For web browsing, watching movies and fairly basic apps (except possibly some light photo editing with Lightroom CC on vacation), is there likely to be a noticeable difference in performance between the iPad, 10.5 Pro and the new iPad Pro?
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All iPads Performance differences between iPads
- Thread starter jazzer15
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Prior 12.9 pro to this new one, I see a big time increase in speed in everything. Night and day.
Interesting. Thanks. I'm trying to decide if the price difference is warranted given my expected use. I do my more demanding applications on my iMac and the iPad is used for commuting, travel and when I want something mobile in the house. Whatever I get is going to be a step forward, it's just a question of how big a step I want to take given that I am not really the "pro" user the iPad is geared toward.
It depends on what you do.
I timed a compile of Full HD video on my 10.5 & 11. The end result was of 6 second difference in compile time between both models. The sample video was only 1.5 minutes in standard HD from my SLR camera, using the exact same Luma Fusion project file. I plan on repeating the test with 4K footage to see if the delta is wider. I am using Luma Fusion for video, and plan on testing some batch photo processing in Polarr
One thing I LOVE about the new Pro, is using my USB-C to USB-A adapter that came with my Pixel 3, I can plug my lightning cable into my new iPad Pro, and pull photos off my iPhone like I could a normal camera. While I could use airdrop, I don’t like the compression, and want the raw file from my phone / camera that I use. What’s more, I can do the same with photos off of my Pixel 3.
I timed a compile of Full HD video on my 10.5 & 11. The end result was of 6 second difference in compile time between both models. The sample video was only 1.5 minutes in standard HD from my SLR camera, using the exact same Luma Fusion project file. I plan on repeating the test with 4K footage to see if the delta is wider. I am using Luma Fusion for video, and plan on testing some batch photo processing in Polarr
One thing I LOVE about the new Pro, is using my USB-C to USB-A adapter that came with my Pixel 3, I can plug my lightning cable into my new iPad Pro, and pull photos off my iPhone like I could a normal camera. While I could use airdrop, I don’t like the compression, and want the raw file from my phone / camera that I use. What’s more, I can do the same with photos off of my Pixel 3.
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For me it's the size. In Nov 2015, once I tried the 12.9 the regular size was history for me. Honestly if you don't need the screen size, I'd get the 2018 iPad and save yourself the money. The iPad is my primary use device. I have a powerful Mac for real OS stuff. I use the Pad to surf, view youtube, email, messages, etc, and I use it to send video from Safari to ATV's to watch my main sport which is viewed online. It's like my multimedia/home device. I use it 90% of the time and my Mac 10%. So things like speed, screen quality, etc, mean something to me. It's definitely a step forward compared to my previous 2015 12.9 IPP, but I need to use it a view days to see if it's really that big of a difference to justify the cost.
I do use the iPad for sheet music, so I could consider the 12.9, but the convenience of the somewhat smaller tablet is something I have preferred in the past given the amount of time it is used while commuting. I also think I would prefer a touch sensor/home button and headphone jack, but those things aren't necessarily deal breakers.
Like you, I probably use the iPad more than I use my iMac, but it is probably more like 60/40.
Clearly not an issue of need. I’m just trying to get a sense of what benefits I would notice as you move up the food chain and ultimately I'll have to determine the value of that difference to me.
For the tasks you mention performing, I personally would not recommend an upgrade solely for performance. You don’t need it.
If you want a shiny new toy regardless and want the other nice improvements of the new iPad Pro then sure, but in that case, why ask?
I wouldn’t rule out the 12.9” without at least going to a store and trying it. The reduction in size this year has made a huge difference. It’s got to be the go-to iPad Pro in 2018.
If you want a shiny new toy regardless and want the other nice improvements of the new iPad Pro then sure, but in that case, why ask?
I wouldn’t rule out the 12.9” without at least going to a store and trying it. The reduction in size this year has made a huge difference. It’s got to be the go-to iPad Pro in 2018.
Thanks. I probably should have been a little clearer. I don't have a 2018 iPad. I am upgrading from an iPad Air that I have had since the year it was launched. So obviously any of the currently available iPads will be an upgrade — it's just a question of the degree of upgrade.
And your point about the 12.9 is well taken. I will definitely be making a visit to the store to check them all out. It may be that the real choice for me will be between the 2018 iPad and the new 12.9 Pro, which couldn't be a more stark contrast. But I don't have a laptop (except my work PC which is useless for anything but work due to security constraints), so I can either decide to go down the route I have been going — light iPad use to supplement my main computer (in which case the iPad 2018 makes the most sense), or decide that I want to begin using my iPad more as a laptop, in which case the 12.9 pro may make sense if I find the size reasonable for commuting. Alternatively, I could just go with the 2018 iPad and add a Macbook Air down the road if I want a laptop, but the power of the Pro is really more on par with the Macbook Pro from what I see, other current limitations notwithstanding
Anyway, all good choices to have.
Since you are coming from the Air you tend to keep your device for awhile. The 2018 Pro’s will likely age better than the regular iPad. By this I mean seem speedy enough and run new apps over the years. We picked up the regular iPad earlier this year to replace my wife’s old iPad and I was surprised that it felt behind to my 2015 12.9 inch iPad in performance. She was actually playing Ark (she isn’t a gamer) and that iPad COULD do it, but not nearly as well with the same settings as my 2.5 year older Pro.
If Apple is selling 2017 pros I’d suggest that over the regular iPad if you can afford it. I see the normal iPad as just a budget entry device. Nothing wrong with that if that is what you can afford, or if you just need an iPad for web surfing, email, and light office work. Any games, photo/video editing often, or any heavy duty apps going with a pro is advisable.
If Apple is selling 2017 pros I’d suggest that over the regular iPad if you can afford it. I see the normal iPad as just a budget entry device. Nothing wrong with that if that is what you can afford, or if you just need an iPad for web surfing, email, and light office work. Any games, photo/video editing often, or any heavy duty apps going with a pro is advisable.
I can't chime in on the new iPad Pros, but I thought I would mention that Best Buy has all of the 10.5" models on sale for $125 off right now as a Black Friday preview sale.
Just some food for thought.
Thanks very much for the heads up. I might have done that, but I looked and unfortunately it is only the Wifi versions that are on sale. I want to get a cellular version because I often use the iPad where no wifi is available and while I could use my phone as a hotspot, the cellular is much more convenient. Very good deal though.
Speakers on the non-Pro are pretty terrible, if he places a high priority on watching movies. Plus, the TrueTone display can make it much easier on your eyes if you're watching movies in low-light.
Also look at the Apple refurb site. You can get a 256gb 10.5 for $789. That’s a significant delta to the equivalent 11” Pro at the same storage level.
I wouldn’t mind the speaker quality on a device that is 4:3 in aspect ratio- that’s a more substantial problem. In fairness, my iPad Pro gen 1 speakers are nothing to shout home about either.
Yeah, but you can't really improve/fix the 4:3 problem
And the speakers on the no-Pro are really annoying, IMO. Just shooting sound out of one side is totally distracting when in landscape mode.
All 10.5 wifi modes are actually on sale right now for a pre-black friday sale at Best Buy. Most are $125 off!
Don't listen to us early upgraders. The 10.5" is perfectly fine for even advanced tasks. It has 4GB of RAM and will be supported for a long time. I only upgraded mine because my wife needed a new one so I traded up. It worked great for me in heavy Lightroom use.
For sure. But, the price gap between iPad and iPad Pro is now so big that you could upgrade the iPad twice as often and still save money. Personally, I’d rather have the new base model every two years than the new pro model every four.
Agreed. I'm hoping they will get some different colors in after the 11 inch is out a little longer.
I'm hopefully going to go check them all out this weekend.
Hard to tell for the future, but looking back...I'd take my 2015 pro over the brand new base model we got my wife earlier this year in a heartbeat even excluding screen size. I don't know what the benchmarks say, but in our real-world usage, we both agree the 2015 pro runs better / snappier. And yes, she is getting a new 2018 pro now
Will the 2018 pro's be better in year's 2020-2022 than the 2020 base model? Who knows, but my experience has be believing they will be, and you'd have the use of the better performance in 2018-2020 too.
Edit: An article (https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...us-the-original-129-inch-and-97-inch-ipad-pro) actually comparing the 2016/16 pros to the current base ipad model shows the base has a small bump in benchmark performance, but I think what we experience is the base iPad this year doesn't have enough memory for how we use it (2 vs the 2015's pro's 4). Speakers, truetone, etc. and other nice things can also figure in.
I suppose it is a similar question in cars. Would you take a new Ford now and in 2 years, or take a BMW now and keep for 4 years. Probably not equivalent, but akin.
Probably boils down to how good, or how basic, the 2020 base level iPad is.
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I was referring to the 256gb LTE version since he said he needed more than the WiFi only.