For your use-case, any 12,9 inch ipad pro will be more than enough for years to come. Don't do it, the only thing you'll get from it is to assure apple of their high prices. If the money is burning a hole in your pocket, there are lots of things that make more sense you could buy for that. (like a vacation). Or save the money for a more substantial upgrade in a few years.
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iPad Pro Should I upgrade from iPad Pro (2018) 12.9 to M2 12.9?
- Thread starter applegoldfish
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Your use case absolutely doesn't call for an upgrade, I think I would be a total waste of money. Keep it.
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
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.
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.
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.
Even then, a simple battery replacement would make much more sense.
For your use case, I’d say it isn’t worth it.
I have a 2018 iPad Pro and use it for web browsing, media consumption, graphic / short video creation and illustration, CODM and as an external monitor for my MacBook.
The heaviest lifting might be editing raw photos and even that is smooth.
I’d probably be better off with the 12.9 but the overall weight with a keyboard and case is heavier than my MacBook.
I have a 2018 iPad Pro and use it for web browsing, media consumption, graphic / short video creation and illustration, CODM and as an external monitor for my MacBook.
The heaviest lifting might be editing raw photos and even that is smooth.
I’d probably be better off with the 12.9 but the overall weight with a keyboard and case is heavier than my MacBook.
2 questions.
1. What is the cost of a battery replacement?
2. How can I confirm what my battery health is in the iPad since the settings in iPadOS don't display that?
1. $99 according to https://support.apple.com/ipad/repair.
2. If you need to confirm, you don’t need it
. But tools like coconutBattery can give you an estimate.
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Given that you have the M1 16” Mac, I would say it’s probably not necessary. I have this too along with a 12.9” iPad.
Do you encounter any slowdowns in any of the work you do on your iPad now? Also, if you would be more attracted to an iPad larger than 12.9”, it might be worth waiting until that is released.
Do you encounter any slowdowns in any of the work you do on your iPad now? Also, if you would be more attracted to an iPad larger than 12.9”, it might be worth waiting until that is released.
In your case no. I went from Air 3 to 11” Pro so it’s a bigger jump. I’ll trade in for an M3 or M4 depending on what goodies they add next time.
+1 for not upgrading yet. I’ve got a 2020 12.9” model and was having the exact same urge to get a new M2 model the other day, but luckily I realized I don’t need it since my use case is pretty much identical to yours, with the exception that I use it for streaming in the evening.
Sure, the brighter XDR screen would be nice, but other than that, there’s nothing for the two of us there. The machines we’ve got are still plenty fast for Safari and PDF viewing and will be capable for at least 3 more years. At this point I think the only thing that would nudge me to upgrade is Apple stopping the software support.
These machines are way too fast for 70% of use cases and it’s only in the past ~2 years that we’re seeing a Cambrian explosion of professional-grade software coming to the iPadOS, so it’s going to take some time before the majority of us notice any real slowness on our existing iPads.
Just enjoy the device you have and spend your hard earned cash elsewhere (or better yet, save it, the world is crazy enough already right now).
Sure, the brighter XDR screen would be nice, but other than that, there’s nothing for the two of us there. The machines we’ve got are still plenty fast for Safari and PDF viewing and will be capable for at least 3 more years. At this point I think the only thing that would nudge me to upgrade is Apple stopping the software support.
These machines are way too fast for 70% of use cases and it’s only in the past ~2 years that we’re seeing a Cambrian explosion of professional-grade software coming to the iPadOS, so it’s going to take some time before the majority of us notice any real slowness on our existing iPads.
Just enjoy the device you have and spend your hard earned cash elsewhere (or better yet, save it, the world is crazy enough already right now).
Thanks!1. $99 according to https://support.apple.com/ipad/repair.
2. If you you need to confirm, you don’t need it
About $99 for a 2018 iPad Pro battery replacement.
Agreed. I've had my IPP 12.9 now for a little over 4 years and it's in prestige condition....except battery (thanks ZuguCase).
I recently (July2022) purchased a Apple refurbished 14" MBPM1 which replaced my 15.4" 2012 Late MBP Matte screen.
So my IPP 12.9 is used much much much less, maybe an hour a day. I could easily turn it off and store it in a drawer and just use my 14 MBP and iPhone for every thing.
I've even been templed to de-clutter and get rid of all my tech except AW Ultra, 14"M1, iPhone ProMax 2020...But it's worth more (for me) to keep and store than sell.
I was almost tempted to trade-in my/sell my 12.9" for a 2022 11" M1 for the smaller form factor but realized it would be a huge waste of money.
I agreed with others that say to keep what you have and replace the battery if needed.
Depends on how much disposable income you have really. My 2018 iPad Pro handles heavy tasks (video editing in 4K) better than my PC does. Sounds like for your uses, upgrade if you have the money and you enjoy having the latest devices but understand you likely won’t see much improvement in any areas because they are both great devices.
It wouldn't, lol.
For your use case you're literally throwing money out the window.
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....
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).
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).
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.
I very much agree. I picked up an M1 12.9 at a reduced price to replace my 2018 12.9. The main driving force is my 2018 is the 64 GB model and I’m constantly having to redownload apps that get pushed off. I didn’t expect a huge performance gain, and I have not observed one. The mini LED display is really nice, but the 2018 display is also really nice. The additional storage, as well as the additional RAM preventing reloads, are, of course, noticeable improvements. I also like that the M1 has the option to zoom out the display so it feels a bit more productivity friendly.
What is more noticeable than I expected, however, is the increased thickness and weight. In the Magic Keyboard it’s not an issue, but it is a downgrade when using as a jumbo ebook reader or note taking device.
The 2018 models were just really good, and iPad OS is too limited compared to MacOS. I haven’t decided if the M1 is going back. The increased storage IS something I have already made use of, but the 2018 is capable of doing everything I use it an iPad for, and doing it very well.
Well, if you go back to your 2018 model and start redownloading apps all the time again, then in a way, the 2018 is very much not capable of doing everything you use it for. My 2 cents only, although I do get your point and what you’re trying to convene here.