Can you describe the difference between screen of iPad 2017 & Pro 9.7

[Broadus]

I would love to be contented with the iPad 2017, but I'm wondering just how much better is the screen of the PRO 9.7.

If you can help, please provide descriptions as detailed as possible. And if you want to throw the PRO 10.5 into the mix, feel free. This is an important area of concern to me with the amount of time I spend reading books and such.

I'm trying to satisfy my frugal heart, getting a 128GB Pro 9.7 only should the 2017 appear to have been compromised too much with the screen. If the 10.5 is that much better than the 9.7, I may have to wait for a bit of a sale around Thanksgiving.

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[M5RahuL]

The best suggestion I can offer is to see them both in person, and decide.

Also, consider the Air 2, if your demands are met with media consumption and reading books.

 

[akash.nu]

Also apple don't sell a pro 9.7 anymore.

 

[pika2000]

It's actually easy. Will you be using the Apple pencil?
If the answer is yes, get the Pro.
If the answer is no, get the 2017 iPad. It can do all the multitasking as well.

The screen difference will not be easily appreciated unless you have both models side by side all the time, so I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

[seadragon]

iPad 2017 is night.
iPad Pro is day.

Personally, I prefer day.

 

[macintoshmac]

iPad 2017 is night.
iPad Pro is day.

Personally, I prefer day.

But I love twilight!

 

[maflynn]

If you can help, please provide descriptions as detailed as possible. And if you want to throw the PRO 10.5 into the mix, feel free. This is an important area of concern to me with the amount of time I spend reading books and such.

Here's what Engadget says:

I believe the ram on the new IPP is 4GB, so that's probably one of the larger improvements. I think the A10X is a nice step up as well.

Check out what MacWorld UK has to say, they do a more indepth review of the differences between the two models.

 

[Broadus]

The best suggestion I can offer is to see them both in person, and decide.

Also, consider the Air 2, if your demands are met with media consumption and reading books.

Personally comparing the two is obviously best, but that is getting harder to do with the 10.5 released and the 9.7 Pro dropped, not to mention living in a rural area.

The Air 2 would give a better screen for reading, it seems.

Also apple don't sell a pro 9.7 anymore.

Apple doesn't, but retailers and owners of the latest PROs do. Costco had a recent two-day sale on the 9.7 PRO 128GB for $525. It's now back to $575. I probably should have ordered.

It's actually easy. Will you be using the Apple pencil?
If the answer is yes, get the Pro.
If the answer is no, get the 2017 iPad. It can do all the multitasking as well.

The screen difference will not be easily appreciated unless you have both models side by side all the time, so I wouldn't be too worried about it.

I don't know that I'll be using the pencil or even other PRO features, but the non-laminated screen of the 2017 gives me pause. I have had an Air 1 for a few years and the screen has always seemed a little "off" to me. I had not realized that Apple changed the screen for the Air 1 from the 2, 3, and 4 before recently reading threads here, but I compared it to my wife's iPad 3 last night and was struck by the difference. The Air 1 display in general and fonts in particular appear a bit "hazy" when compared to the older iPad 3.

I may be more persnickety than many, but if the display of the 2017 is somewhat similar to the Air 1 and that of the 9.7 Pro somewhat similar to the iPad 3, that entice me want to pony up for one of the PROs. The other features would be a bonus.

 

[dimonius]

What I learned from YouTube reviews, the screen of the iPad 2017 is more washed out compared to iPad pro 9.7. It does not have laminated screen like the pro. Although, it`s brighter than the pro. Air 2 should have a better screen compared to the iPad 2017 too. The best is to compare them side by side to see the difference.
Personally, I decided to get the pro since the screen was important to me. Additional features are nice as well. Since many people are upgrading to 10.5 and selling their 9.7 pros, you can get a nice used 9.7 pro with warranty for ~ the same price as the new iPad 2017. I got mine for $350 shipped with ~6 month left on the warranty.

 

[Broadus]

What I learned from YouTube reviews, the screen of the iPad 2017 is more washed out compared to iPad pro 9.7. It does not have laminated screen like the pro. Although, it`s brighter than the pro. Air 2 should have a better screen compared to the iPad 2017 too. The best is to compare them side by side to see the difference.
Personally, I decided to get the pro since the screen was important to me. Additional features are nice as well. Since many people are upgrading to 10.5 and selling their 9.7 pros, you can get a nice used 9.7 pro with warranty for ~ the same price as the new iPad 2017. I got mine for $350 shipped with ~6 month left on the warranty.

Thanks. You understand where I'm coming from. Is yours a 32GB? I'm trying to determine what's a good price for a 128GB 9.7 in mint condition.

 

[dimonius]

Yes, I got 32gb one, they are easier to find as it`s a base model that priced cheaper. Check swappa or ebay, just pay attention to the warranty (if any) and screen condition.

 

[pika2000]

I don't know that I'll be using the pencil or even other PRO features, but the non-laminated screen of the 2017 gives me pause. I have had an Air 1 for a few years and the screen has always seemed a little "off" to me. I had not realized that Apple changed the screen for the Air 1 from the 2, 3, and 4 before recently reading threads here, but I compared it to my wife's iPad 3 last night and was struck by the difference. The Air 1 display in general and fonts in particular appear a bit "hazy" when compared to the older iPad 3.

I may be more persnickety than many, but if the display of the 2017 is somewhat similar to the Air 1 and that of the 9.7 Pro somewhat similar to the iPad 3, that entice me want to pony up for one of the PROs. The other features would be a bonus.

I have the mini 2 (similar screen as the Air 1). I also have the 10.5 pro. What's more noticeable is the frame rate of the 10.5. I personally never notice the difference between laminated screen or not. The pro motion is the more obvious feature.

I would look for refurbished Air 2 then. It has laminated screen, and lighter than the 2017 iPad. The downside is that units with larger storage might not be easy to come by.

As for between the 9.7 or 10.5 Pros, unless you find a significantly cheaper 9.7 pro, I would just get the 10.5. It will be a nice jump from the Air 1, especially with pro motion.

 

[Raist3001]

but I compared it to my wife's iPad 3 last night and was struck by the difference. The Air 1 display in general and fonts in particular appear a bit "hazy" when compared to the older iPad 3.

I may be more persnickety than many, but if the display of the 2017 is somewhat similar to the Air 1 and that of the 9.7 Pro somewhat similar to the iPad 3, that entice me want to pony up for one of the PROs. The other features would be a bonus.

Both the Air1 and iPad3 have a resolution of 2048x1536 and a Pixel Density of 264 ppi and an IPS LCD.

The 2017 iPad does not have a laminated display. That was a deal breaker for me.

 

[akash.nu]

Apple doesn't, but retailers and owners of the latest PROs do. Costco had a recent two-day sale on the 9.7 PRO 128GB for $525. It's now back to $575. I probably should have ordered.

I see what you mean. Generally I don't buy apple products from any other resellers.

I don't know that I'll be using the pencil or even other PRO features, but the non-laminated screen of the 2017 gives me pause. I have had an Air 1 for a few years and the screen has always seemed a little "off" to me. I had not realized that Apple changed the screen for the Air 1 from the 2, 3, and 4 before recently reading threads here, but I compared it to my wife's iPad 3 last night and was struck by the difference. The Air 1 display in general and fonts in particular appear a bit "hazy" when compared to the older iPad 3.

I may be more persnickety than many, but if the display of the 2017 is somewhat similar to the Air 1 and that of the 9.7 Pro somewhat similar to the iPad 3, that entice me want to pony up for one of the PROs. The other features would be a bonus.

If you aren't going to use the pro features then I strongly advise to actually try the screen first. The price difference is what makes all the difference for me. I don't use the pro features at all and having bought the 2017 iPad I don't regret at all. Although, granted I don't read novels or anything like that on it much, have kindle for extended reading period but mostly everything else works just fine for me. Especially if you're not going to use it under direct sunlight. It's a very powerful device to be able to achieve everything else you'd like to throw at it.

 

[Broadus]

I see what you mean. Generally I don't buy apple products from any other resellers.

If you aren't going to use the pro features then I strongly advise to actually try the screen first. The price difference is what makes all the difference for me. I don't use the pro features at all and having bought the 2017 iPad I don't regret at all. Although, granted I don't read novels or anything like that on it much, have kindle for extended reading period but mostly everything else works just fine for me. Especially if you're not going to use it under direct sunlight. It's a very powerful device to be able to achieve everything else you'd like to throw at it.

Thanks--I read your thread where you bought the 2017 iPad. I'm glad it's working well for you.

I read non-fiction on the iPad. It's easier to navigate footnotes than the Kindle, not to mention other academic things, but a Kindle is my favorite e-device for reading. Were it not for concern about the screen, I'd order the 2017 iPad with little hesitation. I've yet to see a 2017 iPad in person, but I've read that it compares to the Air 1 with the non-laminated screen, only with more brightness.

 

[spiderman0616]

I will add my two cents: Even before there was such a thing as "fully laminated screens" on an iPad, I noticed the "thump" sound on my iPad Air 1. I have to admit, it felt a little cheap and flimsy to me. The construction of the iPad itself overall was great as always, and I LOVED the new form factor of the original Air, but something was off about the screen. I imagine it's the same sensation with the 2017 iPad. You just can't beat that fully laminated screen.

 

[Broadus]

I will add my two cents: Even before there was such a thing as "fully laminated screens" on an iPad, I noticed the "thump" sound on my iPad Air 1. I have to admit, it felt a little cheap and flimsy to me. The construction of the iPad itself overall was great as always, and I LOVED the new form factor of the original Air, but something was off about the screen. I imagine it's the same sensation with the 2017 iPad. You just can't beat that fully laminated screen.

I know what you mean. Moving from the iPad 3, I loved the form factor of the Air but not so much the screen.

 

[rui no onna]

I will add my two cents: Even before there was such a thing as "fully laminated screens" on an iPad, I noticed the "thump" sound on my iPad Air 1. I have to admit, it felt a little cheap and flimsy to me. The construction of the iPad itself overall was great as always, and I LOVED the new form factor of the original Air, but something was off about the screen. I imagine it's the same sensation with the 2017 iPad. You just can't beat that fully laminated screen.

Lol, I learned to use very light taps. I found the plasticky sounding tapping noise to be very annoying.

 

[Broadus]

Thanks for all the input. Our tax-free weekend is in three weeks, so I may take advantage of that and order a new iPad Pro then.

 

[Mainsail]

Think of it like the difference between the MBA and the MBP. There are lots of people that use their MBA everyday and love it. It is a very cost effective option for common computing tasks. However, the display is inferior to the MBP. The processor is better in the MBP. And, the MBP has a touch bar option for a different input method.

The 2017 iPad has a Retina display, which many people will find more than adequate....but, it is inferior when compared to the iPad Pro's display. The 2017 iPad has a somewhat dated processor, but it appears to be more than capable of handling iOS 10 and iOS 11 beta. The iPad Pro can make use of the Apple Pencil, which provides a different input tool, but I am really not sure how many people need or want this capability.....kind of like the touch bar.

Of course, much of the user experience is driven by the Operating System, and both iPads use the same OS.....so, it is not a complete surprise that someone might be somewhat disappointed that the Pro experience is really not that much different than the standard iPad. Especillay true if you do not make frequent use of the Apple Pencil.

 

[Broadus]

Think of it like the difference between the MBA and the MBP. There are lots of people that use their MBA everyday and love it. It is a very cost effective option for common computing tasks. However, the display is inferior to the MBP. The processor is better in the MBP. And, the MBP has a touch bar option for a different input method.

The 2017 iPad has a Retina display, which many people will find more than adequate....but, it is inferior when compared to the iPad Pro's display. The 2017 iPad has a somewhat dated processor, but it appears to be more than capable of handling iOS 10 and iOS 11 beta. The iPad Pro can make use of the Apple Pencil, which provides a different input tool, but I am really not sure how many people need or want this capability.....kind of like the touch bar.

Of course, much of the user experience is driven by the Operating System, and both iPads use the same OS.....so, it is not a complete surprise that someone might be somewhat disappointed that the Pro experience is really not that much different than the standard iPad. Especillay true if you do not make frequent use of the Apple Pencil.

I have to see the displays. One of the reasons I switched to a MacBook Pro in 2013 (a 2012 rMBP) was because of the display (not to mention 25 years of fighting various Windows OS's ). A noticeably better display is something I'll pay for.

 

[zedsdead]

The 2017 iPad has the Air screen basically, and to me when I had that iPad it felt noticeably inferior to the prior and future iPads. It felt like cheap plastic with a noticeable air gap. Is it bad, no, but it is without a doubt an inferior screen.

The new iPad Pro screen with the 120hz is the best screen I have ever used. When you hold it in you hands it’s as if the smaller bezels just disappear and you have a floating screen in your hands because of how smooth it is. Really an amazing achievement, almost as big as retina was. Throw in the true true and laminated display and it is incredible.

If you are asking about the screen quality then you will notice the difference, so I would recommend getting the iPad Pro.

 

[44267547]

The 2017 iPad has the Air screen basically, and to me when I had that iPad it felt noticeably inferior to the prior and future iPads. It felt like cheap plastic with a noticeable air gap.

Well said. And this is exactly why I passed on the 2017 9.7 iPad. The price point was very tempting, but the Air gap and touching the display would have a completely different experience over the Pro's with the laminated display.

 

[akash.nu]

Yes, completely agree with all the previous posts. If you're that focussed about the screen then you will see the difference. Pro it is for you then.

 

[Acronyc]

Some of the replies here make it sound like the 9.7 iPad is not a very good tablet, which I think is not giving the new 9.7 a fair argument. I bought the 32GB version with cellular and have no regrets. Sure, the Pro has a better display, pen support, pro motion, true tone, and other features, but the new 9.7 is still a fantastic iPad.

I never had an Air but I don't get the argument about a cheap feeling to the new iPad's screen. I have a mini 4 which has a laminated screen and tapping on that and the new iPad sounds the same to me.

The displays also look very similar and the only time I really notice it is if I have them side by side outside, which isn't that often. Using the new iPad outside is not really bad either.

If the screen is the most important thing to you and you don't mind spending a bit more, then the Pro is the only iPad for you. I'd just get the new Pro though as the cost is similar enough and the new one will probably give you more use.

But the new 9.7 iPad is still an awesome tablet. It's fast, has a great screen, is still very light, will likely last for many years, and is cheap. I debated between the Pro and the new 9.7 but I feel if you really want to take advantage of all the new features of the Pro you have to buy the Smart Keyboard and Pen, add then if you want wireless and apple care plus you are up to $1,200, which is about the same price as the new MBP.

For me, a tablet cannot yet replace a computer and I only use an iPad for couch surfing, occasional email, reading, and some games here and there. I don't need to spend as much as a Mac to get that, so I went with the new 9.7, even though the screen is so "terrible", as many might argue.

Anyway, just my opinion. Whatever you get enjoy it, and it's nice Apple has more iPad options now for more types of buyers.