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iPad Pro Liquid Retina is silly and counterproductive
- Thread starter laela
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I agree with the OP that the rounded corners are just unnecessary and add pointless work and complexity.
Ives needs somebody to tell him to just stop and take it back a notch, no pun intended.
Ives needs somebody to tell him to just stop and take it back a notch, no pun intended.
Design language? This is Apple not knowing what design means any more.
There are cases where rounded corners makes *sense*. This is *not* one of those cases.
Exactly. 'Retina Display' is a marketing term they came up with and all it really means is you can't discern the pixels when the device is held at a normal working distance (cue the commenters that say they can see the pixels and their 'perfectly normal' working distance from the screen is 1.5 inches).
There are always going to be edge-use cases though and it sounds like here there are some. As with any device you have to decide if it's best for you and if it's not it doesn't necessarily follow that it's not best for anyone else.
I don’t see why it is such a big deal in the first place, but, at least they aren’t turning off more pixels to change their radius via software like they do on the Pixel 3 phone.
In either case (owning a pixel 3 too) I haven’t run into issues with the corners, including using RDP to Windows, or using my iPad in Duo Display as a 2nd monitor in Windows. Biggest issue I am running into is the apps not being optimized for this new form factor. But, been through that many times over the years, and know it will get sorted.
By design language, I just mean “the decisions Apple has been making in its new hardware for the past two years.” I would also say there are two distinct kinds of design - functional design and aesthetic design. I think if you asked Apple’s design team, they might say they believe that a rounded screen against the rounded corner of the device was more aesthetically pleasing than a square screen against a rounded corner. It’s not the first time Apple has put form before function.
If you think the iPad should have sharp physical corners, I’d have to disagree. I often hold the iPad by resting the corners in my palms, and the latest revision is more comfortable to hold in this way.
The irritant is that, unlike the iPhone X, there is enough space in the corners of the iPad Pro for a full square image, so the rounded corners come off as a gratuitous over-complexity to engineer types. It has between negative utility and zero utility for actual pro users. It's just eye candy to help you justify spending more money on a beefy iPad.
I use both my 2015 first gen 12.9” and the 2018 12.9” iPads. I actually prefer, even aesthetically, the look of the 2015 iPad with the square LCD screen corners to the rounded screen. Side by side, the screen with the rounded corners look weird. I think it’s because on a piece of tech, I expect form to follow function.
Thank you! You explained succinctly my precise objections -- something I apparently failed to do in 3 pages of discussion.
All of this!
The rounded corners are 100% a aesthetic design decision. You round the corners, round the display!
The 2018 models look sophisticated. It makes all other iPads look dumpy.
I wasnt sure about the rounded corners on the X I bought last year but its more immersive on a device you hold. A computer shouldn't have curved corners or a tv but something you hold I feel is different after having it. The curved edges make it softer in a way and more natural looking rounded then a hard edge but only in something you hold and use with your hand. I prefer it now.
With how the LED lights work on Liquid Retina... it actually helps get rid of an old annoying issue LCDs had: light bleed.
Best thing Apple has done since 120hz refresh rate for iPad Pro.
Kallum.
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Just don't buy one then. But realize it actually serves a purpose besides aesthetics.
Check reviews. The corner brightness has actually been compromised now. Glad you brought that up.
Yes, I decided to stick with my 10.5. It's just too good to replace. I was strongly considering the 12.9 but it seems like a downgrade from prior gen 12.9 now and I would be paying a bonus for what I think is a boneheaded design. Apple will probably skip a refresh next year. Apps will have caught up by then too and I can revisit for the next version.
The thing I will miss most is the new pencil.
I don't even know where to begin talking about the precipitous degradation of Apple's marketing and design teams. That being said, I really like the design of the new iPad Pro, with the exception of that massive unaesthetic camera bump. Apple has had a lot of misses when it comes to software and hardware design - I've not been impressed with anything I've seen from them since the iPhone 5 or OS X Leopard.
I have and I’ve watched and read at least 20 reviews with no mention of corner screen issues, I also read and saw the opposite (people praising it’s screen tech) and my Pro is also light bleed free on all sides and corners. If you don’t like the iPad Pro 2018... fine mate, then go enjoy the 10.5”. Are you creating a football team or something, (with people who agree with you.)
My advice, don’t take such ridiculous things (like curved edges on a tablet) so seriously... there’s so many other important things to care about.
Kallum.
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Everything old is new again. I present to you the original liquid (not quite so retina) display. Looks like Apple is going back to their original design language. So for those that hate this new direction you may want to hang on.
the new design beats the tired old curved design before this hands down. Everyone thats actually seen on and held it in person says it looks more futuristic with the straight edges and flush glass.
The chamber on the old ones never looked that great to me, Better on an iPhone 5 not so much an iPad.
The chamber on the old ones never looked that great to me, Better on an iPhone 5 not so much an iPad.
I think this whole debate is an excellent example of two completely different ways of thinking! As a designer, I appreciate the asthetics of a screen whose corners matches the exterior of the device. It does not help or hinder my use of the iPad as a creative platform. But! From a functional standpoint, it’s unnecessary. The thing is, so are 90% of all visual design elements. So is 90% of all visual design. That doesn’t mean it isn’t important or can’t be impactful.
Designers will argue aesthetics (as I have done) and engineers will argue function. Rounded corners aren’t going anywhere, though, and I can’t think of a task that will be negatively affected by them.