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For the others waiting until fall, I would prepare yourselves to extend that wait until Spring 2021. With the current state of business operations at Apple I could see a lot of products in the pipeline start to push back in their schedules.
I'm hoping for winter. I wouldn't be shocked by spring 2021 though.

The iPhones in the fall will be Apple's sole focus for the second half of the year. Also, they'll need to keep moving on designing the 2021 and 2022 phones. iPad hardware will always be second fiddle to the iPhone and that's why I don't expect another iPad Pro update this year.
You realize they have different teams for this, right?
 
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The news about this thing just keeps getting worse, lol.

So basically the latest iPad Pros are in the same situation as the ill-fated iPad 3.
No iPad will ever be that bad. Remember the checkerboards? Glad I skipped it. Unlike that iPad, this new one is fine, just don’t upgrade from the 3rd Gen Pro because it’s essentially pointless unless you’re one of 17 people in the world who are an iPad photographer. Even then the wide angle camera isn’t very good.
 
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Structural integrity? they're fine. Just don't sling it around and step on it like 4 year old.

I know someone who bent it accidentally in his backpack, so it is structurally weaker than previous iPads, period.

I own the pro and have had no problems with it, but I rarely take it out of the house. I can see the screen is a lot thinner this time and the body feels less sturdy compared to my previous iPads; I am not complaining, but is a valid observation man, not "4-year old"-handling of devices.
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The news about this thing just keeps getting worse, lol.


No iPad will ever be that bad. Remember the checkerboards? Glad I skipped it. Unlike that iPad, this new one is fine, just don’t upgrade from the 3rd Gen Pro because it’s essentially pointless unless you’re one of 17 people in the world who are an iPad photographer. Even then the wide angle camera isn’t very good.

Exactly, there is no point at all in upgrading if you own the previous generation. Same internals, slightly smaller battery, the same chip even if they name it different, smaller camera sensor than iPhone, no U1 chip, possibility of new generation coming within 6 months, same questionable structural design... And most benchmarks online suggest little to no improvement also.
 
I'm not surprised that Apple a U1 chip left this out in the iPad refresh. These iPad Pros are a stop-gap measure:

1) Entice the die-hard Apple fans to yet spend more $$$ again to get marginal inprovements.
2) We will probably see the next iPP release in 2021...very unlikely to be 2020.
 
The iPad 3 at least added a Retina display. First iPad ever with a retina display. (Last one with a 32-pin connector)

That's right. The Retina Display was a major upgrade.

But the new iPad Pros are like the iPad 3, because (if rumours are accurate) they won't be offered for very long before the next update. IIRC the iPad 3 was available for less than a year before Apple released the iPad 4.
 
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wifi 6 just totally sucks, what is the hype anyway? lower prices, who needs em? Ram, meh! cameras bah, better GPU. just crap.

It is an update, but hardly useless, all of the upgrades are in fact very good. Damn that coronavirus or their might be an even faster Soc, but never should have botched the testing!
I think it depends where you stand. If you want/need an iPad Pro but didn't get a 2018 model for some reason, this is a better option—worth the extra money over a NOS or refurb 2018 model in most cases. But if you've got a 2018 model or are *mostly* satisfied with an earlier iPad Pro, then this is an odd update.

My feeling is that it really is all about getting LiDAR to developers are content creators ahead of the iPhone 12 launch. Sure, there aren't the necessary tools to develop solely on iPad, but Apple is banking on someone creating a must-have use case, or at least keynote worthy demo, for AR and to do that they need the hardware.
 
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There is a big thread about this in iPad section. People are split in half but one thing most people agree on.
The current iPad design is weaker than the design before. Stronger aluminum would fix that and because the device is for everyday use and is also quite expensive I have elected to wait until they fix it.
Maybe it would be completely ok, maybe not but for that money I'm not willing to risk it.
I have iPhone 6 and its completely ok but some people's weren't. Apple also addressed that in next revision with stronger material and it became non issue. I'm waiting for that as the cost is just too high to 'gamble' especially now that I'm no longer in Europe and I'm in Canada where warranty is only 1 year and customer protection is much worse than in Europe.
Maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't but for almost $2000CAD I am not willing to take the risk.
If Apple wants my money they need to use stronger aluminium like they did with 6S and they will get it.
Until then, its just too soft for my liking.
P.s.: I had one for a bit to try and its just too weak.

Structural integrity? No offense but that comment makes you sound like you’ve been watching YouTube videos more than actually owning a 2018 pro. 😉
 
I wouldn't think so at the prices charged in Canada:confused:

I'm sure this has nothing to do with it

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I think it depends where you stand. If you want/need an iPad Pro but didn't get a 2018 model for some reason, this is a better option—worth the extra money over a NOS or refurb 2018 model in most cases. But if you've got a 2018 model or are *mostly* satisfied with an earlier iPad Pro, then this is an odd update.

My feeling is that it really is all about getting LiDAR to developers are content creators ahead of the iPhone 12 launch. Sure, there aren't the necessary tools to develop solely on iPad, but Apple is banking on someone creating a must-have use case, or at least keynote worthy demo, for AR and to do that they need the hardware.

sarcasm, always there when you need it
 
Its funny seeing people attempt to deflect/defend this...

This is even worse than the 16" MBP release.
this makes no sense whatsoever
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Hopefully that is the case, but Apple does a really good job of keeping prices on previous models high as to not cannibalize sales of the new model. I always think of how they stopped selling the iPhone X when the XS came out.
I know right? I am always peeved when car companies stop selling older models when new ones come out
 
It feels like they just wanted to have something in between and end up squeezing the A12X (to U) design before A14X so it wasn't 2 years of no upgrades. Otherwise I don't get it, just Lidar that is fine for AR but most users won't take advantage of it, and some GPU improvement.
 
I sold my MacBook Pro from 2015 and got the latest iPad Pro. I didn't have an iPad and it will cover the purposes I was using my MacBook for, so I guess this model was for me. You aren't required to update with every model. Apple actually doesn't expect you to. New releases are for new buyers or people with devices that need upgraded. Hence why the software goes back so far. Why do you need a U1 chip in a iPad? What would you use it for?
 
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if iPhone 9/SE has an A13 chip as has been widely rumored, then it might have U1.
 
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Presumably to get the LIDAR sensor out there for devs ahead of it coming to the iPhone?

Plus all models now have 6GB RAM.... Which could be for a number of interesting reasons.

I’m interested in knowing what you think is wrong with the structural integrity though? 🤔
I also have a feeling the Ram Upgrade might also be what separates out some future software features between the 18 & the 20... I could be wrong. Either way I was tired of packing my 12.9 gen 2 pro around, this new 11 inch has been great so far happy to have usb-c addition.
 
I also have a feeling the Ram Upgrade might also be what separates out some future software features between the 18 & the 20... I could be wrong. Either way I was tired of packing my 12.9 gen 2 pro around, this new 11 inch has been great so far happy to have usb-c addition.
Historically memory has stratified features and updates but don’t forget that Apple brings the “Pro” software features to the non-Pro iPads as well, and currently Apple still sells 3 GB iPads. The entry level iPads may not even get 4 GB until next year.

That said in a few years I think the usability of 4 GB Will be a lot less than it is now, at least for moderate to heavier users, so it makes sense to go with 6 GB if you keep your devices a long time.
 
I really don't get why Apple even bothered. The new iPad has almost nothing so if there is big update coming this fall then why doing this in the first place?
Anyway, I'll wait for fall then :)
Not buying it until the structural integrity is improved :)
I too am waiting for a more rigid version that and I hope that at some point they will allow people to control autoplaying videos on iPad in Safari, I cannot stand that when I'm browsing which leads me to pick up my Mac more then my iPad. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 


Last week, we laid out evidence suggesting that the just-released iPad Pro models do not contain a U1 Ultra Wideband chip, including the lack of any mention of the chip in tech specs or Apple's press materials, the absence of software support for U1 features, and more. Most tellingly, iFixit was unable to find the chip or related antennas in the device.

ipadprobox.jpg

Daring Fireball's John Gruber has followed up on the situation, and he has "confirmed with a little birdie who would certainly know the answer" that the new iPad Pro indeed does not have a U1 chip.

At first blush, it seems surprising that the 2020 iPad Pro wouldn't have a U1 chip when Apple deployed it across the entire iPhone 11 lineup last fall and indicated that it would be the basis for a number of future features. Perhaps the most high-profile rumored feature for the U1 relates Apple's AirTags item trackers that have yet to launch, with the chip allowing for highly precise locating capabilities.

As discovered by iFixit in its teardown of the new iPad Pro, however, the new model's internals are nearly identical to those of the 2018 model, down to the logic board layout. Even the new A12Z chip is essentially the previous A12X with a previously disabled graphics core enabled.

Adding a U1 chip to the iPad Pro would have required a redesign of the iPad Pro logic board, and depending on how the U1 interfaces with the device's main chip, may have required more substantial changes in the A12Z chip itself, perhaps necessitating an all-new A13X chip to support the feature.

The U1 chip also requires associated antennas that wouldn't play particularly nicely with the iPad Pro's metal chassis. On the iPhone 11 series, these antennas require cutouts in the metal case lining, but remain concealed thanks to the glass exterior of the phone.

With rumors of a more substantial iPad Pro refresh as soon as this fall, including at least one mode with an A14X chip and a new mini-LED display, the latest model appears to have been a stopgap update to add some new AR-related capabilities without making a full overhaul of the device, and the addition of a U1 chip and associated hardware may have been required more substantial changes than Apple was willing to invest in for this update.

Article Link: 2020 iPad Pro Confirmed to Lack a U1 Ultra Wideband Chip
Planned obsolete?
 
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The news about this thing just keeps getting worse, lol.


No iPad will ever be that bad. Remember the checkerboards? Glad I skipped it. Unlike that iPad, this new one is fine, just don’t upgrade from the 3rd Gen Pro because it’s essentially pointless unless you’re one of 17 people in the world who are an iPad photographer. Even then the wide angle camera isn’t very good.

I copied and pasted my original post from a thread earlier this week on the iPad Pro 4th generation

Regarding the storage options on the iPad Pro Line up:
iPad Pro 1st generation had a storage options of 32gb, 128gb, and 256gb
iPad Pro 2nd generation had storage options of 64gb, 256gb, and 512gb
iPad Pro 3rd generation had storage options of 64gb, 256gb,512gb, and 1tb
iPad pro 4th generation has storage options of 128gb, 256gb,512gb, and 1tb

I know that 128gb storage isn't revolutionary. What is great about it though is Apple is now giving those who buy the base model 128gb storage. Whereas, on previous generations base storage was 32gb or 64gb for base model. Also the 4th generation base model didn't increase in price going from 3rd gen to 4th gen yet apple still gave double the storage for the base model so that's pretty cool. Although the 2nd gen iPad Pro did increase in price going from 2nd to 3rd generation.

What you missed was that 6gb was on the iPad Pro 3rd generation, but only on 1TB iPad Pro 3rd gen. The 64,256,and 512gb iPad Pro 3rd generation got only 4gb.

Now on the iPad Pro 4th generation every single model 128gb,256gb,512gb, and of course 1tb get 6gb of Ram. That's pretty neat for those NOT buying the 1tb model.

As mentioned you're going from a single to a dual camera. Also the rear camera is now for the first time in an iPad wide lens and ultra wide lens.


I know the LiDAR scanner was mentioned but it does a lot of cool things especially for those interested in augmented reality.

LiDAR Scanner measures the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away, works both indoors and outdoors, and operates at the photo level. New depth frameworks measured by the LiDAR Scanner, data from both cameras and motion sensors, and is enhanced by computer vision algorithms on the A12Z Bionic for a more detailed understanding of a scene. The tight integration of these elements enables a whole new class of AR experiences on iPad Pro.

As mentioned Five “studio quality” microphones: offers improvements in sound in some scenarios and offers no improvements in other scenarios. Overall, the studio microphones aren't a major improvement, but they are an improvement albeit a very very very small one.

Wifi 6 as mentioned is new to this 4th generation iPad.

wifi6 is awesome here is more info on it: https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/21/18232026/wi-fi-6-speed-explained-router-wifi-how-does-work

U1 chip -ultra wideband was first introduced in the iPhone 11 and is now being introduced in the 4th gen iPad pro


Apple U1 ultra wideband chip will give AirDrop “spatial awareness” capabilities, so it can recongnize an iPhone you are pointing at. UWB can track proximity up to 20cm by measuring the time it takes for a radio signal to pass between two connected devices. While it is slower than WiFi, UWB is much faster than Bluetooth. It is also less vulnerable to interference, as its signals can pass more easily through the walls of a room. It's like a radar. Which is why UWB is useful for finding lost keys or wallets using tags such as the Bluetooth-based Tile.


A12Z: GPU upgrade (meh but sure why not) same as previous with some core unlocked?

Not sure if the GPU upgrade is because a core is unlocked. Although I am not ruling that out. Regardless the 12x chip utilizes 7 cores and the 12z utilizes 8 cores. Thus, the small GPU improvement. The CPU is most likely exactly the same between both chips.

In the AnTuTu benchmark, the 2020 iPad Pro scored 712,218 points — slightly higher than the 705,585 points scored by the 2018 iPad Pro and its A12X Bionic chip. A breakdown of the benchmark scores indicates the CPU performance of the A12Z and the A12X Bionic chips are nearly the same — 186,186 for the A12Z vs 187,572 for the A12X Bionic. The GPU performance has seen a slight uplift for the A12Z Bionic as it scored 373,781 compared to 345,016 for the A12X Bionic. Apple itself had made it clear that the A12Z Bionic chip uses an 8-core GPU versus 7-core GPU on A12X which explains the improvement in performance.

Overall, the upgraded features in the 4th gen iPad Pro aren't groundbreaking especially for those coming from an iPad Pro 3rd gen. However, there are several really cool improvements like U1 Ultra wideband chip, WifI 6 etc. that some here don't seem to realize, understand, or acknowledge.




So we learned that the U1 Ultra wide-band chip is not in the new 2020 iPad Pros disappointing for sure. There are still alot of cool additions. Again the new things adding to this 2020 iPad is not groundbreaking or revolutionary. But the additional Ram,higher base model storage, WiFi 6, the studio quality microphones, the extra core in the chip for better graphics, the lidar scanner, better rear cameras that are wide and ultra wide angle are all welcome additions.

Here's my opinion on what they should have done
they should have added the U1 chip to the 2020 iPads

They should have kept the 3rd gen 2018 iPad Pro around for sale and drop the price to $649 for the 11 inch base model and $849 for the base model. Which would give $150 savings off the newer 2020 iPad Pro models.


Now below is the new part of my post that I am adding to this post for the first time:

I disagree the extra ram let me keep open more apps at the same time without having to refresh, the dual rear camera is quite a bit better than the rear camera on the 2018 iPad, the new lidar sensor allows me to measure objects quickly and more accurately,The new "studio quality" michrophones actually give better sound in some, but not all instances, the extra core allows me to have slightly better gaming experience, and wifi 6 is a big deal for me cause I just ordered a wifi 6 modem a few days ago. Thus, my 2020 iPad should be able to see faster wifi speed once my new wifi 6 router comes in. Which will compliment my iPhone 11 Pro which has a wifi 6 modem in it as well.


So Yes I know this 2020 iPad isn't groundbreaking, but there are some neat improvements.
 
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