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GuruZac

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especially since the 2020 handles everything thrown at it with ease. Mobile apps aren’t really pushing any thresholds.
That same logic could have been said in the 2018 prior to the 3rd Gen iPad Pros. The A10X in 2018 was a monster and it’s still not really pushed hard by that many apps. The A12X felt like absolutely ridiculous overkill when it was benchmarked. I predict, as many other more credible leakers have, a 2021 iPad Pro this Spring with an A14X or M1 derivative. I’m guessing it could even be an M1X processor.
 
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Digitalguy

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That same logic could have been said in the 2018 prior to the 3rd Gen iPad Pros. The A10X in 2018 was a monster and it’s still not really pushed hard by that many apps. The A12X felt like absolutely ridiculous overkill when it was benchmarked. I predict, as many other more credible leakers have, a 2021 iPad Pro this Spring with an A14X or M1 derivative. I’m guessing it could even be an M1X processor.
Same thing with the original iPad pro... Back then 4GB RAM was overkill, and even A9X for that matter, and apps were not mades to take advantage of that power for a while... I mean even the iPad 2 was supported back then.... So developer did not target the best iPad... And back then when I said I spent almost $1000 on it, some friends were like, $1000???? On an iPad????
But that's what has made its longevity.... Ans that's some of the best $1000 ever spent...
 

loybond

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Aug 1, 2010
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The True North, Strong and Free
iPad Pros (and only Pros) are guaranteed 100% in March and their are basically the ONLY thing that is certain, other than Airtags. And according to the latest from Prosser, who when is says he is certain about something, it happens (when he isn’t he does not say he is, generally because not all his sources agree or have confirmed), we are also getting a new magic keyboard.
Last year people were asking will the iPad pro change and no longer be compatible with the MK? I said, iPad pro form factor is not changing, and will still be compatible for years, if anything, it’s the MK that is changing before the iPad pro form factor, well... apparently that’s what’s happening...
Can I ask where you heard about the magic keyboard changing?
 

Dave245

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Sep 15, 2013
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Mark Gurman and Jon Prosser have both said that iPad Pro’s will be released in March. Both of them have a great track record.

The iPad Pro is rumoured to get a Mini-Led display, faster processor and 5G. There could be an event or Apple may decide to announce them via a press release. Personally with it being a bigger update than last years iPad Pro, I think Apple will want to show them off at a short pre-recorded event (much like they did with the M1 Macs last year).
 

DexBell

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That same logic could have been said in the 2018 prior to the 3rd Gen iPad Pros. The A10X in 2018 was a monster and it’s still not really pushed hard by that many apps. The A12X felt like absolutely ridiculous overkill when it was benchmarked. I predict, as many other more credible leakers have, a 2021 iPad Pro this Spring with an A14X or M1 derivative. I’m guessing it could even be an M1X processor.
The 12Z still blows away the competition and would still if Apple kept it for another year. The super expensive premium tablet market is a niche one. Very few people are in the market for $1200 tablets when you can get way better laptops for much less money these days.

I’ve had my 2020 12.9 Pro up for sale for $900 3 weeks now and barely a sniff. That’s $250 off what a new one sells for and mine is pretty much brand new. It’s a niche market that Apple owns, just like the mini tablet market. That’s why Apple can go 4 years between updates and not miss a beat. They could easily keep the 2020 iPad Pro for another year and it would still be the best tablet on the market in its space. The 12z is still a beast and better than the A14 in multi core.
 
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GuruZac

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The 12X still blows away the competition and would still if Apple kept it for another year. The super expensive premium tablet market is a niche one. Very few people are in the market for $1200 tablets when you can get way better laptops for much less money these days.

I’ve had my 2020 12.9 Pro up for sale for $900 3 weeks now and barely a sniff. That’s $250 off what a new one sells for and mine is pretty much brand new. It’s a niche market that Apple owns, just like the mini tablet market. That’s why Apple can go 4 years between updates and not miss a best. They could easily keep the 2020 iPad Pro for another year.
I think you may have issues selling because those in the market for a 12.9" iPad Pro are waiting to see what's coming next month. I think for the 2021 iPad Pro to be compelling it needs to have at least the A14X or equivalent, 6-8GB of RAM although I think Apple stays at 6GB of RAM for at least another year, and work with existing Magic Keyboard accessory, even tho rumor is there may be a new Magic Keyboard.
 
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DexBell

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I think you may have issues selling because those in the market for a 12.9" iPad Pro are waiting to see what's coming next month. I think for the 2021 iPad Pro to be compelling it needs to have at least the A14X or equivalent, 6-8GB of RAM although I think Apple stays at 6GB of RAM for at least another year, and work with existing Magic Keyboard accessory, even tho rumor is there may be a new Magic Keyboard.
Possibly, but most people wait for these times to get the previous generation devices at cheap prices. It has a lot more to do with very few people in the market for super expensive tablets. Especially with M1 MacBooks for less money. I’ll never make this mistake again. Got an Air 4 and typing this on an iPad Mini 5. I got both for less than my iPad Pro.
 

Digitalguy

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Can I ask where you heard about the magic keyboard changing?
Someone linked the video, but I am starting to think that the keyboard is not "changing", it will be adding to the existing one...Maybe a pro keyboard or simply a MK2. Possibly adding functionality like faster charging or even data transfer via USB C, or more flexibility in terms or rotating the iPad and laying it flat without disconnecting it....
There are 2 options IMO, either this is the same price as the current one and the current one is discounted (which make sense for the air 4, since it's half its price, but less sense for the 12.9 pro, but why not...), or the new one is even more expensive... but I still think that even then Apple could lower the price of the old ones by $50... We'll see...
 

Digitalguy

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The only thing Apple can do is miniLED, A14X, 5G. Those are all big features and differentiators. Possibly another RAM bump to 8GB.
MiniLED might be a reaction to the new Samsung Tab S7+ with 120hz OLED (I don't think that Apple thinks they have no competition, as some Apple fans tend to think, even though they know they are way ahead), A14X and and 8GB RAM would put it on par with M1 and make it ready for new features in iPadOS 15, which as I said in another comment should be a big upgrade, and maybe for some pro apps.
 

Digitalguy

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The 12Z still blows away the competition and would still if Apple kept it for another year. The super expensive premium tablet market is a niche one. Very few people are in the market for $1200 tablets when you can get way better laptops for much less money these days.

I’ve had my 2020 12.9 Pro up for sale for $900 3 weeks now and barely a sniff. That’s $250 off what a new one sells for and mine is pretty much brand new. It’s a niche market that Apple owns, just like the mini tablet market. That’s why Apple can go 4 years between updates and not miss a beat. They could easily keep the 2020 iPad Pro for another year and it would still be the best tablet on the market in its space. The 12z is still a beast and better than the A14 in multi core.
Sure and that's the same for every generation. It was the same for the first pro. The same for the 10.5 (I was re-reading the Verge review of that one this morning, titled "Overkill"), same for 3rd gen. Only the 4th gen was a bit underwhelming but still way ahead of anything else...
But Apple needs to show their muscles with hardware if they want to entice software developers to port pro apps to iPad...
Also we have no statistics of how many people buy the pro, but I think that not everyone buy them at full price....I only purchased the first pro at full price in 2015, since then I have bought the other pros either used or at deep discounts. For instance I got the 2018 11in pro (1TB cellular) in December new on sale for $950 (vs over $1500 when it came out), plus keyboard and pencil used for $70 and $60 respectively...
 

GuruZac

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MiniLED might be a reaction to the new Samsung Tab S7+ with 120hz OLED (I don't think that Apple thinks they have no competition, as some Apple fans tend to think, even though they know they are way ahead), A14X and and 8GB RAM would put it on par with M1 and make it ready for new features in iPadOS 15, which as I said in another comment should be a big upgrade, and maybe for some pro apps.
A14X and 8GB of RAM would make it an instant buy (if it still fits the Magic Keyboard). miniLED is a bonus but I have zero complaints about the iPad Pro display. It's vibrant, accurate, bright, and 120Hz.
 
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Digitalguy

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A14X and 8GB of RAM would make it an instant buy (if it still fits the Magic Keyboard). miniLED is a bonus but I have zero complaints about the iPad Pro display. It's vibrant, accurate, bright, and 120Hz.
Agreed. I have the OLED Tab S7+ and for me OLED is like promotion, just a nice bonus... I can move from 120 to 60hz with no issues, same as I can move from OLED to IPS with no issues. Sure, side by side it looks nicer and blacks are deeper... but when I watch a movie or any other video I tend to forget the rest and focus on the content... Size to me matters more than promotion or OLED.
 

DexBell

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The only thing Apple can do is miniLED, A14X, 5G. Those are all big features and differentiators. Possibly another RAM bump to 8GB.
Even then, an iPad Pro wont be worth twice the price of an Air 4. Apple kind of boxed themselves in with that as they did the M1 MacBook Air by delivering outstanding products for the price. Gone are the days where the Airs were crippled in some way. The Airs are so good now, there really is no reason to go with a Pro iPad or MacBook for 90% of the general public. I put my 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 up for sale a day after I got the Air 4, its that good. And I do photography and video professionally. The Air models are by far the best bang for the buck in Apple's lineup now IMO.
 
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Digitalguy

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Even then, an iPad Pro wont be worth twice the price of an Air 4. Apple kind of boxed themselves in with that as they did the M1 MacBook Air by delivering outstanding products for the price. Gone are the days where the Airs were crippled in some way. The Airs are so good now, there really is no reason to go with a Pro iPad or MacBook for 90% of the general public. I put my 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 up for sale a day after I got the Air 4, its that good. And I do photography and video professionally. The Air models are by far the best bang for the buck in Apple's lineup now IMO.
The vast majority of people don't care about Macs.... but many non Mac users still buy iPads and some even buy iPads pro, and many buy them to complement their laptops, not to replace them...
 
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RevTEG

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Oct 28, 2012
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The 12Z still blows away the competition and would still if Apple kept it for another year. The super expensive premium tablet market is a niche one. Very few people are in the market for $1200 tablets when you can get way better laptops for much less money these days.

I’ve had my 2020 12.9 Pro up for sale for $900 3 weeks now and barely a sniff. That’s $250 off what a new one sells for and mine is pretty much brand new. It’s a niche market that Apple owns, just like the mini tablet market. That’s why Apple can go 4 years between updates and not miss a beat. They could easily keep the 2020 iPad Pro for another year and it would still be the best tablet on the market in its space. The 12z is still a beast and better than the A14 in multi core.
First, why would anyone buy a iPad right now with even the potential of new ones being released in March? Secondly, me Personally, I’d spend the extra $250 for new. That’s just not enough savings to get me to bite verses the my perceived benefits of buying new. A new 2021 verses only saving $250 for a used “older” model? Not me. You may have picked a bad time to sell at that savings. I’m sure other opinions may will vary.
 
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Isengardtom

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The vast majority of people don't care about Macs.... but many non Mac users still buy iPads and some even buy iPads pro, and many buy them to complement their laptops, not to replace them...
I’m one of them. But I use it to complement my iMac. Although these days the iMac is used much less than the iPad Pro 11” inch.
The iPad Pro + MK I bought last year has probably been my best tech buy of the last decade and that includes various iPhone models. It’s prefect as a companion at work and as my main device at home.


As for new models coming it‘s a very safe bet there are because

- 2020 Pro update was very minor and the A12 is now fairly old
- the Air 4 is a more compelling buy in many ways at the moment and not just for the price but also the performance which puts the pro in an uncomfortable spot at the moment
- Samsungs galaxy S7+ was a leap forward for android tablets. Before that they were pretty mediocre at best. It matched apple in the areas it was behind : promotion (120 hz), larger size, and has decent power with that snapdragon. It already featured OLED which is also a plus (not always because there are drawbacks)

Therefore, I think apple will definitely introduce this new display tech along with a jump in specs with the A14X (or even M1?).
 
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Digitalguy

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I’m one of them. But I use it to complement my iMac. Although these days the iMac is used much less than the iPad Pro 11” inch.
The iPad Pro + MK I bought last year has probably been my best tech buy of the last decade and that includes various iPhone models. It’s prefect as a companion at work and as my main device at home.


As for new models coming it‘s a very safe bet there are because

- 2020 Pro update was very minor and the A12 is now fairly old
- the Air 4 is a more compelling buy in many ways at the moment and not just for the price but also the performance which puts the pro in an uncomfortable spot at the moment
- Samsungs galaxy S7+ was a leap forward for android tablets. Before that they were pretty mediocre at best. It matched apple in the areas it was behind : promotion (120 hz), larger size, and has decent power with that snapdragon. It already featured OLED which is also a plus (not always because there are drawbacks)

Therefore, I think apple will definitely introduce this new display tech along with a jump in specs with the A14X (or even M1?).
Agree with everything, but no M1, M stands for Mac, it's marketing.... But A14X will be virtually identical to M1
 

DexBell

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First, why would anyone buy a iPad right now with even the potential of new ones being released in March? Secondly, me Personally, I’d spend the extra $250 for new. That’s just not enough savings to get me to bite verses the my perceived benefits of buying new. A new 2021 verses only saving $250 for a used “older” model? Not me. You may have picked a bad time to sell at that savings. I’m sure other opinions may will vary.
You are in a very small minority. Most people do not buy new as its very overpriced. You can wait a year and get it much cheaper. This is the perfect time to sell, but again, very few are in the market for super expensive tablets. Your average buyer will look at a $1K+ iPad Pro and a MacBook Air or Pro for the same price or cheaper, an almost every one will take the laptop. Especially an M1 equipped MacBook. They will get a cheap iPad for $300 if they want a tablet. There are no $300 MacBooks.
 
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Digitalguy

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You are in a very small minority. Most people do not buy new as its very overpriced. You can wait a year and get it much cheaper. This is the perfect time to sell, but again, very few are in the market for super expensive tablets.
True, many people buy used or look for big sales (for instance for previous gen models). It is indeed better to sell before a new model, than after, unless the new model disappoints... Problem is price... Recent models are a tougher sale, since the seller does not want to give a big discount and so the advantage vs buying new is smaller...
 
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throAU

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Feb 13, 2012
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especially since the 2020 handles everything thrown at it with ease. Mobile apps aren’t really pushing any thresholds.

Sure, but traditional "mobile apps" are not what the iPad Pro is aimed at.

I know people who use them for video. If you're waiting in any way (for an export, etc.) there's definite room for improvement. Also, if nothing else, once TSMC 5nm is yielding well, Apple want to be moving the processor to that process (and may as well at that point revise the design) as it will be cheaper to make in volume once 5nm is mature (and for the same performance, better battery life).
 

throAU

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Feb 13, 2012
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You are in a very small minority. Most people do not buy new as its very overpriced.
nonsense.

more people buy new because

  1. the only way second-hand devices get onto the market are from people who bought new originally
  2. some of those devices purchased new die before they are re-sold
  3. some of those devices purchased new are never re-sold even if they live (like everything apple I bought)
ergo - there are more new device sales than used. Unless you mean "most people" within your peer group. But that isn't "most people".
 

throAU

macrumors G3
Feb 13, 2012
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The 12Z still blows away the competition and would still if Apple kept it for another year.
Apple aren't in the business of just building the minimum to stay ahead at this point.

They've bought the majority of TSMC's advanced fab capacity - they won't be using it to build 3-4 year old iPad Pro processors.
 
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