I want to switch from an 11” ipad pro to a 12.9”. Is it worth getting a A12Z iPad Pro, or I should only consider an M1 model? My plan is to buy from Apple refurbished. I can sell my old ipad for £275 and A12Z model is £579. It looks like the M1 model is about to appear on Apple refurbished store at £849 so my cost to upgrade will be nearly double. For browsing, streaming and Facetime is it worth the extra cost?
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iPad Pro Still worth buying A12z iPad Pro in 2023
- Thread starter Nikojas
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Personally, having both the non mini-LED and the mini-LED version, I don't care much about the difference in screen, but some people do and they go crazy about it.
Same with pro-motion, I barely care about it, but some people couldn't live without it.
I care about RAM, and don't like reloads, and some people don't care about it. But the A12Z has 6GB so it's pretty good.
Also, it's thinner and lighter. Again some people don't care, I do. That's why, while having the M1, I still use the 2018 one at least as much...
But I think you'll get different opinions based on people's priorities....
Same with pro-motion, I barely care about it, but some people couldn't live without it.
I care about RAM, and don't like reloads, and some people don't care about it. But the A12Z has 6GB so it's pretty good.
Also, it's thinner and lighter. Again some people don't care, I do. That's why, while having the M1, I still use the 2018 one at least as much...
But I think you'll get different opinions based on people's priorities....
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Depending on the apps you use. If it’s basic usage that model is still ok. If you’re using advanced apps, they’re starting to use the more advanced features of the m series and the extra ram.
Personally unless it’s a budget issue, I would go at least m1 regardless, for longevity.
Personally unless it’s a budget issue, I would go at least m1 regardless, for longevity.
Isn't the M1 iPad Pro the first to include Centre Stage? The wider aspect front facing cameras Would make the M1 more interesting for your FaceTime use case, and I do think there is quite a performance gulf between the A12z and M1 but agree that longer support is worth paying the extra over the 2020 A12z model.
The mini LED screen may only be useful in limited streaming situations but I do recognise it looks great if it's anything like the 14" Pro Display XDR.
That said, the refurb 12.9" is quite a size increase over the 11" if you're only doing the basics but I have to say a refurbish M1 Pro iPad is quite a value proposition in the UK as every other iPad model has gone up in price thanks to the dire GBP to USD exchange rate.
A12z is on legacy life support. Its old slow and locks you out of all the modern iPadOS features.
My A12Z isn’t slow at all. I’m not recommending one over the other, but the A12Z is still a great iPad if you ask me.
Edited for a mistake in original post.
I agree it’s not slow but it is already starting to lose pro m series exclusive features. And it’s definitely not as quick as the M series
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I have a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 which I bought at launch. Served me well for nearly three years. Am set at getting a refurb M1 12.9 when they finally appear on the Refurb store. The miniLED has its issues, but the LCD of the current one has darkened around the edges rather visibly, the RAM limitations are felt more in iPadOS 16 and
M1 would be a good performance jump.
I too believe that the price will be 849, which is not bad for a refurb direct from Apple with a guaranteed new battery (mine is on its last legs too) and full warranty. Hard to justify paying 3-400 pounds more for an M2. And let's face it, with the way prices are going, the new OLED redesign next year will probably start at 1399 or so.
Just hope they appear soon on the UK refurb store, they have been on the US one for a while now.
M1 would be a good performance jump.
I too believe that the price will be 849, which is not bad for a refurb direct from Apple with a guaranteed new battery (mine is on its last legs too) and full warranty. Hard to justify paying 3-400 pounds more for an M2. And let's face it, with the way prices are going, the new OLED redesign next year will probably start at 1399 or so.
Just hope they appear soon on the UK refurb store, they have been on the US one for a while now.
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I do those use cases with my 2018 11" and have no reason to upgrade.
Are you looking for a new toy?
I might have suggested a 2018 model too but they have dried up on the U.K. refurb store for the last couple weeks as the m1 11” models showed up. The 2020 models are priced very close to the m1 models (they had a price cut in recent weeks which made me suspect the m1 models were finally coming) so it’s now a case of spending a bit more for m1 models for longevity and software support.
The ram is the key point now, 4gb for sub 1tb 2018, 6gb for 2020, and 8gb for 2021 m1. And 4gb is starting to become baseline for lesser iPads.
There’s no ipad with a screen that big as an alternative and iPad Air 11” alternatives aren’t good value next to the pro m1 models.
You could even get an A12X iPad Pro (get 1TB for 6GB RAM) and still be fine, unless you fall into a puny group of people who try use an iPad Pro like a top end laptop, you can get anything between A12X to M2 iPad Pro and you probably won’t notice much of a difference, not until Apple begin truly giving iPad OS some proper attention.
With your use case, you should be fine with A12Z.
Let’s hope the M1 12.9 iPads hit the UK refurb store soon. Been waiting for them. Easily the best deal if priced at 849 in terms of an M1/2 iPad from a reputable dealer in the UK at the moment.
Both still great I would say but M1 will probably be supported a few years longer.
And while it doesn’t matter to many people, I do find the mini LED a big step up for streaming, especially when you have content with lots of dark contrast (like sci fi)
And while it doesn’t matter to many people, I do find the mini LED a big step up for streaming, especially when you have content with lots of dark contrast (like sci fi)
Well, it’s not supposed to be as quick as the more recent models. It’s an older model. But I find it to be blazing quick with normal tasks. Each new model is faster. That’s what the technology people give us.
They trickle out small updates when we all know damn well they could blow the doors off everything they’ve released.
It’s a made-up year-after-year small improvement so folks will keep buying stuff. It’s not based on real engineering.
I don't exactly own an M1, but I can say that the jump from A-series to M-series nets a big performance boost. A12Z (and A12X) are still pretty powerful, but you would be much more futureproofed with an M1.
Yes but I’m not comparing the M series to a recent A15/A16 chip here, A12 is getting pretty long in the tooth for someone to still be buying today and expect to keep it for awhile. If you currently own one and it’s still meeting you needs then great. But I think it’s a hard sell now to be recommending that to anyone to purchase in 2023
A12 and A12X/Z are difference beasts, just like A14 and M1 are (with M1 being an enhanced A14 just like A12X/Z is an enhanced A12).
Based on the date of realease and increased RAM, I would expect the A12Z to get 2 more years compared to A12X and 2 less years of updates compared to M1 (which came 1 year later on iPad).
Probably till 2028, while A12X will be updated till 2026 and M1 till 2030.
Of course this is security updates. M1 may get more feature updates, but even M2 is getting some software exclusives, so M1 may not get some new features at some point to push people to upgrade.
I could be way off base here but I think that any iPad with 4gb of ram or more will be supported till 2026. iPadOS 21 will be aiming at iPads with 6gb of memory as the minimum in the year 2027. The regular ipads seems to average 5-6 years of iOS updates. The Pros seem to be 7+ years.
Supported, sure. Works well? Depends on one’s usage and tolerance.
I have an iPad mini 6 and 4GB RAM is darned annoying already. I don’t even use split view on this thing but I get Safari tab reloads galore as well as the occasional out of memory crash. My M1/16GB iPP behaves much better.
I guess it depends on what you do with the device. I have not ran into any performance issues with either my mini 6 or iPad Pro 11 (2018). For me performance on both of these are fine. My kids have a Chromebook that I bought them for Christmas. I would call that a tolerable experience.
Back to the OP it depends on what you want to do with the iPad and how long you want to keep it for. I think it will run ok and get updates for the next 2-3 years. In the OP’s case they already have a device with the same chip so they have an idea of the performance. However going from the 11 inch the the 12.9 inch with the same chip is more of a side step imo. If I was going to go through the hassle of charging my iPad I would want an actual upgrade not a side grade.
As for whether it’s worth buying off the bat in 2023. It really depends on budget and how much it’s gonna cost. I personally wouldn’t want to pay more than £300-400 for an A12Z device in 2023. I paid £700 for mine in 2020, so I would expect to pay considerably less 3 years down the line.