iPad Pro Liquid Retina is silly and counterproductive

[VMMan]

The screen is the most important part functioning part of the iPad. Everything should be built around the screen, and not the other way around.

If Ives disliked the way the 90 degree angles looked on the screen, then he should have found a form factor for the surrounding case to better complement the screen.

 

[Entopia7]

The screen is the most important part functioning part of the iPad. Everything should be built around the screen, and not the other way around.

If Ives disliked the way the 90 degree angles looked on the screen, then he should have found a form factor for the surrounding case to better complement the screen.

I’d argue the new form factor IS built around the screen. Rounded edges make a device that is nearly all screen comfortable to hold. We lost some pixels at the corners of the display in this compromise. Were they being used for anything? Will this change affect the usability of the screen? I’d argue it doesn’t.

 

[VMMan]

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.

When I first noticed the rounded corners on the iPad Pro, it immediately reminded me of old CRTs.

 

[Marshall73]

On the iPhone XR, Liquid Retina allows the screen to reach closer to the edge of the phone and minimize bezels. It makes a lot of sense, and is clever.

On the iPad Pro, it's just stupid! We can easily get a full screen with all the pixels, given the big bezels. Instead, Apple made the baffling decision to waste precious screen real estate just for marketing purposes.

I feel ashamed for Apple Design. Clearly Apple Marketing are calling the shots now.

Let's not talk about that gratuitous aspect ratio change.

It fixes the backlight bleed on devices whilst reducing the top and bottom bezels. Thus reducing the overall footprint of the device. A worthy introduction.
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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.

My 10.5 looks like a cheap toy when side by side with the new 12.9 Pro. Pretty much the same reaction from everyone who has seen the 2 together. And that’s before I start playing movies or music and the hear the audio improvements. And of course, Face ID, so glad to have that vs using Touch ID which feels totally backward having to touch the sensor for passwords etc. Be happy with the 10.5, it was a great product.

 

[laela]

It fixes the backlight bleed on devices whilst reducing the top and bottom bezels. Thus reducing the overall footprint of the device. A worthy introduction.
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My 10.5 looks like a cheap toy when side by side with the new 12.9 Pro.

Obviously it's debatable. Some may prefer the yellow tint with darker curved corners, washed out colors and/or lack of HDR, and less overall pixels, some may not.

See minute 7-8 to see screen comparisons and comments about darker curved corners. This is a marvel of engineering, obviously.

 

[Entopia7]

Obviously it's debatable. Some may prefer the yellow tint with darker curved corners, washed out colors and/or lack of HDR, and less overall pixels, some may not.

See minute 7-8 to see screen comparisons and comments about darker curved corners. This is a marvel of engineering, obviously.

Sarcasm tells me this thread has moved outside the realm of productive conversation. I’ll just say: I’m super happy with mine! Side by side to my previous gen 10.5” I’d choose the new model (12.9” in my case) any day. After watching the video and testing with my own iPad, The darkened corners ARE discernible at max brightness. At normal brightness levels indoors, I see no light gradient.

I think this LCD technology and form factor are a step in the direction Apple has chosen for it’s entire line of portables. When an 11” OLED screen is feasible at a price point people can stomach, you can bet they will do it. Until then, we’ve got this. Having owned 6 of the 7 hardware revisions, it’s the best iPad panel I’ve seen. It has NO discernible color gradient across the screen (can’t say the same of my 10.5”), which is so much more important to me than minute backlight inconsistency. Maybe I got lucky with my panel.

 

[Marshall73]

Obviously it's debatable. Some may prefer the yellow tint with darker curved corners, washed out colors and/or lack of HDR, and less overall pixels, some may not.

See minute 7-8 to see screen comparisons and comments about darker curved corners. This is a marvel of engineering, obviously.

1, hdr, neither the 10.5 nor 12.9 pro can actually display HDR properly but they do fake HDR/Dolby vision using dithering. Side by side they look the same when playing HDR/DV content from iTunes
2. My 12.9 has consistent brightness across the panel so no idea how they have dark corners? Even at full brightness.
3, washed out colours? Same vibrant image as the 10.5, guess that’s washed out too then?

Maybe the 11” panel isn’t as good or maybe he had a duff one? Who knows.

 

[laela]

1, hdr, neither the 10.5 nor 12.9 pro can actually display HDR properly but they do fake HDR/Dolby vision using dithering. Side by side they look the same when playing HDR/DV content from iTunes
2. My 12.9 has consistent brightness across the panel so no idea how they have dark corners? Even at full brightness.
3, washed out colours? Same vibrant image as the 10.5, guess that’s washed out too then?

Maybe the 11” panel isn’t as good or maybe he had a duff one? Who knows.

Could be and your toy 10.5 might also be lemon compared to other panels. Luck of the draw.

See here for more panel issues with the new iPads -- curved corners certainly isn't a panacea:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/uneven-backlight-on-11”-ipad-pro.2154729/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/poor-contrast-on-ipad-pro-screens.2154167/

 

[44267547]

So because Phil Schiller spent a million dollars coming up with a new name, the iPad Pro has to be compromised and pay engineering cost so it can be branded by Apple Marketing?

Do you truly believe consumers care about the name of an iPad? No...they don’t. What they care about is what markers in terms of features and capabilities. The next iPad could be labeled the ‘iPad Schiller’ and it will still sell. A product moniker is just marketing, no need to make this is an issue.

 

[Kal-037]

Honestly as an amateur technician, but huge tech fan ... Apple’s “Liquid Retina” is IMO an incredibly innovative and great new feat of engineering for LCDs. *Especially since we can’t have OLED or MicroLED on an iPad Pro yet, Apple did good.
It is far more useful and important than True Tone or slim bezels on the 10.5” (to me anyway.) Having no light bleed will increase the iPad’s display lifespan by quite a bit. *but knowing how the universe loves to screw with me... *knock on wood that this new innovative tech follows basic physics and does increase lifespan, lol.



Kallum.