Obscene iPad Pro pricing

[jimmy_uk]

Are you seriously asking Apple to spend more money to design, source components, tool, manufacture, test, distribute, market, promote, build a web page, create an SKU, and set aside retail floor space to sell an additional iPad with 90% of the features of iPad Pro, but call it iPad and sell it to you for less?

They did with iphone XR

 

[tromboneaholic]

This is precisely what is infuriating about the new Apple price tier strategy. The old “standard” tier of product gets downgraded to a “budget” priced variant that actually uses older, cheaper parts (like that unlaminated screen). Even my old Air 2 has a better screen than the new regular iPad. Apple never used to do this; every new improvement in display tech etc always made it forward into future models.

And so, if you really want a device with the newest state of the art tech, you now pay through your nose for it.

I have a 6 year old MacBook Air and an iPad Air 2, and I can either upgrade to a new MacBook Pro, or get an iPad Pro - it’s going to be difficult to justify the price of owning both.

Why would you need to upgrade the iPad Air 2?

 

[drzen]

Why would you need to upgrade the iPad Air 2?

To be honest I don’t need to immediately - iOS 12 works really well on it. But I need a solution for simple editing of 4K video, and was considering switching to a single device (however it is not likely that I’d give up on a laptop entirely).

 

[tromboneaholic]

To be honest I don’t need to immediately - iOS 12 works really well on it. But I need a solution for simple editing of 4K video, and was considering switching to a single device (however it is not likely that I’d give up on a laptop entirely).

I bought an app called Duet Display and connect my iPad Air 2 to my MacBook Pro via the lightning cable to use it as a second monitor for video editing when I'm on the road away from my iMac.

I'd guess your MacBook Air is probably showing its age more than the iPad Air 2 is at this point.

 

[DNichter]

To be honest, yes. I’ve never owned a MacBook and I have only briefly used one. Long time ago. So I think I’m not aware of the difference in hadware, OS or usage of them or the difference between MacBook vs MacBook Pro. I have never really though about them. To make a fair comparison to the iOS devices, I would think it is essential to know more about both.

But like I said, I can make a general estimation between Pro vs non Pro device of any kind. For me, to justify the two different product categories, there has to be that fundamental difference between them, that doesn’t change over time. Just like a 2WD and 4WD vehicles does. Without that, they are fundamentally the same product. And without that difference, in the long run, one of them will allways dissappear.

Right now, such a difference between iPad and iPad Pro doesn’t exist. IMO

Do you think that Pro and non Pro iPads falls into the same or different product category? To me they are similar products in different product categories.

The fundamental differences between the Pro and non Pro are increased power and RAM, better screen, better speakers, better pencil support, ProMotion, Face ID, better camera, 4K video recording, larger storage options, true tone, wide color display, and the new design. Those are all pretty big differences that does improve the overall experience between the devices. Yes, I consider them the same product category as they are both iPad's, but the Pro model is more advanced and marketed more towards people who want to use an iPad as their main computer (or just want the features). It's the exact same scenario as a MacBook and MacBook Pro - more power and features for the Pro model.

 

[one more]

Lots of great replies. I suppose if you are an illustrator like @aevan it could be a good value proposition.

Like many people I suppose I just wished I would be able to use it as my main computer as it is such a brilliant form factor. Or even have it run full MacOS when docked at home (it should be more than capable of doing so).

I think it's just such a missed opportunity for Apple.

I am in a similar situation and I use iPad Air 2 as my main “computing” device, including note-taking for my work. As I do not draw/illustrate and Air 2 handles iOS 12 just fine, I plan on using it for as long as it lasts.

 

[Ethosik]

No one will get the i9-7900X for Microsoft Word. If you are buying that processor you know exactly what you buy it for.

Lots of people will get the iPad Pro wanting to use it as a real computer on the premise of Apple's marketing message but will find that it doesn't do what they want to use a real computer for.

Except, of course, if you're an artist. Then it is capable of doing 'real computer' things.

Same can be said about the iPad Pro. Nobody will get the iPad Pro for just checking email and watching Netflix. The 9.7” $329 iPad has more than enough power for it.

Same thing applies as with the processor. Why got the iPad Pro if you don’t need the performance? Why get that Intel processor if you don’t need the performance?

Same can be said about the Surface Pro. But can I edit 4K videos on it? People seem so caught up on the terms Pro and real computer. There is no single computer that covers all use cases. Even $20,000 ones with Quadro video cards that suck at gaming.

 

[sracer]

Meh. Both have suffered a significant drop in quality too. The cheaper iPad has one mono speaker, a cheap looking unlaminated screen and barely enough RAM to do the job. The Pro version has cheaper sounding speakers than the outgoing version and a bendgate situation.

So I see a drop in quality and a hike in pricing, all bean counter decisions. A truly premium company selling premium devices doesn't cut corners to save a few bucks per unit.

Ugh. No, the 2018 iPad does NOT have a mono speaker. 2 GB RAM is quite adequate to do the job. The non-laminated screen is not "cheap-looking". No reviews of the iPad Air 1 indicated that the screen (same as the 2018 iPad) was "cheap-looking".

It is this type of misinformation and emotionally-driven hyperbole that is not helpful to the discussion.

 

[Dave-Z]

Ugh. No, the 2018 iPad does NOT have a mono speaker. 2 GB RAM is quite adequate to do the job. The non-laminated screen is not "cheap-looking". No reviews of the iPad Air 1 indicated that the screen (same as the 2018 iPad) was "cheap-looking".

It is this type of misinformation and emotionally-driven hyperbole that is not helpful to the discussion.

Agreed. I just finished setting up a 2018 9.7" iPad for a family member and it's a nice device. Light. Fast. Screen looks sharp. The non-laminated screen looks fine, when tapping or drawing with the Apple Pencil it's a bit obvious that it's not laminated but I in my opinion it doesn't take away from its use.

 

[sunking101]

Ugh. No, the 2018 iPad does NOT have a mono speaker. 2 GB RAM is quite adequate to do the job. The non-laminated screen is not "cheap-looking". No reviews of the iPad Air 1 indicated that the screen (same as the 2018 iPad) was "cheap-looking".

It is this type of misinformation and emotionally-driven hyperbole that is not helpful to the discussion.

Apologies, I read a review that stated the unit had a single speaker. The rest I stand by 100%.
[doublepost=1543893902][/doublepost]

Agreed. I just finished setting up a 2018 9.7" iPad for a family member and it's a nice device. Light. Fast. Screen looks sharp. The non-laminated screen looks fine, when tapping or drawing with the Apple Pencil it's a bit obvious that it's not laminated but I in my opinion it doesn't take away from its use.

Yeah the screen looks fine but it doesn't look premium. It's a cost cutting measure that Apple's competitors don't do.

 

[Adelphos33]

I’m sure someone has already made this point, but the problem isn’t really the pricing of the iPad Pro - it is a great piece of technology that heavy iPad users love. The problem is that Apple has devalued the “base” iPad to the point where it is no longer really desirable. The peak of the iPad was really iPad 2 through iPad Air - in those years, the IPad was regularly upgraded with top internals, screen improvements and such and cost $500 to $600 if I remember correctly. Apple has seems to abandon that product level and are forcing some customers to choose between a product they think costs too much and a product they think is too old or underpowered. What’s worse is that no one has any idea when Apple will update the iPads again. Who knows if Apple will release a new iPad in 2019 for example?

 

[44267547]

Apologies, I read a review that stated the unit had a single speaker. The rest I stand by 100%.
[doublepost=1543893902][/doublepost]
Yeah the screen looks fine but it doesn't look premium. It's a cost cutting measure that Apple's competitors don't do.

You don’t have to apologize, we all post things that may not always be factually accurate on here, even though we intend to, it’s the nature of tech forums at times to make oversights.

But I understand what you were saying, others have commented the lack of laminated display does feel cheap in the sense when touching it, because it feels more ‘Plasticky’ or not as substantial as the iPad with a laminated display. Especially if you have used a Display with a laminated display, and then revert to an iPad *without* a laminated display, it’s a noteable difference to some, which glare is also another topic in addition. Either way, yes, Apple did not include the laminated display as ‘Cost cutting’ method to lower the price point, realistically, most consumers have no idea what the laminated display is, but for some, it is enough to not consider purchasing it.

 

[Kendo]

I agree with all of the points below and I know a lot of loyal Apple fans feel the same way.

I’m sure someone has already made this point, but the problem isn’t really the pricing of the iPad Pro - it is a great piece of technology that heavy iPad users love. The problem is that Apple has devalued the “base” iPad to the point where it is no longer really desirable. The peak of the iPad was really iPad 2 through iPad Air - in those years, the IPad was regularly upgraded with top internals, screen improvements and such and cost $500 to $600 if I remember correctly. Apple has seems to abandon that product level and are forcing some customers to choose between a product they think costs too much and a product they think is too old or underpowered. What’s worse is that no one has any idea when Apple will update the iPads again. Who knows if Apple will release a new iPad in 2019 for example?

This is precisely what is infuriating about the new Apple price tier strategy. The old “standard” tier of product gets downgraded to a “budget” priced variant that actually uses older, cheaper parts (like that unlaminated screen). Even my old Air 2 has a better screen than the new regular iPad. Apple never used to do this; every new improvement in display tech etc always made it forward into future models.

And so, if you really want a device with the newest state of the art tech, you now pay through your nose for it.

I have a 6 year old MacBook Air and an iPad Air 2, and I can either upgrade to a new MacBook Pro, or get an iPad Pro - it’s going to be difficult to justify the price of owning both.

What Apple did with the Ipad when introducing the so called ”Pro model” was a similar move they did with Iphone X.

First they brand Ipad as Pro when adding new features which other manufacturers would add as normal incremental updates which are a part of advances in technological development.

Then they drop the old product line (Air) alltogether and introduce a cheap model which is actually worse than the previous ”standard” version and is based on several years old technology.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I agree with all of the points below and I know a lot of loyal Apple fans feel the same way.

I'm glad Apple has taken this 2-tier approach.

I was able to buy a base 2018 iPad for my wife who only needs it for the note-taking she can do with Apple Pencil. I was able to buy an 11 in iPad Pro for myself for photo editing and other more intensive tasks.

Taking advantage of holiday sales, we got the 2 machines for around $1,000, less than the cost of a single MacBook.