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Apple Has Likely Abandoned 'iPad Ultra' Plans

rosuna said:
Lets see the next sales numbers, with MacBook Neo in the market.
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You assume that because some of you hold the false belief that most buyers are making their decision between a MacBook and an iPad. The iPad is a tablet first! It’s added appeal is that it is versatile to serve different use cases, with the addition of Apple Pencil and/or Magic Keyboard.
 
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Dorfdad said:
Love how they frame it as failure to sell. The hardware has been fantastic and ahead of its time. Everyone who has one love the form factor size and power. The problem has always and will always been Apple trying to “LIMIT” the iPad to a niche product. This device should be running a full OSX desktop class OS and it would be their number one seller. The NEO has shown already that there is no real reason the technology inside can’t run the full OS, it’s apple fault and I hope the new management turns this around.
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The iPad is not a niche product. It sells in much higher volumes than the Mac (including the iPad Pro). And one of the reasons is iPadOS. I’m pretty sure an iPad with macOS would fail.

There was never a doubt about whether the iPad could technically run macOS. The reason it doesn’t do it is because macOS is just a bad OS for a tablet.
 
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I remember years ago there was a company that would take your MacBook and turn it into a pad it was deemed jake of all trades and master of none I believe they are no longer in business.
 
Dirk Pieters said:
That’s a weird thing to say after having spent $15k, no?
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Why? Value to me may not be the same as to someone else. The current iPad Pro 13 does not provide sufficient value to justify it's price tag that would encourage me to buy it. That I can afford it is not the point. That is clearly the view of many.
 
tomtad said:
Apple needs a rethink of their iPad strategy. There should be just two iPads.

iPad - The affordable content consumption device and sketchbook, similar to Job's original vision. Focused on single apps but allows multitasking like it worked previously on the iPad with Split View and slide over. A series chips. LCD display (laminated). £329 for the 8 inch 'mini' and £429 for the 11 inch. Folio style keyboard/trackpad can be added for £99.

iPad Pro - The iPad that can be a computer. Works just like the regular iPad but attach a keyboard/trackpad and the interface turns into macOS. M series chips. OLED display. £799 for the 11 inch at £999 for the 13 inch. Magic Keyboard can be added for £199.


That creates two very distinct product lines and a much more compelling offer that what Apple currently have imo
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Reading your post made me think of the computers in The Circle by Dave Eggers.

These were tablets that were full touchscreen computers, which could be plugged into a monitor, mouse and keyboard and turned into a full desktop computer (I think they may have had portable keyboards too).

On reading it, I thought ‘wow this is how computers should be’.

And it’s striking that we still don’t have a device like this, more than 10 years after the book was published.

‘Wait!’ Multiple people here might cry, ‘this is exactly what the (IPP or IPA) is!’

But could anyone seriously imagine a big tech company issuing their employees with the iPad as their primary computer to be connected to a keyboard mouse and monitor?

It’s not the hardware that’s at fault, it’s clearly the software.

Taking of which, Microsoft offer the Surface line as a modular computer, but again, the problem is clearly the software ie Windows.

So I hope that JT takes a long hard look at the iPad and decides what it’s for.

Back to your post: it shouldn’t be too hard for Apple to keep iPadOS as the basic iPad content consumption device that you outline.

Neither should it be hard for Apple to make iPadOS properly power the IPP.

They’ve already worked out a platform to satisfy both power users and more casual users - macOS.

I don’t think that macOS should appear on the iPad. Just that its ideas should more liberally be grafted onto iPadOS.

And then see which form factor wins out. I suspect that both would continue to happily co exist for the next decade.

Then predicting more than 10 years ahead in tech? Who knows.
 
Yourbigpalal83 said:
I dont understand the concept of a foldable ipad. What are we gaining from this? It folds close like a laptop? Ok...my 11 inch m4 pro with the magic keyboard case does the same thing without bending the screen.

The Ipad needs to just go back to being an IPAD...or blend it in with the standard macbook lineup. It has to happen at some point. What more can you do with an ipad now besides the usual faster processor and cameras? Once the OLED 120hz screens hit the air and basic models their isnt much left you can do except various sizes. The entire ipad line needs revision and its not that hard. You have the Mini as your entry level for portable use...the 11 inch size for your midrange every day use, and the 13 inch for your touch screen laptop style work.

With the rumored iphone fold/ultra your going to canalbize the mini sales to some extent. Why would i want a seperate iphone and ipad when i can have both in one... so the bigger versions have to stand out and making them hybrid laptops is the only solution i can think of, and they allready are with the magic keyboard.

Outside of intentional software restrictions i dont see why my current M4 ipad pro cant run MacOS and just become a touch screen MacBook 11 inch? The only reason apple doesnt do that is because they want me to buy a 11 inch macbook air or 13 inch macbook pro as well.

but at some point, you have to blend those two items together. The macs have to get touch screens at some point and they are allready blending the mini's with the phone.
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So the ipad needs to go back to being an iPad or it needs to become a Mac? Which is it? That type of confusion is the reason why iPad OS is in the state it is in today.
 
Solution is simple. Get rid of iPad Air line. iPad should be iPad - yes have a cheaper starting model for edu but the Air line has no reason to exist. Oh and ‘iPad’ should support pro motion across the board, no excuses. Make the iPad Mini part of the iPad line as just a size option, it doesn’t need to be its own separate thing.

Secondly the iPad Pro needs to be able to run Mac OS when docked / connected to a monitor or Magic Keyboard. Pro should actually mean something, and if this drives the cost up then so be it. Also the iPad Pro should only be available in the larger size configuration.

This then leaves space for a foldable model dubbed ‘Ultra’, if Apple so wanted to introduce one.
 
I know a lot of artists who’ve been dreaming of a larger iPad ultra for years now. But i can see why Apple is abandoning it. I only hope as an artist myself, that Apple never abandons the iPad Pro! It is literally my favorite device Apple has ever made. I am just now about to upgrade my 2018 ipad pro after nearly 8 years! These things really last forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple increases their update cycle to over 2 years. They are already incredibly overpowered for most users needs.
 
rosuna said:
MacBook Neo is the end of the iPad Pro, which has no advantage over a laptop except the touch screen. It costs the same or more than a laptop and iPadOS is not as flexible as MacOS. We are used to an interface to be used with a mouse, not with the fingers. A touchscreen interface has no advantage when you have to add a keyboard and a trackpad anyway. It's absurd. The iPad Pro concept is dead.
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iPad and MacBook serve two different purposes. The iPad Pro is arguably a niche product but can be very useful for certain pros (architects, engineers, creators, etc.) in situations where a laptop would be impractical. Here are 10 situations where an iPad Pro is better suited than a MacBook:

  1. Handwritten notes, sketches, mind maps. With the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro becomes a digital notebook: natural handwriting, highlighting, PDF markup, quick diagrams. A MacBook simply can't replicate this without external hardware.
  2. Long-form reading (PDF, scores, comics, articles). The iPad Pro is a reading device: portrait mode, comfortable ergonomics, no keyboard, one‑hand handling. A MacBook may be less pleasant for extended reading sessions.
  3. Professional document annotation. Signing, circling, crossing out, and marking up PDFs or images is dramatically faster with the Pencil. On a MacBook, doing the same with a trackpad is slower and less precise.
  4. Use while standing or moving. In a museum, on the subway, in a standing meeting, in the kitchen: the iPad Pro works like a notebook. The MacBook pretty much requires a surface to be usable.
  5. Drawing, sketching, quick creative work. Apps like Procreate, Fresco, or Concepts turn the iPad Pro into a direct‑input creative tool. On a MacBook, you need a separate drawing tablet.
  6. Casual multimedia consumption. Even pros need a break! Watching videos in bed, on the couch, or on a plane is simply more comfortable on an iPad Pro. The MacBook is heavier, warmer, and forces a fixed posture.
  7. Instant-on tasks. The iPad Pro wakes like a phone: jot a note, scan a document, check an e-mail, take a photo. The MacBook requires opening the lid and adopting a working position.
  8. Document scanning. The iPad Pro doubles as a high‑quality portable scanner (Notes, Files, Adobe Scan). The MacBook can't scan without external devices.
  9. Touch-centric workflows. Maps, floor plans, Kanban boards, creative interfaces: touch is more intuitive and efficient. The MacBook is limited to indirect input.
  10. Ultra-mobile second display. With Sidecar or Universal Control, the iPad Pro becomes a lightweight, tactile, portable second screen. A MacBook can't serve this role.
 
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iPads last a long time. Also for most people, the Air will be more than enough. Benefits of Pro are FaceID and ProMotion only. With a much higher price tag for the rumored foldable/Ultra iPad don't think it will sell. Also don't see the benefit of spending more than a MacBook Pro for an iPad.
 
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issue is nobody wants to pay 4k for a device like this. if they are going to spend 4k they will get a macbook pro or ultra when that comes out

also why pay so much for a foldable ipad when you can get a neo for like 599
 
rosuna said:
MacBook Neo is the end of the iPad Pro, which has no advantage over a laptop except the touch screen. It costs the same or more than a laptop and iPadOS is not as flexible as MacOS. We are used to an interface to be used with a mouse, not with the fingers. A touchscreen interface has no advantage when you have to add a keyboard and a trackpad anyway. It's absurd. The iPad Pro concept is dead.
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it's not the end of the ipad pro as the ipad pro you have real apps for general usage. macs still you can't use most apps you can use on an ipad. for media content the apps don't exist on mac so to say it's the end of ipad pro is just wrong.
 
Jeeve Stubbs said:
iPad and MacBook serve two different purposes. The iPad Pro is arguably a niche product but can be very useful for certain pros (architects, engineers, creators, etc.) in situations where a laptop would be impractical. Here are 10 situations where an iPad Pro is better suited than a MacBook:

  1. Handwritten notes, sketches, mind maps. With the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro becomes a digital notebook: natural handwriting, highlighting, PDF markup, quick diagrams. A MacBook simply can't replicate this without external hardware.
  2. Long-form reading (PDF, scores, comics, articles). The iPad Pro is a reading device: portrait mode, comfortable ergonomics, no keyboard, one‑hand handling. A MacBook may be less pleasant for extended reading sessions.
  3. Professional document annotation. Signing, circling, crossing out, and marking up PDFs or images is dramatically faster with the Pencil. On a MacBook, doing the same with a trackpad is slower and less precise.
  4. Use while standing or moving. In a museum, on the subway, in a standing meeting, in the kitchen: the iPad Pro works like a notebook. The MacBook pretty much requires a surface to be usable.
  5. Drawing, sketching, quick creative work. Apps like Procreate, Fresco, or Concepts turn the iPad Pro into a direct‑input creative tool. On a MacBook, you need a separate drawing tablet.
  6. Casual multimedia consumption. Even pros need a break! Watching videos in bed, on the couch, or on a plane is simply more comfortable on an iPad Pro. The MacBook is heavier, warmer, and forces a fixed posture.
  7. Instant-on tasks. The iPad Pro wakes like a phone: jot a note, scan a document, check an e-mail, take a photo. The MacBook requires opening the lid and adopting a working position.
  8. Document scanning. The iPad Pro doubles as a high‑quality portable scanner (Notes, Files, Adobe Scan). The MacBook can't scan without external devices.
  9. Touch-centric workflows. Maps, floor plans, Kanban boards, creative interfaces: touch is more intuitive and efficient. The MacBook is limited to indirect input.
  10. Ultra-mobile second display. With Sidecar or Universal Control, the iPad Pro becomes a lightweight, tactile, portable second screen. A MacBook can't serve this role.
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100%

also apps that we use on our iphone that we use on our ipad simply isn't possible on the mac as most apps aren't supported.
 
bluecoast said:
Why would you buy an iPad Pro when it has trouble doing pro things?

It doesn't even have multi user logins. The MacBook Neo does - at half the price.

If Apple seriously upgrade iPadOS, then serious sales will likely follow.

But having said that - the Air is probably premium enough for most people and the IPP seems doomed to be a niche product - the Mac Pro of the iPad line.
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It also can't mount an encrypted sparse image, which was created on a mac!
 
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The issue with iPad Pro is that it has the most ridiculous hardware one can imagine. And the most underpowered software. I bought a M4 13" last year, and after really trying to use it for creation, it ended up being mostly media consumption and....note taking. I really fail to see the use case that justifies the performance, and thus cost, for a large user base.

And as mentioned before, not supporting multi-user profiles is a deal breaker for a lot of users. I would pay extra to have the ability to have a fully split, zero overlap, system for work and private. I don't trust MDM or my IT department to enroll my private device onto their network.

Also plugging it into a screen is still ****.
 
rosuna said:
MacBook Neo is the end of the iPad Pro, which has no advantage over a laptop except the touch screen. It costs the same or more than a laptop and iPadOS is not as flexible as MacOS. We are used to an interface to be used with a mouse, not with the fingers. A touchscreen interface has no advantage when you have to add a keyboard and a trackpad anyway. It's absurd. The iPad Pro concept is dead.
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The Neo is not a replacement for an iPad purely because of its form factor. I walk around our facility with an iPad all day long and. using while standing dealing with staff and equipment, I am not going to do that with a laptop of any variety. They are two distinct markets still.
tomtad said:
iPad - The affordable content consumption device and sketchbook, similar to Job's original vision. Focused on single apps but allows multitasking like it worked previously on the iPad with Split View and slide over. A series chips. LCD display (laminated). £329 for the 8 inch 'mini' and £429 for the 11 inch. Folio style keyboard/trackpad can be added for £99.

iPad Pro - The iPad that can be a computer. Works just like the regular iPad but attach a keyboard/trackpad and the interface turns into macOS. M series chips. OLED display. £799 for the 11 inch at £999 for the 13 inch. Magic Keyboard can be added for £199.
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I like this idea and think they should have done this a long time ago. I think it should go even further though and let you run MacOS off an iPhone when plugged into a monitor. I don't think the iPad should run MacOS when using it as an iPad but should convert to MacOS when an external monitor is present. This would of course kill a lot of sales for Apple if their devices were actually multifaceted. This would be the greenest solution, fewer devices that can do more, but of course that is not the type of green Apple really cares about despite all their back patting.
 
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I woul'd much rather see the MacBook 11" coming back, then a large more powerful iPad.

Now I have the 13'6 Air, and it's both light and a great Mac, but I still miss the smaller size of the MacBook.
We'll see if Johnny Apple can be the wizzard that some customers hope for.
 
MacBooks have a **** display compared to the iPad Pro. Yes including the ultra expensive MacBook Pros. It’s ludicrous to claim the MacBook can replace iPad. The iPad Pro has the best screen of any product in Apple’s lineup.
 
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The iPad Pro just doesn't offer great value for what you pay. Yes, the screen is wonderful, probably the best of any Apple product right now, but that's where it ends. They need something to really differentiate it especially at the price point. If it was MacOS capable when docked it would be an instant buy for me, even at a higher price point.
 
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