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I guess apple can charge you $3,000 bucks for the iPad Pro and you'd still buy it I mean heck it's new technology

Well if I was in the market for an upgrade I'd have weigh out the value and go from there - just as I did moving up to the iPad Pro from my dated iPad 3.
 
I think in general, if you are coming from a model older than Air2, then buying an Air2 at this point isn't really a good idea. If the mythical Air3 with all the upgrades of 9.7 Pro minus Pencil / Smart Connector support existed for $499 starting price, then of course, that is the best choice for people looking to upgrade their existing 9.7 models. But since that doesn't exist, and at this point the Air2 is year and half old technology, if you plan to keep this iPad for more than a year, then pay the extra money for the iPad Pro, and it'll last you at least a year longer, if not two years longer, than the Air2. So IMO that's worth it, even if you do not use the Pencil or Smart Keyboard.
 
I've no idea what makes you thing there was/is anything wrong with the Air1 and its processor.
It was my iPad until I bough the Pro and it is now still used by my wife.
It runs absolutely fine with iOS 9.

Much better than its predecessor (iPad 4) yet surpassed by its successor (Air 2)
Isn't this true of all iPads?
Lack of multitasking, and safari unusable with more than one tab - if you want to retain your content, like responding here.

Purposely gimped machine.
 
The title of the thread says everything. Today, I have been comparing ipad air 2 (starting at 399$. And you can choose the 64gb version for 499$) with 9'7" ipad pro (starting at 599$ with only 32gb). No differences on real performance, with split view or multitasking. About same weight, same dimensions (so same feel in your hands). The cameras are very good, but... I don't see myself carrying a full size ipad to take photos. The screen is almost the same (with antiglare or contrast, true tone not useful with videos or photos (you really have to turn it off if you want to see real colours of that content). Very good speakers with MUCH less vibration at high volume.
Summary: buying the ipad pro is not worth it, unless you know you're going to use the pencil a lot...

Thanks for your advice but no thanks...
 
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Perhaps a better way to word the thread is for non tech or non media users, since seems a no brainier in favor of the Pro for others.

Better display
Much better speakers
Significantly faster
About two hours more battery life per reviews and my own use concurs
Runs cooler
256gb option (I got one)

That's some key examples and I do not use the pen.

Added: The premise for the litmus of pen use seems to disregard a lot of other things. Even the jaded reviewers in media land see this.
 
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My battery is about the same, 10% per hour drain, but I agree with the rest. Pen is also good for pdf editing and signing for me.


Perhaps a better way to word the thread is for non tech or non media users, since seems a no brainier in favor of the Pro for others.

Better display
Much better speakers
Significantly faster
About two hours more battery life per reviews and my own use concurs
Runs cooler
256gb option (I got one)

That's some key examples and I do not use the pen.

Added: The premise for the litmus of pen use seems to disregard a lot of other things. Even the jaded reviewers in media land see this.
 
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The storage configurations are what make it tricky. If you're just going to use it as a basic tablet (no pencil, media production, etc.) — and 16GB is enough storage for you — seems hard to believe it would be worth an extra $200 for the base (32GB) Pro.

But if you need more than 16GB — and 32GB will be sufficient / 64Gb more than generous — it becomes a $100 decision (64GB Air 2 @ $500 vs. 32GB Pro @ $600). Could it be worth paying extra for the Pro in this scenario? This is what I'd like to know, as our family looks to upgrade our rickety old (32GB) iPad 2.

$600 feels like a lot for something that sits around the house and gets picked up from time to time. OTOH, stretched out over the years that we'll own the thing, the extra $100 won't amount to much -- and if the Pro will keep us happy a year or two longer, then the difference will "pay for itself," I guess...
 
Lack of multitasking, and safari unusable with more than one tab - if you want to retain your content, like responding here.
Honestly, even if the Air had 2GB RAM, I doubt the A7 CPU is fast enough to have handled multitasking well anyway. I currently have an iPad 3, 4 and Air all running iOS 9 and while performance differences between the 4 and Air were pretty negligible at launch, the lead the Air has over the 4 is pretty noticeable now. Even then, I find the Air to be quite slow when rendering complex webpages. The tab refresh thing is annoying but with benefit of hindsight, it appears to me Apple tried to strike a balance. I reckon Apple figured 1GB is good enough given the features that would require more RAM would also require a faster SoC than the A7.

Certainly would be nice if iPads had more RAM but I'm really not into cutting off my nose to spite my face. For now, iPads are still the best tablets I've used overall (form factor, battery life, apps, warranty support, etc) so I'll continue to buy them. I'm not going to suffer through another year of using a 16GB iPad just because Apple didn't increase RAM in the latest model. Also have no wish to deal with the increased size and weight of the 12.9" IPP at the moment. As much as I like the Android OS itself, finding good hardware is a bit of a crapshoot due to the sheer selection (and I've wasted more than $3K over the years trying to find an Android tablet I'd like). Windows 10? Hah.

Mind, this forum now saves drafts so you don't lose your post. :p
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$600 feels like a lot for something that sits around the house and gets picked up from time to time. OTOH, stretched out over the years that we'll own the thing, the extra $100 won't amount to much -- and if the Pro will keep us happy a year or two longer, then the difference will "pay for itself," I guess...
Guess this is why I'm not all that bothered by cost (and I did get 256GB LTE). The iPad goes with me everywhere and I use it far more than I do my iPhone, laptop and desktop combined.
 
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Nothing of that justifies the incremental expense. 9'7 ipad pro should have been priced at 499$ (it's only an ipad air 3 with pencil support). The ipad market is shrink, and apple increases the prince tag...we'll see the results of sales in next months.


The tech that goes into the new screen and integration with the pencil, the screen, and the iPad is enough to justify starting at 32gb and charging that price. There is a lot that goes into R&D. If it isn't worth it to you, then no don't buy it. But for those that appreciate the upgrades, it obviously is worth it. Doesn't make anyone that bought the new iPad wrong...it means those that bought it and are keeping it, are happy with the upgraded tech. If your happy with your year and a half old tech, then that is great, save your money...for those that wanted something more, it is a good upgrade. Seems like a win win for both sides. Some can be happy with what they already had, some get to be happy with new improved tech.
 
The tech that goes into the new screen and integration with the pencil, the screen, and the iPad is enough to justify starting at 32gb and charging that price. There is a lot that goes into R&D. If it isn't worth it to you, then no don't buy it. But for those that appreciate the upgrades, it obviously is worth it. Doesn't make anyone that bought the new iPad wrong...it means those that bought it and are keeping it, are happy with the upgraded tech. If your happy with your year and a half old tech, then that is great, save your money...for those that wanted something more, it is a good upgrade. Seems like a win win for both sides. Some can be happy with what they already had, some get to be happy with new improved tech.

The changes between ipad air to ipad air 2 were bigger that these, and they didn't increase the price.

-lighter and thinner. (More portable)
-a7 to a8x (more performance increase than a8x to a9x)
- a new screen (full laminated, without air gap, with 40% less reflectance, near perfect colours).the differences between air and air 2 screens were more obvious than ipad air 2 to pro differences (and this is inquestionable).
- new speaker with more power (but with more vibrations).
-much better cameras.
-TOUCH ID
-etc...

I haven't got ipad air 2. But I have compared all of them, because I love tech and I'm trying to be impartial here. If there was no reason with the air 2 release to increase the price, now the reasons are the same. It's only an incremental update to the 9'7 line. So the idea of this thread is...why apple has increased the price 200€ (489 to 689)? Will they do the same thing with the next iphone?
Iphone 6s plus>iphone 7 plus or pro
849 to 949...by the face!!!
 
I'll jump in with my thoughts, as this is something that's been on my mind too for the past few days. There's no doubt that the Pro is better than the Air 2, but there's also the fact that each new iPad is better than the previous one, and this doesn't usually come with a price increase. Considering one also has to buy the keyboard and pencil separately to take advantage of all the new stuff the Pro offers, to me it also feels like the price increase is unnecessary.

Obviously I don't work at Apple, I don't know the costs associated with developing and manufacturing this iPad, or with the financial thinking behind the pricing, but to me it simply feels like this is the next iPad, so of course it's better than the old one. But just like iPhones, Macs and basically all the other products that don't increase in price with each iteration, this one probably shouldn't have either.

But in the end everyone's free to make their own choice and buy what they like. If I was buying a new iPad I'd probably go for the Pro to have the latest and greatest, but at the same time would've still been irritated by the price.

Anyway, let's keep things nice between ourselves at least. We all have different opinions, this is the point of the forum, but attacking people personally or their (perceived) financial situation is a bit uncalled for. There are better things to do in life than to brag about your money or belittle others on a forum. :)
 
Lack of multitasking, and safari unusable with more than one tab - if you want to retain your content, like responding here.

Purposely gimped machine.

As I've already said, the Air is better than its predecessor, yet surpassed by its successor.
I still don't get why you are singling it out as if there is anything special about it.
You could say the same of the Air2 (lack of always on "hey Siri", lack of true tone, lack of 4 speakers, etc...)

By the way, I have never had a problem with multiple tabs on the Air1.
I would guess you have never had an Air 1. In any case you are being disingenuous when talking about its capabilities.
 
As I've already said, the Air is better than its predecessor, yet surpassed by its successor.
I still don't get why you are singling it out as if there is anything special about it.
You could say the same of the Air2 (lack of always on "hey Siri", lack of true tone, lack of 4 speakers, etc...)

By the way, I have never had a problem with multiple tabs on the Air1.
I would guess you have never had an Air 1. In any case you are being disingenuous when talking about its capabilities.
These kinds of threads are useless, because everyone is going to defend their own purchase. The only reason you make a thread like this is because you think what you already own is good enough and you don't like it when Apple makes you feel like you don't have the best thing anymore. Whether you just feel like you don't need the new thing, or you don't want to spend the money, or whatever. The point is, if you don't want something, that's fine. I don't think anyone is going to ridicule you in public if you're walking around with an Air 2 instead of a Pro.

But to make a thread and command people not to buy the Pro because the gazillion new features it has over the Air 2 are useless or pointless in your opinion? Come on. I've noticed that most people that get down on the Pro absolutely REFUSE to acknowledge most of its new features.

"It doesn't have 4 GB of RAM. It's junk."
"But it has quad stereo speakers!"
"It doesn't have 4 GB of RAM."
"But it has the A9X!"
"Yeah, but that RAM though. How can you call it a Pro?"
"But it has True Tone and the Smart Connector!"
"RAM. 2 GB. Not Pro."
"What about the Apple Pencil?!"
"Look, I know all that stuff is cool, but I have somehow decided that any tablet without 4 GB of RAM is officially not Pro. That's a rule I've made. End of story. I command you not to buy one, because I don't want one. Also, have you heard about the RAM scandal?"
 
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These kinds of threads are useless, because everyone is going to defend their own purchase. The only reason you make a thread like this is because you think what you already own is good enough and you don't like it when Apple makes you feel like you don't have the best thing anymore. Whether you just feel like you don't need the new thing, or you don't want to spend the money, or whatever. The point is, if you don't want something, that's fine. I don't think anyone is going to ridicule you in public if you're walking around with an Air 2 instead of a Pro.

But to make a thread and command people not to buy the Pro because the gazillion new features it has over the Air 2 are useless or pointless in your opinion? Come on. I've noticed that most people that get down on the Pro absolutely REFUSE to acknowledge most of its new features.

"It doesn't have 4 GB of RAM. It's junk."
"But it has quad stereo speakers!"
"It doesn't have 4 GB of RAM."
"But it has the A9X!"
"Yeah, but that RAM though. How can you call it a Pro?"
"But it has True Tone and the Smart Connector!"
"RAM. 2 GB. Not Pro."
"What about the Apple Pencil?!"
"Look, I know all that stuff is cool, but I have somehow decided that any tablet without 4 GB of RAM is officially not Pro. That's a rule I've made. End of story. I command you not to buy one, because I don't want one. Also, have you heard about the RAM scandal?"


Indeed.
I guess you have quoted my post because we agree?
 
OP should really update the title to be something more along the lines of "My opinion of iPad Pro 9.7 vs. iPad Air 2".

You only offer your opinion as to why the Pro isn't much better than the Air 2, but you state it as fact. As others pointed out ,there are plenty of improvements that justify the price. Yes part of it is Apple trying to increase the average selling price of the iPad.

There are plenty of reviews on the net as well as threads about the new iPad Pro here on MR- I don't see what value this thread brings other than just another opinion.
 
New school Apple users rolling up. We have never been concerned with specs in devices. Until now it seems. As op states, no real benefit over the iPad Air 2. The second you start saying specs, the point of the op is proven. You are not taking photos with your iPad. Serious ones anyway. If you are serious, it will wear off when the fairy dust settles.

I like a new product just as well as the next user, but OPS point is valid, and I don't think he was speaking for every user out there.
 
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New school Apple users rolling up. We have never been concerned with specs in devices. Until now it seems. As op states, no real benefit over the iPad Air 2. The second you start saying specs, the point of the op is proven. You are not taking photos with your iPad. Serious ones anyway. If you are serious, it will wear off when the fairy dust settles.

I like a new product just as well as the next user, but OPS point is valid, and I don't think he was speaking for every user out there.

Sorry, could you explain my "op" and "OPS point" terms? I think I've understood what you mean, but anyway, I like learning more english words. Thanks!
 
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