2020 iPad Pro Reviews: Minor Upgrade Today Paves Way for New AR Capabilities in Future

After 2 years we expected way more than a minor update that "paves the way". They've been offering innovation via drip tube at best for the last few years, but this is just.. cringe. Apple is indefensibly lazy at this point.
 
jjudson said:
I can't think of anything more useless to the majority of iPad users than this camera. Apple has to give us more than that to cause folks to shell out big bucks...
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My parents (both in their 70’s) each have an iPad. Neither of them owns an iPhone or an Android phone. There are those who are similar in nature that have not embraced smartphones or their iPhone as a camera who will embrace this. There is an entire generation of iPad filmmakers who will embrace this. There is an entire subset of people who are transitioning to the iPad as their main computer who will embrace this and leave their iPhone charging on the bedside table while taking pictures in the moment.

While there are plenty of people who won’t/don’t use the iPad’s cameras, there are plenty of people that do. Apple didn’t increase the cost of the iPad Pro, yet they doubled the base storage (finally), gave it a free camera upgrade, LiDAR, 6GB of DRAM, et al., so I think that complaining about it serves little purpose when potential customers now have an even better version of the iPad Pro to purchase than the 2018 model.

Users who already own the 2018 iPad Pro already have a great iPad and Apple isn’t targeting them with this one. Expecting “more” every single time Apple updates a product from the previous gen to get previous gen owners to upgrade is simply a way for Apple to go crazy trying to please those who are never pleased. There is always something new around the corner, technology-wise...it’s always been that way and always will be.

If you own the iPad Pro 2018, then Apple isn’t asking for your money now since even they expect 2018 owners to use the device a couple more years before even considering upgrading. Stop letting FOMO drive you.
 
CarlJ said:
To be fair, the crowd here has said the exact same thing about numerous Apple devices that then went on to be bestsellers.

The standard most here use is “how does it compare to the previous model”. But in the real world, most are not upgrading from the previous model - they‘re more likely upgrading from a device that’s 3-5 years old, in which case it’s a huge upgrade.
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Case in point, the camera on the iPhone 11, also including the new colours and improved battery, merits a "S" cycle update at best. Still, these were highly relevant updates for the main customer use cases, resulting in best selling results.

But the main improvement on the iPad being the camera? That's not relevant to any major user group, in fact it's even more niche than Apple's professional Mac users begging for a Cinema Display update and affordable Mac Pro.
 
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LiDAR
My opinion (you have one too) is it's to start cranking the handle on the LiDAR. They are going to be making hundreds of millions of them, that subsystem, and it has to, what's that saying? Oh yes "It just works."
It has to work. So yes, they're introducing it on an iPad that's going to be a specific model before the really major update, in nine months. This will squeeze out Any bugs.

I don't want any of those people that buy the first upgraded, high end iPhone that includes the LiDAR to have anything to complain about.

"Damn that works nice" - iPhone user.
 
I was poised to pick one up for the extra 2GB of RAM and the better mics (which are tempting for recording quick song sketches, etc.) but I was hoping the rest of the upgrades would add more value than they seem to.

Now I’m back to waiting for delusional eBay sellers to drop their asking prices for 2018 models. Shrugsville.
 
AceFernalld said:
Out of curiosity, why did you order a 2020 in the first place? Processor is almost identical, new keyboard works on the 2018s. Only substantial upgrade is the camera system, but unless you heavily rely on that I personally don't see a reason to throw a grand.
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It’s a fair question. I typically upgrade my iPad and iPhone anytime a new one rolls out so that I get the highest resell value which helps offset the cost to upgrade.
 
Pretty disappointing. Have to wonder why Apple bothered with it. Hard to recommend with 2018 iPad cheaper and same performance.
 
Ghost31 said:
just to sum up what’s going on right now: ignore the iPad Pro if you have a 2018. The real upgrade is the magic keyboard and it’s not even out yet.

the lack of a real processor Upgrade is downright bizarre. So bizarre it scratches that part of my brain that thinks something else is going on. a year and a half in technology advances and yet barely a real processor bump? Yeah no. The rumors about the fall iPad update will probably be true. This is iPad 3 all over again.

I’m getting the magic keyboard and sittin happy until the real iPad comes this fall
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I agree it is iPad 3 again. I think the logic in this release is to get developers started using the Lidar before it shows up in iPhone 12 Pro and to make the mid to late 2020 iPad Pro more attractive by having some apps that take advantage of the Lidar.
 
MacFather said:
What new camera? The main 12MP Wide sensor is exactly the same! No Night Mode support, or Next-generation Smart HDR.
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Without the big screen, it does not make a good document scanner.

Edited to say, the LiDAR should be quite useful for close in focus.
 
I think this is a great buy for someone that doesn't have a "Pro" iPad and wants the bigger screen, faster processor, etc. If you have the 2018s or 2017 12.9 then wait for the next one. I think Apple rebranded their A12x because the A13 wasn't a big enough improvement for engineering it. I bet we'll see a A14x announced this fall at a much higher price point with more models next Spring/WWDC 2021.

I ordered the new 12.9 because I don't have one currently. Otherwise I would have waited. Considering the prices and availability of the 2018 12.9 isn't that much cheaper it made sense for me to get a new one with the Student discount.
 
Zdigital2015 said:
My parents (both in their 70’s) each have an iPad. Neither of them owns an iPhone or an Android phone. There are those who are similar in nature that have not embraced smartphones or their iPhone as a camera who will embrace this. There is an entire generation of iPad filmmakers who will embrace this. There is an entire subset of people who are transitioning to the iPad as their main computer who will embrace this and leave their iPhone charging on the bedside table while taking pictures in the moment.
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So your parents would plunk down $800 or so for iPad Pro, carry it around when traveling to take photos and videos with it?

Regular iPads I can understand. For around $300 or so, you get a very nice device with larger screen than iPhone. But aside from education and commercial purposes, iPad Pro's cameras are wasted for most people.

My recommendation is get a last generation refurbished iPad Pro (starts at $550).
 
Was this maybe released to push previous model prices down to up their sales? I don’t see a holdover unit during what’s probably going to be a global recession or worse selling super well, and Apple had to know this was coming lol
 
The magic keyboard hopefully is made a lot better than the current iPad Pro Keyboards. Those things wear out within months and are a ripoff.

The older iPad Keyboards never did that. I don’t mind paying if it is built to last.
 
This iPad Pro is not designed to encourage 2018 iPad Pro users to upgrade. Instead, it is designed to provide current buyers some nice new features without a price increase as the iPad Pro awaits a more substantial revision likely at the end of the year. If one was deciding between the iPad Air and an iPad Pro the day before the launch, that decision is now more likely to be the iPad Pro. Base storage at 128GB, 6GB RAM, new cameras, 12Z SoC, make spending $300 more on the new iPad Pro a more defensible purchase.
 
Ghost31 said:
just to sum up what’s going on right now: ignore the iPad Pro if you have a 2018. The real upgrade is the magic keyboard and it’s not even out yet.

the lack of a real processor Upgrade is downright bizarre. So bizarre it scratches that part of my brain that thinks something else is going on. a year and a half in technology advances and yet barely a real processor bump? Yeah no. The rumors about the fall iPad update will probably be true. This is iPad 3 all over again.

I’m getting the magic keyboard and sittin happy until the real iPad comes this fall
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I sure hope that both the 11" and 12.9" iPad Pros get the same update later this year. Every Fall rumor on here seems to point to a 12.9" iPad Pro that gets Mini-LED, with no mention of the 11" at all.
 
DoctorTech said:
I agree it is iPad 3 again. I think the logic in this release is to get developers started using the Lidar before it shows up in iPhone 12 Pro and to make the mid to late 2020 iPad Pro more attractive by having some apps that take advantage of the Lidar.
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That and I believe laying the foundation for the grand daddy of all AR: the apple glasses. Won’t come this year but by the time it does, people will already be diggin AR a bit more and find it a bit more useful to the point Apple glasses aren’t just a heads up display but something they look forward to using their iPad apps on.

personally, I would love to just be able to wear glasses and while my hands are full, say “measure this” and look left to right and measure what I’m holding with lidar accuracy. What Apple needs to apple glasses to not be a failed product is a reason for it to exist besides fashion
 
Side thought: to any Apple online apologist who refers to us designers/devs begging for refreshed iMac/Cinema Display/affordable Mac Pro for years now as a "niche" group...

Does it get ANY more niche than a friggin Lidar camera on an iPad? Good grief, Cupertino
 
Jury said:
The Apple iPad keyboard is absurdly 3X more expensive than a magic keyboard for iMac. What a horrible way to overcharge your customers.
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While iPad Magic Keyboard is by no means cheap, its price isn't so bad when you consider that it has (1) Apple Magic Keyboard ($99 for Mac) and (2) Apple Magic Trackpad ($129 for Mac), while adding an extra USB-C port and doubling as a case protecting front and back.

My criticism is uncertainty with future iPad Pro models. Apple will more than likely change the form factor of iPad Pro in the future. Meanwhile, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 are almost guaranteed to work with future Macs and iPads.
 
nutmac said:
While iPad Magic Keyboard is by no means cheap, its price isn't so bad when you consider that it has (1) Apple Magic Keyboard ($99 for Mac) and (2) Apple Magic Trackpad ($129 for Mac), while adding an extra USB-C port and doubling as a case protecting front and back.

My criticism is uncertainty with future iPad Pro models. Apple will more than likely change the form factor of iPad Pro in the future. Meanwhile, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 are almost guaranteed to work with future Macs and iPads.
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It's still a very overpriced product and the trackpad vertical space is way too small. I don't recommend buying it!
 
Ghost31 said:
That and I believe laying the foundation for the grand daddy of all AR: the apple glasses.
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Currently they can barely keep the Apple Watch face “on all the time”...

Color me skeptical that we are even remotely close to these glasses being “a thing”

Nor do I even see how they’ll handle all the people who already need to wear glasses to actually see & function.

So many challenges it’s hard to even count them.
 
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