iPad Pro Will you buy 2019 Pros?...

[kamikazeeMC]

I'm hanging out for a refresh this year, mainly for an increase in RAM. Looking at using this as my main computing device and replacement for my desktop. I don't know if having above 4GB would benefit me, but plan on using Affinity Photo, Procreate and LumaFusion. As an amateur creative I don't know how heavy I will be using those apps (massive canvas with lots of layers, or lots of effects in LumaFusion). While individual apps may not use more than 4GB, having safari with a bunch of tabs, along with some smaller apps in the background/slide over and 1 productivity app going could benefit from the extra.

If they make the RAM the same across the board I'll pick up a 512GB one, otherwise if they keep the top tier one with more RAM, I'll fork out extra for it.

 

[EugW]

Honestly unless they get rid of the speaker hole and charging strip on the sides, even 7075 aluminum will bend.

They slightly changed the shell design of the 6 Plus when the released the 6s Plus. The new design had more internal reinforcement than the 6 Plus in potential weak points. It wasn’t just a change in materials used.

No, it wouldn’t make it completely immune to bending, but it would make it more resistant.

 

[Fred Zed]

Wonder when they bring in oled screens for the pro? Maybe next.

 

[Digitalguy]

I also want louder or equal sounding speakers, the 2017 iPP’s speakers were not as loud and robust as the original iPad Pro, but these new ones are incredible.


k.

Are you talking about the 12.9 (2015, 2017, 2018) ?

 

[EugW]

Wonder when they bring in oled screens for the pro? Maybe next.

Not a chance for 2019.

 

[masotime]

2020 - which is what I expected - https://www.macrumors.com/2019/08/26/2020-ipad-pro-rear-3d-sensing-time-of-flight

 

[Mr Retina]

Nope. I sure as hell plan on upgrading when they add OLED displays though. The 2018 Pros fly through anything you throw at them, a processor bump when the current specs are already over kill plus a better camera aren’t enough for me to justify throwing down the cash for a 2019 version.

 

[Kal-037]

Are you talking about the 12.9 (2015, 2017, 2018) ?

2017 speakers were really low compared to all other generations of iPPs.

 

[JPack]

Wonder when they bring in oled screens for the pro? Maybe next.

Not for the foreseeable future. Apple is betting on mini-LED for late 2020 or early 2021.

 

[Torty]

I'm still on an Air 2. If the new 11 inch Pro gets 6GB on all configurations, 128 GB base storage and a slightly stronger chassis, I'll finally buy a new one.

Nice, but now having the Air 3 I really feel how slow the Air 2 became. I am not in need getting the next iPad Pro. But the 12,9 could be very interesting when it gets OLED.

 

[Kal-037]

Also if they release new iPads this Sept. *maybe actually released in Oct... thats less than 11 months since the last release. March/April matches up with the past 4 years of iPP releases. hmmm


K.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

Honestly since i am without an iPad at the moment, if they do upgrade the pros, and we get stronger aluminum, (i could care less about a new camera and processor, how much faster can these things possibly get before you cant even tell anymore...its almost at the point imho) if i can get a 12.9 ipad pro that isnt going to bend like mash potatoes in aluminum foil (Jerry Rig Everythings words, not my own), then ill happly spend the money for a 12.9 inch pro!

Thats the one upgrade i really want, just for it to be stronger so i can use it without constantly being paranoid about it bending with normal use.

(It will still go in a strong case though)

Thats all i want from the Pro Lines...

 

[Nebrie]

Also if they release new iPads this Sept. *maybe actually released in Oct... thats less than 11 months since the last release. March/April matches up with the past 4 years of iPP releases. hmmm


K.

On the other hand, iPad Pro supplies globally seem to be drying up. Two retailers I checked with have run out of stock and are not expecting to get any more in.

 

[Mabus51]

You’re point ? You don’t have RAM options in iPads .... you get what they decide in mobile devices. If you’re willing to pay a $450 premium for 2gb extra then they let you. 4gb is good enough for iPadOS for the foreseeable future . They could very well not add 6gb for a few years . Or they could with the next iPad. Funny part is they don’t even advertise how much ram it has on the website so it tells you how important or not it is for it ...

Depends what you’re doing with your iPad Pro in the first place. Many apps like photoshop and Procreate limit the amount of layers you can have by the amount of RAM available. So some do benefit having more RAM. The $450 premium for it is outrageous as is the base model still being 64gb. I don’t see anything changing this year other than small conveniences like reinforcement to prevent bending, a speed bump, possibly a ridiculous camera. Next year with iPad OS established and getting its first OS update hopefully Apple will make some more QOL changes to the iPad Pro. That will make upgrading worth while.

 

[Kal-037]

You’re point ? You don’t have RAM options in iPads .... you get what they decide in mobile devices. If you’re willing to pay a $450 premium for 2gb extra then they let you. 4gb is good enough for iPadOS for the foreseeable future . They could very well not add 6gb for a few years . Or they could with the next iPad. Funny part is they don’t even advertise how much ram it has on the website so it tells you how important or not it is for it ...

^^This^^

RAM is always nice but Apple may do what they have been, not upgrade just to get more RAM. iPad OS doesn't need it and none of the apps that are considered "heavy" NEED it either. Procreate, Photos, Pixel-mator, iMovie, Safari, Facebook, Music, Youtube, and any other regular app, image or video editor ran like butter on iOS 12, but now runs even better on iPad OS for me. I have not had anything freeze, crash, or reload from too much memory being used. Is 6-8-10GB of RAM something I want? absolutely, but I don't think I'll be ticked if Apple doesn't upgrade all iPads with double or triple RAM.
I'll upgrade when my work requires it.
*Personally at this point, I am trying to be happy with and keep the devices that work for me and not upgrade just for the latest and greatest, or highest numbers.


K.

 

[EugW]

^^This^^

RAM is always nice but Apple may do what they have been, not upgrade just to get more RAM. iPad OS doesn't need it and none of the apps that are considered "heavy" NEED it either. Procreate, Photos, Pixel-mator, iMovie, Safari, Facebook, Music, Youtube, and any other regular app, image or video editor ran like butter on iOS 12, but now runs even better on iPad OS for me. I have not had anything freeze, crash, or reload from too much memory being used. Is 6-8-10GB of RAM something I want? absolutely, but I don't think I'll be ticked if Apple doesn't upgrade all iPads with double or triple RAM.
I'll upgrade when my work requires it.
*Personally at this point, I am trying to be happy with and keep the devices that work for me and not upgrade just for the latest and greatest, or highest numbers.

Funny you mention Procreate, because a few Procreate users on the forums have been asking for access to more layers, which requires more RAM. Also, Photoshop will eat gobs of RAM, for pro users who edit ginormous layered files. I wonder if the 6 GB model was actually designed specifically with Photoshop in mind, but that extra RAM capacity will trickle down to other users as well. It will be interesting to see users of LumaFusion 2.0 who actually max out the capacity of that program. Most of us only have a few tracks, but it can actually support 6 4K video tracks and 12 audio tracks, all simultaneously. Furthermore, it supports external monitors. And of course, more RAM means fewer browser tab reloads, esp. when multitasking.

Honestly, 4 GB is fine for most for now, including for myself for now, but there are use cases where more will help, and really these days we should consider 4 GB entry level for a pro machine in 2019:

2 GB: Usable, but not ideal.
3 GB: Much better, and should be entry level for consumer machines in 2019. Not surprisingly, the mini 5, iPad Air, and iPhone XR all come with 3 GB.
4 GB: Better and good for most people, but should be considered entry level for pro machines in 2019.
6 GB: Provides headroom for the pros.
8 GB: ???

 

[Closingracer]

Funny you mention Procreate, because a few Procreate users on the forums have been asking for access to more layers, which requires more RAM. Also, Photoshop will eat gobs of RAM, for pro users who edit ginormous layered files. I wonder if the 6 GB model was actually designed specifically with Photoshop in mind, but that extra RAM capacity will trickle down to other users as well. It will be interesting to see users of LumaFusion 2.0 who actually max out the capacity of that program. Most of us only have a few tracks, but it can actually support 6 4K video tracks and 12 audio tracks, all simultaneously. Furthermore, it supports external monitors. And of course, more RAM means fewer browser tab reloads, esp. when multitasking.

Honestly, 4 GB is fine for most for now, including for myself for now, but there are use cases where more will help and really these days we should consider entry level for a pro machine.

2 GB: Usable, but not ideal.
3 GB: Much better, and should be entry level for consumer machines in 2019.
4 GB: Better and good for most people, but should be considered entry level for pro machines in 2019.
6 GB: Provides headroom for the pros.
8 GB: ???

Omg less tab reloads (sarcasm) we need less of that in our daily lives. Seriously tho that’s not a reason to add more ram in Apple minds because then why not add 32gb or RAM or whatever

 

[EugW]

Omg less tab reloads (sarcasm) we need less of that in our daily lives. Seriously tho that’s not a reason to add more ram in Apple minds because then why not add 32gb or RAM or whatever

Tab reloads are why I stopped using my iPhone 5S years ago and iPad Air 2 more recently. They're annoying as hell.

And again, your ridiculous exaggerations don't help your argument. Nobody is asking for even 16 GB, much less 32 GB. But 6 GB? Most definitely.

 

[Closingracer]

Tab reloads are why I stopped using my iPhone 5s 5 years ago and iPad Air 2 recently. It's annoying as hell.

And again, your ridiculous exaggerations never help your argument. Nobody is asking for even 16 GB, much less 32 GB. But 6 GB? Most definitely.

Most definitely by a few people . It’s not ridiculous exaggeration because why not add more for the sake of it. Apple doesn’t need to add more RAM to “catch” up because it focuses on itself not what Android does.

If you add 32GB of RAM you’ll have less tab reloads now will you ? Apple knows when they need to and if they honestly thought it needed it sooner then later they would of added it in last year pros but they didn’t ( one SKU doesn’t count)

 

[EugW]

Most definitely by a few people . It’s not ridiculous exaggeration because why not add more for the sake of it. Apple doesn’t need to add more RAM to “catch” up because it focuses on itself not what Android does.

If you add 32GB of RAM you’ll have less tab reloads now will you ? Apple knows when they need to and if they honestly thought it needed it sooner then later they would of added it in last year pros but they didn’t ( one SKU doesn’t count)

I never mentioned Android in my post. Why do you keep bringing it up? It seems you are obsessed about arguing how iOS isn't Android, when people don't even mention Android in the first place.

And of course one SKU counts. If Apple didn't think some iPad Pro users needed 6 GB RAM a year ago, then they wouldn't have released a 6 GB iPad Pro obviously.

BTW, in 2017, people argued the iPhone only needed 3 GB RAM. No need for 4 GB. Guess what? In 2018, the iPhone got 4 GB RAM. Time marches on, and needs change.

 

[Closingracer]

I never mentioned Android in my post. Why do you keep bringing it up? It seems you are obsessed about arguing how iOS isn't Android, when people don't even mention Android in the first place.

And of course one SKU counts. If Apple didn't think some iPad Pro users needed 6 GB RAM a year ago, then they wouldn't have released a 6 GB iPad Pro obviously.

BTW, in 2017, people argued the iPhone only needed 3 GB RAM. No need for 4 GB. Guess what? In 2018, the iPhone got 4 GB RAM. Time marches on, and needs change.

Yes and the time isn’t now. And no one sku doesn’t count . If it needed it then all skus needed it.

 

[rui no onna]

Most definitely by a few people . It’s not ridiculous exaggeration because why not add more for the sake of it. Apple doesn’t need to add more RAM to “catch” up because it focuses on itself not what Android does.

If you add 32GB of RAM you’ll have less tab reloads now will you ? Apple knows when they need to and if they honestly thought it needed it sooner then later they would of added it in last year pros but they didn’t ( one SKU doesn’t count)

To be honest, I've found Apple has the tendency to put minimum RAM.

I had OG iPhone (128MB), iPhone 3GS (256MB), iPhone 4 (A4/512MB, retina), iPod touch 4th gen (A4/256MB, retina). Even without multitasking on early iPhoneOS/iOS versions and the number of Safari tabs you're allowed to open being limited, out of memory crashes were a common occurrence for me on the OG iPhone and iPod touch. I expect the OG iPad (A4/256MB) was even worse than the 4th gen touch given it had even higher resolution.

Situation's so much better now for mostly consumption-type tasks but I can see how those using their iPads for creative-type stuff could hit memory limits.

 

[rumz]

To be honest, I've found Apple has the tendency to put minimum RAM.

Sheesh, you are not kidding. This comment instantly took me back to the first time I used a “new” Mac. I’d been working for a few months in my first job that was Mac-based (I was a PC user up until that job—a production designer in a creative department). I started out on a G4 running OS 9. It worked ok but it was old and the slowest machine in the department, so I was the first to transition to OS X and a Power Mac G5. Should have run circles around my old G4, right?

It was slower. This is partly the fault of whoever ordered that machine, but the bottom line was that the base configuration — of what should have been a powerful, professional workstation— was 256mb of RAM. I just could not understand it and it infuriated me as a “build your own PC” guy. Of course part of it is so that they can make some nice margin on RAM upgrades. Kinda like how the base configuration for the new Mac Pro coming out this fall didn’t sound that amazing for the entry price.

Anyways, yes. Apple is not in the habit of being generous with things like RAM and storage. Except in this case the only way to “upgrade” the RAM is to buy the significantly more expensive 1tb models— and supposedly that extra 2gb isn’t necessarily available to 3rd party apps anyways, if what we’re told is true.

 

[EugW]

Sheesh, you are not kidding. This comment instantly took me back to the first time I used a “new” Mac. I’d been working for a few months in my first job that was Mac-based (I was a PC user up until that job—a production designer in a creative department). I started out on a G4 running OS 9. It worked ok but it was old and the slowest machine in the department, so I was the first to transition to OS X and a Power Mac G5. Should have run circles around my old G4, right?

It was slower. This is partly the fault of whoever ordered that machine, but the bottom line was that the base configuration — of what should have been a powerful, professional workstation— was 256mb of RAM. I just could not understand it and it infuriated me as a “build your own PC” guy. Of course part of it is so that they can make some nice margin on RAM upgrades. Kinda like how the base configuration for the new Mac Pro coming out this fall didn’t sound that amazing for the entry price.

Well, at least those machines were easily upgradable.

Anyways, yes. Apple is not in the habit of being generous with things like RAM and storage. Except in this case the only way to “upgrade” the RAM is to buy the significantly more expensive 1tb models— and supposedly that extra 2gb isn’t necessarily available to 3rd party apps anyways, if what we’re told is true.

There is incomplete information on this. One Procreate rep suggests that the extra 2 GB RAM isn't directly available to them, but then again Federico Viticci was able to get one simple app up to 3.4 GB usage on its own.

Perhaps currently an app is limited to that ~3.5 GB or less, leaving the remaining RAM to the OS and multi-tasking.

Note however, that machine was using over 5 GB total when the individual app was using 3.4 GB. Furthermore, the same app crashed on 4 GB iDevices.

 

[rui no onna]

Anyways, yes. Apple is not in the habit of being generous with things like RAM and storage. Except in this case the only way to “upgrade” the RAM is to buy the significantly more expensive 1tb models— and supposedly that extra 2gb isn’t necessarily available to 3rd party apps anyways, if what we’re told is true.

As far as I'm aware, Apple uses a shared memory architecture so the RAM is available to whatever needs it (CPU, GPU, storage, etc).