iPad Pro New iPad Pros?

[rui no onna]

Yeah, I did that comparison the other day... on the base, smaller size iPad Pro alone the jump has been $200; the other thing that makes them seem more expensive is that there's now 4 storage tiers with that massive jump from 512gb / 4gb to 1tb / 6gb.

But... when I bought my 12.9" iPad Pro... 128gb was the biggest you could get initially. (Can't remember when they added 256gb... maybe when the 9.7" was released).

Based on recent patterns I can't imagine we'll see OLED or Mini LED screens without another $200+ price bump. Hopefully not. Perhaps if they just bumped the ram in all models so you didn't need 1tb to get 6gb (and maybe if the base bumped up to 128gb), it'd be more palatable at current prices.

Yep, 12.9 256GB was released alongside the Pro 9.7 in March 2016. There was actually plenty of grumbling from some buyers of 128GB who would've bought the higher capacity if it had been available upon release.

The 2nd gen Pro release revamped storage tiers so same capacity was at lower price compared to previous. But yeah, the $400 from 4GB/512GB to 6GB/1TB is a huge jump (granted, $/GB for storage is a constant $0.78125).

9.7 / 10.5 / 11
$599 32GB / $649 64GB / $799 64GB
$749 128GB / $749 256GB / $949 256GB
$899 256GB / $949 512GB / $1149 512GB
- / - / $1549 1TB

12.9
$799 32GB / $799 64GB / $999 64GB
$949 128GB / $899 256GB / $1149 256GB
$1099 256GB / $1099 512GB / $1349 512GB
- / - / $1750 1TB

Apple released the $749 iPhone XR last year so obviously, FaceID itself isn't that expensive. While we probably won't see a price reduction on the iPad Pros, I'm hoping Apple would at least bump up storage at the existing price tiers next go around.

I do actually want 1TB. I just don't wish to pay current prices for it (well except for the outrageously good deal/pricing mistake on the 1TB LTE/$1299 earlier).

 

[spiderman0616]

Yep, 12.9 256GB was released alongside the Pro 9.7 in March 2016. There was actually plenty of grumbling from some buyers of 128GB who would've bought the higher capacity if it had been available upon release.

The 2nd gen Pro release revamped storage tiers so same capacity was at lower price compared to previous. But yeah, the $400 from 4GB/512GB to 6GB/1TB is a huge jump (granted, $/GB for storage is a constant $0.78125).

9.7 / 10.5 / 11
$599 32GB / $649 64GB / $799 64GB
$749 128GB / $749 256GB / $949 256GB
$899 256GB / $949 512GB / $1149 512GB
- / - / $1549 1TB

12.9
$799 32GB / $799 64GB / $999 64GB
$949 128GB / $899 256GB / $1149 256GB
$1099 256GB / $1099 512GB / $1349 512GB
- / - / $1750 1TB

Apple released the $749 iPhone XR last year so obviously, FaceID itself isn't that expensive. While we probably won't see a price reduction on the iPad Pros, I'm hoping Apple would at least bump up storage at the existing price tiers next go around.

I do actually want 1TB. I just don't wish to pay current prices for it (well except for the outrageously good deal/pricing mistake on the 1TB LTE/$1299 earlier).

I remember some people being very upset about the amount of RAM in the 9.7” model as well.

 

[rumz]

I remember some people being very upset about the amount of RAM in the 9.7” model as well.

What was the story there? Did the 9.7 have more ram? or less?

 

[kp98077]

Another pricing error, I wonder? Because the sale price is now just $200 off @ $1699; the previous $1299 price appears to be their sale price for the 512gb model.

Mind you, not quite as awesome as those errors that Amazon had on Prime Day that led to some people scoring $2000+ cameras for less than $100.

Was this IN store or on line?? That a deal!!
[doublepost=1565974614][/doublepost]

So... this morning, Best Buy has the 12.9 silver 1tb cellular model for $600 off

The some of the WiFi only 12.9” ones are $200-$400 off. Still pretty good!

I only want WiFi they just appear to be $200 off? that’s not that great damnnnnnnn.... I’d rather keep my studio beats

 

[rumz]

Was this IN store or on line?? That a deal!!
[doublepost=1565974614][/doublepost]
I only want WiFi they just appear to be $200 off? that’s not that great damnnnnnnn.... I’d rather keep my studio beats

Apparently that $400 on wifi models was also likely a mistake, it's gone now too (just $200 off). Sheesh!

 

[spiderman0616]

I remember some people being very upset about the amount of RAM in the 9.7” model as well.

It had less and people were really questioning how long it would be viable once some more powerful software came out.

I use Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer a lot on my 11” iPad Pro. It would be fun to compare the two side by side sometime and see if people had reason for concern.

 

[rumz]

It had less and people were really questioning how long it would be viable once some more powerful software came out.

I use Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer a lot on my 11” iPad Pro. It would be fun to compare the two side by side sometime and see if people had reason for concern.

Interesting. Honestly, 256gb was probably a major factor why I bought the 9.7" Pro when I already owned the 12.9. Then there was a while where Truetone on my 9.7 made my 12.9 seem inferior as well.

 

[rui no onna]

I remember some people being very upset about the amount of RAM in the 9.7” model as well.

Yep. 2GB Pro 9.7 vs 4GB on the Pro 12.9. Also, Air 2 MSRP dropped to $399/16GB around Q3/4 2015 so it was a $200 difference between Air 2 16GB and Pro 9.7 32GB.

I bought the Pro 9.7 256GB and I don't regret it at all. It was too small for decent multitasking anyway so the 2GB RAM wasn't a big deal for me. It's not like the Air 2 had more RAM anyway and it was already a good upgrade to my Air 1. Then I just supplemented it with a 12.9 512GB LTE in 2017. That combo has worked really well for me until I got a 10.5 512GB LTE for a steal earlier this year.
[doublepost=1565975891][/doublepost]

It had less and people were really questioning how long it would be viable once some more powerful software came out.

I use Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer a lot on my 11” iPad Pro. It would be fun to compare the two side by side sometime and see if people had reason for concern.

Forget RAM. I expect the A12X would completely trounce the A9X. Heck, I reckon even the Air 3 with A12 would do it.

A 4-way comparison would be interesting though:

Pro 12.9 A9X/4GB
Pro 9.7 A9X/2GB (this is working in single channel mode, iirc)
Pro 12.9 A12X/4GB
Pro 11 A12X/4GB

Throw in the A10X/4GB and A12X/6GB for something more comprehensive.

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​

Got curious about relative performance so did a ratio of Geekbench 4 scores. That poor iPad Air...


As a multiple of Air (A7) performance:

As a multiple of Pro 9.7 (A9X) performance:

 

[fokmik]

I hope it will come like the mac pro with up to 4T SSD

 

[big samm]

Sort of like how pissed all of us who bought iPad 3s were, when the 4 came out what, 6 months later?

I remember that... the ipad 3 was so underpowered they had to release a emergency ipad 4 lol
I still have it somewhere in a drawer...

 

[spiderman0616]

I remember that... the ipad 3 was so underpowered they had to release a emergency ipad 4 lol
I still have it somewhere in a drawer...

I was so happy to have a retina iPad that I was able to overlook its shortcomings for a while, but that model didn’t age well. The “new iPad with retina” and the original iPad Air were the two models I owned where I felt they slowed down awfully quickly.

 

[rui no onna]

I was so happy to have a retina iPad that I was able to overlook its shortcomings for a while, but that model didn’t age well. The “new iPad with retina” and the original iPad Air were the two models I owned where I felt they slowed down awfully quickly.

Lol, I went 2 32GB -> 2 64GB -> 3 64GB -> 4 128GB -> Air 16GB so I didn't have to suffer the 3 for long (besides, the 64GB storage was already chafing me).

That said, the Air held up better than I had expected. It got slow but I'd still take an Air on iOS 10-12 over an iPad 2 on iOS 8-9.

 

[DNichter]

Yes. iPadOS release pretty much guarantees it. I see no reason why they wouldn’t, there are always improvements to be made. Drop the prices on the current pros and bring out some new ones. I’ll upgrade.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Yes. iPadOS release pretty much guarantees it. I see no reason why they wouldn’t, there are always improvements to be made. Drop the prices on the current pros and bring out some new ones. I’ll upgrade.

As long as it's an upgrade that makes sense sure

 

[DNichter]

As long as it's an upgrade that makes sense sure

I’m not sure what you mean. Any upgrade is an upgrade. There is really no reason for Apple not to release a new Pro. For customers, they just need to decide whether or not the value is there for them individually. I’m assuming that is what you are referring to?

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I’m not sure what you mean. Any upgrade is an upgrade. There is really no reason for Apple not to release a new Pro. For customers, they just need to decide whether or not the value is there for them individually. I’m assuming that is what you are referring to?

I meant for us the customers! For Apple it will obviously make a new model without a doubt.

 

[EugW]

I always wonder why some people seem to think the spec upgrades for a new model have to be big enough to convince owners of the previous version to upgrade.

No, they are not the target market. The target market is basically everyone else who does NOT own last year’s iPad Pro.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

If Apple did release new iPad Pros, they'd only be worth considering if they were cheaper.

 

[EugW]

Yep. 2GB Pro 9.7 vs 4GB on the Pro 12.9. Also, Air 2 MSRP dropped to $399/16GB around Q3/4 2015 so it was a $200 difference between Air 2 16GB and Pro 9.7 32GB.

I bought the Pro 9.7 256GB and I don't regret it at all. It was too small for decent multitasking anyway so the 2GB RAM wasn't a big deal for me. It's not like the Air 2 had more RAM anyway and it was already a good upgrade to my Air 1. Then I just supplemented it with a 12.9 512GB LTE in 2017. That combo has worked really well for me until I got a 10.5 512GB LTE for a steal earlier this year.
[doublepost=1565975891][/doublepost]
Forget RAM. I expect the A12X would completely trounce the A9X. Heck, I reckon even the Air 3 with A12 would do it.

A 4-way comparison would be interesting though:

Pro 12.9 A9X/4GB
Pro 9.7 A9X/2GB (this is working in single channel mode, iirc)
Pro 12.9 A12X/4GB
Pro 11 A12X/4GB

Throw in the A10X/4GB and A12X/6GB for something more comprehensive.

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​

Got curious about relative performance so did a ratio of Geekbench 4 scores. That poor iPad Air...


As a multiple of Air (A7) performance:

View attachment 853306


As a multiple of Pro 9.7 (A9X) performance:

View attachment 853307

The 9.7” Pro should never have been released IMO. The Smart Connector on it was much less useful due to its size, and the overall specs didn’t warrant the cost. I’m not surprised it didn’t even get a single update before the line was discontinued.

 

[Dave245]

I always wonder why some people seem to think the spec upgrades for a new model have to be big enough to convince owners of the previous version to upgrade.

No, they are not the target market. The target market is basically everyone else who does NOT own last year’s iPad Pro.

I’m not sure what you mean. Any upgrade is an upgrade. There is really no reason for Apple not to release a new Pro. For customers, they just need to decide whether or not the value is there for them individually. I’m assuming that is what you are referring to?

This is true. We have to remember that not everything Apple announces or releases, means we have to buy it. We don't. I hope they do announce new iPad Pro's, i want a reason to upgrade from my current 2017 iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

 

[rui no onna]

The 9.7” Pro should never have been released IMO. The Smart Connector on it was much less useful due to its size, and the overall specs didn’t warrant the cost. I’m not surprised it didn’t even get a single update before the line was discontinued.

I'm very glad Apple released the 256GB Pro 9.7 when they did. Else, I would've been forced to choose between a 128GB Air 2 or a 256GB Pro 12.9 neither of which actually fit my needs. The Air 2 because storage was insufficient and the Pro 12.9 because it's to darned large (won't fit in purse) to carry everywhere as I did with the Air and Pro 9.7.

The Pro 9.7 was not a good fit for you but it doesn't mean that it was a bad option for everyone else. As you mentioned:

I always wonder why some people seem to think the spec upgrades for a new model have to be big enough to convince owners of the previous version to upgrade.

Mind, I believe the Pro 9.7 received iOS 10 before the new iPad Pros were released. Besides, it's not like the line was discontinued. It just got replaced by 10.5" in 2017 which was also replaced by 11" in 2018.

 

[EugW]

I'm very glad Apple released the 256GB Pro 9.7 when they did. Else, I would've been forced to choose between a 128GB Air 2 or a 256GB Pro 12.9 neither of which actually fit my needs. The Air 2 because storage was insufficient and the Pro 12.9 because it's to darned large (won't fit in purse) to carry everywhere as I did with the Air and Pro 9.7.

The Pro 9.7 was not a good fit for you but it doesn't mean that it was a bad option for everyone else. As you mentioned:



Mind, I believe the Pro 9.7 received iOS 10 before the new iPad Pros were released. Besides, it's not like the line was discontinued. It just got replaced by 10.5" in 2017 which was also replaced by 11" in 2018.

My point is they should have released a 10.5”, with A9X and 3-4 GB to begin with. At release, the 9.7” with 2 GB RAM just didn’t seem like a Pro product to me, despite the price point.

 

[rui no onna]

My point is they should have released a 10.5”, with A9X and 3-4 GB to begin with. At release, the 9.7” with 2 GB RAM just didn’t seem like a Pro product to me, despite the price point.

Certainly, 4GB RAM would’ve been appreciated. I’m used to Apple gimping RAM (and storage) though. OG iPad should’ve had 512MB, and iPad Air 1 at the very least 2GB so the Pro 9.7 with 2GB was just business as usual for Apple. I half expected them to put 2GB on the next 10” class 2017 Pros.

My 128GB LTE iPad 4 was $929 so didn’t really mind the pricing on the Pro 9.7 even if it was just a “Pro” in name only. Besides, I believe it was $399 for the 16GB Air 2 (seriously, 32GB should’ve been minimum already by 2013) and $599 for the 32GB Pro 9.7 and the storage would factor into purchasing decisions as well. Anyone with Air 2 could easily skip and even those who weren’t were most likely better off opting for the Air 2. Still, the Pro 9.7 wasn’t really egregious for those on Air and older who wanted a bigger upgrade than the Air 2 (Air 1 was $599/32GB, $699/64GB, $799/128GB; Pro 9.7 was $599/32GB, $749/128GB, $899/256GB).

There’s also a good chance 10.5” just wasn’t ready by the time they released the Pro 9.7. As it is, there was some delay with the 1st gen Pro 12.9 and the 9.7 was even released several months after that. It was another 15 months before the 2017 Pro 10.5 was released. Iirc, initial rumors was actually a 10.5” iPad in 2016.

And to be honest, I think the 2018 Pros paired with iPadOS are probably the first ones actually worthy of the Pro moniker.

 

[EugW]

Certainly, 4GB RAM would’ve been appreciated. I’m used to Apple gimping RAM (and storage) though. OG iPad should’ve had 512MB, and iPad Air 1 at the very least 2GB so the Pro 9.7 with 2GB was just business as usual for Apple. I half expected them to put 2GB on the next 10” class 2017 Pros.

The gimped RAM is exactly why I didn’t buy the original iPad or the iPad Air.

However, I didn’t need to buy iPads as often as you, since I could afford to wait and have lower storage needs.

 

[rui no onna]

The gimped RAM is exactly why I didn’t buy the original iPad or the iPad Air.

Skipped the OG. Was planning on skipping the Air but ended up needing the universal LTE for travel. Surprisingly, it aged better than I had expected given my experience with previous iPhones, iPod touch and iPads. I fully expected replacing the Air in 2014.

However, I didn’t need to buy iPads as often as you, since I could afford to wait and have lower storage needs.

Yeah, storage pretty much dictates my purchases. Even had I bought a 128GB LTE Air 2 back in 2014, I still would've upgraded to the 256GB LTE Pro 9.7 in 2016.