Don't buy 9'7" iPad pro if you're not going to use the pencil with it! (It's only an advice...)

[rui no onna]

As op states, no real benefit over the iPad Air 2.

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.

Honestly, if you go back and look at reviews, the same thing has been said for every previous generation. The only difference is now, the price gap is bigger ($399 vs $599 instead of the old $399 vs $499).

I expect the market will dictate what pricing is acceptable. If demand for the Pro 9.7 is much lower than expected, we'll likely see some discounts in a couple of months like there are for the iPP 12.9.

 

[Night Spring]

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!

OP stands for "original post" or "original poster." It's just a term we use in this forum to refer to the first post in a thread. It's not a word that's used in general English.
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$600 feels like a lot for something that sits around the house and gets picked up from time to time.

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.

Same here. I have the iPad in my hands every free moment that I have, from when I wake up until when I go to bed. The iPhone is handy when I go out, but almost never get used while home. And my iMac is the device that sometimes gets used from time to time.

So if you don't use it that much, then maybe the $399 entry level Air2 is good value.

 

[rui no onna]

Same here. I have the iPad in my hands every free moment that I have, from when I wake up until when I go to bed. The iPhone is handy when I go out, but almost never get used while home. And my iMac is the device that sometimes gets used from time to time.

So if you don't use it that much, then maybe the $399 entry level Air2 is good value.

Lol, even the iPhone stays inside my purse for the most part. I answer calls and messages from my iPad (really appreciate call and SMS forwarding in iOS 8 onwards). My usage is probably 80-90% iPad, 10-20% everything else (except, of course, when I'm working and using the employer-supplied desktop).

Really nice thing about the iPad is the battery easily lasts an entire day. If I used the iPhone as often as I used the iPad, I'd need to charge the phone twice a day.

 

[apolloa]

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...

Couldn't disagree anymore with you. The iPad Pro does not 'purely exist to serve the Apple pencil features'. It offers the best screen of any iPad, tons of power, chances of not bogging down in 3 years time with iOS updates, and excellent speakers. It's probably THE best media consumption tablet their is with the advantage of being used for work purposes.

 

[BenTrovato]

The problem with this thread is that sound and visuals greatly differ by who is looking and who is listening. Some people can't tell the difference between a retina and non-retina screen, let alone True Tone and non True Tone. Some people are tone def and/or don't use the speakers on their iPad beyond 20% volume let alone 2 vs. 4 speakers.

You guys are arguing apples and oranges. The iPad Air was better than the iPad 4. The Air 2 better than the Air, and the Pro better than the Air. It's one thing to not need a new iPad, it's another thing entirely to not understand the new product performs better.

 

[Night Spring]

The iPad Air was better than the iPad 4. The Air 2 better than the Air, and the Pro better than the Air. It's one thing to not need a new iPad, it's another thing entirely to not understand the new product performs better.

I don't think people are saying the 9.7 Pro isn't better than the Air2, but that it's not worth the price increase of the base model, unless you plan to use the Pencil.

 

[spiderman0616]

I don't think people are saying the 9.7 Pro isn't better than the Air2, but that it's not worth the price increase of the base model, unless you plan to use the Pencil.

It's worth the price increase if you want the features that you don't get on the Air 2. There's plenty to love about the Pro. To some people it's worth it, to others it's not. The issue here, like in many threads, is that people are telling other people how they should/shouldn't spent their money. It's subjective.

 

[mpavilion]

[...] So if you don't use it that much, then maybe the $399 entry level Air2 is good value.

Yeah but as I mentioned earlier, we need more than 16GB... so it becomes a tougher ($500 vs. $600) decision. (I'm the guy whose family iPad 2 doesn't get a ton of use — I'm sure partly due to it now being slow as molasses — but we do need a new one, and at least 32GB storage.)

 

[chrismail627]

I just bought the Pro over the Air 2. I was upgrading from an Air 1. While I don't plan on using the pencil or keyboard, I just felt it was the better buy. The Air 2 is almost 2 years old, and I'm pretty sure as the years go on Apple will be giving the Pro better features (even if the Air 2 can handle it). The 4 speakers, better display (plus true tone!), faster processor and better camera make it worth it for me.

 

[Eckscaliber]

I just bought the Pro over the Air 2. I was upgrading from an Air 1. While I don't plan on using the pencil or keyboard, I just felt it was the better buy. The Air 2 is almost 2 years old, and I'm pretty sure as the years go on Apple will be giving the Pro better features (even if the Air 2 can handle it). The 4 speakers, better display (plus true tone!), faster processor and better camera make it worth it for me.

Same here.

 

[Night Spring]

Yeah but as I mentioned earlier, we need more than 16GB... so it becomes a tougher ($500 vs. $600) decision. (I'm the guy whose family iPad 2 doesn't get a ton of use — I'm sure partly due to it now being slow as molasses — but we do need a new one, and at least 32GB storage.)

In that case, my inclination will be to get the 32GB iPad Pro, and hope the faster speed will entice your family to use it more! Although, I wonder if it'll get used more if it was somebody's personal device? Someone started a thread about "who uses the iPad?" and last I checked, the overwhelming response seemed to be, "me and only me!"
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/who-uses-your-ipad.1967037/#post-22790040

 

[richard371]

Same here. I'm coming from the air so this is a nice little jump. If I had the air 2 I prob would not have bothered.

Same here.

 

[frogger2020]

Wow, you either are a shill or you have convinced yourself something that isn't true just to justify your purchase. There is almost no difference between the air 2 and the iPad Pro outside of pencil support and true tone. Stop misguiding people just because you wasted money on an unnecessary "upgrade".

Wow, you joined just to make this comment? Way to go sport!

 

[mpavilion]

In that case, my inclination will be to get the 32GB iPad Pro, and hope the faster speed will entice your family to use it more! Although, I wonder if it'll get used more if it was somebody's personal device? Someone started a thread about "who uses the iPad?" and last I checked, the overwhelming response seemed to be, "me and only me!"
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/who-uses-your-ipad.1967037/#post-22790040

Thx for the feedback. It is technically my wife's (I use an almost-as-slow iPad 3, issued by my workplace). I'm sure she will use it more, once we have a new/faster one. The thing is, though -- phones are so much faster than they were a few years ago, and always right at hand...

 

[Night Spring]

The thing is, though -- phones are so much faster than they were a few years ago, and always right at hand...

Interesting to hear how other people's habits differ. We come home, plug in our phones to their chargers next to the bed, then sit in the living room with our iPads. So then the phones are no longer at hand, and the iPads are.

 

[Rushmore69]

I don't think people are saying the 9.7 Pro isn't better than the Air2, but that it's not worth the price increase of the base model, unless you plan to use the Pencil.

That's why the post seems biased and horse blinded, since it presumes the litmus for ownership is the pen, in spite of the other new features and performance improvements.

 

[joscejrod]

I'm changing my thoughts!! New 9'7" ipad pro is very cheap!!
Explanation: Amazon has just announced a Kindle that costs almost 300€. My god! It's only a book reader, with no new purpose added...

 

[rui no onna]

I'm changing my thoughts!! New 9'7" ipad pro is very cheap!!
Explanation: Amazon has just announced a Kindle that costs almost 300€. My god! It's only a book reader, with no new purpose added...

Niche market. It's not going to sell anywhere near the volume of the iPad so much lower economies of scale and there's R&D, too. Amazon needs higher markup to make up for the lower sales volume. Besides, it wasn't so long ago that the Kindle was selling for $399.

This device isn't for someone who reads maybe a book a year. It's for avid readers who spend hours reading everyday. At 133g, that's actually around iPhone weight territory which is pretty great if one suffers from carpal tunnel, rheumatism, etc. If it was waterproof (well, resistant), I'd probably bite.

 

[Traverse]

I like my 9.7 iPad Pro so much that I might buy a few as stocking stuffers this Christmas.

Can I come over for Christmas!? I'll bring a ham!
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For people who just want to have a simple tablet, this is no brainer.

Unless they consume a lot of media (better screen) without headphones (much better sound).

That's a simple use, but each individual user will value that differently, but I agree with the premise of your idea.

 

[Vincanss]

All future iPad's are going to have a pencil support so apparently prospective buyers shouldn't get one (unless they want the pencil as well of course). Just stick with your 18 month old hardware forever more.

Strange thread.

 

[the1payday]

I love Apple's logic behind the price increase. It's not an iPad Air 3, it's an iPad "Pro"...let's raise the price! By this logic, they'll announce the next iPhones as the "iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Plus", instead of "iPhone 7" and jack the price up by $100. Hilarious.

 

[mildocjr]

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 the insight on the true tone, that post just sealed the deal on deciding whether or not to go with the smaller or larger iPad Pro. Looks like I'm getting the larger iPad Pro.
(I really came here to see what was said about the Pencil)

 

[RedOrchestra]

Hilarious.

Always remember, you're under no obligation to purchase.
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...true tone not useful with videos or photos.

BUT fantastic for just about everything else you do on an iPad.

 

[seadragon]

I'm not sure why everyone is surprised the price went up. Did you think it would be the same forever?

 

[Bricks44]

I don't understand the obsession with having to have the latest tech. I especially don't understand the obsession with a $100 pencil.