iPad Pro Will online reviews drop before Wednesday?

[Macalway]

Geez, your guys are truly gluttons for abuse. Too ambitious?

Baloney. I just turn the sound off. Makes for great tech porn. These look pretty cool.

 

[MazingerZND]

That settles it. Not worth the upgrade, even with the 2018 variant According to Dave

Dave used to be my favorite…he’s been dropping the ball lately. He even mentions a few times how only the 13” model comes with a black charging cable, when it’s actually both models in Space Black that do…

 

[MazingerZND]

No one is showing the nano texture display. They talk about it but don't demonstrate or talk about their impressions in their hands as they make the videos, very wierd, even though it seems they all have 11 nano versions.

This concerns me - it would seem Apple is telling them they are not allowed to show it.

Christopher Lawley shows it quite well. Don’t go all paranoid, some reviewers are just better at their job than others xD

 

[Global_traveler]

Everyone has different needs and wants. Strictly my opinion, but the M4 has more power than you can use. Video editing? The M2 is more than enough, considering the tiny percentage of people who use an iPad for this task. There is insufficient software and a so-so operating system. Maybe in 6-12 months, around iPadOS 18.3 or 18.5 it may be worth the extra money, as AI may be bug-free by then. By the way, only the most expensive models - 1TB & 2 TB - will get a 10-core CPU. The lower end models get only 9 core. Apple also degraded the M4 by removing one of the microphones. And if not bad enough, they removed the wide angle lens. They didn’t even improve the front or rear cameras! So all this extra $ for a crippled iPad? The new Air is much more attractive in this regard. YMMV.

 

[KPOM]

Everyone has different needs and wants. Strictly my opinion, but the M4 has more power than you can use. Video editing? The M2 is more than enough, considering the tiny percentage of people who use an iPad for this task. There is insufficient software and a so-so operating system. Maybe in 6-12 months, around iPadOS 18.3 or 18.5 it may be worth the extra money, as AI may be bug-free by then. By the way, only the most expensive models - 1TB & 2 TB - will get a 10-core CPU. The lower end models get only 9 core. Apple also degraded the M4 by removing one of the microphones. And if not bad enough, they removed the wide angle lens. They didn’t even improve the front or rear cameras! So all this extra $ for a crippled iPad? The new Air is much more attractive in this regard. YMMV.

If the M4 has more power than you can use, who cares if the lower capacity versions have only a 9-core CPU? I doubt removing the 5th microphone makes much difference. I have heard one reviewer say the speakers aren’t as good as in the M2 iPad Pro, though.

 

[asleep]

iPad Pro first impressions from a creative professional. Some unexpected (by me) good information from his perspective; made some good points especially regarding brightness/dimness capabilities; and comparisons with prior models.. and even a Samsung. Worth watching through, in my opinion.

 

[Branaghan]

Another review:

M4 iPad Pro review: Well, now you’re just showing off

This tablet offers much more than you’ll actually need.

arstechnica.com

 

[Macalway]

deleted do to just, bored typing.

 

[Isengardtom]

As I feared, the audio in the new pro is clearly inferior to the M1/M2 (I am talking 12.9 only). It seems similar (or worse?) to the 2018/2020 pro. With miniled we got a thicker body and the sound is louder and fuller, with more bass. The difference is obvious if you have both. It seems that the M4 has similar audio to the 2024 air (which is only stereo and not quad). Probably because of the thinner body. One more reason to keep the 12.9 M1, as for me speakers are one of the most important thing.

I hear you 🙃

As an audiophile it’s a critical feature.

For me personally, while important to have quad speakers, I usually listen to music with my AirPods Pro
I’ll probably not notice it enough but will test it out if my iPad arrives tomorrow (hopefully)

 

[Webcat86]

As I feared, the audio in the new pro is clearly inferior to the M1/M2 (I am talking 12.9 only). It seems similar (or worse?) to the 2018/2020 pro. With miniled we got a thicker body and the sound is louder and fuller, with more bass. The difference is obvious if you have both. It seems that the M4 has similar audio to the 2024 air (which is only stereo and not quad). Probably because of the thinner body. One more reason to keep the 12.9 M1, as for me speakers are one of the most important thing.

Are speakers important to you, or sound quality? Because even decent tablet speakers will still be relatively mediocre sound quality. My priority for tablet sound is general clarity, but there’s no substitute for headphones or external speakers if quality is needed

 

[erikkfi]

I pretty much care about one thing - will I be able to hold this thing (13in) naked in my hand comfortably for an hour and a half while lecturing from notes on it?

Lecturing without any clothes on is a good way to get arrested. Believe me - I know.

 

[Webcat86]

Therefore it is worth the upgrade for him

For sure. But both statements were true:

- Dave said the M4 isn’t necessarily worth an upgrade, even for the screen
- Dave also said that he changed his mind the day before filming the review, because he learned the M4 does one new thing that would be beneficial to him

It matters not to me. I’m upgrading from an Air 4, and I wasn’t too impressed with his review.

 

[yegon]

Any word on what OS version it ships with? 17.4.1? 17.5? I assume the latter, but I want to avoid the pitfalls I've experienced in the past when restoring to a new iPad.

 

[Webcat86]

Any word on what OS version it ships with? 17.4.1? 17.5? I assume the latter, but I want to avoid the pitfalls I've experienced in the past when restoring to a new iPad.

What pitfalls?

 

[cpatrick08]

Any word on what OS version it ships with? 17.4.1? 17.5? I assume the latter, but I want to avoid the pitfalls I've experienced in the past when restoring to a new iPad.

ipsw.me says 17.5

 

[yegon]

What pitfalls?

Can't remember if it was iPhone or iPad, but I remember getting a new device that was .1 different to my iCloud backup, and the .1 update wasn't available for old device.

More common is when you get a new device that is behind in version number to your backup, so you have to login to iCloud on new device as a fresh install, update, then start all over again and restore from backup. It just streamlines the process if both devices are already on the same version number ime.

 

[Macintosh101]

Pretty disappointed there seem very few reviews of the 11” version. Reviewers seems to have been mainly sent the 13” as far as I can tell.

 

[kenny7]

These reviews are terrible. Most of them just rehash the specs and conclude that iPadOS is bad.

The only reviews worth watching are from MKBHD and MaxTech.

 

[Macintosh101]

Here is a superb review. Not in English, but very watchable with closed-captioning. The level of depth and analysis put many of the others to shame.

The reviewer does quite a deep dive on the nano-texture display and speaks of it very highly. It seems it does improve the writing / drawing experience, massively reduces glare; however blacks are slightly washed out in some places, but nowhere near as much as using a paper like screen protector or equivalent. In the end however, he recommends it is used only by professionals who absolutely need this kind of display.

 

[kenny7]

Here is a superb review. Not in English, but very watchable with closed-captioning. The level of depth and analysis put many of the others to shame.

The reviewer does quite a deep dive on the nano-texture display and speaks of it very highly. It seems it does improve the writing / drawing experience, massively reduces glare; however blacks are slightly washed out in some places, but nowhere near as much as using a paper like screen protector or equivalent. In the end however, he recommends it is used only by professionals who absolutely need this kind of display.

I watched the entire video. Simply superb review. Not even one english review comes close to it.

 

[Macintosh101]

I watched the entire video. Simply superb review. Not even one english review comes close to it.

No. Puts western reviewers to shame!

 

[Digitalguy]

May I ask what you use this for? I never use the speakers, that's why I'm curious. I know they (were) good though. Kinda obvious that the speakers would have less bass and volume, it being thinner. A trade off for sure.

Mainly for watching stuff, youtube and streaming (that's my one of my main uses for iPads). I suppose you don't use speakers because you use airpods, or otherwise you don't watch or listen to anything on your iPad.
While I have airpods and airpods pro (of any generation), I only use them in the evening to avoid bothering neighbours.
Maybe one important thing to mention is that I work from home so I prepare and eat meals at home etc. And I watch stuff while doing that. I don't like the feel of plugged ears while eating in particular. And I find it tiring to have airpods all day long on me. I need high volume to cover all the noises of cooking, of the dishwasher, of the washing machine etc. or while doing my gym (I have a gym at home), so I use the iPad at max volume and the 11" pro is barely enough for that.
I guess that if I did a regular job and was only using the iPad in the eveninig (or worse I had children sleeping etc.) I would only use airpods, but my life is probably different from the average person...

 

[Digitalguy]

Are speakers important to you, or sound quality? Because even decent tablet speakers will still be relatively mediocre sound quality. My priority for tablet sound is general clarity, but there’s no substitute for headphones or external speakers if quality is needed

Volume is the most important thing. Sound quality is a nice bonus. If you read my comment above you can see I use iPads to watch stuff while doing many things so I need volume to cover all the noises. 11" pro is not always enough. 12.9 from 2018 is better but 12.9 M1 is best. Added bass is a nice bonus. M4 seems like a step back.
Having said that I don't know what magic Samsung did with their S9 but the 11" is even louder than the 12.9 M1 (or than their own S8 ultra for that matter, which is also very thin).

 

[Digitalguy]

I hear you 🙃

As an audiophile it’s a critical feature.

For me personally, while important to have quad speakers, I usually listen to music with my AirPods Pro
I’ll probably not notice it enough but will test it out if my iPad arrives tomorrow (hopefully)

I also listen to music with airpods pro 2. But if I have other people at home I need speaker. A lound and full tablet does not need external speakers. Plus it's great for watching stuff without airpods (where sound quality is less critical than for music).

 

[3Rock]

Everyone has different needs and wants. Strictly my opinion, but the M4 has more power than you can use. Video editing? The M2 is more than enough, considering the tiny percentage of people who use an iPad for this task. There is insufficient software and a so-so operating system. Maybe in 6-12 months, around iPadOS 18.3 or 18.5 it may be worth the extra money, as AI may be bug-free by then. By the way, only the most expensive models - 1TB & 2 TB - will get a 10-core CPU. The lower end models get only 9 core. Apple also degraded the M4 by removing one of the microphones. And if not bad enough, they removed the wide angle lens. They didn’t even improve the front or rear cameras! So all this extra $ for a crippled iPad? The new Air is much more attractive in this regard. YMMV.

And……. not really worth spending a whole Lotta money on an iPad Pro with all the goodies. Just a waste of money unless you are a artist or have money to burn.