This is certainly true and is what kept me from buying the 11 inch.
I suspect the OLED upgrade is aimed more at pre-miniLED iPad Pro owners (2018 & 2020).
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iPad Pro M1 Owners: Are you going to upgrade?
- Thread starter Jacoblee23
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I suspect the OLED upgrade is aimed more at pre-miniLED iPad Pro owners (2018 & 2020).
As an M1 owner, do i need a new one? Nope. Do i want a new one? Yup. Can i afford it? Yup. For what i use my iPad for, i would be a complete fool for spending $1500 after trade in of my M1 ( added Magic Keyboard and pencil ) but here we are haha.
Edit: The moved FT camera is a GIGANTIC perk for me with my zoom and FT calls with work. It always looks so awkward with how its place now.
Edit: The moved FT camera is a GIGANTIC perk for me with my zoom and FT calls with work. It always looks so awkward with how its place now.
I have ordered the new M4 pro 13”, this time with 512GB storage.
Main reasons
- OLED screen is something I’m excited for.
- potential long wait for the next Pro (which will be M5 normally. Since M4 on Mac isn’t even rolled out, and M5 timeline is not known yet, we may have to wait even longer than the “normal” 1.5 years to get the next Pro. By then, my current M1 will be 4,5 years old so I might as well get the new model now. It’s silly I know, but I don’t like buying apple products when it’s late in a cycle.)
- battery : I use my M1 as my daily home computer so the battery has seen a lot of use. I need to charge every day and often twice a day.
- Front Camera placement: not a deal breaker but a nice to have improvement
- Lighter weight of the device is also very nice
I plan to use this pro for at least 3 years again as my main home computer
Main reasons
- OLED screen is something I’m excited for.
- potential long wait for the next Pro (which will be M5 normally. Since M4 on Mac isn’t even rolled out, and M5 timeline is not known yet, we may have to wait even longer than the “normal” 1.5 years to get the next Pro. By then, my current M1 will be 4,5 years old so I might as well get the new model now. It’s silly I know, but I don’t like buying apple products when it’s late in a cycle.)
- battery : I use my M1 as my daily home computer so the battery has seen a lot of use. I need to charge every day and often twice a day.
- Front Camera placement: not a deal breaker but a nice to have improvement
- Lighter weight of the device is also very nice
I plan to use this pro for at least 3 years again as my main home computer
I think as @Traverse illustrated, the most appealing feature about the iPad is the display… so, it’s a no-brainer to upgrade for the OLED for me.
Although, M1 was such a polarizing topic to discuss back in 2021 for the iPad Pro (still being discussed now)… and that brought plenty of speculation surrounding macOS apps or some virtualization being applied on an iPad. But I believe mini-LED was a valid reason to upgrade as well, most tend to focus on iPadOS.
When it’s always been about the hardware and 2022 iPad Pro didn’t tick enough boxes to warrant an upgrade… but the new iPad Pro has done it for me. And I’ll look to keep it for at least 2 years (definitely, won‘t look to upgrade on the next generation).
Although, M1 was such a polarizing topic to discuss back in 2021 for the iPad Pro (still being discussed now)… and that brought plenty of speculation surrounding macOS apps or some virtualization being applied on an iPad. But I believe mini-LED was a valid reason to upgrade as well, most tend to focus on iPadOS.
When it’s always been about the hardware and 2022 iPad Pro didn’t tick enough boxes to warrant an upgrade… but the new iPad Pro has done it for me. And I’ll look to keep it for at least 2 years (definitely, won‘t look to upgrade on the next generation).
Having waited for an OLED iPad for years, I have bought the M1 Pro 12.9 iPad two years ago because I had thought that the screen would be great, too - better then the LCD on the 11 Inch with its mediocre black levels. In fact, the Mini LED was annoying in many situations: I hate the blooming and I always have a halo effect around the edges. I still prefer the display of my iPhone Xs over the mini LED. The M1 has always had more power than I needed, but the display… I‘m happy that finally, I can now enjoy an OLED screen on the iPad. By the way, the response time on the Mini LED also was quiet bad, this also annoyed me. I hope that the screen on the M4 Pro will be flawless.
I think the only truly compelling reason for anyone to upgrade to M4 from a different M-series iPad would be if you're an artist and graphics pro who can make good use of new Pencil rotation feature. For literally everyone else it would be a huge outlay for essentially the same experience once the 'shiny new' retail therapy hit of dopamine wears off.
That said, if you have the money and it makes you happy then do it. Life is too short to fret and fuss over this stuff. But if the cost of doing it gives you any pause at all, then hold off for a bit because once the unboxing is done, your life will be the same as it was before, except your bank account balance will be lower.
That said, if you have the money and it makes you happy then do it. Life is too short to fret and fuss over this stuff. But if the cost of doing it gives you any pause at all, then hold off for a bit because once the unboxing is done, your life will be the same as it was before, except your bank account balance will be lower.
I had no need to upgrade my first iPad the M1 11", but since I promised my mother a new iPad and she has trouble with TouchID, I'm giving it to her and moving up to the 13" Pro. She doesn't need an iPad Pro otherwise, but I'm quite happy to have a bigger OLED screen and looking forward to using the new pencil.
I definitely won't be upgrading. Apple really missed the chance to convince me to upgrade...
Although the iPad form factor hasn't changed enough to invalidate the Magic Keyboard they nuked compatibility with the existing one on the new iPad. The same is true for the pencil.
As a result, upgrading my M1 1TB 12.9" iPad Pro would cost be ~$2500 US since I'd also need to replace my Magic Keyboard and Pencil. That's really too steep.
It also is making the iPad harder and harder to justify buying again. If I do it will likely be for nothing more than an iPad Air. For a pro iPad with extremely expensive accessories like the keyboard to be obsolete is sad.
My HHKB cost as much as the Magic Keyboard and will last me countless iPads since it connects via Bluetooth. The same is true for all third party keyboards that are bluetooth.
Pro devices should have some expectation that you're not uselessly changing auxiliary tools for no real reason...
And a keyboard isn't small accessory. Changing keyboards, especially with new keys and etc, can upset your muscle memory and reduce your productivity for a bit on the device. There is a reason I carry my HHKB around with me and whatnot.
Although the iPad form factor hasn't changed enough to invalidate the Magic Keyboard they nuked compatibility with the existing one on the new iPad. The same is true for the pencil.
As a result, upgrading my M1 1TB 12.9" iPad Pro would cost be ~$2500 US since I'd also need to replace my Magic Keyboard and Pencil. That's really too steep.
It also is making the iPad harder and harder to justify buying again. If I do it will likely be for nothing more than an iPad Air. For a pro iPad with extremely expensive accessories like the keyboard to be obsolete is sad.
My HHKB cost as much as the Magic Keyboard and will last me countless iPads since it connects via Bluetooth. The same is true for all third party keyboards that are bluetooth.
Pro devices should have some expectation that you're not uselessly changing auxiliary tools for no real reason...
And a keyboard isn't small accessory. Changing keyboards, especially with new keys and etc, can upset your muscle memory and reduce your productivity for a bit on the device. There is a reason I carry my HHKB around with me and whatnot.
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lol - I could have written this.
Thing that bugs me is the fact unless you buy the 1 or 2 terabyte models, you get a lower spec processor, which I think is pretty bad of them. I mean if your going to put a ridiculous amount of power in a device and gimp it with software, at least be consistent lol
But I am thinking of that 13”… no no, need a new Mac need a new Mac…
iPad OS 18 better be a huge improvement, but I’m not too hopeful.
But I am thinking of that 13”… no no, need a new Mac need a new Mac…
iPad OS 18 better be a huge improvement, but I’m not too hopeful.
All these m1 iPad pros getting traded in would be preferable to the new 13” iPad Air. Selling mine on eBay with couple kb cases and pencil 2.
The way I see it is that it’ll be years before I get another iPad. To be honest this may be my last one. Improved screen was my biggest want.
I have the exact system with the MK. When I have to lug it around it's a beast. Performance is still great in my eyes, but weight is the issue with me.
I ordered the M4 11" with the new MK. I know I will miss the nice big size but for "travel" it will hopefully make it more comfortable for me. I actually didn't like the 12.9 on a flight because if the person in front of me reclined the seat then I had to bring it even closer to me to be able to use it.
The 12.9 will be used in my office more and more now...
Whilst the the new iPad's sound great i will be sticking with my M1 Air.
Does everything i ask of it and it definitely is no slouch.
Does everything i ask of it and it definitely is no slouch.
I have a 256 MB iPad Air, 5th Gen and have owned it since October 2022. It works great, and has plenty of unused storage and no performance issues on anything. I won't upgrade, nor did I ever plan to, so soon. I just see the next generation iPad Air as a very good device, but only an evolutionary upgrade from the 5th to the 6th generation. I would buy the 6th generation if I was buying my first iPad Air, but not as a one-generation upgrade. And I have no need or desire for the 12.9" screen. The iPad Pro would be nice to own, but I am not willing to spend the money to purchase one.
Not a chance, it's doesn't offer anything to my workflow. Yes it's a tour de force from a technical point of view and I'm sure those who need it or want it will love. My M1 iPad is a exceptional device, ludicrously quick with a fabulous display. I'm part of the majority of users who use their tablet as a tertiary secondary device primarily for content consumption. The M1 is already overkill for my needs.
Also it kind of outlines some hypocrisy on Apple’s side in terms of sustainability and environmental protection.
They make a big fuss about their environmental commitment to justify killing leather accessories and replacing them by a similarly priced but clearly cheaper looking alternative.
But they have no problem killing compatibility for accessories which are still working perfectly fine and whose replacement by users will actually have a negative environmental impact.
You spend 2.000$ in 2021 and just 3 years later another 2.000$ or more in basically the same product. If battery fails so much after only 3 years then Apple is indeed doing good business. 2.000$ is a lot of money to upgrade again in only 3 years IMO, but to each their own.
In general, it’s usually the case that one-generation upgrades don’t offer enough value.
It should be a nice upgrade for base iPad Air 4 owners struggling with the cramped 64GB of storage though.
For a device I use 8-16 hours a day, I don’t actually mind spending $2000 every 3 years. That comes out to, what, $56/mo?
That said, I don’t see anything compelling with the 2024 iPad Pros for my use so I won’t be upgrading.
I'm using a Chargie to keep my iPad's at 55% around the house since I only have the tablets in use for an hour or two before returning them to the charger. The software/hardware combo is janky but overall does the trick.
I've had a few Apple devices go bad from sitting on the charger at 100% too much and i'm pretty much done with having battery powered devices die for no reason.
While I agree with this statement, I’d add that to be fair the M2 -> M4 upgrades are definitely more significant that the M1 -> M2 ones (last time around, what we got was just a minor speed improvement while this time we are also getting a better display and change of camera location which many people were asking for).
So while this is still very much an incremental upgrade, it is bette than the previous one.
What I do - amortize my costs and evaluate against that to determine overall worth to me.
It is seen as largely similarly as small by users like me who are on an M1 due to the use cases where you can actually exploit these improvements being very small and niche.
- Thinner and lighter iPad Pro: Not sure why I would need this. If I wanted thin and light I would have got an Air.
- Faster processor: That's nice, but I'm not seeing anything in my usage that even makes my M1 actually wake up, but I also don't do professional video editing as a software engineer.
- Better screen: That's nice, but I have a great OLED 65" TV that I turn to for amazing picture quality. That TV was actually cheaper than the M4 iPad Pro would cost me! and the screen on the M-Series 12.9" iPad is pretty decent anyway.
- New pencil: That's nice, but I'm not a professional artist. My pencil is for note taking so it would be nice to have some of the new features they aren't worth upgrading my iPad for.
Honestly, I've been so disappointed in my iPad Pro for its main use case (note taking) that I recently purchased a Kindle Scribe and that's helped even mute the desire for new pencil upgrades on the iPad.