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ProbablyDylan

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2024
1,517
2,983
Los Angeles
So I've been using my new 4th gen 11" IPP all throughout yesterday, spending much more time with it than I ever devoted to my 12.9 M1 IPP, and I've taken notice of what others pointed out earlier about poor black levels in dark surroundings.

I was watching an episode of the X-files in bed while my wife was asleep. Lights were off, screen brightness at lowest setting, headphones on, laying on my stomach, and the IPP flat in front of me. In this position I definitely noticed the grayness of the screen. If I tilt the screen up them the color rendition is great, but if the iPad is flat and I'm viewing the picture from an angle then colors are very muted. It actually made me curious about the M4 OLED. But this is such a tiny corner use case. I just switched to my Fold5 and watched the rest of the show with much better color and black levels.

The M4s are fantastic in the dark. Absolutely stunning displays.
 

NeonNights

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2022
671
871
The M4s are fantastic in the dark. Absolutely stunning displays.
I don't doubt OLED is better than the non-MiniLED display on my 4th gen IPP 11. I definitely noticed the better OLED off-axis viewing angle over the standard LCD iPads while in Costco. That said, I don't think the dark room viewing is enough of a benefit for me to return my $549 4th gen IPP 11 for the $899 edu-priced M4 IPP 11.

The extra $350 will net the aforementioned tandem OLED, an additional 128GB, M4 SoC, landscape camera, negligible .05 lbs weight savings, longer support, and possibly better battery life. That sounds like a decent list of improvements to justify the cost difference, but I don't really need the extra power nor storage, and that's just the entry fee. I'd still need a new Apple Pencil Pro and more expensive M4 version of the Logitech Combo Touch to go with it all.

I still have $635 in Apple gift cards that would make it the same out-of-pocket cost between my existing 4th gen IPP 11 versus an M4 IPP 11, but it's still a difficult value proposition for me. My current IPP 11 + Smart Keyboard Folio would still be .33 lbs lighter than an M4 IPP 11 + Logitech Combo Touch. Part of me also likes not having to worry over the 4th gen IPP 11 whereas I'd be more paranoid taking a new and pricier M4 IPP anywhere (but I suppose that feeling will lessen over time). I did entertain the idea of waiting for Apple's traditional back-to-school promotions to order an M4 IPP 11 to compare first-hand and see which iPad I naturally gravitate towards, irrelevant of cost. I might just do that to rule out any final "what if" wonderings.
 
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jterp7

macrumors 65816
Oct 26, 2011
1,292
161
It was an ez choice for me because im coming from a 2018 but i totally understand the M1 or later owners
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
14,878
12,855
I don't doubt OLED is better than the non-MiniLED display on my 4th gen IPP 11. I definitely noticed the better OLED off-axis viewing angle over the standard LCD iPads while in Costco. That said, I don't think the dark room viewing is enough of a benefit for me to return my $549 4th gen IPP 11 for the $899 edu-priced M4 IPP 11.

The extra $350 will net the aforementioned tandem OLED, an additional 128GB, M4 SoC, landscape camera, negligible .05 lbs weight savings, longer support, and possibly better battery life. That sounds like a decent list of improvements to justify the cost difference, but I don't really need the extra power nor storage, and that's just the entry fee. I'd still need a new Apple Pencil Pro and more expensive M4 version of the Logitech Combo Touch to go with it all.

I still have $635 in Apple gift cards that would make it the same out-of-pocket cost between my existing 4th gen IPP 11 versus an M4 IPP 11, but it's still a difficult value proposition for me. My current IPP 11 + Smart Keyboard Folio would still be .33 lbs lighter than an M4 IPP 11 + Logitech Combo Touch. Part of me also likes not having to worry over the 4th gen IPP 11 whereas I'd be more paranoid taking a new and pricier M4 IPP anywhere (but I suppose that feeling will lessen over time). I did entertain the idea of waiting for Apple's traditional back-to-school promotions to order an M4 IPP 11 to compare first-hand and see which iPad I naturally gravitate towards, irrelevant of cost. I might just do that to rule out any final "what if" wonderings.
If you already own the M2, an upgrade probably shouldn't even be on your radar.
 
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NeonNights

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2022
671
871
If you already own the M2, an upgrade probably shouldn't even be on your radar.
I appreciate this for what it is -- the voice of reason. 👍

I keep wafting between the practical side of me versus the desire for new shiny things. Fortunately an M4 is not going to hurt me nor my family financially. Maybe it's possible the M4 is actually the practical choice, spread across 5+ years of ownership with intentions to hand it down to my daughter at some point but that's all conjecture.

Am I more likely to spend and upgrade the M2 IPP in a few years, or keep an M4 longer before the next upgrade?
 
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NeonNights

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2022
671
871
Would you put it another way - people who own an M2 and are considering the M4 are unreasonable?
Not at all. I recognize it's not an easy call as the M1/M2 IPP are still pretty fantastic. An M4 IPP is more a want than need so I'm still reconciling that for myself.
 
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Isengardtom

macrumors 65816
Feb 14, 2009
1,344
2,191
Today I fired up my “old“ A12Z 11” iPad Pro to sell to a friend and you definitely notice the difference in screen quality of that LCD vs the new OLED.

definitely Would be difficult to go back to an Air or any LCD tablet after this. I’m sure I’ll manage if I have to, but would not like it
 

metzy25

macrumors 65816
May 7, 2011
1,074
114
Long Story short, I bought a 11 inch pro m4 and ended up returning it after a week because I found a really good deal on a 11 pro m2. I didn’t think the cost difference was worth it. Boy was I wrong. there’s a big difference in screen quality. The OLED is beautifu.
 

NeonNights

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2022
671
871
Long Story short, I bought a 11 inch pro m4 and ended up returning it after a week because I found a really good deal on a 11 pro m2. I didn’t think the cost difference was worth it. Boy was I wrong. there’s a big difference in screen quality. The OLED is beautifu.
Does this mean you're back to the M4 IPP 11?
 
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th1nk

macrumors regular
Nov 11, 2008
222
476
Even after the honeymoon phase I am still all over the moon with this display. It truly is one of the best displays on the market as confirmed by Linus in his latest video. Their measurements show that only 20000-30000 $ reference monitors are in the same league he says. If you care about the best display quality then the title of this thread is true 💯. It‘s sooooo goooood!

I use it at about 60% brightness during normal use but when watching videos I crank it up to 100% and it really is a feast for the eyes.
 

nikikaly21

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 12, 2019
92
160
Even after the honeymoon phase I am still all over the moon with this display. It truly is one of the best displays on the market as confirmed by Linus in his latest video. Their measurements show that only 20000-30000 $ reference monitors are in the same league he says. If you care about the best display quality then the title of this thread is true 💯. It‘s sooooo goooood!

I use it at about 60% brightness during normal use but when watching videos I crank it up to 100% and it really is a feast for the eyes.
Two weeks in for me and I loveeee it, too. Haven't used an iPad this much in more than a decade. Absolutely incredible device and display.
 

nikikaly21

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 12, 2019
92
160
In general, I also found it funny that even though being an Apple-hater is kinda his thing, LTT was like "OMG" at the display for several minutes in his hands-on.
 
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transmaster

Contributor
Feb 1, 2010
1,757
873
Cheyenne, Wyoming
I had nothing to compare my iPad Pro M4 ITB too, certainly not the iPhone 14 Pro Max. What caused my jaw to hit the ground every time was album art on Apple Music. I new song would start I would look at the screen, my jaw hit the ground, eyes wide and staring in amazement.

IMG_0011.jpeg
 
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pdoherty

macrumors 65816
Dec 30, 2014
1,491
1,736
OLED has gotten a lot better. In Rtings' longevity test, LCDs actually fare worse so far:
From your article:

We've learned a lot about image retention and burn-in over the last ten months. Almost all of our OLEDs show signs of image retention, and a lot of it is permanent burn-in, especially on the older generation panels like the LG CX OLED and the Sony A8H.
 

Greggio

macrumors member
Jul 28, 2008
39
14
Tāmaki Makaurau, Aoteroa
i‘m struggling conceptually with the prices. A 13” with 512GB, magic keyboard and pencil is more than a 14” MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage.

I don’t want the MacBook. It‘s just that the comparison highlights how expensive these iPad Pros are…

Ordinarily, I think I’d just get the Air, but I don’t currently have a Magic Keyboard and I don’t want to pay the same price for the old keyboard with no function keys, etc.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and not think about it…
 

erasr

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2007
743
644
I’d say these iPads are better - and at least more fun to use, even in work mode - than the MacBook Pro or Air.

For my use, they do even more than the Macs, so therefore worth the same price at least. Plus, far better display.
 

Devyn89

macrumors 6502a
Jul 21, 2012
963
1,801
i‘m struggling conceptually with the prices. A 13” with 512GB, magic keyboard and pencil is more than a 14” MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage.

I don’t want the MacBook. It‘s just that the comparison highlights how expensive these iPad Pros are…

Ordinarily, I think I’d just get the Air, but I don’t currently have a Magic Keyboard and I don’t want to pay the same price for the old keyboard with no function keys, etc.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and not think about it…
That’s what I did haha. Honestly, I’m thinking about how awesome this huge iPad is and how I can finally use it as a tablet as often as I want thanks to weight reductions and not much money I spent so that’s a thing if it helps.
 
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profH

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2017
131
204
Pasadena, CA
i‘m struggling conceptually with the prices. A 13” with 512GB, magic keyboard and pencil is more than a 14” MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage.

I don’t want the MacBook. It‘s just that the comparison highlights how expensive these iPad Pros are…

Ordinarily, I think I’d just get the Air, but I don’t currently have a Magic Keyboard and I don’t want to pay the same price for the old keyboard with no function keys, etc.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and not think about it…
Apple did the right thing filling out the sizes on the “budget” ipad line (the air); a lot of the use cases for that large screen in tablet mode just don’t require much processing power. For example my main use is as a digital whiteboard for collaboration and teaching - I need the big screen but there is just no way I can justify MacBook Pro prices for that very specific use alone.
I returned my M4 13 and will wait to upgrade to the 13 air if either my 2018 12.9 dies or it gains pro-motion and compatibility with the new accessories. It’s a plenty nice device even without OLED.
 

nikikaly21

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 12, 2019
92
160
i‘m struggling conceptually with the prices. A 13” with 512GB, magic keyboard and pencil is more than a 14” MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage.

I don’t want the MacBook. It‘s just that the comparison highlights how expensive these iPad Pros are…

Ordinarily, I think I’d just get the Air, but I don’t currently have a Magic Keyboard and I don’t want to pay the same price for the old keyboard with no function keys, etc.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and not think about it…
I've had alternating versions MacBook for 13+ years, upgrading every 18-24 months, and the reason why I totally disliked my last iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard setup was because the hybrid experience wasn't worth it for me.

I wanted the touch screen, but hated the bulkiness of the MGK and cover. I wanted to be able to type on my iPad Pro, but hated I didn't have something so simple, yet so utilize-able, as Finder. The more I wanted the best of both worlds, the worse the experience became. I returned the iPad Pro fours years ago and haven't looked back until now.

This time, I didn't get the MGK, because I already had an iMac for my remote gig, and a MBP for travel. If I'm writing or working, I'm on a Mac. I'm typing this on my iMac, for example.

Point is: I'm not looking for the best of both products anymore, and the experiences are flawless. On my iPad Pro, playing Snake.io is a joy, watching 4k videos is an outstanding experience, and it's so light and gorgeous that I've taken it out for picnics and strolls at the park to listen to music or read my news feed. And because of all this, I can leave my bulky MBP at-home, and only bring it when I'm on the road and need serious productivity

If you really want a Mac, the M2 Air is on a fire sale right now everywhere. I'd recommend getting the iPad Pro, and using the MGK and other expenses for a typical MacOS experience.
 
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NeonNights

macrumors 6502a
Jul 22, 2022
671
871
hated I didn't have something so simple, yet so utilize-able, as Finder. The more I wanted the best of both worlds, the worse the experience became. I returned the iPad Pro fours years ago and haven't looked back until now.
That right there.

I just returned the 4th gen IPP 11. Got it for a great deal new but the more I worked on documents (Office, Google Docs, etc) and typing on the Smart Keyboard Folio, the more I wanted to go back to my MBP 14.

I still think the iPad 11 is better than the bulky 12.9 or 13, but I also learned I'm really not an iPad/tablet person and trying to make iPadOS work like a laptop is an exercise in frustration.

I don't like Stage Manager and it's really cumbersome not having a true file manager. The keyboard made the experience better for typing but iPadOS is such a nuisance to use for productivity.

I asked my daughter which she prefers and she undeniably loves doing school reports and assignments on her M1 iPad Air. She has grown up in the iPad generation and prefers thumb typing to homerow typing. Her school also uses Chromebooks so she's used to cloud/mobile versions of traditional desktop apps. I am the opposite and will cling to my Macbook Pro and MacOS. Glad my daughter has what works best for her and I've learned I can stop watching iPad reviews as tablets just don't work for me. My Fold5 provides all the portable tablet use I need. I still have hope Apple will release a foldable iPhone someday.
 

nikikaly21

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 12, 2019
92
160
That right there.

I just returned the 4th gen IPP 11. Got it for a great deal new but the more I worked on documents (Office, Google Docs, etc) and typing on the Smart Keyboard Folio, the more I wanted to go back to my MBP 14.
Yep. Even responding to a simple work email on my M4 iPad Pro raises my stress levels.. Lack of agile and classical productivity use-cases on the iPad Pro + MGK was true in 2020 and I think we both agree it's still true today.

I bought this new iPad Pro for fun, and it's been a LOT of fun so far.
 
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