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TheRealAlex

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Original poster
Sep 2, 2015
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So I’m hyped about buying the 12.9” XDR iPad Pro. But my #1 Question is about the display is it 8-bit or 10-bit ?
 
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JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
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8-bit

If it were 10-bit, Apple would have proudly stated that in the specs and press release, like the Pro Display.

It makes sense though, given the price and positioning of the iPad Pro. I’d expect 10-bit on “real” productivity devices like MacBook Pro and iMac (Pro).
 

tlnargi

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2019
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8-bit

If it were 10-bit, Apple would have proudly stated that in the specs and press release, like the Pro Display.

It makes sense though, given the price and positioning of the iPad Pro. I’d expect 10-bit on “real” productivity devices like MacBook Pro and iMac (Pro).
It better be 10-bit. I'd finally have a mobile to desktop 10bit workflow.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
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It better be 10-bit. I'd finally have a mobile to desktop 10bit workflow.

Reasonably, most people aren't going to use the 12.9" iPad Pro as their primary display. Apple clearly expects users to connect a high quality external display, hence the Thunderbolt 3 upgrade. For $1,099, I don't see 10-bit as a possibility either.
 

TheRealAlex

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Original poster
Sep 2, 2015
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Reasonably, most people aren't going to use the 12.9" iPad Pro as their primary display. Apple clearly expects users to connect a high quality external display, hence the Thunderbolt 3 upgrade. For $1,099, I don't see 10-bit as a possibility either.
Apple expects “Pros” to go from a 10-bit desktop setup and flow to a 8-bit XDR iPad Pro.

If its 8-bit I may hold off, and go 14” XDR MacBook Pro and keep my 11” iPad Pro.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
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Apple expects “Pros” to go from a 10-bit desktop setup and flow to a 8-bit XDR iPad Pro.

If its 8-bit I may hold off, and go 14” XDR MacBook Pro and keep my 11” iPad Pro.

I think most people would expect a $4,999 display to do a few things better than a $1,099 iPad Pro.

What's the alternative? Apple "forgot" to state the iPad Pro has a 10-bit display? Even though they took time to advertise it has 1,600 nits, 2,596 zones, 10,384 LEDs, P3, True Tone, 1,000,000:1, etc. Apple certainly didn't forget to say the Pro Display XDR is 10-bit when they launched it a couple years ago.
 

Robertjan88

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2018
171
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Reasonably, most people aren't going to use the 12.9" iPad Pro as their primary display. Apple clearly expects users to connect a high quality external display, hence the Thunderbolt 3 upgrade. For $1,099, I don't see 10-bit as a possibility either.
You're kidding, isn't it? One can buy a new 2020 55 inch LG OLED TV with 10bit panel for less than 1000, or this year's version for 1200 USD (around the price range of a Pro). For the price of an iPad Pro, Apple better adds a 10bit display this time. Otherwise, it's yet again a NoGo from my side.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
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You're kidding, isn't it? One can buy a new 2020 55 inch LG OLED TV with 10bit panel for less than 1000, or this year's version for 1200 USD (around the price range of a Pro). For the price of an iPad Pro, Apple better adds a 10bit display this time. Otherwise, it's yet again a NoGo from my side.

Are you seriously comparing a TV to computer? Yes, a $1,100 set of speakers will also perform better than the iPad Pro. Are you also going to compare the iPhone to a Canon EOS camera? Ridiculous.
 
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Robertjan88

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2018
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An iPad is NOT a computer. A TV also has a CPU, memory etc. I am not saying the iPad Pro is expensive, but if an LG already offers a 55 inch native 10bIt screen, and iPad Pro can at least be equipped with a 12.9 bit version. Apple calls this a Pro tablet. Then also give it a Pro display. Lots of people have a 10but workflow.

No, MiniLed doesn't make this a Pro display. It is still inferior to Oled (Microled is more advanced, but it will take a bit before we see that in laptops or tablets).

Most phones have 10bit displays as well.
 
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JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
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An iPad is NOT a computer. A TV also has a CPU, memory etc. I am not saying the iPad Pro is expensive, but if an LG already offers a 55 inch native 10bIt screen, and iPad Pro can at least be equipped with a 12.9 bit version. Apple calls this a Pro tablet. Then also give it a Pro display. Lots of people have a 10but workflow.

No, MiniLed doesn't make this a Pro display. It is still inferior to Oled (Microled is more advanced, but it will take a bit before we see that in laptops or tablets).

Most phones have 10bit displays as well.

My mistake. Apple says iPad Pro is “better than a computer.”

Apple’s entire business model revolves around making custom products that as a package is better than anything else. The custom software, hardware, and processor all contribute to the $1,100 price tag.

Yes, many phones have a 10-bit display. But not the $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max.
 

Robertjan88

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2018
171
27
My mistake. Apple says iPad Pro is “better than a computer.”

Apple’s entire business model revolves around making custom products that as a package is better than anything else. The custom software, hardware, and processor all contribute to the $1,100 price tag.

Yes, many phones have a 10-bit display. But not the $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max.
You're working for Apple? Sure, they have a great chipset and OS, but calling it "better than a computer" goes a bit too far.
If MacOS would run on it, with all the software that runs on normal MacBooks then maybe. Still iPadOS remains limited.

For 1200+ EUR in Europe, I am just expecting a Pro display for a Pro tablet. Maybe next year. If so, it will be a no brainer for me. Now, the lack of the 10bit screen is an issue.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,544
26,168
You're working for Apple? Sure, they have a great chipset and OS, but calling it "better than a computer" goes a bit too far.
If MacOS would run on it, with all the software that runs on normal MacBooks then maybe. Still iPadOS remains limited.

For 1200+ EUR in Europe, I am just expecting a Pro display for a Pro tablet. Maybe next year. If so, it will be a no brainer for me. Now, the lack of the 10bit screen is an issue.

I don’t need to work for Apple to realize a lot of people use iPad Pro like a computer. Nobody can use the conference room TV like a computer.

For $1,099, the iPad Pro is like a computer and serves many functions. That’s why it’s silly to compare a $1,099 iPad Pro to an LG TV.
 

Robertjan88

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2018
171
27
I don’t need to work for Apple to realize a lot of people use iPad Pro like a computer. Nobody can use the conference room TV like a computer.

For $1,099, the iPad Pro is like a computer and serves many functions. That’s why it’s silly to compare a $1,099 iPad Pro to an LG TV.
I am comparing the screens. Not the device itself, as mentioned already. Giving the iPad Pro a 12.9 inch 10bit OLED screen wouldn't have been that expensive, as a 10bit 55 inch OLED TV already goes for under 1000 USD. That's the only point I made. For me, the lack of a 10bit screen is a big miss, and if you look online, there are plenty more with that opinion (and question). ;-)
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,544
26,168
I am comparing the screens. Not the device itself, as mentioned already. Giving the iPad Pro a 12.9 inch 10bit OLED screen wouldn't have been that expensive, as a 10bit 55 inch OLED TV already goes for under 1000 USD. That's the only point I made. For me, the lack of a 10bit screen is a big miss, and if you look online, there are plenty more with that opinion (and question). ;-)

And I'm trying to say, you can't simply compare one individual component to another. The iPad Pro is a complete computing solution.

You can't ignore the billions of dollars that Apple has spent designing iPadOS, Apple Silicon, the cost and effort towards miniaturization, the ecosystem. Not to mention building brand recognition. A $1,099 iPad Pro isn't going to offer the best of everything.

That's why it's silly to compare a TV screen to a iPad Pro screen.

You might as well complain about how $999 MacBook Air has 256GB while iPad Pro starts with 128GB.
 

michaelmac84

macrumors newbie
Apr 5, 2017
2
0
Are the current iPad pros only 8bit?
The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro can produce a sustained 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness, with 1,600 nits of peak brightness for HDR so it would be odd of Apple not to make the display 10-bit. Otherwise, what’s the point of shooting 10-bit video on iPhone without at least one iOS device to edit it and see its true potential?
 
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fuweichin

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2022
2
0
北京,中国
I have the question too.

Anybody who has a XDR iPad Pro can take a live test, e.g. to play some 8bit-vs-10bit comparison sample video, or to visit online web app Screen Details, in order to tell if the screen supports 10-bit.

screenshot_20221211045715.png
 
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