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iPad Pro Looks like M4 iPad Pro is a bit of a flop on a relative basis (Apple earnings)
- Thread starter Adelphos33
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I think it’s also a bit expensive but I only paid $765 and thought it was pretty decent for that price but I wouldn’t pay $1000
I don't see it as a bad thing. The existence of the cheaper iPad Air is what allows Apple to introduce a more premium offering in the form of the M4 iPad Pro at the price point that it does, without fear that Apple is alienating their user base with such an expensive option (because users who want something cheaper can always opt for the air, and I do know quite a few who have).
For me, I use my iPad daily for work and leisure (and likely clock more hours on it compared to my Mac), and am willing to pay for the absolute best that Apple has offer in this regard.
Only thing is that I don't find myself using the magic keyboard as much as I thought I would. Wish Apple would bring back the Smart Keyboard.
For me, I use my iPad daily for work and leisure (and likely clock more hours on it compared to my Mac), and am willing to pay for the absolute best that Apple has offer in this regard.
Only thing is that I don't find myself using the magic keyboard as much as I thought I would. Wish Apple would bring back the Smart Keyboard.
Still mind boggling to me that an M4 iPad Pro with a keyboard case comes out to more than 14 inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro. That amount of horse power on an IOS device is useless and not very practical for 95% of the users.
I think a lot of customers already have an earlier one. It's just not worth upgrading most of the time. My M2 is absolutely fine for example. And I haven't used it for a couple of weeks because I was getting eyestrain from staring at the display so have been using paper instead.
You could also say that about the MBP: that amount of horse power on a macOS device is useless and not very practical for 95% of the users.
I like it, but when I'm at a dealer, as soon as I put it away, take the air and don't look at it, I forget the small differences. Can't really justify buying it. Also, my old air3 still runs everything (except final cut pro - but it runs the more capable and cheaper davinci resolve, so who cares). Sure, the 3GB of RAM show from time to time on a six year old device, but otoh, there's not really any demanding software you'd use for a longer period of time on an iPad.
Maybe apple has finally created a device where that premium-upsell-scheme doesn't work any more. Probably the same with the new mac pro that's so niche, I have yet to see one in the wild (seen countless classic macpros and even a few trashcans)
Maybe apple has finally created a device where that premium-upsell-scheme doesn't work any more. Probably the same with the new mac pro that's so niche, I have yet to see one in the wild (seen countless classic macpros and even a few trashcans)
I am glad I have an M4 chip in my iPad. Even now it's nice to have a super fast device, but in 5 or 7 years this device will still feel modern. Just like the older M1 feels today and will still feel in a couple of years. Even the A12X is still very usable after more than 5 years (try to use an Android tablet from 2018...). If anything I wish Apple had given use more than 8GB RAM in the base model, because future updates and AI could take up a good chunck of that RAM, but this should change with the next pro, which will probably get 12 or even 16 in the base like the Macbooks. And M4 vs M2 factors very little in the price. Apple is rumored to come with a new air this Spring with M4 or at least M3, so we might get the same chip for much less. What make the price difference is the screen and the refinements (weight etc), and the premiums for promotion, quad speakers etc. And some Apple greed for the 13" too, whose price was increased by the same $200 of the 11" (which moved from iPS to OLED) when moving from miniled to oled.... because they can...
I love mine.
Probably my most used device.
Probably my most used device.
LumaFusion for 4K video editing is demanding and something I use for extended periods often.
Maybe in the US, but here in Germany the cheapest 13" model (space black, 256GB) is still around 1.4k€, and the price is largely stable.
I currently have the 2020 model, which cost me a bit more than 1k€ when I bought it early in 2021. That was already quite a lot for a device that I mostly use for reading and annotating PDFs and occasional sketching. And even if we adjust for inflation, 1k€ in 2021 would "only" be 1.25k€ today.
It's not that I would not be tempted to upgrade, because some heavier PDFs seem to be too much for the current hardware and I do think the OLED screens look great, but at the current pricing, I'll rather wait for another year or two before I upgrade. And I suspect I'm not the only one who feels like that.
IMO we do not have sufficient data to use words like "flop," nor do we know what role any given product plays for Apple in its products strategy. For all we know any specific product might be overperforming or underperforming Apple's expectations.
I had the original iPad Pro 12.9 since then I’ve had as basic iPad and now iPad Air 4.
iPads are purely an at home consumption device when I want a bigger screen than my iPhone mini or my phone is on charge. The only feature I miss form the pro is quad speakers.
iPad OS is just too limited. Any actual work I use my Mac (MacBook Air or Mac mini and MacBook Pro for work). If Apple let me run Mac OS or something similar on an iPad Pro I would buy that immediately. Hell I’d happily pay more than what my MBA and iPad Air cost!
iPads are purely an at home consumption device when I want a bigger screen than my iPhone mini or my phone is on charge. The only feature I miss form the pro is quad speakers.
iPad OS is just too limited. Any actual work I use my Mac (MacBook Air or Mac mini and MacBook Pro for work). If Apple let me run Mac OS or something similar on an iPad Pro I would buy that immediately. Hell I’d happily pay more than what my MBA and iPad Air cost!
I actually kind of disagree that the iPad Pro needs MacOS - they do need to do stuff like improve file management, but that isn’t the real issue with the iPad Pro. Improved file management would be beneficial for all
iPads.
I think the issue is that the iPad Pro used to have more feature advantages over the iPad Air. The iPad Pro used to, for example, have exclusive use of the Magic Keyboard, have exclusive access to the best pencil, was the only model available with the largest screen, and it had two cameras. All of those advantages were eliminated as they added more features to the iPad Aid (and took away the extra camera on the iPad Pro).
iPads.
I think the issue is that the iPad Pro used to have more feature advantages over the iPad Air. The iPad Pro used to, for example, have exclusive use of the Magic Keyboard, have exclusive access to the best pencil, was the only model available with the largest screen, and it had two cameras. All of those advantages were eliminated as they added more features to the iPad Aid (and took away the extra camera on the iPad Pro).
I'm glad they did those things
There is no consumer benefit whatsoever to artificially gatekeeping keyboards or pencils or even screen sizes to certain models
Make the best products for customers -- at all price points
What you're really highlighting is that the iPad line is a bloated mess
There is simply no need for this many models that are so similar
But then fewer options likely means Apple won't be able to cater to all price points.
I remember when we used to have just the Pro and regular iPad (2017-2018). The Pro 10.5 and 12.9 started at $649 and $799 respectively. Now, iPad Pros start at $1K leaving a huge gap between regular iPad and the Pro hence the Air.
And really, there's just 3 tiers anyway so I don't think it's too bloated.
Good
- iPad 11"
Better
- iPad mini
- iPad Air 11"
- iPad Air 13"
Best
- iPad Pro 11"
- iPad Pro 13"
I blame the lack of a smart keyboard folio. It's the main reason I didn't upgrade, because i'm unwilling to take the weight penalty of the magic keyboard pro or whatever it's called.
Most people won't pay $2KAUD for a iPad and case when they have spent that on a iPhone and can just use that, that's all it is pretty much a big iPhone to people that already have MacBooks.
Not surprised they have tanked in sales, no one I know has one except me lol and I got it half new price.
No way I'd pay $2,079AUD retail for a 11" cellular.
Not surprised they have tanked in sales, no one I know has one except me lol and I got it half new price.
No way I'd pay $2,079AUD retail for a 11" cellular.
more like the price $499AUD here, the keyboard is excellent should be more like $199 though lol
that is one thing that makes it better than just a big iPhone, hard to justify though
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Where are you getting "tanked in sales"?
The Pro model is now just a way to introduce new features at a higher price for those thatn want them now. iPads are notoriously long-lived devices with lengthy upgrade cycles; eventually that thinner chassis and processor will come to the Air and even the base model.
The iPad Pro has always been a massive workhorse. I still use my Gen 3 from 2018 daily for work, which works fabulously. If it were possible, I would love to replace the battery, but other than that, mine is running like the day I first bought it. So my main reason for not buying a new one is that I don't need it yet, astoundingly even after six years my current one doesn't need replacing. The second reason is that the price is so high I'm not even prepared to delude myself that I might need it; the bang per buck isn't worth it.
Probably my favorite iPad of all was my first gen iPad Pro 9.7" from 2016
In fact, I still think that 9.7" size was a real Goldilocks size, especially the 4:3 aspect ratio
Apple really did their homework on picking that
That was such a great year in Apple products for me
iPadPro 9.7", iPhone SE1 and AirPods 1 -- all 2016 releases
This is the main reason why it doesn't sell more than it does.