iPad Pro Where does Apple take the iPad Pro now?

[Rogifan]

With the Air getting many of the Pro’s features where does Apple take the Pro in the future? I use the 12.9” and could never go back to smaller iPad. I wonder if there would be a market for a bigger iPad with maybe an XDR like display? Other than display technology and size where else can they go?

 

[ericwn]

You’re right, screen, pencil, audio, these direct interfaces might offer ways to improve still.

On top of that, more ram, a better camera maybe, quicker charging or better battery life are things that come to mind.

 

[AutomaticApple]

With the Air getting many of the Pro’s features where does Apple take the Pro in the future? I use the 12.9” and could never go back to smaller iPad. I wonder if there would be a market for a bigger iPad with maybe an XDR like display? Other than display technology and size where else can they go?

I don't know, but Id like to see 8GB of RAM in all models of the IPP.

 

[jb1280]

I think Apple has figured out the full feature set of iPad as a concept. Touch first, Pencil, Keyboard & Trackpad.

As a mature product, the differentiation will probably follow the logic of the Mac - better, more capable processors, more memory, more storage, better components

 

[acorntoy]

I don't know, but Id like to see 8GB of RAM in all models of the IPP.

That’s about 2-3 year away.

 

[BeatCrazy]

They should add IP68 rating for a "pro" model.

 

[ascender]

I think they might move the camera array to the long-edge on the Pro. Faster processors, more RAM, a 15” model maybe? You also have FaceID and the ProMotion screen already as differentiators.

 

[Tsepz]

With the Air getting many of the Pro’s features where does Apple take the Pro in the future? I use the 12.9” and could never go back to smaller iPad. I wonder if there would be a market for a bigger iPad with maybe an XDR like display? Other than display technology and size where else can they go?

I think the Pro will continue to bring things first that then trickle down to Air and then regular iPad.

MicroLED with 120hz ProMotion, more RAM, probably more Pencil precision, FaceID, LiDAR etc... Are probably things we may continue to see on the Pros, and with each year some of them will,trickle down.

 

[JPack]

5G
Mini-LED
A14X

It's the same way Apple differentiates their other products, through the radio, display, and processor. Watch SE for example, only supports 2.4 GHz.

 

[tegranjeet]

The iPad Pro is now a mature product.

Other than aestetics (design update), there isn’t much else to add besides nicer display tech, faster computing, incremental stuff, usually with battery wins.

Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard are also mature products.

I would say Apple has much more R&D on next generation tech rather than iterative updates.

Think foldable/wearable tech, glasses, AR, VR, etc. The sensors they are now adding to their products (LiDAR, SpO2) are a stepping stone to newer, more radical and integrated technology.

iPad Pro is a fantastic device, though.

 

[bobmans]

Besides raw power: MiniLED display, 5G, next-gen pencil, speakers, ..

 

[darngooddesign]

I wonder when Apple is going to officially decide these are landscape-first tablets and move the front camera's location. Another useful thing they put in the IPP is video night-mode with the front camera to aid video chatting.

 

[sracer]

With the Air getting many of the Pro’s features where does Apple take the Pro in the future? I use the 12.9” and could never go back to smaller iPad. I wonder if there would be a market for a bigger iPad with maybe an XDR like display? Other than display technology and size where else can they go?

I think that Apple is positioning the iPad Pro to be on a parallel path with the Macbook... an alternative form-factor for creatives. That means larger display options (upwards of 21"), desktop docking station for an iMac/Surface Studio-like experience, a front-facing camera for landscape orientation, and incremental improvements to iPad OS to be able to better accommodate "desktop" workflows.

The iPad line is pretty mature. We are beyond the point where significant changes to the hardware can be made that aren't niche or gimmicky.

 

[macdogpro]

I wonder when Apple is going to officially decide these are landscape-first tablets and move the front camera's location. Another useful thing they put in the IPP is video night-mode with the front camera to aid video chatting.

I initially thought this way too about the camera position.
but I imagine when we use the ipad on portrait position, our hand would cover the camera on the side and interfere when unlocking / authenticate ID.
Because sometimes this is happened to me when doing double tap power button to authenticate in landscape mode.

current portrait camera position is also a problem, when we video chat in portrait mode, our eyes go to the middle of the screen while the camera is far above, making our eyes looking down all the time from the opposite point of view, same like when in landscape we tend to look like always looking to the far side.

 

[more fps]

Micro led display with 240hz

 

[darngooddesign]

I initially thought this way too about the camera position.
but I imagine when we use the ipad on portrait position, our hand would cover the camera on the side and interfere when unlocking / authenticate ID. Because sometimes this is happened to me when doing double tap power button to authenticate in landscape mode.

I don’t think this would be a problem for two reasons. Right handed people would hold the iPad by the non camera side, assuming the camera is moved to the right because of the keyboards, and the side is tall enough that left handed people could hold it lower and probably not cover the camera. i Just think that with Apple’s keyboard push the iPad Pro is primarily used in landscape and Apple could include a software authenticate button.

Of course considering the price Apple could just give us two front cameras on the next iPP and iOS would select them based on orientation.

 

[macdogpro]

I don’t think this would be a problem for two reasons. Right handed people would hold the iPad by the non camera side, assuming the camera is moved to the right because of the keyboards, and the side is tall enough that left handed people could hold it lower and probably not cover the camera. i Just think that with Apple’s keyboard push the iPad Pro is primarily used in landscape and Apple could include a software authenticate button.

Of course considering the price Apple could just give us two front cameras on the next iPP and iOS would select them based on orientation.

Yeah Apple should indeed give us two front cameras, although unlikely they would.
I do think the landscape oriented camera is better decision like Samsung did.

 

[darngooddesign]

Its not like the iPad requires notches that impact the screen and application designs; fitting a second front camera in that side-bezel should be relatively easy compared to something like the Air's new TouchID. It would also be an iPad Pro advantage that is easier for customers to understand when compared to something like its Promotion display.

 

[macdogpro]

Its not like the iPad requires notches that impact the screen and application designs; fitting a second front camera in that side-bezel should be relatively easy compared to something like the Air's new TouchID. It would also be an iPad Pro advantage that is easier for customers to understand when compared to something like its Promotion display.

Come to think about it, how about the Pencil’s inductive charging hardware that being placed on that supposed to be front cam position ?

 

[Dave245]

I’ve been thinking about this, I think the iPad Pro is a laptop replacement for many who are creatives and more professional fields. The iPad Air is a laptop replacement for most people who do mild things, word processing, a little photo and video editing. I think the iPad 8 is more of a companion device, it won’t replace your laptop but its fine for consuMing content and some drawing.

I think going forward the iPad Pro will get the new technology, the next Pro will likely get Mini-LED, a faster A14X chip, 5G and a new Apple Pencil (gen 3).

 

[KittyKatta]

As a mature product, the differentiation will probably follow the logic of the Mac - better, more capable processors, more memory, more storage, better components

But is the iPad really a mature product?

As much as i love the iPad, it always felt like "a big iphone" with new features stapled on rather than a platform designed to be a tablet. While the OS has evolved, it's roots were clearly phone based so it had growth limitations from the start which is why the big screen and empty chassis tends to go to waste. And when you factor in Apple's lack of 1st party Pro apps (and even lack of support for their general use apps) then it makes you question what good are these gigantic annual spec bumps when so many important apps dont exist here?

Im actually very curious to see how ARM laptops will affect this market. Will iPads finally step up and compete with Pro MacBooks or will ARM based MacBooks reduce the need for "Pro" level iPads?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

But is the iPad really a mature product?

As much as i love the iPad, it always felt like "a big iphone" with new features stapled on rather than a platform designed to be a tablet. While the OS has evolved, it's roots were clearly phone based so it had growth limitations from the start which is why the big screen and empty chassis tends to go to waste. And when you factor in Apple's lack of 1st party Pro apps (and even lack of support for their general use apps) then it makes you question what good are these gigantic annual spec bumps when so many important apps dont exist here?

Im actually very curious to see how ARM laptops will affect this market. Will iPads finally step up and compete with Pro MacBooks or will ARM based MacBooks reduce the need for "Pro" level iPads?

I think it's reasonably mature. Yes, its roots are "big phone," but that's part of the appeal - there are large numbers of people who came to Apple via iPhone. Up-sizing that experience rather than learning a second OS just for the sake of a larger screen (and optional physical keyboard) can be very appealing and useful - short learning curve, etc. If, say, you were moving your medical office staff from Windows laptops, the transition would be far easier going to iOS-based iPads than the macOS-based tablet some folks here dream of.

"Big screen and empty chassis." Spoken like a true Mac/PC person in love with card slots. Any large display is similar, whether in an AIO like iMac or a traditional desktop CPU with separate display - a large enclosure with space for extra stuff. Laptops are crammed tight, of course, as are smartphones. iPads are crammed tight - with battery. Any modern gear needs very little space for the main logic board, I/O ports, and power supply. Portable gear fills the remaining space with batteries. SOCs and declining power requirements just keep shrinking all the "important" stuff.

"1st party Pro apps" will be changing very soon, one of the nice by-products of Mac's move to Apple Silicon. iOS apps will be available on Mac, Mac apps will be available on iPadOS. I'm not sure what "lack of support for their general use apps" even means. The apps exist, they work well, documentation and technical support are no different than Mac... Is this about missing features?

 

[Debi Martocci]

Add in Eye Contact (Attention Correction) to a future iPadOS update hopefully, would be my first guess. It needs the TrueDepth camera to work and with how Apple seems to want us to use the iPad Pro in landscape mode in the magic keyboard and smart keyboard folio and smart folio yet still put the camera on the top bezel in portrait mode, it seems like a no brainer to me for it to be added.

 

[iOS Geek]

I can't think of anything to add that hasn't been said already, but what I can say is that this update to the Air saved me pretty decent money. I was strongly considering a Pro purchase. Didn't expect this significant of an upgrade to the Air. Looking at price and features, I can't think of any reason (for my uses) to take the Pro over the Air.

Looking forward to ordering the Air! Interested to hear other thoughts on it, but I sort of think this Air could be looked at as an SE, in a way.

 

[Ghoster]

I notice the Australian Apple site has stopped selling the iPad Pro 2020 11 inch , only 12.9 iPad Pro 2020