Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,314
25,463
Wales, United Kingdom
With the way prices are at the moment in the UK there is no way I could justify a new ipad pro. Even when I bought my current iPad Pro in 2020 I bought it refurbished and still had to spend £700. The same £700 bought me a new iPad Pro in 2017 with the same amount of storage. £700 was the maximum I was willing to spend on an ipad which is just going to be used for consumption. Having said that with the way the economy is going I don’t think I would be happy to spend £700 on an ipad. I think I could find better things to spend that money on. So next time I probably would not get a pro.

I think the good thing about iPads is at least we don’t have to upgrade them often. My last iPad I had 4.5 years and my wife is now using it. I bought the Air purely because I fancied a change but it was totally unnecessary. If you own a Pro, I’d imagine you can stretch 7 years out of it maybe. I never intend paying more than £500 for an iPad going forwards and hopefully Apple reintroduce the entry level iPad as they appeared to skip it this year. I know the 9th gen is very popular at £299 and I expected Apple to replace it with the 10th gen but that device seemed to be priced for a weird segment in the market at £499.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VaruLV

gangzoom

macrumors member
Aug 8, 2007
58
20
My last Apple product that I bought was the iPhone 5S, though I was using my late 2013 Retina MBP till last year when it finally died - wouldn’t boot up.

Due to work/enterprise Windows machines have been my main work base for the best part of what feels like forever, and to be 100% honest never missed not using Mac OS despite having grown up using the Mac Plus (I remember getting excited about System 7!!).

As luck/life often throws up random opportunities due to a change in work roles, and a need to be much more portable (literally can be in 3 different cross cites by 2pm in any single day), and Apples surprisingly engagement with enterprise on mobile devices I found my self in possession of an iPad Pro for work.

I wasn’t 100% how the iPad would fit in to my work flows, given my last memory of iOS on the iPad wasn’t great, but credit to Apple, iOS 16 is much more mature as a productivity platform, and when combined with Onedrive and Office 365…..whisper it, but its replaced the function of my HP Elitebook as my preferred ‘work’ machine.

The proof is in the usage though, looking back at this week gone - I have spent a not inconsiderable time on the iPad for work. The fact FaceID and boot up speed is so much quicker than the Bitlocker code needed on the Elitebook has made the iPad my default e-mail client. But its portability means, I’ve now written the bulk of 3 board papers on it versus using the Elitebook.

My main complaint is actually todo with enterprise security - I cannot take screen shots on the iPad, and even copy/paste via Company portal is flaky, but I understand the reasons.

But for me, overall, its a surprisingly painless return to Apple after many years away. I wouldn’t say iOS is better than Android, but the iPad Pro it self is a very decent bit of kit. Well deserves the ‘Pro’ name.

52768279311_78383e7061_c_d.jpg


52772259453_21c79780fe_c_d.jpg


52801211425_2228db68a6_c_d.jpg
 

VaruLV

macrumors 6502a
Mar 25, 2019
636
561
TL: DR version:
For me it was 12.9 iPP for screen size mainly. If there was close-ish sized non-Pro iPad, I would have seriously considered that one and saved lots of money in the process since iPP 12.9 M1/M2 are seriously overpriced.


I bought iPad Pro 12.9 M1 because at that time I wanted an iPad with biggest possible screen.
Even tho the price had risen with the release of miniLED in my region, I expected that this and M1 would be worth the price given that so many, me including, expected to see Pro/Mac apps released on now "capable" M1 iPads.

I dont have data to back it up, but, IMHO, from all people who buy 12.9" iPads, most neither need nor will ever utilise that crazy amount of left-over power that M1/M2 offers, thus its all about the screen size and technology with miniLED being overall better when it comes to darker blacks and better contrast than 11" iPP IPS screen.
 

Swissfashion

macrumors regular
Sep 15, 2020
196
489
Switzerland
I bought the Pro version of the iPad (11-inch) (2nd generation) in Spring 2020 because of the larger screen, FaceID, thin Bezels, Pro Motion display, the loudspeakers and the new Magic Keyboard with the (also new) trackpad support in iPadOS. (Later that year, the iPad Air also got FaceID.). I still use it daily, but mainly for surfing, email, watching movies and reading. My wife doesn‘t want a laptop in the living room, so iPad it is. The 12.9“ was too big and heavy for the intended use as a mobile portable lightweight device (Although the MKB adds a lot of extra weight).
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
For anything real time work like lecturing, a meeting support device (note taking, web browsing, quick claculations etc) etc, anything that slows you down even a second or two is not acceptable. Having excess CPU/GPU/RAM helps. Relaxed at home, it is less worrying if an operation takes a second or two longer. The Pencil 2 solution is essential for real time work as the pencil very rarely lacks battery power.

I think Apple should make an Ax based iPad that is 12.9 inch in the old (2015/1017) design for home/student use.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Digitalguy

laurima

macrumors newbie
Feb 21, 2023
4
4
The price. I'm currently in the market for a new iPad and was looking at the 11'' Air and Pro. The base storage of the Air is too small for me (64gb). If I want to upgrade to a bigger storage (256gb), it's only 50$ less than the 128gb Pro. I don't need 256gb. Between extra storage that I won't use or small pros from the iPad Pro I choose the iPad Pro.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VaruLV

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Feb 4, 2022
844
932
Best Buy has a great selection of the latest Apple tablets. Find different models including the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro, & iPad Air. Shop here now!
 

Malcy16

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 8, 2012
89
171
United Kingdom
The price. I'm currently in the market for a new iPad and was looking at the 11'' Air and Pro. The base storage of the Air is too small for me (64gb). If I want to upgrade to a bigger storage (256gb), it's only 50$ less than the 128gb Pro. I don't need 256gb. Between extra storage that I won't use or small pros from the iPad Pro I choose the iPad Pro.
This is what set me down the Pro road.
Its always like Apple want you to spend more money with them haha!
 
  • Love
Reactions: George Dawes

warriors2017

macrumors regular
Oct 17, 2017
124
111
I'm planning to upgrade from iPad Air to iPad Pro for better virtual memory management. If I have too many apps or Safari tabs open, my iPad Air starts to slow down.
 

teh_hunterer

macrumors 65816
Jul 1, 2021
1,231
1,672
Simply to have the best possible tablet that exists at the time. I value 120hz enough to pay the extra.
 

George Dawes

Suspended
Jul 17, 2014
2,980
4,332
=VH=
There's nothing PRO about the iPad , it's a toy , but that's mainly down to the glaring limitations of it's OS and not the hardware which is actually very impressive

Love my iPads , don't get me wrong , but as soon as I have to do anything even vaguely resembling work , forget it
 

Isamilis

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2012
2,191
1,074
The iPadOS (and Apps specific built for iPad) is limiting its capability. But as a reader tablet and sketching pad it does wonderfully good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
There's nothing PRO about the iPad , it's a toy , but that's mainly down to the glaring limitations of it's OS and not the hardware which is actually very impressive

Love my iPads , don't get me wrong , but as soon as I have to do anything even vaguely resembling work , forget it
There are other that kinds of work where MacOS is a joke so it goes two ways. Teaching with a Mac is a really poor experience compared to an iPad (I am a teacher). MacOS as a pen a paper replacement is a disaster (I do lots of note taking, brainstorming and annotation). When did you see a Mac in a cockpit for pilots? Even if MacOS was on an iPad with touch controls, the GUI of MacOS is for pixel control and the menu etc is therefore useless. Why do you think touch panels in cars have rather large icons and GUI resembling iPads GUI?
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,362
10,114
Atlanta, GA
I'm planning to upgrade from iPad Air to iPad Pro for better virtual memory management. If I have too many apps or Safari tabs open, my iPad Air starts to slow down.
Unless you are getting the 1TB+ iPad Pro, which has 16GB RAM, the 256GB M1 iPad Air will be the same as an iPad Pro in this regard.
 

Pezimak

macrumors 68040
May 1, 2021
3,443
3,841
I really like my M1 iPad Pro, it if they give the Mini an M chip and a better screen with Pro Motion I may be tempted by it. Still a bigger screen is good for older eyes so I’d probably stick with my 11” Pro. It’s more then fast enough to handle anything thrown at it.
 

pdoherty

macrumors 65816
Dec 30, 2014
1,491
1,736
Unless you are getting the 1TB+ iPad Pro, which has 16GB RAM, the 256GB M1 iPad Air will be the same as an iPad Pro in this regard.
That’s exactly what I did - bought the 1TB 16GB M1 Pro when it came out. Wanted the 16GB for less Safari tab reloads and that’s what it does (rarely if ever realoads).
 
  • Like
Reactions: darngooddesign

Fraserpatty

macrumors 6502
Mar 5, 2015
451
389
Storage. I’ve got many photos of beloved family long gone and I don’t trust the cloud alone. 512 wasn’t going to cut it. And I figure that with 16 gb of RAM I should be good for years yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: darngooddesign

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,885
4,697
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hey all,

I'm fortunate to own the latest iPad Mini and I love it but whenever Apple release any new products I always take a look and get a desire to change.
Regarding the iPad Pro I just don't understand the point of it.

So first of all I looked at my family/friends who own iPads and they own a mixture between the iPad/Air/Mini. And what do they use them for? - Browsing, Social Media, Drawing, Colouring, Reading, Streaming Shows.
None of my family/friends own an iPad Pro but I've met a number of customers/colleagues that have one. I asked what they use them for and they use them for....... Browsing, Social Media, Drawing, Colouring, Reading, Streaming Shows.

So I'm at a loss, whats the point of a iPad Pro? What can you do on a iPad Pro that you can't or will find difficult on another iPad in the range? To me it seems like buying a Ferrari to drive to the supermarket to pick up some snacks for the weekend.

P.S Sorry if this comes across like I'm slating iPad Pro owners/fans - I'm just curious. Also I'm slightly jealous as I think it looks great.
My first iPad was the iPad 4 shortly after its launch followed by iPad Air 2 shortly after its launch, thoroughly enjoyed both of them, but after almost a decade with 9.7inch iPads I wanted my next iPad to be a nice worthy step up from the norm hence I went Pro in 2020 and got the 2020 11inch iPad Pro.

The extra screen real-estate, 120Hz high refresh rate screen and quad speakers are well worth it for me, I absolutely enjoy web browsing and doing some of my work on the iPad Pro as everything is super smooth and it feels just like my iPhone 13 Pro Max, its great to jump between the two and have a consistent experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Malcy16

Isamilis

macrumors 68020
Apr 3, 2012
2,191
1,074
My first iPad was the iPad 4 shortly after its launch followed by iPad Air 2 shortly after its launch, thoroughly enjoyed both of them, but after almost a decade with 9.7inch iPads I wanted my next iPad to be a nice worthy step up from the norm hence I went Pro in 2020 and got the 2020 11inch iPad Pro.

The extra screen real-estate, 120Hz high refresh rate screen and quad speakers are well worth it for me, I absolutely enjoy web browsing and doing some of my work on the iPad Pro as everything is super smooth and it feels just like my iPhone 13 Pro Max, its great to jump between the two and have a consistent experience.
Is iPad Pro better and give much more enjoyment than the others? Yes
Is it worthy with its higher price? For average users probably no, except it’s a gift or the money came from parents.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.