iPad Pro 10.5 first thoughts

[danny842003]

I have upgraded from the iPad Mini retina (I believe it was later rebranded mini 2) to the 10.5 Pro.
It feels like such a big step up, after a couple of hours of having it in my hand here are my thoughts

Things I like

The speakers. They sound great and I like that they aren't muffled by holding the device in portrait like my iPhone.

The screen is beautiful and feels so fast.

The finger print reader is so much better than it is on my 6s.

The pencil. I'm just enjoying using it as a stylus although I'm sure the novalty will wear off.

Dislikes.

I was hoping it wasn't true that the device didn't come with USB C. Come on Apple the time has come to embrace it fully.

 

[44267547]

I have upgraded from the iPad Mini retina (I believe it was later rebranded mini 2) to the 10.5 Pro.
It feels like such a big step up, after a couple of hours of having it in my hand here are my thoughts

Things I like

The speakers. They sound great and I like that they aren't muffled by holding the device in portrait like my iPhone.

The screen is beautiful and feels so fast.

The finger print reader is so much better than it is on my 6s.

The pencil. I'm just enjoying using it as a stylus although I'm sure the novalty will wear off.

Dislikes.

I was hoping it wasn't true that the device didn't come with USB C. Come on Apple the time has come to embrace it fully.

Congrats. That's a significant upgrade from the Mini 2 to the 10.5 iPad. The quad speakers are one of my favorite features the iPad Pro. I'm not one to really sketch, but the Apple Pencil does serve as a nice stylus when you need it to for reaching across the display.

 

[kfury77]

I just picked up a 10.5 (64GB) from Osaka, Japan Apple Store. My first thoughts:

• The Promotion 120Hz screen refresh-rate is amazing. Scrolling is so smooth -it’s very pleasing to the eye.
  
  
• The truetone display is magnificent. The whites are more white and the blacks are the deepest purest blacks you could imagine. It’s difficult to imagine how this screen could be improved (other than increasing the DPI).
  
  
• Using the iPad Pro is very fast. Switching between apps is seamless and Safari can keep much more pages in cache.
  
  
• Many third-party apps are already optimised for this screen size so you can see more content on the screen at once compared to the 9.7”.
  
  
• The speakers are great - much louder and clearer than my old iPad Air 2
  
  
• Touch ID is super fast. I had many issues with Touch ID on my iPad Air 2. On the iPad Pro 2 it works first time everytime and logs in within a second.

So overall, very impressed.

 

[0003462]

I just picked up a 10.5 (64GB) from Osaka, Japan Apple Store. My first thoughts:

• The Promotion 120Hz screen refresh-rate is amazing. Scrolling is so smooth -it’s very pleasing to the eye.
  
  
• The truetone display is magnificent. The whites are more white and the blacks are the deepest purest blacks you could imagine. It’s difficult to imagine how this screen could be improved (other than increasing the DPI).
  
  
• Using the iPad Pro is very fast. Switching between apps is seamless and Safari can keep much more pages in cache.
  
  
• Many third-party apps are already optimised for this screen size so you can see more content on the screen at once compared to the 9.7”.
  
  
• The speakers are great - much louder and clearer than my old iPad Air 2
  
  
• Touch ID is super fast. I had many issues with Touch ID on my iPad Air 2. On the iPad Pro 2 it works first time everytime and logs in within a second.

So overall, very impressed.

I'm thinking of upgrading from an Air 2 also. Are the changes worth it? Thanks!!

 

[mrklaw]

looking forward to impressions from people that have a 9.7" pro so are already used to truetone and the better speakers.

How good is the faster refresh screen - does it get rid of the 'rolling sea' type effect when scrolling websites quickly? and does the larger screen give you more usable space or just larger things?

 

[kfury77]

I'm thinking of upgrading from an Air 2 also. Are the changes worth it? Thanks!!

I think the changes are worth it, yes. Especially once iOS 11 will be released - the extra RAM and processor speed boost will help a lot. Everything is so much faster. It's a great upgrade from the Air 2 I think....

 

[Ralfi]

I'm thinking of upgrading from an Air 2 also. Are the changes worth it? Thanks!!

I was, but I really wanted 3D Touch.

I think I'll now wait until an iPad comes out with that feature, as I can see me making use of it a lot more than I do on the iPhone 6s. The Air 2's still a great tablet, even after 3 years(?).

 

[metalcyclone]

looking forward to impressions from people that have a 9.7" pro so are already used to truetone and the better speakers.

How good is the faster refresh screen - does it get rid of the 'rolling sea' type effect when scrolling websites quickly? and does the larger screen give you more usable space or just larger things?

I currently use a 9.7" Pro and will be upgrading to the 10.5 as soon as possible... Probably later this week or early next week as I'm out of town and want to check it out first at my local Apple store before pulling the trigger on it. The plan is to get the 256GB Space Gray, Wifi only model but 512GB is also under consideration. As soon as I get it I'll come back and try to answer those questions you had as best as I can.

 

[metalcyclone]

I currently use a 9.7" Pro and will be upgrading to the 10.5 as soon as possible... Probably later this week or early next week as I'm out of town and want to check it out first at my local Apple store before pulling the trigger on it. The plan is to get the 256GB Space Gray, Wifi only model but 512GB is also under consideration. As soon as I get it I'll come back and try to answer those questions you had as best as I can.

I caved and ordered one this morning for store pickup at BB near where I'm staying this week.

10.5 Pro w/256GB in Space Gray. Wi-Fi only...

Should be ready for pickup later today... Will come back and report my first impressions then!

 

[mrklaw]

Standing in currys now and they have them for pickup. But I have a JL order for collection tomorrow afternoon and the sensible option is to wait for the 3 year warranty

 

[iGeek2014]

I just picked up a 10.5 (64GB) from Osaka, Japan Apple Store. My first thoughts:

• The Promotion 120Hz screen refresh-rate is amazing. Scrolling is so smooth -it’s very pleasing to the eye.
  
  
• The truetone display is magnificent. The whites are more white and the blacks are the deepest purest blacks you could imagine. It’s difficult to imagine how this screen could be improved (other than increasing the DPI).
  
  
• Using the iPad Pro is very fast. Switching between apps is seamless and Safari can keep much more pages in cache.
  
  
• Many third-party apps are already optimised for this screen size so you can see more content on the screen at once compared to the 9.7”.
  
  
• The speakers are great - much louder and clearer than my old iPad Air 2
  
  
• Touch ID is super fast. I had many issues with Touch ID on my iPad Air 2. On the iPad Pro 2 it works first time everytime and logs in within a second.

So overall, very impressed.

B.I.B: I have an iPad Pro 9.7" with Touch ID First Generation and iPhone 7 Plus with Touch ID Second Generation; the difference in unlocking iPhone and rejection rates on iPhone compared to iPP is very noticeable.

 

[Ludatyk]

I was, but I really wanted 3D Touch.

I think I'll now wait until an iPad comes out with that feature, as I can see me making use of it a lot more than I do on the iPhone 6s. The Air 2's still a great tablet, even after 3 years(?).

Why the desire for 3D Touch on the iPad? I’m curious.

With this new drag and drop while being able to multitask more efficiently now... 3D Touch on an iPad seem far away, that’s if they do implement it.

 

[Tapiture]

looking forward to impressions from people that have a 9.7" pro so are already used to truetone and the better speakers.

How good is the faster refresh screen - does it get rid of the 'rolling sea' type effect when scrolling websites quickly? and does the larger screen give you more usable space or just larger things?

Gonna be tough, not many people are upgrading from the 9.7 Pro. Would be kind of irrational.

 

[spiderman0616]

Gonna be tough, not many people are upgrading from the 9.7 Pro. Would be kind of irrational.

I am--I caved after a few days. At first I was dismissing the people who said the iPad Pro 9.7" should have never shipped with just 2 GB of RAM, but it's already going to be slightly crippled in the multitasking department because of that limit. Only a model with 4 GB RAM gets the full iOS 11 multitasking.

Honestly--it's not that I'm that bummed out about missing one or two little features, but what worries me is the longevity of the 9.7" iPad Pro. What will it be missing in iOS 12 or iOS 13? Also, I do find the 9.7" Smart Keyboard to be a little cramped, and I do a lot of typing on it, so I really wanted that full size keyboard and larger screen. ProMotion was also too good to pass up, as I use the Pencil a lot.

I think a lot of Air 2/Pro 9.7" owners are going to at least be enticed by the 10.5". This is no small upgrade. Double the RAM, 20% more screen, bigger keyboard, double the storage, etc.

 

[retrospek]

I also got the 10.5 today - it is nice - but the problem I have is I also have a 12.9 inch and to be honest once you have gone that size it is difficult to not see the 10.5 as being very small.. I'm going to give it a few days - but think my 10.5 will probably be going back..

 

[Tapiture]

I am--I caved after a few days. At first I was dismissing the people who said the iPad Pro 9.7" should have never shipped with just 2 GB of RAM, but it's already going to be slightly crippled in the multitasking department because of that limit. Only a model with 4 GB RAM gets the full iOS 11 multitasking.

Honestly--it's not that I'm that bummed out about missing one or two little features, but what worries me is the longevity of the 9.7" iPad Pro. What will it be missing in iOS 12 or iOS 13? Also, I do find the 9.7" Smart Keyboard to be a little cramped, and I do a lot of typing on it, so I really wanted that full size keyboard and larger screen. ProMotion was also too good to pass up, as I use the Pencil a lot.

I think a lot of Air 2/Pro 9.7" owners are going to at least be enticed by the 10.5". This is no small upgrade. Double the RAM, 20% more screen, bigger keyboard, double the storage, etc.

My rationale is that I’ll upgrade next year to the really revolutionary iPad, instead of splurging this year.

 

[spiderman0616]

My rationale is that I’ll upgrade next year to the really revolutionary iPad, instead of splurging this year.

I don't think they're on a yearly upgrade cycle with iPad anymore--probably more like 18 months.

 

[AppleRobert]

Considering the 9.7 was $599 for base model and the new 10.5 is only $50 more with better screen, ram, processor, etc well I would go for it. Just sell the 9.7.

 

[slaWter]

Got mine this morning. 256GB, SG, LTE. Major step-up from my preview first-gen Retina mini. Very impressed so far.
And iOS 11 Beta 1 runs quite stable for such an early version.
Quite impressive that so many apps already support the Files App for opening files.

 

[Ludatyk]

I am--I caved after a few days. At first I was dismissing the people who said the iPad Pro 9.7" should have never shipped with just 2 GB of RAM, but it's already going to be slightly crippled in the multitasking department because of that limit. Only a model with 4 GB RAM gets the full iOS 11 multitasking.

Full iOS 11 multitasking? What does that mean?

iPad Mini 4, Air 2 and 9.7” iPad Pro are all capable of SplitView and floating window. They can not only do that, but have a PiP open as well.

But I do understand that 4GB of RAM helps keep apps from reloading in the background. But to say that only 4GB RAM iPads will get full iOS 11 multitasking is not true.

 

[Tapiture]

I don't think they're on a yearly upgrade cycle with iPad anymore--probably more like 18 months.

And I’m still fine with that. I’ve only had my 9.7 Pro since February so it just seems silly for a number of reasons to upgrade. I know a lot of people like you are big fans of Apple products and have a big budget for them, buying after every update, but I’m in no way limited by my current iPad and actually absolutely love it. This iPad will age very well with iOS and I’m not at all concerned about lifespan.
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Full iOS 11 multitasking? What does that mean?

iPad Mini 4, Air 2 and 9.7” iPad Pro are all capable of SplitView and floating window. They can not only do that, but have a PiP open as well.

But I do understand that 4GB of RAM helps keep apps from reloading in the background. But to say that only 4GB RAM iPads will get full iOS 11 multitasking is not true.

Yeah I agree with you. I don’t think that logic makes sense.

 

[DNichter]

Got mine this morning. 256GB, SG, LTE. Major step-up from my preview first-gen Retina mini. Very impressed so far.
And iOS 11 Beta 1 runs quite stable for such an early version.
Quite impressive that so many apps already support the Files App for opening files.

Happy to hear this! Been waiting to see how Beta 1 is performing on the 10.5.

 

[Krevnik]

Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up at lunch to play with.

Quite impressive that so many apps already support the Files App for opening files.

That part is easy. It is using the same APIs from iOS 8, which helps. It will take time for apps to update their storage apps to handle Files though, new APIs that replace the ones added in iOS 8.

 

[spiderman0616]

Full iOS 11 multitasking? What does that mean?

iPad Mini 4, Air 2 and 9.7” iPad Pro are all capable of SplitView and floating window. They can not only do that, but have a PiP open as well.

But I do understand that 4GB of RAM helps keep apps from reloading in the background. But to say that only 4GB RAM iPads will get full iOS 11 multitasking is not true.

Again--it's just one thing it won't get--the ability to keep all 3 apps in multitasking active at once. On iPad Pro 9.7", only the top app will be active, the other two will gray out while you have the top one open. Any iPad with 2 GB of RAM or less will have this issue.

I fully recognize that's just one minor thing it won't be able to do, but that's not the part that was worrying me--what's worrying me is that on its very first iOS update, the iPad Pro 9.7" is already RAM deficient enough where it's missing that capability. That does not speak well for its overall longevity.

I'm not trying to discredit anyone for not upgrading, just saying that this is not a minor update to the smaller Pro--this is a pretty big deal.

 

[gobikerider]

Full iOS 11 multitasking? What does that mean?

iPad Mini 4, Air 2 and 9.7” iPad Pro are all capable of SplitView and floating window. They can not only do that, but have a PiP open as well.

But I do understand that 4GB of RAM helps keep apps from reloading in the background. But to say that only 4GB RAM iPads will get full iOS 11 multitasking is not true.

Full multitasking is the ability to have 2 Splitview apps and a floating slide over app and pip all active at once not possible on those other devices