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iPad Pro Should I upgrade from iPad Pro (2018) 12.9 to M2 12.9?

applegoldfish

applegoldfish

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Original poster
Mar 31, 2022
105
22
Hello, I have iPad Pro (2018) 12.9 w/ white magic keyboard + Apple Pencil, and my use case is as below -

1) Safari.

2) Notability/Goodnotes for note taking and reading PDF (Pure academia)

3) I most absolutely need a 12.9 screen for the larger canvas for writing notes to mimic the size of the A4 paper. Please don't recommend 10th Gen or Air or even 11"


Things I don't do on my iPad -

1) No video/photo shooting and editing.

2) Not going to use w/ ASD as an external monitor.

3) No gaming at all.

4) No digital art.

5) No video streaming on iPad (NF, HBO, Prime video etc)


Do you think I should have any benefit from a Mini-Led, and updated M2 processor? I do all the laptop stuff on M1 Pro 16" and M1 Mac Mini + ASD.

I am outside the US, and the prices have painfully increased, and while I write this I know, this upgrade is not for me, but the FOMO is real. When M1 came, I really wanted that, but I waited for the next update hoping it would be a re-design (maybe Dynamic Island), but nothing happened in terms of re-design, and now 14" and 16" rumors are out, but lately most of the rumors were not true. So, it feels like maybe Apple won't ever release a 14" or 16" iPad ever, or at least maybe not in like 3 years or so.

Everyone is so eager about the 16" iPad (including me), but the Information website article also mentioned that Apple may cancel this project altogether, but it seems like everyone is ignoring that fact, and assuming that it's 100% set in stone that we'll be getting iPad 16" Q4 2023.

How sure are you guys about the 14" and 16" iPad, and should I get an M2 iPad Pro or stick w/ 2018.
 
I have both a 12.9 2018 and a 12.9 2021 (M1). I got the M1 in spring only because I got a great price and I wanted cellular for when I go on holidays, but I not only still use both, but I actually use the 2018 more than the M1. Why?
Because it's lighter. So for anything pencil, it's nicer if need to hold it. Or just for anything else where I have to hold the iPads in my hand and where RAM makes no difference.
For your use case, other than for Safari (reloads), M1/M2 would actually be a downgrade as your would gain nothing other than weight (mini-led makes little to no difference other than for watching hdr content or videos in the dark)
The 2018 pro is still an amazing device and the fact that I use it more than the M1 proves it. I cannot say the same for previous generations (I have had first and second too).
 
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I don't understand when people moan about X product not getting a redesign, Like the current iPad Pros... Why on earth would we think it was getting a redesign, it's not that old or have that many iterations. We should be thanking Apple for not redesigning things like the iPhone, iPad and MBP every year, that way the accessories we own for these devices have a good chance of working with the new one... For example if the M2 iPad Pro wasn't such a minor spec bump I'd happily upgrade to tit and replace my M1, knowing that the Apple keyboard and pencil will work with the M2... As boring as it sounds I hope the next 12.9 iPad Pro is the same form factor as well....
 
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applegoldfish said:
Hello, I have iPad Pro (2018) 12.9 w/ white magic keyboard + Apple Pencil, and my use case is as below -



Things I don't do on my iPad -

1) No video/photo shooting and editing.

2) Not going to use w/ ASD as an external monitor.

3) No gaming at all.

4) No digital art.

5) No video streaming on iPad (NF, HBO, Prime video etc)
Click to expand...
No, dont do it, dont give Apple money for your uses cases since you dont use ProRaw/prores or video editing, no drawing or not even gaming since i heard that can take an advantage as well
 
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Weird times when I used to upgrade every year and here I am with a 2020 iPad and don’t care and well…even if I had a 2018 iPad likes yours I wouldn’t care. No meaningful changes I would notice getting a new one. Only reason to get a new one is just wanting something new
 
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Buy tech as you need it, you'll eventually get over FOMO if you take a step back and ask if you really need it right now. If you're not in the place where you can drop that money and not worry about it then I wouldn't recommend getting something that you are not 100% sure that you need. No point in "future proofing" or anything of the sort. Buy when you need, save when you don't. Simple.
 
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BhaveshUK said:
If I were in your shoes I’d wait for the redesign in 23/24. There’s nothing in your use case which suggests your experience would drastically change with an M1 or M2 model.
Click to expand...
Hello mate. I always liked reading your insights over various posts on this forum. Thanks for contributing.
 
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I just upgraded from the 2018 12.9” iPad Pro to the new M2 yesterday. I do more than you with my iPad because I do a lot of classes and discussions on zoom, i stream (too much) video, and I do some digital art. I could easily have used my old iPad for a few more years and the only reason I upgraded now was because my son’s 9.7 inch pro is starting to show its age at 6 or 7 years. He now has my old one which should be just fine for a few more years.

I’m in the camp that believes larger is better when it comes to iPads so he might get this one soon if there’s a larger iPad available in a year or 2.
 
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Ghost31 said:
Weird times when I used to upgrade every year and here I am with a 2020 iPad and don’t care and well…even if I had a 2018 iPad likes yours I wouldn’t care. No meaningful changes I would notice getting a new one. Only reason to get a new one is just wanting something new
Click to expand...
Perhaps. On the other hand the m2 iPad Pro IS a massive upgrade from the 2018 version if you use an iPad to its abilities. My 2018 won’t even allow certain functions in Photoshop, for example, due to a lack of ram.
 
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applegoldfish said:
Hello, I have iPad Pro (2018) 12.9 w/ white magic keyboard + Apple Pencil, and my use case is as below -

1) Safari.

2) Notability/Goodnotes for note taking and reading PDF (Pure academia)

3) I most absolutely need a 12.9 screen for the larger canvas for writing notes to mimic the size of the A4 paper. Please don't recommend 10th Gen or Air or even 11"


Things I don't do on my iPad -

1) No video/photo shooting and editing.

2) Not going to use w/ ASD as an external monitor.

3) No gaming at all.

4) No digital art.

5) No video streaming on iPad (NF, HBO, Prime video etc)


Do you think I should have any benefit from a Mini-Led, and updated M2 processor? I do all the laptop stuff on M1 Pro 16" and M1 Mac Mini + ASD.

I am outside the US, and the prices have painfully increased, and while I write this I know, this upgrade is not for me, but the FOMO is real. When M1 came, I really wanted that, but I waited for the next update hoping it would be a re-design (maybe Dynamic Island), but nothing happened in terms of re-design, and now 14" and 16" rumors are out, but lately most of the rumors were not true. So, it feels like maybe Apple won't ever release a 14" or 16" iPad ever, or at least maybe not in like 3 years or so.

Everyone is so eager about the 16" iPad (including me), but the Information website article also mentioned that Apple may cancel this project altogether, but it seems like everyone is ignoring that fact, and assuming that it's 100% set in stone that we'll be getting iPad 16" Q4 2023.

How sure are you guys about the 14" and 16" iPad, and should I get an M2 iPad Pro or stick w/ 2018.
Click to expand...
Wait. Nothing you do will be impacted by the change. I have iPads throughout my house. I use them alot and could never find ‘it’ when I had just one. So…I now have a 21 Air, 20 Pro 11, 19 Pro 12.9, and a 21 Pro 12.9 M1. You will see no difference in your current use situation. None, zip, nada.
 
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applegoldfish said:
1) Safari.

2) Notability/Goodnotes for note taking and reading PDF (Pure academia)

Do you think I should have any benefit from a Mini-Led, and updated M2 processor?
Click to expand...
Given your use-cases, I don’t think you would see a tangible benefit. Mini-LED is for watching video in the dark. You don’t need an M1 or M2 for normal browsing, reading and notetaking. The 2022 iPad Pros are also a rather minor update, not the best time to upgrade. Save your money would be my advice.
 
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