mac, the more money you spend on iPads the less value you get in return. The 9th Gen iPad is 5/5 in terms of value but has no fun factor and the 12.9 iPad Pro is 1/5 in value but is extremely enjoyable to use. If you had to guess, how many people are buying the iPad Pros's? It has to be a very small percentage of the total iPad sales, right? Maybe the base iPad and the Air represent 80% of the sales and that's why Apple is reluctant to make iPadOS more "pro" like MacOS.
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iPad Pro Is the iPad Pro a niche product?
- Thread starter Retskrad
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The pros are worth it for ProMotion and quad speakers, M1, better display, better cameras with 4K recording, 5G on cellular models, FaceID, more RAM, the list goes on..
'value' is subjective. The first two in that list are worth the price of admission alone for me.
'value' is subjective. The first two in that list are worth the price of admission alone for me.
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What makes the iPad Pro more enjoyable to use over the 9th Gen iPad? For me, the weight/bulk and dismal battery life of my IPad Pro make it less enjoyable to use.
I’d guess the reason Apple hinders iPadOS is because if they made it more capable they’d cannabilize Mac sales.
I don’t have a regular iPad to compare to. But I moved from the original 9.7 inch iPad Pro to the new 11 inch iPad Pro that came out last year and am super happy with it. I have a laptop but very rarely use it. I can do everything I need to on the iPad. My old original iPad Pro is still in heavy use with my granddaughter.
The bottom and mid-range is likely to collect the majority of sales from any product line from any tech company.
The last statistics I saw were: over 50% base iPad, around 25% air, less than 20% pro (both models together) and the rest is the mini. That's just units sold, not revenues and even less margins (and this does not even take the even higher margins of accessories into account)
I wouldn't be surprised that, while selling less than half the base iPad, when taking accessories into account, the pro makes as much (or more) profits as the base iPad....
As for value, that's a very subjective metrics, because everyone value features differently.
I would never buy, in 2022, a 3GB RAM iPad, but people have different priorities....(and also different knowledge of the differences between models, some people don't even know specs such as RAM when they buy...)
Yep. The iPad 9th gen is a great device and will likely last for at least 3 good years (which is pretty good given the $329 or lower price). However, at this point in time, I’d personally prefer to get something with at least 6GB and use it longer.
Besides, if I were buying for primary use, I would probably get 256GB cellular and at $609, it’s not as nice of a deal compared to the Air and Pro models.
Especially also with the (wishful thinking?) rumours of pro features coming to iPadOS and or Pro apps coming to the iPad.
The lower RAM devices would probably not get these features. Worst case they could even be limited to M1 and higher only.
This would definitely bump the value of the pro’s beyond the hardware features now.
A bit more in line with what Samsung does, where you start losing out on features when you go down from the S8 line to the FE and further down to the A8. with apple, at the moment that software “loss” is fairly minimal (not counting some app reloading and maybe a few graphic settings on some games and layers on procreate and such)
Personally I think it‘s a much needed evolution
The lower RAM devices would probably not get these features. Worst case they could even be limited to M1 and higher only.
This would definitely bump the value of the pro’s beyond the hardware features now.
A bit more in line with what Samsung does, where you start losing out on features when you go down from the S8 line to the FE and further down to the A8. with apple, at the moment that software “loss” is fairly minimal (not counting some app reloading and maybe a few graphic settings on some games and layers on procreate and such)
Personally I think it‘s a much needed evolution
I think it's less of a niche product than it used to be now that the overall footprint is smaller. That being said, pretty much everything Apple makes that's not called "iPhone" is a niche product. Smartphones seem to be most peoples' favorite/only personal computers now.
Had Apple offered an iPad with the biggest screen size without the pro features, I would have chosen it.
300 dollars for an inch is awfully steep.
Alas, a gorgeous beast and a very different species than the base iPad.
300 dollars for an inch is awfully steep.
Alas, a gorgeous beast and a very different species than the base iPad.
An iPad air 12.9 would cost $799 (given that the size premium for Apple is $200, + 100 for miniled)
By the way the first and second generation 12.9 entry models were indeed $799, it was only with the USB C model that the price jumped to $999 (and that of the smaller pro moved from $599 and $649 for the 9.7 pro and 10.5 pro to $799 for the 11in)
Also, Apple kind of offers a cheap 12.9... Apple Certified refurbished (which basically means new, with new battery screen and case) has the 2018 12.9 for $629.....
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That sweet feature creep driven inflation
.Would not be surprised to see the upcoming generation add 100$ to the baseline pricing.
True and this used to be Apple’s approach to iPads before. Latest device at regular price then older models available brand new for $100-200 less.
They still do this for iPhones (11, 12, 13) but for iPads, they made distinct product lines. For discounted older models, need to go store clearance or refurbs now (assuming you can find the config you want in stock).
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What is fun factor for you? I don't demand much from a tablet but still being able to get the latest apps works for me...
Miniled already did that in the 12.9 and we all know that the next 11in pro will be $899. The 12,9in however will stay at $1099.That sweet feature creep driven inflation
Would not be surprised to see the upcoming generation add 100$ to the baseline pricing.
IMO the next "price increase" will happen with an iPad pro 15in. Definitely not expected this year, but might well come with the following generation in spring 2024. Hard to guess a starting price, but I would say no less than $1499 or even $1799 if it starts at 16GB RAM. Hopefully by then 256GB base storage will be standard on the pro, hopefully without a related price increase.
If the potential redesign of the back in order to fit wireless PD is to materialize, it would be reasonable to spin that into a hike, 100$ may have been steep indeed.
No, that would be a "free" upgrade. It's not a complelling feature like miniled or a larger screen or USB C etc. And Apple will make more money with accessories anyway. It will be more like one additional argument to upgrade...
The pros models are almost certainly going to be a lot more popular with users in the iPad section of an Apple enthusiast site. So this probably isn’t the best place to find unbiased guesses to that question.
MacRumors represents the niche.
I really enjoy using my 1TB cellular iPad Pro but that model's probably a niche within a niche within a niche within a niche.
Yeah. I have plenty of co-workers who bought new laptops so they could work from home when the lockdowns started.
A lot of folks seem to be happy just using their phones. Personally, I find the screens too small. I find even the iPad mini is oftentimes too small for my liking.
This. As I move through my third year with my 7th gen, the lack of RAM is beginning to show as slowdowns/mild hangups on certain apps/tasks. I've considered replacing it, and if I do, it will be for an 11" iPP, which gives me the RAM upgrade and other goodies like quad speakers, etc.
This was my exact thinking when I bought my 7th gen, that if I could get three good years out of it, I'd be satisfied. Given I paid $219 for it, I have zero complaints!
What kind of logic is that?
The one that's a joy to use has no value? Huh? You pay to have a better/more enjoyable experience!