iPad Pro Would like to go from my 2020 iPad Pro to the new 13” OLED, but iPads are such a ridiculous luxury I can’t bring myself to do it

[Christopher Kim]

So I was in this position - had a 2018 11" A12X iPP, which was perfectly fine, and decided to do the upgrade to the 2024 M4 11" iPP... I didn't need it, my old one was still great, but there were enough little things that made it worth it:

- First, I could make do with the now base-256gb. I don't have to pay the increasingly ridiculous upgrade prices 512gb for $1199 ($200/20% more) or 1TB for $1599 ($600/60% more)! Increasingly poor value for essentially the same device (I get there's more memory / slightly better processor in the 1TB+ versions but essentially can't notice it unless you have bleeding-edge requirements)
- I live in the US, where it's "only" $999. I'm sympathetic to those in Canada, Australia, or in Europe where the FX-converted price in local currency is significantly more (eg. Australia where the same base 11" is A$1699) - I get why Apple has to do it as a US-domiciled country that makes and reports US$ revenue, but for local people (eg. Australians), who earn and live in local currency, I bet $1000 feels like $1000, and so it would essentially be the equivalent of us in the US having to pay $1699 for the same device...
- I had kept my 2018 iPP for almost 6 years, and could hand it down to my kid (who had my previous 10.5" iPP but was complaining of battery life and probably could use a new device anyways)

With these considerations, the balance of benefits/price was enough in favor to be able to "justify the want" of getting the new device. But it's a unique and personal weighing of benefits to them vs cost to them... While I love my device, it's certainly not something I would pound the table for saying someone with a 2018 or later iPad "has to upgrade to!"

 

[phrehdd]

I agree they are a luxury item . When I moved a few months ago, I found myself using for about a month only an iPad as my computer was not yet accessible. To be honest, I navigated very well with the iPad and admittedly trying to use it as a "computer." I was successful but...to be fair, the hardware is way way better than the OS. I honestly hate the iPad GUI. it is sad that such powerful tablets are so stuck with OS and GUI that could do so much more and, if one were to add a keyboard, they should have the option for a different look that is far closer to say MacOS. These are not difficult things for systems this powerful. I can say that because I recall even in the days of DOS and early Windows there were ways to alter the screens to be more user friendly or higher functioning. Pity.

 

[ericwn]

Well OP, only you can determine the value of the product in your life. I see plenty things every day that are too expensive for my liking too. Luckily there are alternatives.

 

[JCapps]

I looked up Best Buy trade in on 12.9 2018 pro’s a few days ago and they are doing $425 pretty good deal. Did that and snagged and open box 12.9 M4 base for just over 1k. Then tracked down an open box keyboard at Microcenter for $262. Got apple care and good to go. I noticed a good amount of open box M4 iPads/keyboards on the BB website. May be the way to go if your looking for deals.

 

[Digitalguy]

I looked up Best Buy trade in on 12.9 2018 pro’s a few days ago and they are doing $425 pretty good deal. Did that and snagged and open box 12.9 M4 base for just over 1k. Then tracked down an open box keyboard at Microcenter for $262. Got apple care and good to go. I noticed a good amount of open box M4 iPads/keyboards on the BB website. May be the way to go if your looking for deals.

wow you are lucky that's what I would sell my 2018 for on the private market. Trade-ins and other shops only give me $200-300 at best, so I am keeping it for now...

 

[alecgold]

thinner and lighter marginal? For me that's by far the main reason to get the M4 13... (but I would use it mainly without a MK). And reading these forums, I am not alone

Yes, what is the 11” difference in weight? 446 grams vs 468 grams. That’s not much imho.
Thickness is 0,6mm less. That is a medium ballpoint pen line thinner. Add a case (or even worse, an MKB) and it disappears completely.

If you hold the 13” in your hand all day it might make a serious difference. But writing on a table on it, or having it in a MKB on a desk? Not that much.

 

[Digitalguy]

Yes, what is the 11” difference in weight? 446 grams vs 468 grams. That’s not much imho.
Thickness is 0,6mm less. That is a medium ballpoint pen line thinner. Add a case (or even worse, an MKB) and it disappears completely.

If you hold the 13” in your hand all day it might make a serious difference. But writing on a table on it, or having it in a MKB on a desk? Not that much.

I am talking about holding the 13in iPad. Of course if you don't hold the tablet (or very rarely do) weights doesn't matter. And I have the 11" with no intention to get a M4 for 20gr difference. But don't need to hold the 13 all day to feel the difference. Even a few minutes it makes a big difference. I can even feel the difference between the 2018 and the M1 (50gr difference), the difference between the M4 and the M1 is very noticeable. Personally I hold it when I write. Sure we are talking "luxury" but so is everything else, the additional speed, the OLED vs mini-led. the improved pencil and keyboard. How much each thing matters is a matter of priorities. For me the weight diffence (comfort) is by far the main reason, better cooling (again comfort while holding) is the second. Display comes after (mini led is good enough for me) and I barely care about the speed, or new pencil and keyboard, wish the old ones worked.

 

[sparksd]

I am talking about holding the 13in iPad. Of course if you don't hold the tablet (or very rarely do) weights doesn't matter. And I have the 11" with no intention to get a M4 for 20gr difference. But don't need to hold the 13 all day to feel the difference. Even a few minutes it makes a big difference. I can even feel the difference between the 2018 and the M1 (50gr difference), the difference between the M4 and the M1 is very noticeable. Personally I hold it when I write. Sure we are talking "luxury" but so is everything else, the additional speed, the OLED vs mini-led. the improved pencil and keyboard. How much each thing matters is a matter of priorities. For me the weight diffence (comfort) is by far the main reason, better cooling (again comfort while holding) is the second. Display comes after (mini led is good enough for me) and I barely care about the speed, or new pencil and keyboard, wish the old ones worked.

Wholly agree. I'm using the M4 13" a lot more handheld than I did with the M1 12.9 it replaced. Big difference.

 

[Melbourne Park]

I don’t understand people thinking an iPad is a MacBook. It isn’t. It so much more, in many ways. And less in others.

The price for my iPad is nuts indeed, but it’s more powerful than a MacBook Air. And it does a lot of things a macbook can’t: you can’t write with a pencil on a macbook (well, not much), it doesn’t have 5G, it doesn’t have portrait, doesn’t have a good camera to make pictures, it can’t scan pages, doesn’t have a OLED display.
The iPad is much more portable, can be attached to several different excellent keyboard covers, can be connected to external displays and so on.

Where it doesn’t shine is working like an old school laptop or desktop. The file handling isn’t for handling or renaming large amounts of files, writing software isn’t easy and sometimes even not possible. Microsoft has crippled Office a great deal, but it does so on Android and iOS as well. The full adobe suit isn’t available, just a dumbed down version.
Then again, writing a large report is very well possible, with footnotes, pictures etc. And most of the software is good enough for 95% of the people’s private work, and possibly 50% of professional work.

Great post!!

But ...

While the iPad can have 5G, why is it more expensive to get 5G in a Pro, than a base or Air iPad?
And why doesn't the 5G allow the iPad to work as a phone?
Why doesn't the iPad support add ons like the phones do? For instance, the Flir range of heat sensitive cameras work on iPhones, but don't work on iPads. But with Android, they work on pads and phones (although they do require a cell sim).
How come you can buy Final Cut Pro for mac, but can only rent it on iPad? And how come Final Cut Pro in iPad is disabled so that it's next to useless? For instance, its smoothing capability is a feature of FCP that is remarkable ... yet its disable on the iPad.
Why doesn't it have an IP Rating? Like ... it's not even dust or rain proof. Ridiculous while phones are.

I could go on ... but the thing that makes me delay buying an M4 OLED iPad, is not really the very high price. It's the lack of battery improvement over time, relative to everything else. These days a MacBook will do much more, and last 24 hours. Yet an iPad has one third the battery life. Maybe less. And that points to diminished usage, and also, to a more limited life.

I pulled out on old MacBook Pro 13" 2011 the other day (for firewire uploading), and its been sitting in the cupboard since 2013. Its 128GB drive did not boot, and after formatting and re-installing, it still would not reboot. The track pad did not work. The battery was dead. OK no good .. and only a 4 GB RAM model.
New battery: $US45 delivered; RAM = 16 GB $US23.40; SSD Drive : 1 TB $US 65 delivered. And the track pad now works (the battery had expanded). It runs beautifully. Although the Mountain Lion partition doesn't connect to Apple store (Apple forbids earlier Apple OS to connect to it). The High Sierra partition works beaut with Apple (for the moment at least).
Upgrade time: 30 minutes (not including battery "conditioning" ie flattening it to 2% and full recharge, + another two hours, then do that again).

And I'm not skilled.

And oh - the keyboard is recessing. It cannot damage the screen. It's keyboard has a beautiful action too.

What's happened to Apple?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Great post!!

But ...

While the iPad can have 5G, why is it more expensive to get 5G in a Pro, than a base or Air iPad?
And why doesn't the 5G allow the iPad to work as a phone?
Why doesn't the iPad support add ons like the phones do? For instance, the Flir range of heat sensitive cameras work on iPhones, but don't work on iPads. But with Android, they work on pads and phones (although they do require a cell sim).
How come you can buy Final Cut Pro for mac, but can only rent it on iPad? And how come Final Cut Pro in iPad is disabled so that it's next to useless? For instance, its smoothing capability is a feature of FCP that is remarkable ... yet its disable on the iPad.
Why doesn't it have an IP Rating? Like ... it's not even dust or rain proof. Ridiculous while phones are.

I could go on ... but the thing that makes me delay buying an M4 OLED iPad, is not really the very high price. It's the lack of battery improvement over time, relative to everything else. These days a MacBook will do much more, and last 24 hours. Yet an iPad has one third the battery life. Maybe less. And that points to diminished usage, and also, to a more limited life.

I think the bolded part is a cop-out excuse, given that the iPad can easily be charged on the go with a power bank (if one doesn’t have access to a traditional outlet). Are you routinely without access to a normal charging outlet, where you can’t even charge your Mac, or are you complaining on the idea of having to take the time to charge before 24hrs use?

 

[Melbourne Park]

I don't want to carry two devices.

IMO this light weight marketing is bull dust. A device that is based on portability requires long battery life. Who wants carry back up batteries in an iPad - or a notebook. Or a phone. Low battery capacity decreases the life of an iPad too, as well as making it cheaper to manufacture. It's a win on business grounds, but a customer rip off.

Lets look at iPhones compared to iPads:

iPhone 3G (2008):
Battery Life: Up to 5-6 hours talk time

• iPhone 11 (2019):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11 hours internet use.
• iPhone 12 (2020):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11-12 hours internet use.
• iPhone 13 (2021):
  • Battery Life: Up to 19 hours talk time, up to 15 hours internet use.
• iPhone 14 (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 20 hours talk time, up to 12-13 hours internet use.
• iPhone 15 (2023):
  • Battery Life: Up to 22 hours talk time, up to 14-15 hours internet use

Notice an improvement in battery life?

Look at iPad Pro:

• iPad Pro 1st Gen (2015):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 2nd Gen (2017):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 6th Gen (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.

This thread on Macrumours, users are saying the battery life is worse now.

Brand new 11” M4, noticing somewhat shorter battery life than my iPadPro M1 (when I first got it). Can someone explain how to interpret the battery usage screen, I don’t see a total onscreen usage since last 100% charge. None of my stats show anywhere near 6 or 8 hours of usage.

Thread:

iPad Pro M4 Battery Life​

It seems Apple have kept the battery life either the same, or worse.

Planned obsolescence.

A low charge rate is likely better for battery life too. Don't use a high power re-charger - do it sloowwwly.

Apple do (thanks EU) now incorporate a max charge setting. Use it!! Set it to 85%!!! Not sure about the minimum, but don't go lower than 15%. Not sure if Apple can stop it working at 15% battery life left ... if they did, the battery would last much longer.

Don't charge beyond 85% either, as under 15% and over 85% will diminish battery longevity. Worthwhile remembering for those who want their new iPad Pros to retain functionality. Of course that means really your battery life is not 10 hours. Just use 70% ie 7 hours of battery life, and the iPad will last a lot lot lot longer. Of course, turn down the screen!!

Bye the way, heavier and non inflammable Lithium Phosphate Iron batteries (12% heavier) last 10 times longer. Isn't it strange that portable device makers don't use that technology?? It it because they want the devices to fail? Are they playing a marketing based weight competition?

I think the lighter something is, the cheaper it is to make. And ship and store for that matter. Weight is a marketing tool, and we are falling for it. But yes - carry a second battery!!! We need to do that for sure.

 

[Mac47]

Coming from an iPad mini 6 and previous 2020 iPad Pro, I have been very pleased with the 13” M4.

I too have the Mini 6 and 2020 12.9” iPad Pro.

Can you tell me more about how the 13” M4 is satisfying you?

 

[alecgold]

I don't want to carry two devices.

IMO this light weight marketing is bull dust. A device that is based on portability requires long battery life. Who wants carry back up batteries in an iPad - or a notebook. Or a phone. Low battery capacity decreases the life of an iPad too, as well as making it cheaper to manufacture. It's a win on business grounds, but a customer rip off.

Lets look at iPhones compared to iPads:

iPhone 3G (2008):
Battery Life: Up to 5-6 hours talk time

• iPhone 11 (2019):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11 hours internet use.
• iPhone 12 (2020):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11-12 hours internet use.
• iPhone 13 (2021):
  • Battery Life: Up to 19 hours talk time, up to 15 hours internet use.
• iPhone 14 (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 20 hours talk time, up to 12-13 hours internet use.
• iPhone 15 (2023):
  • Battery Life: Up to 22 hours talk time, up to 14-15 hours internet use

Notice an improvement in battery life?

Look at iPad Pro:

• iPad Pro 1st Gen (2015):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 2nd Gen (2017):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 6th Gen (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.

This thread on Macrumours, users are saying the battery life is worse now.



Thread:

iPad Pro M4 Battery Life​

It seems Apple have kept the battery life either the same, or worse.

Planned obsolescence.

A low charge rate is likely better for battery life too. Don't use a high power re-charger - do it sloowwwly.

Apple do (thanks EU) now incorporate a max charge setting. Use it!! Set it to 85%!!! Not sure about the minimum, but don't go lower than 15%. Not sure if Apple can stop it working at 15% battery life left ... if they did, the battery would last much longer.

Don't charge beyond 85% either, as under 15% and over 85% will diminish battery longevity. Worthwhile remembering for those who want their new iPad Pros to retain functionality. Of course that means really your battery life is not 10 hours. Just use 70% ie 7 hours of battery life, and the iPad will last a lot lot lot longer. Of course, turn down the screen!!

Bye the way, heavier and non inflammable Lithium Phosphate Iron batteries (12% heavier) last 10 times longer. Isn't it strange that portable device makers don't use that technology?? It it because they want the devices to fail? Are they playing a marketing based weight competition?

I think the lighter something is, the cheaper it is to make. And ship and store for that matter. Weight is a marketing tool, and we are falling for it. But yes - carry a second battery!!! We need to do that for sure.

But my m4 11” is getting hours and hours more real time use out of the battery.
As the brightness on my M2 needed to be 80-100% and on my M4 40-50% is enough, I often get 14-16 hour of real use. If I might take the trouble, I might even get more use out of the battery, but I don’t need more then 14-16 hours.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I too have the Mini 6 and 2020 12.9” iPad Pro.

Can you tell me more about how the 13” M4 is satisfying you?

The OLED screen, 16GB RAM, and the Nano-Texture screen have been the most noticeable improvements for me, especially the latter. Not seeing constant reflections of the background on the screen makes using the M4 a pleasure. I haven’t had any browser reloads or lagging like I do with the mini and even iPhone 15 Pro.

 

[Mac47]

The OLED screen, 16GB RAM, and the Nano-Texture screen have been the most noticeable improvements for me, especially the latter. Not seeing constant reflections of the background on the screen makes using the M4 a pleasure. I haven’t had any browser reloads or lagging like I do with the mini and even iPhone 15 Pro.

Of all of these things, an escape from browser reloads is the most attractive to me. Remind me: is it only the 1 TB and 2 TB version that have extra RAM?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Of all of these things, an escape from browser reloads is the most attractive to me. Remind me: is it only the 1 TB and 2 TB version that have extra RAM?

That is correct. You have to buy 1 or 2TB to get the extra RAM.

 

[Digitalguy]

Of all of these things, an escape from browser reloads is the most attractive to me. Remind me: is it only the 1 TB and 2 TB version that have extra RAM?

16GB don't help with browser reloads, trust me, I have iPads with 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 16GB RAM and the 16 is no better than 8 on browsers. I think browsers on iPad have a low RAM trigger (probably a couple of GB) past which they reload anyway...

 

[Runaway Train]

Upgraded from iPad Pro 2018 to a 2024 M4. Zero regrets. Six years? It‘s time to upgrade. This idea of «clinging and holding on » until the device gradually fades away is not how I look at it. Every 5-6 years I re-up. Education discount + trade in, it was a no brainer. I’ll do the same in 5 years time, won’t overthink it, keep it simple. YMMV as always….

 

[ericwn]

I don't want to carry two devices.

IMO this light weight marketing is bull dust. A device that is based on portability requires long battery life. Who wants carry back up batteries in an iPad - or a notebook. Or a phone. Low battery capacity decreases the life of an iPad too, as well as making it cheaper to manufacture. It's a win on business grounds, but a customer rip off.

Lets look at iPhones compared to iPads:

iPhone 3G (2008):
Battery Life: Up to 5-6 hours talk time

• iPhone 11 (2019):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11 hours internet use.
• iPhone 12 (2020):
  • Battery Life: Up to 17 hours talk time, up to 11-12 hours internet use.
• iPhone 13 (2021):
  • Battery Life: Up to 19 hours talk time, up to 15 hours internet use.
• iPhone 14 (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 20 hours talk time, up to 12-13 hours internet use.
• iPhone 15 (2023):
  • Battery Life: Up to 22 hours talk time, up to 14-15 hours internet use

Notice an improvement in battery life?

Look at iPad Pro:

• iPad Pro 1st Gen (2015):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 2nd Gen (2017):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.
• iPad Pro 6th Gen (2022):
  • Battery Life: Up to 10 hours web surfing on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web surfing on cellular data.

This thread on Macrumours, users are saying the battery life is worse now.



Thread:

iPad Pro M4 Battery Life​

It seems Apple have kept the battery life either the same, or worse.

Planned obsolescence.

A low charge rate is likely better for battery life too. Don't use a high power re-charger - do it sloowwwly.

Apple do (thanks EU) now incorporate a max charge setting. Use it!! Set it to 85%!!! Not sure about the minimum, but don't go lower than 15%. Not sure if Apple can stop it working at 15% battery life left ... if they did, the battery would last much longer.

Don't charge beyond 85% either, as under 15% and over 85% will diminish battery longevity. Worthwhile remembering for those who want their new iPad Pros to retain functionality. Of course that means really your battery life is not 10 hours. Just use 70% ie 7 hours of battery life, and the iPad will last a lot lot lot longer. Of course, turn down the screen!!

Bye the way, heavier and non inflammable Lithium Phosphate Iron batteries (12% heavier) last 10 times longer. Isn't it strange that portable device makers don't use that technology?? It it because they want the devices to fail? Are they playing a marketing based weight competition?

I think the lighter something is, the cheaper it is to make. And ship and store for that matter. Weight is a marketing tool, and we are falling for it. But yes - carry a second battery!!! We need to do that for sure.

Never needed a second one in all these years. Doubt that will change now. This is a user forum. Battery life is always worse on a user forum. Just look for the compatible contributors.

 

[HeatherA]

I just upgraded from my 2018 11” IPP to the M4 13” and I am obsessed. It has renewed my enjoyment of being on an iPad. The size is perfect, even in a case it’s not too heavy. I’ve missed using a 12.9 since I passed down my original pro in 2018 and I think this was the perfect device to bring me back to this size screen. My only beef was that my 2nd gen pencil no longer worked and I had to upgrade. That said, I like the new pro pencil well enough that I stopped being annoyed pretty quickly. 😂 also this is a great size for Fortnite on the go (thanks Amazon Luna xD)