iPad Pro Should I wait for the next iPad Pro or buy the current model?

[jumpcutking]

So... I’m looking to get an iPad Pro! Awesome... used one many times for work and it just elevated note taking, image editing... pretty much everything.

I heard that the Apple gods may grace us with a release of an updated iPad Pro in March. The question is simple: should I wait? Is Apple actually gonna launch an iPad Pro? Are those features worth the wait? Is the design changes substantial?

The questions may help prevent me from FOMO... when the new iPad gets released.

 

[djlythium]

Wait. It‘s only a month away, and you’ll be glad you did because, if the features are underwhelming, you’ll still be able to get the current generation pretty quickly.

 

[doolar]

Wait, or get a 2018 Pro for a hefty discount.

 

[James Godfrey]

100% wait at this point, if the features of the 2021 iPad arnt enough for you when released you can save some $$$ and get the 2020 or 2018 iPP

 

[ericwn]

Wait and see what spring brings.

 

[satchmo]

Wait, or get a 2018 Pro for a hefty discount.

For sure a 2020, but can you even find a new 2018 anymore?

 

[Zazoh]

If you go by average, looking at 200 days. Lots of folks are saying March. ?

 

[DexBell]

So... I’m looking to get an iPad Pro! Awesome... used one many times for work and it just elevated note taking, image editing... pretty much everything.

I heard that the Apple gods may grace us with a release of an updated iPad Pro in March. The question is simple: should I wait? Is Apple actually gonna launch an iPad Pro? Are those features worth the wait? Is the design changes substantial?

The questions may help prevent me from FOMO... when the new iPad gets released.

Buy one now. What amazing specs do you think a 2021 will have the 2020 doesn’t? Won’t have a new design or a new processor. Won’t have a new camera etc....

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Buy one now. What amazing specs do you think a 2021 will have the 2020 doesn’t? Won’t have a new design or a new processor. Won’t have a new camera etc....

of course it will have a new processor defo A14 of some sort X/Z. camera will also be improved no doubt

 

[Seanm87]

Buy one now. What amazing specs do you think a 2021 will have the 2020 doesn’t? Won’t have a new design or a new processor. Won’t have a new camera etc....

It’s supposed to have mini LED which means it will have a significantly better display and videos and HDR etc will be much better.

Don’t get me wrong i wont be updating my 2018 pro for that but if I didn’t have an iPad and knew a new one was a month away like the OP I would wait.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Definitely wait and see. This update is looking to be a big one, especially if you consider the last one was just a miner spec bump really. If it’s not great then as others have mentioned you’ll find a 2020 or 2018 for cheap and my 2018 is still an absolute beast.

 

[playtech1]

I would wait - I am expecting a fairly decent upgrade in March considering how the 2020 model was such a minimal upgrade over 2018.

 

[SkiHound2]

Standard advice, which I think is generally a good strategy, is that if you NEED it now, but it now, otherwise I'd wait. Everything is basically speculation. March is the rumored time when it will appear. But we don't know that for fact. I haven't been searching very hard but I've not been seeing any especially good deals on the current Pros. I have a 9.7" Pro and am planning to upgrade to an 11" Pro (haven't completely ruled out an Air) but I'm waiting to see what the next release brings. I want the larger screen size and spatial audio. I'd also like to add a pencil and my current iPad is not compatible with the newest pencil. But my 9.7" is still very useable for the vast majority of what I do, so I can afford to wait.

 

[Digitalguy]

Standard advice, which I think is generally a good strategy, is that if you NEED it now, but it now, otherwise I'd wait. Everything is basically speculation. March is the rumored time when it will appear. But we don't know that for fact. I haven't been searching very hard but I've not been seeing any especially good deals on the current Pros. I have a 9.7" Pro and am planning to upgrade to an 11" Pro (haven't completely ruled out an Air) but I'm waiting to see what the next release brings. I want the larger screen size and spatial audio. I'd also like to add a pencil and my current iPad is not compatible with the newest pencil. But my 9.7" is still very useable for the vast majority of what I do, so I can afford to wait.

spatial audio? Is this a feature of the 11 pro? I have both the 9.7 pro and the 11 and I don't see any improvement in audio compared to the 9.7 honestly...

 

[Nhwhazup]

Standard advice, which I think is generally a good strategy, is that if you NEED it now, but it now, otherwise I'd wait. Everything is basically speculation. March is the rumored time when it will appear. But we don't know that for fact. I haven't been searching very hard but I've not been seeing any especially good deals on the current Pros. I have a 9.7" Pro and am planning to upgrade to an 11" Pro (haven't completely ruled out an Air) but I'm waiting to see what the next release brings. I want the larger screen size and spatial audio. I'd also like to add a pencil and my current iPad is not compatible with the newest pencil. But my 9.7" is still very useable for the vast majority of what I do, so I can afford to wait.

I’m in a similar situation to you. 9.7 iPad Pro here with MKB and original pencil. This iPad has been awesome but most recently has been rebooting every couple of days. Have my fingers crossed that it holds on until the new ones get released.

 

[rui no onna]

Standard advice, which I think is generally a good strategy, is that if you NEED it now, but it now, otherwise I'd wait. Everything is basically speculation. March is the rumored time when it will appear. But we don't know that for fact. I haven't been searching very hard but I've not been seeing any especially good deals on the current Pros. I have a 9.7" Pro and am planning to upgrade to an 11" Pro (haven't completely ruled out an Air) but I'm waiting to see what the next release brings. I want the larger screen size and spatial audio. I'd also like to add a pencil and my current iPad is not compatible with the newest pencil. But my 9.7" is still very useable for the vast majority of what I do, so I can afford to wait.

Yep. My iPad usage has changed a bit so I want to upgrade for certain conveniences. It's not a pressing need at the moment though (2017 Pro 12.9, Pro 10.5 and Air 3 all performing well) so I'm waiting to see what the next gen brings to the table. At the very least, I expect to finally see some discounts on the 1TB LTE 2020 iPad Pros.

 

[Zazoh]

With an average of 500+ days what makes y’all think they are now upgrading after a year?

 

[charles4515]

Wait a month or save some money and buy a 2018 iPad Pro. There is not that much difference between the 2018 and 2020. I have the 2018 and it is still great.

 

[rui no onna]

With an average of 500+ days what makes y’all think they are now upgrading after a year?

Meh, the upcoming iPad Pro should've been released last year. The 2020 iPad Pros were practically a non-upgrade over the 2018 models. Really just a very minor refresh.

In any case, whether the release is in March, June or October, I'm fine with it. I'm not in a hurry to upgrade at the moment.

 

[jumpcutking]

If you go by average, looking at 200 days. Lots of folks are saying March. ?
View attachment 1729571

Yep, that’s the speculation. If one comes in March, I do think it’s a good idea to wait 30 days or so. ? Of course if one doesn’t come out in March, I may be too upset to buy one at all. ???

of course it will have a new processor defo A14 of some sort X/Z. camera will also be improved no doubt

The new processor definitely intrigued me. Better support for M1 developed apps or at least the lifecycle, so when I move to M1 by the end of the year my product life cycle (phones, macs, iPads) will be good together for a few years.

It’s supposed to have mini LED which means it will have a significantly better display and videos and HDR etc will be much better.

Don’t get me wrong i wont be updating my 2018 pro for that but if I didn’t have an iPad and knew a new one was a month away like the OP I would wait.

HDR and Spatial Audio are important features to me. As a film guru, and a producer, seeing accurate colors (or as close as Apple will let me get) is impressive. It’s changes the lifecycle of editing and reviewing content.

spatial audio? Is this a feature of the 11 pro? I have both the 9.7 pro and the 11 and I don't see any improvement in audio compared to the 9.7 honestly...

Yep that’s important to me! But I feel like it’s better with the AirPods Pro or Max... than with the device. But the phone aware audio thing... that’s just creepy. When I lower my phone the whole 3D space changes... it messes with my ears. Which I suspect is the point.

With an average of 500+ days what makes y’all think they are now upgrading after a year?

If it is March or even May... I feel like they will change enough just to push another product out and make it past the quarter with profit earnings. All the iPhone 12 HDR and Dolby Vission (and atoms) support has my ears peaked for sure! Plus if the iPad has comparable camera than quick recording has another device.

The shared second screen, the pencil, and Adobe’s quick support of handoff... all intrigue me. It will enhance my daily life for sure. Just a matter of ensuring it’s a good investments for a few years to come. Which is why I don’t opt for earlier versions.

 

[jumpcutking]

Meh, the upcoming iPad Pro should've been released last year. The 2020 iPad Pros were practically a non-upgrade over the 2018 models. Really just a very minor refresh.

In any case, whether the release is in March, June or October, I'm fine with it. I'm not in a hurry to upgrade at the moment.

I don’t know if I can wait to June. I will literally shed tears if that’s the case. You will see them in droves.

I thought the processor and 120 refresh rate was the large changes. Those are big steps for sure.

 

[AutomaticApple]

camera will also be improved no doubt

The most important part of an iPad?

 

[rui no onna]

I don’t know if I can wait to June. I will literally shed tears if that’s the case. You will see them in droves.

I thought the processor and 120 refresh rate was the large changes. Those are big steps for sure.

The 120Hz refresh rate came with the 2017 iPad Pro. Honestly not a big deal for me. I can easily swap between the Pro 10.5 and non-ProMotion Air 3.

The CPU, the big jump was in 2018 with the A12X. The A12Z in the 2020 Pro has perhaps better sustained performance and slightly faster GPU performance compared to 2018 but otherwise, the processor's not that different.

 

[SkiHound2]

spatial audio? Is this a feature of the 11 pro? I have both the 9.7 pro and the 11 and I don't see any improvement in audio compared to the 9.7 honestly...

It's basically surround sound. It only works on newer devices (not my 9.7" Pro) and with airpods pro or the new set of Apple headphones. It works on my iPhone XR and is pretty cool. It's pretty cool with media that supports it, and it seems more sources are supporting it. I don't know if Netflix does yet but I recently saw an article that they were working on it. Here's a link to an article describing it: what-is-apple-spatial-audio

 

[The Game 161]

With an average of 500+ days what makes y’all think they are now upgrading after a year?

because mini led was supposed to be out in 2020 but due to covid was pushed back. they only released the pros in 2020 just to Get a refresh out.

apple want to get mini led out on devices in early 2021.