9.7" iPad Pro's 'Excellent' Display is 'Major Upgrade' Over iPad Air 2

[Mazz0928]

I'm outside the return period but I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it. I would say it's just the screen quality isn't great. I was watching a live streaming football match at the weekend and I was disappointed at that too. You can see the screen lag as the ball was passed creating a weird affect of seeing multiple balls flicker across the screen. Very odd. I tried to watch an HD movie I downloaded from iTunes and the picture quality was very poor on that to. It's the first iPad I've owned that I'm genuinely disappointed with.

I made an account just to respond to this. I just returned the iPad Pro 9.7 for an air 2, upgrading from an iPad 4th gen. The IPP 9.7 screen is not as advertised, and after some reflection, and thinking. It probably has to do with diminishing revenue from tablets. It's not even better than the 4th gen screen. It has a warmer tone option, it's not an advanced amazing technology. It's basically the same as the auto brightness setting, just for color. While that's nice to have. It doesn't objectively make the screen better.

Now, that's not why I returned it, there's a big problem with the screens refresh rate that can be seen when scrolling through text, and watching video, 60fps doesn't look like 60. Lots of ghosting and blur. The text is supper fuzzy when scrolling. Basically, the iPad pro's screen is slightly marginally better if you prefer warmer colors in a static image, but when motion starts anywhere, this is the worst iPad out of all. I'm pretty sure they cut corners and made the variable refresh rate seem like a feature, when overall it's way, way worse.

For anyone questioning the source of this, which is my experience. I'm a competitive street fighter player that has to be able to perceive and react to 1-3 frame Windows, during 60 fps. I have a 1 ms display which displays motion extremely well. The IPP 9.7 inch in motion is just plain bad. When I returned it, the very nice lady even said "wow" because she could see it too. Problem is the average consumer doesn't understand that and will just say "X" feature is better because I was told so. Kind of sad, I was looking forward to using the pencil a bit, but there's no way that price justifies Apple cutting this many corners.

Corporate shenanigans at its best here folks, Apple has changed. They were more trustworthy when they were at the top of innovation, now it seems they have resorted to maintaining a number at the cost of your wallet and experience.

 

[majkom]

I made an account just to respond to this. I just returned the iPad Pro 9.7 for an air 2, upgrading from an iPad 4th gen. The IPP 9.7 screen is not as advertised, and after some reflection, and thinking. It probably has to do with diminishing revenue from tablets. It's not even better than the 4th gen screen. It has a warmer tone option, it's not an advanced amazing technology. It's basically the same as the auto brightness setting, just for color. While that's nice to have. It doesn't objectively make the screen better.

Now, that's not why I returned it, there's a big problem with the screens refresh rate that can be seen when scrolling through text, and watching video, 60fps doesn't look like 60. Lots of ghosting and blur. The text is supper fuzzy when scrolling. Basically, the iPad pro's screen is slightly marginally better if you prefer warmer colors in a static image, but when motion starts anywhere, this is the worst iPad out of all. I'm pretty sure they cut corners and made the variable refresh rate seem like a feature, when overall it's way, way worse.

For anyone questioning the source of this, which is my experience. I'm a competitive street fighter player that has to be able to perceive and react to 1-3 frame Windows, during 60 fps. I have a 1 ms display which displays motion extremely well. The IPP 9.7 inch in motion is just plain bad. When I returned it, the very nice lady even said "wow" because she could see it too. Problem is the average consumer doesn't understand that and will just say "X" feature is better because I was told so. Kind of sad, I was looking forward to using the pencil a bit, but there's no way that price justifies Apple cutting this many corners.

Corporate shenanigans at its best here folks, Apple has changed. They were more trustworthy when they were at the top of innovation, now it seems they have resorted to maintaining a number at the cost of your wallet and experience.

And did you try more than 1 piece, maybe you just had flawed unit...?

 

[Mazz0928]

And did you try more than 1 piece, maybe you just had flawed unit...?

Compared them in the Apple Store side by side. Air 2 next to IPP 9.7. 2 of the employees working there agreed. So, yes it was observed on all of the IPP 9.7 inch I could see. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the 12.9, and just for the record, I really wanted to like the pro 9.7.

 

[majkom]

Compared them in the Apple Store side by side. Air 2 next to IPP 9.7. 2 of the employees working there agreed. So, yes it was observed on all of the IPP 9.7 inch I could see. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the 12.9, and just for the record, I really wanted to like the pro 9.7.

Ill check it out, cant believe that all reviewers missed this, if its common ipad pro 9.7 behaviour...

 

[Mazz0928]

Ill check it out, cant believe that all reviewers missed this, if its common ipad pro 9.7 behaviour...

Like I said earlier, the average consumer probably won't catch it, but since my eyes are sensitive to these things I can tell very much. Im almost positive it has to do with the variable refresh rate, but it may have something to do with a different panel. I kept wanting to go back and read text on my iPad 4th gen because of this.

Edit: you really need to compare it next to an iPad 4th gen, Air, and air 2 to see the full effect of the difference, and maybe a monitor or tv that displays up to 60htz. You can probably see it without the comparison, but not as much, and excuse me for being upset, but journalism (reviewers) today may be the worse source for learning about a product. Very hard to trust, or find an honest take on a product.

 

[ValO]

I can' t see it on the 12.9 iPad Pro . It would certainly be very bad if this ghosting is really there on the 9.7 iPad Pro . But reviewers aren't seeing it.
People need to stop complaining about the price. Nag, nag, etc.
If this ghosting is proven, then there is ground to complain. Until then, it is a great update.
Great speakers, great screen, high speed, and the 32 gb is just as expensive as the iPad air1 32 gb when released.
You can just say the memory got cheaper this year, etc. But the screen tech is definitely more sophisticated and more expensive, the speaker system is more expensive, the smart connector tech is more expensive, the soc is more expensive, etc.
If you are talking about tech prices of the memory and that it has gotten cheaper, so apple should make the iPad cheaper, you should also be fair and take the price of other tech components in consideration. You can' t have it both ways. That is more consistent and is fair.

 

[Mazz0928]

I can' t see it on the 12.9 iPad Pro . It would certainly be very bad if this ghosting is really there on the 9.7 iPad Pro . But reviewers aren't seeing it.
People need to stop complaining about the price. Nag, nag, etc.
If this ghosting is proven, then there is ground to complain. Until then, it is a great update.
Great speakers, great screen, high speed, and the 32 gb is just as expensive as the iPad air1 32 gb when released.
You can just say the memory got cheaper this year, etc. But the screen tech is definitely more sophisticated and more expensive, the speaker system is more expensive, the smart connector tech is more expensive, the soc is more expensive, etc.
If you are talking about tech prices of the memory and that it has gotten cheaper, so apple should make the iPad cheaper, you should also be fair and take the price of other tech components in consideration. You can' t have it both ways. That is more consistent and is fair.

I said earlier that Im not sure if it's on the 12.9 version. The ghosting on the 9.7 is visible in video, but the problem is the variable refresh rate. It overall makes the screen look worse in motion in every media type. If the 12.9 doesn't share the same refresh rate, then we know what the problem is. Albeit, I think there's a new type of display used as well in the 9.7, so that could be the problem too. Looking at the benchmarks comparing the 8x to 9x. I would only recommend the 12.9 inch to anyone looking for pro features. The 9.7 is clearly flawed. So if somebody doesn't want to draw, and wants the 10 inch tablet experience. The air 2 is a better tablet screen, there isn't any amount of gibberish that could fool these eyes.

 

[Zirel]

It also fails miserably as a surfboard and a frisbee. The iPad isn't the kindle.

Likewise, the kindle fails miserably indoors, and displaying movies, pictures, web pages.

You didn't write that on a kindle, and I wrote thing in an iPad Pro.

 

[MH01]

The camera doesn't make it rock or anything while on its back, just so you know. You won't notice it at all.

is it different from the 6S plus, cause i find the protruding camera annoying when the phone is flat
[doublepost=1460537720][/doublepost]

Just wondering, is this a matter of practicality or principle?

Does the fact that it doesn't wobble make a difference to you?

both . I don't see the point of putting in a better camera at the expanse of clean design, especially in an iPad. One thing people don't use the iPads for is to take pictures. If you aim this as a pro unit , and laptop replacement, the person taking pictures is going to have something a heck of a lot better than an iPhone camera to take stills/video

 

[ValO]

I said earlier that Im not sure if it's on the 12.9 version. The ghosting on the 9.7 is visible in video, but the problem is the variable refresh rate. It overall makes the screen look worse in motion in every media type. If the 12.9 doesn't share the same refresh rate, then we know what the problem is. Albeit, I think there's a new type of display used as well in the 9.7, so that could be the problem too. Looking at the benchmarks comparing the 8x to 9x. I would only recommend the 12.9 inch to anyone looking for pro features. The 9.7 is clearly flawed. So if somebody doesn't want to draw, and wants the 10 inch tablet experience. The air 2 is a better tablet screen, there isn't any amount of gibberish that could fool these eyes.

I know what you said. The comment about the price was not meant for you. That was meant for the people complaining about prices, because they calculate component pricing for the memory and come to the conclusion that it is too expensive because of memory pricing. But if that is their main reason for faulting iPad Pro pricing, they conveniently seem to forget to be consistent about the more expensive other components. (Display, camera, soc, speakers, smart connector, etc)It works both ways.
It would be a shame if these display issues were true for the 9.7, I hope not...

 

[gadget123]

I can' t see it on the 12.9 iPad Pro . It would certainly be very bad if this ghosting is really there on the 9.7 iPad Pro . But reviewers aren't seeing it.
People need to stop complaining about the price. Nag, nag, etc.
If this ghosting is proven, then there is ground to complain. Until then, it is a great update.
Great speakers, great screen, high speed, and the 32 gb is just as expensive as the iPad air1 32 gb when released.
You can just say the memory got cheaper this year, etc. But the screen tech is definitely more sophisticated and more expensive, the speaker system is more expensive, the smart connector tech is more expensive, the soc is more expensive, etc.
If you are talking about tech prices of the memory and that it has gotten cheaper, so apple should make the iPad cheaper, you should also be fair and take the price of other tech components in consideration. You can' t have it both ways. That is more consistent and is fair.

Then being out a 16gb model? This is 2016 though many expected 32gb as standard as the 8gb iPhone went to 16gb. If memory was an issue why was it £479 for a 64gb last year explain? Why is the SE better prices? Old case new internals iPad Pro similar internals £100 rise no pencil. Do the maths Apple are taxing IPad users for releasing a cheap IPhone.

At £499 it's our priced for rival tablets on the market. People will buy last years model and with innovative IOS updates this is not the Apple way to have people running old machines.

If you can defend the price your rich enough it won't matter. At £100 a rise you can not tell me other than Apple fans as said that this will be in homes and people buying it? It's a Pro and it's Pro priced.

Do what you want Apple but a 16gb Air 3 or Pro is required otherwise I will be very bold and say iPad is finished. Sales will be slow whilst usage of old ones will be high. People will update every 5 years not every 2-3.

Apple with its poor update and cheek to add £100 on has made my Air 2 good for another year. Like me you will see most are the same 2gb ram Air vs Pro nobody missing much performance come IOS10. I read this forum and we discussed Air 2 was the most future proof iPad. They even missed there annual fall update to what a year and a half release the same tablet with a pencil and a bigger price.

Nobody is buying this one Apple.

 

[ValO]

Then being out a 16gb model? This is 2016 though many expected 32gb as standard as the 8gb iPhone went to 16gb. If memory was an issue why was it £479 for a 64gb last year explain? Why is the SE better prices? Old case new internals iPad Pro similar internals £100 rise no pencil. Do the maths Apple are taxing IPad users for releasing a cheap IPhone.

At £499 it's our priced for rival tablets on the market. People will buy last years model and with innovative IOS updates this is not the Apple way to have people running old machines.

If you can defend the price your rich enough it won't matter. At £100 a rise you can not tell me other than Apple fans as said that this will be in homes and people buying it? It's a Pro and it's Pro priced.

Do what you want Apple but a 16gb Air 3 or Pro is required otherwise I will be very bold and say iPad is finished. Sales will be slow whilst usage of old ones will be high. People will update every 5 years not every 2-3.

Apple with its poor update and cheek to add £100 on has made my Air 2 good for another year. Like me you will see most are the same 2gb ram Air vs Pro nobody missing much performance come IOS10. I read this forum and we discussed Air 2 was the most future proof iPad. They even missed there annual fall update to what a year and a half release the same tablet with a pencil and a bigger price.

Nobody is buying this one Apple.

I am not rich enough. But you are saying the iPad Pro should be cheaper because memory components are getting cheaper.
Great theory that serves your purpose.
But if you think the main reason it should be cheaper is because of component prices of just memory. You have to be fair and take other components pricing also in your calculations.
But you don' t! Memory is cheaper now. True... But you forget the display, speakers , camera , soc, smartconnector parts are more expensive.
And a lot more expensive.
But you only want to take the parts that has become cheaper in your calculations, if you are fair and consistent, you should also take the other parts that are more expensive in your calculations.
It works both ways, not just your way.

 

[Marshall73]

Like I said earlier, the average consumer probably won't catch it, but since my eyes are sensitive to these things I can tell very much. Im almost positive it has to do with the variable refresh rate, but it may have something to do with a different panel. I kept wanting to go back and read text on my iPad 4th gen because of this.

Edit: you really need to compare it next to an iPad 4th gen, Air, and air 2 to see the full effect of the difference, and maybe a monitor or tv that displays up to 60htz. You can probably see it without the comparison, but not as much, and excuse me for being upset, but journalism (reviewers) today may be the worse source for learning about a product. Very hard to trust, or find an honest take on a product.

The new screens switch between 30 and 60hz to save power. So when browsing it's in 30hz. To see it in 60hz action just watch: http://distribution.bbb3d.renderfarming.net/video/mp4/bbb_sunflower_2160p_60fps_normal.mp4

 

[Taipan]

$100 price increase still unacceptable!

You are lucky, in Europe they went from 529€ to 689€ for the cheapest model.

 

[NT1440]

I'm outside the return period but I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it. I would say it's just the screen quality isn't great. I was watching a live streaming football match at the weekend and I was disappointed at that too. You can see the screen lag as the ball was passed creating a weird affect of seeing multiple balls flicker across the screen. Very odd. I tried to watch an HD movie I downloaded from iTunes and the picture quality was very poor on that to. It's the first iPad I've owned that I'm genuinely disappointed with.

Something is definitely wrong there. Your iPad sounds like it's not even performing at the level the original iPad did. Get it checked out.

 

[gadget123]

I am not rich enough. But you are saying the iPad Pro should be cheaper because memory components are getting cheaper.
Great theory that serves your purpose.
But if you think the main reason it should be cheaper is because of component prices of just memory. You have to be fair and take other components pricing also in your calculations.
But you don' t! Memory is cheaper now. True... But you forget the display, speakers , camera , soc, smartconnector parts are more expensive.
And a lot more expensive.
But you only want to take the parts that has become cheaper in your calculations, if you are fair and consistent, you should also take the other parts that are more expensive in your calculations.
It works both ways, not just your way.

They are not! If that was the case why does the SE carry the same camera as the 6S or 6 and have the latest processor some of iPhone 6s features. The only reason it's cheap as like I say it's prob alt old iPhone 5S stock or parts adding an extra colour which might ramp up production but only a small amount.

Fact: components seem to be cheap regarding SE pricing

Yet fact: iPad components are going up

Contradiction? The iPad Pro is also an older shell first used on the air 1. It's not new nothing to increase costs. Speakers are probably about 5p and most use Bluetooth speakers these days anyway.

Nobody is pulling the wool over anybody's else's the odd fan is sticking up but I've never seen so much lack of enthusiasm for a new iPad. The excitement is for the IPad Pro as it has 4gb ram and it's larger.

Apple has failed not in a major way just people will avoid the 9.7" pro in favour of cheaper iPads or the larger Pro. It takes any fun or excitement out of last months announcement?
[doublepost=1460548465][/doublepost]Apple probably felt just adding Pro was enough to the name only it's been unraveled as nothing more than an Air 3 with a pencil and could have been called Air 3.

What next IPhone 7 minus 7 with a Pro name add £100? Very possible so I shall wait and see if I swap my 6S. Rumour is they want a even larger iPhone by a few inches for those extra cameras so I expect Apple to try and flog the name.

Atleast the Air name never added £££$$$$€€€€ to products. Numbering them never but Pro? Leave the Pro for the Mac book range whoever at Apple is coming up with this is making Apple look silly whilst the general consumer still see it as only the latest iPad.

Bonkers.

If every company could come up with a name they would all be rich. Microsoft tried to sell Windows on phones and that flopped in a massive way. We all know now jobs is there Apple copy Samsung that's bad enough but atleast IOS is better. Apple are trying to be like Dyson almost sell a name.

iOS and Mac book are very very different customers I don't need to tell many on these forums but the majority who use iOS probably use Windows. I know many Apple fans use both on here but Windows remains cheaper and more popular for the consumer and we buy iPad as it can do what a PC can do just as good

/ rant over

 

[NT1440]

Contradiction? The iPad Pro is also an older shell first used on the air 1. It's not new nothing to increase costs. Speakers are probably about 5p and most use Bluetooth speakers these days anyway.

Tooling out sound chambers and mounting points says this is not the same shell. It may be the same dimensions, and look the same, but from a manufacturing standpoint, it is NOT the same.

 

[gadget123]

You are lucky, in Europe they went from 529€ to 689€ for the cheapest model.

Exactly it's a rip off unless you go for the larger memory ones which is better value. Question is can they hold there resell value? Air 2 is worth close to what an iPad 4/Air 1 so anybody updating yearly for a middle market Pro think twice I say.
[doublepost=1460548981][/doublepost]

Tooling out sound chambers and mounting points says this is not the same shell. It may be the same dimensions, and look the same, but from a manufacturing standpoint, it is NOT the same.

I watch Apple events for years yes they say it's all new this that the tear down on here tell the truth. It's the same shell it was rumoured to be the same its stronger as they stuffed more inside it and added some speakers. They forgot usb 3.0 did they not? Forgot waterproofing it that's next year or year after, no 4K, no OLED display.

They updated the cheap as chips parts like cameras.

Maybe they just felt like increasing price a year early so we are use to paying this for 4K which is worth £499? Apple should be able to retail any iPad for £400-£450 even with that.
[doublepost=1460549115][/doublepost]Unless you can find proof from the favourites that this is a better iPad then go ahead.

The tear down is complete I will be amazed if this is worth £499. Bet the parts are cheaper than Air 2 am sure the breakdown showed that. No 3gb ram no 4gb ram 2gb ram same as air and iPhone 6s.

Apple making a massive retail mark up country to country. £100 is too much and it's greed.

 

[Marshall73]

Exactly it's a rip off unless you go for the larger memory ones which is better value. Question is can they hold there resell value? Air 2 is worth close to what an iPad 4/Air 1 so anybody updating yearly for a middle market Pro think twice I say.
[doublepost=1460548981][/doublepost]

I watch Apple events for years yes they say it's all new this that the tear down on here tell the truth. It's the same shell it was rumoured to be the same its stronger as they stuffed more inside it and added some speakers. They forgot usb 3.0 did they not? Forgot waterproofing it that's next year or year after, no 4K, no OLED display.

They updated the cheap as chips parts like cameras.

Maybe they just felt like increasing price a year early so we are use to paying this for 4K which is worth £499? Apple should be able to retail any iPad for £400-£450 even with that.
[doublepost=1460549115][/doublepost]Unless you can find proof from the favourites that this is a better iPad then go ahead.

The tear down is complete I will be amazed if this is worth £499. Bet the parts are cheaper than Air 2 am sure the breakdown showed that. No 3gb ram no 4gb ram 2gb ram same as air and iPhone 6s.

Apple making a massive retail mark up country to country. £100 is too much and it's greed.

erm, don't buy one then and its not greed its business. Ship a new range of iPads with class leading performance, faster ram and nand, best display out there, pencil support then pop the price up a bit as you are offering more, drop the price on the older model and give yourself a new price point for future models rather than being stuck at the older price which hasn't changed year after year. Sounds like good business.

 

[Scarpad]

If you want to see a major difference, put any ipad side by side with the galaxy tab S, an 18 month old device. The difference is night and day.

I agree I own the Tab S2 and I think the amoled display is still better

 

[Mazz0928]

The new screens switch between 30 and 60hz to save power. So when browsing it's in 30hz. To see it in 60hz action just watch: http://distribution.bbb3d.renderfarming.net/video/mp4/bbb_sunflower_2160p_60fps_normal.mp4

Yea, that's a deal breaker for me. I spend maybe 80% of my time on the ipad doing research, and reading. Scrolling through the screen makes the text so fuzzy I got eyestrain, while never experiencing it with the ipad 4th gen. That for me is a huge downgrade. Youtube wasn't functioning correctly at 60 fps, and was producing a lot of ghosting. I have no idea if this is a code issue or what, but these things are unacceptable for a 800 dollar purchase. I feel stupid now for trusting Apple wouldn't do something stupid like this to save power.

Screen refresh rate is so important for viewing quality. Hopefully they fix these issues with there next iteration, but for now I'll use the Air 2. Having returned the pro 9.7 128, the smart cover, back, and the pencil while also purchasing the Air 2. I now have 500 dollars store credit with apple. I'll just wait until they get their act together before getting another tablet, but tbh the air 2 may suffice for as long as I'll need.
[doublepost=1460552050][/doublepost]

Something is definitely wrong there. Your iPad sounds like it's not even performing at the level the original iPad did. Get it checked out.

It's not a defect. Read my posts, the new refresh rate tech, and different screen display cause these issues. I compared the ipad pro 9.7 with an air 2 in store, and 2 other people agreed they saw the problem as well. I was surprised, they were surprised. I didn't expect this from apple.

 

[DNichter]

is it different from the 6S plus, cause i find the protruding camera annoying when the phone is flat
[doublepost=1460537720][/doublepost]

I don't have a 6s Plus so I couldn't say, but the 9.7 pro does not rock at all when laying flat on a surface.

 

[NT1440]

It's not a defect. Read my posts, the new refresh rate tech, and different screen display cause these issues. I compared the ipad pro 9.7 with an air 2 in store, and 2 other people agreed they saw the problem as well. I was surprised, they were surprised. I didn't expect this from apple.

So, something that can be addressed in a firmware update. Got it.

The world is ending, Apple is doomed.

 

[Mazz0928]

So, something that can be addressed in a firmware update. Got it.

The world is ending, Apple is doomed.

Listen, I'm not an apple hater, I don't prefer windows, or android over apple, and vice versa. I'm not acting like the sky is falling.

Firmware update? Idk, honestly I don't. If the variable refresh rate is built into this device, and not changeable, a firmware update would be useless. It's possible its buggy at launch with some apps. I'd say they'll probably fix certain apps like youtube not displaying 60fps correctly, but again idk, it may be a byproduct of the choice to go with a completely different refresh rate, and i wouldn't be surprised if they do away with it in the next iteration of the pro 9.7. They should have at least gave the option to have it on or off at the choice of the user. Want longer battery usage? Then sacrifice some screen quality, but to have it stuck in that setting is a pretty bad decision.

 

[zhenya]

It's not a defect. Read my posts, the new refresh rate tech, and different screen display cause these issues. I compared the ipad pro 9.7 with an air 2 in store, and 2 other people agreed they saw the problem as well. I was surprised, they were surprised. I didn't expect this from apple.

I have a 4th gen iPad, Air 2 and a new Pro. The Pro's screen is by far the best - the 4th gen is noticeably worse in almost every respect. If there is a refresh issue (the other iPads aren't with me at the moment to compare) it's something that can easily be fixed in software. (I'm not seeing it compared to my iPhone 6s though - and I have a monitor/computer setup that often defaults to 30hz and I have to manually fix it - I've very aware of what it looks like.)