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10.5-Inch iPad Pro Reviews: Impressive Screen and Hardware Update That Will Improve With iOS 11

With iOS 11, the iPad is getting very close to an actual laptop replacement. I'd love to get my wife one of these, because she only uses her aging laptop when she absolutely needs to these day. Instead she uses her iPhone for most of what she does, like social networking and reading the news.

Also, lots of toxic bitterness in this thread. As usual. Just because it doesn't conform to your needs 100% does not mean it's not a good device for typical usage.
 
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Waiting for my first ever Pro (12.9) to get here tomorrow. Been using a iPad 4th gen for years, jailbroken for mouse-input ages ago but never seemed useful to keep JB considering the hassle. Had some basic source code editors on their for CS lectures, but I've been using it as a drawing surface for a long time. Skipped the first 12.9 pro because while it seemed like the perfect size for what I wanted to do, my 4th gen iPad worked well enough with apps like Duet that I didn't want to get the '1st gen' device. Fighting between getting a 12.9" 1st gen Pro or a WACOM-like tablet, I certainly saw a place in front of my 5K iMac for SOMETHING. This 2nd gen with the ProMotion screen, it seems like the best compliment to my workflow.

I was considering Surface Pro, but for what I get in terms of a "full OS", I am limited to a machine that doesn't have the hardware necessary for me to drive the programs I use. Having Photoshop, Maya, Mudbox, and Visual Studio is nice on a tablet only if the tablet can really perform well. Using Duet with the Pro, I can use these programs on a much more capable machine while I'm home, and get the optimized drawing apps and other features of the Mobile OS.

I have a Windows 10 box with 64GB of DDR4 RAM, 2 RX 480 (3 x 27" 2160p monitors), and a few SSDs. My 5K iMac was TOL with 32GB RAM and a 3TB Fusion drive. When those specs fit in something like an iPad, then I'll worry about requiring a full OS on a tablet. But with my iPad Pro, I know I can just plug it into either machine and gain a lot of GREAT pen input features on both Windows and macOS. Just seems like a more versatile option.
 
lunarworks said:
With iOS 11, the iPad is getting very close to an actual laptop replacement. I'd love to get my wife one of these, because she only uses her aging laptop when she absolutely needs to these day. Instead she uses her iPhone for most of what she does, like social networking and reading the news.

Also, lots of toxic bitterness in this thread. As usual. Just because it doesn't conform to your needs 100% does not mean it's not a good device for typical usage.
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Do you think as a company apple wants users to buy only ipads? They want you to buy laptops, ipad and iphones! Any company would want to do to that..
 
Waifu said:
Ah thanks for letting me know. Guess I should just read the reviews!

The 10.5 honestly is what I always wanted. I love my iPad Pro 12 inch, but I've always felt the screen was too big. Like it would actually go outside my field of vision when lying in bed and watching videos.

I'm a petite woman though, so maybe my smaller size skews that. But at least for me, I really like the smaller bezel and the balance they found with the screen size on the 10.5.

Just would hate it if battery was much worse then what I had before (I got the very original iPad Pro).

I think it should be fine, given I don't run programs or apps on it, and use it mostly for browsing and videos (like YouTube or Netflix).

Guess it's my fault for not looking into the specs before buying. I'm an idiot. But I could have sworn Apple said both had the same 10 hour battery. So I just assumed they would be similar.

I have the original iPad Pro (the one from 2 years ago) that was 12 inch. Do you think the battery in the 10.5 will be substantially worse?

Gonna go read reviews myself. Should have done that before blindly buying this :/

Lesson learned
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Based on the reviewers reports, you seems to be fine when it comes to battery life.
 
rowspaxe said:
I agree--but the real sin is the idea that that value of the ipad is whether or not it can replace a computer. For many users it will be a great complimentary device.
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THIS! I use my iPad a lot, but it is in conjunction with my Mac and other devices. The whole spectrum of hardware has a use case where a particular one is the best tool for the job.
 
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The largest base of computer users are casual users. For casual users, their tasks are email, social media, surfing the web, photos, video, and music.

That's it.

So for the majority of users, this IS a laptop replacement.
 
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urkel said:
Is it just me, or are these reviewers getting worse at their job?

I watched a few reviews and literally learned nothing beyond the advertised features and overused buzzwords. "The bezels are smaller". "There are four speakers". "Its buttery smooth". Or the always useless... "The newest iPad is Apples best iPad yet".

Where's the feature critique? The comparison shots? The intelligent analysis? The real world use? The mention of whats missing (3D Touch. Taptic engine. New TouchID. Audio quality)

Obviously this is an amazing iPad (Apples best one yet!). But these reviewers seem to forget that not everyone gets products for free so its hard to determine any sense of "value" when a reviewer is just regurgitating stuff from the keynote.
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You're completely right that reviews from those big tech sites are completely useless for the average consumer. They're more advertising than anything. I suspect they don't want to piss off Apple by saying anything negative about them, thereby losing access to pre-release hardware for their 0-day reviews and the subsequent revenue from traffic they generate. Same thing is rampant in the games industry...mediocre, bland, overly positive reviews from major websites.

Some tech reviewers and commentators on YouTube are better. Lisa from Mobile Tech Review springs to mind but there are plenty of others.
 
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Sunny1990 said:
Prices are ridiculous!!.After adding all extra-cost accessories it will cost as much as a New MacBook.

iPad 512 GB-$949
Apple Pencil-$99
Smart Keyboard-$159
Cover-$49
Total= $1256

Starting at $329 Suddenly! The New 9.7 iPad Feels more value for money.
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First Of all, you listed the highest storage teir iPad, which most will not opt for the highest storage of 512 GB. The 64 GB starts at $649.00

Second, the $329 iPad and iPad Pro offer completely two different set of functions. You didn't Take the Pro considerations into factor, Which offers a smart keyboard, Apple Pencil support, 120 Hz Promotion display, Tru-Tone display, 600 Nits of Brightness, quad speakers and the iPhone 7 camera. The budget 9.7 iPad doesn't offer half of the features and lacks the laminate display.

Both of those iPads will appeal to two completely different demographics who have different needs.

Third, Apple charges a premium for their products yet, you get premium, well made hardware in return.
 
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The issues I have with the iPads replacing the Mac, Apps and Webpages. Seems the App folks make dumb down apps for the iPad and fully functional ones for the Mac. One example, tax prep software. The other issue Webpages that see the iPad Safari as a tablet and direct you to a special dumb down page. Even if you find a redirect to the full site, problems persist. Yesterday I need to update credit card info on a Webpage, tried it several times with the iPad Safari, fail. Opened up my Mac, first time no problems. Until Apple and App developers make the iPad IOS and Apps with the same functionality as the Mac, difficult for me to move exclusively to the iPad.
 
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Mainsail said:
As with many on this forum, I feel somewhat conflicted about buying the new iPad Pro. It looks like a great device, and iOS11 will make it even better. However, the Verge got it right....if I am going to make this my main computer, then I probably should get 256GB storage.....not because I need that much, but because 64GB is just too small. Then, when I add the Apple keyboard and pencil, I am looking at $1,000. If this is my main device, I will probably upgrade every 3 years or so, which is typical for iOS devices. That's $333 per year.

On the other hand, I could purchase the base model MBP for $1299 (granted it only has 128 GB storage, but that would be fine for me). However, I would probably upgrade on a 5 year cycle because laptops are just not evolving as fast as mobile devices. The OS, technology, and applications for laptops are more mature then for mobile devices. Anyway, that's $260 per year.

So, the annual cost is roughly the same.....maybe a small premium to move to an iPad as a primary device. What I really need to decide is how I want to interface with my primary device. Touch First or Keyboard/Mouse. If the answer is that I will primarily use the Apple smart keyboard on the iPad for input, then I should probably just get the MBP and buy a device with an OS designed for keyboard/mouse. On the other hand, if I am one of those unique individuals that has a use pattern that frequently and seamlessly moves from touch to pencil to keyboard input methods, then the versatility of the iPad Pro makes more sense.

My problem is that I really don't know if I fit into this category of user. If I am going to just bang away on the Apple smart keyboard, then moving to the iPad seems pointless. I really won't know until I try out the new iPad pro with iOS 11. Unfortunately, testing it at the Apple store probably won't give me enough real world experience to know for sure....so, it's a leap of faith.
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I think the most attractive thing about the iPad platform now is the stylus. Ironic since Steve Jobs mocked them when he launched the iPad, but I don't think technology was there then for them to be as attractive as they are now.

So I think you should ask yourself if and how much you'll make use of pen(cil) based input. There are some very attractive applications for the pencil. I'm not artistic but I like to brainstorm and workshop ideas in an unstructured way, create decision-trees or lists and do calculations in a sketch-pad rather than just typing. Using a pen is very natural for these use cases and most often quicker.

I also have terrible handwriting and hate collecting physical notes and paper that I lose or forget about or get damaged and destroyed.

Problem is, it's a pretty big cost of entry for the luxury of a digital sketch pad, so you'll want to be confident that you're likely to get a good amount of use out of it in this way. I don't see iPad as being particularly superior to other platforms in most other applications, particularly productivity apps.

I don't know but I think the iPad supports Bluetooth keyboards so if you already have one of the Apple ones it could reduce the price a bit and be better for typing than the Smart Keyboard anyway.
 
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unobtainium said:
Incorrect. 8.5" is the right size (a mini with the new reduced bezels).
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The new reduced bezels in the 10.5" ARE the iPad mini bezels, exactly to the mm. They just seem smaller because they are on a bigger device.

I love my mini that I am typing this post on, but with iOS 11, the 10.5" seems like the perfect laptop replacement "Pro" size. 7.9" is the perfect size for the touch target UI. I was super disappointed the 10.5" didn't have the same resolution as the 12.9" to match the mini exactly in ppi and have the same size ui elements.

It would have been heaven. But I ordered one anyway and am taking the iOS only plunge...hopefully it goes well...
 
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Jetcat3 said:
I just saw an official Geekbench 4 screenshot from one of the reviews. 3.91 GB of ram!
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Doesn't anyone find it odd Apple hasn't released RAM, even days before it arrives in customer's hands? Sounds fishy... to me.
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NewtonPippin said:
Super rich :):)
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Then you go boy!! :) I'm playing the lottery (tax-free in Canada, unlike USA). So I dream of having a maxed out suite of all Apple products. My only device is a 2010 iPod Touch. Please tell us how different family members feel about them.
 
Tobias Funke said:
There not because the mac prices are going the same way!

UP.
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The prices really are kinda crazy. In 00-01 my dad paid $2500 for a good computer. In 2010 he paid about $1000 for a MacBook Pro. Now it's about $1500 for a similar computer. Prices are headed back up again for some reason.
 
simonmet said:
You're completely right that reviews from those big tech sites are completely useless for the average consumer. They're more advertising than anything. I suspect they don't want to piss off Apple by saying anything negative about them, thereby losing access to pre-release hardware for their 0-day reviews and the subsequent revenue from traffic they generate. Same thing is rampant in the games industry...mediocre, bland, overly positive reviews from major websites.

Some tech reviewers and commentators on YouTube are better. Lisa from Mobile Tech Review springs to mind but there are plenty of others.
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No kidding!

I watched a review of the new Spectre x360 15" and she actually made a huge deal that it was heavier than the 13"...

... then listed "battery life" as a "CON" at "only 11 hours". :rolleyes:

Half the time they get some of the specs and options wrong and have no idea how to use any product-specific features.
 
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