Reading from all the updated specifications with the new iPads, I would say the most talked about features right now is the 4 GB of RAM and 120 HZ refresh rate. Mainly because Apple doubled the refresh rate from 60 HZ 120 HZ, that said, the refresh rate is really going to come in to play with how media/games perform and with visuals.
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How are you feeling about your iPad Pro 9.7 now?
- Thread starter gobikerider
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Reading from all the updated specifications with the new iPads, I would say the most talked about features right now is the 4 GB of RAM and 120 HZ refresh rate. Mainly because Apple doubled the refresh rate from 60 HZ 120 HZ, that said, the refresh rate is really going to come in to play with how media/games perform and with visuals.
I've noticed that text fuzzes quite abut whe I scroll in safari. I over scroll at moderate pace on sites when looking for key phrases and this impedes that (and on pdfs too). If this new display can really keep these elements sharp in motion than I will be a happy camper.
I look forward user reviews coming this week. But I predict some fairly promising results.
Purely for cost savings, I reckon. Apple always cheaps out on RAM if they can get away with it. Disappointing but it's something I've come to expect from Apple.
That said, same as you, figured I'd be satisfied with the Pro 9.7 as long as I get at least 12 months worth of use from it. Split view was just not something I'm all that interested in on a small display. It was only a matter of time before I jumped on 12.9 but I wasn't interested in getting one back then in the name of future proofing. I much preferred to just buy the latest model when software finally caught up/matured.
I think the iPad Air is probably the best analog for the Pro 9.7. Sure, it ran out of RAM quickly. However, it was definitely much faster than iPad 3 and iPad 4 on iOS 9. I think it has fared better than older models comparatively speaking when it comes to firmware updates. The sudden move to iOS 7 with all the "eye candy" was hell on older devices.
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I either close my eyes or focus on something at a distance when speed scrolling on the iPad. The blur of text bothers my eyes.
Your post was awesome man, but that new iPad you ordered idk if you've seen but the performance is essentially 2x faster, so that figure Apple gave is only single core performance but factor in the multicore and EPIC. Also that gpu I guess they clocked it 40% faster but according to benches it's gonna be about 1.9x faster. The new graphics actually now surpass the latest Intel graphics in the MacBook Pro'sWell, I have already sold my iPad Pro 9.7" and ordered a 10.5" for the larger display. While I wouldn't have purchased the 10.5" without more than 2GB of RAM, had they simply announced an iPad Pro 9.7" with a new A10X fusion with 4GB of RAM I would not have upgraded.
This was an odd move by Apple. I still feel that the iPP 9.7" is an amazing tablet and I don't regret it because I got 1.25 years of amazing use out it (March 2016 to June 2017). It has a very powerful A9X, 2GB of RAM, Apple Pencil support and (still) one of the best displays on the market. I don't think it is "crippled" at all. Like I said a year ago, macOS can run on 2GB of RAM so the lighter weight mobile iOS should fly. The A9X is not being pushed to it's limits yet. Even under iOS 11 the iPP will be snappy, responsive, and support all the multitasking features of iOS 11 except for the background apps becoming inactive when you initiate a 3rd app (but how often do you need to use and interact with 3 apps at the same time on a 9.7" screen. Even on 10.5" that is a fringe case).
In fact, excluding RAM, I think performance will be more or less the same. The A10X is notably faster, but not dramatically so. And the 30-40% increases in performance will be largely used up by the need to push more pixels and the double refresh rate of the display. This is not a problem as even A9X level performance will be fine for years to come, but anyone upgrading strictly for CPU and GPU gains will be disappointed I think.
The RAM is one I can't quite figure out. Why APple decided to fragment the "Pro" line last year is strange. They knew then that iOS 10.3 or iOS 11 would bring about more demanding needs. While I still defend the 9.7" there is no denying that it has been undercut by this (however, it's not like the iPad 3 to iPad 4 situation that many people compare it to). While my iPP was wonderful to use, it constantly used 1.9 out of 2GB according to a monitoring app - yes, unused RAM is wasted RAM - but I did notice that occasionally Safari tabs and apps would refresh more than I liked. For normal daily use it was fine, but when I would have 8-15 tabs in safari (not typical) and jump between several apps with split view, etc, there were refereshes. The speed of the A9X made these less of an issue, but it was there.
I really don't know why Apple did this as there doesn't seem to be a logical explanation. 2GB power draw could have easily been negated. But I think most informed purchasers of the 9.7" Pro knew this would happen in the not so distant future, but again - the 9.7" Pro is only missing out on a very select feature. It's not like it's missing the next generation of computing. And 2GB of RAM will be supported and optimized for for years to come as the iPhone 6S, 7, and I'm sure 7S as well as the iPad and iPad mini all have 2GB of RAM. I think the system will be optimized for 2GB of RAM and 4GB RAM devices will just get an added boost and some select features (like more layers in Procreate) - I do not think it will be 4GB focused with 2GB devices crippled.
Sorry, I didn't mean that to go so long, I didn't think I said much, but it took a lot of words.
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Not to argue, but this really isn't the case at all. Yes, the 9.7" is now missing a fringe usage feature two iOS versions in and does have a mild refereshing problem (nothing like the Air 1), but it is still among the fastest devices in it's class.
The iPad 3 was known for it's screen and that's really it. It was underpowered at launched hidden by iOS 5. It was replaced 6 months later by a dramatically better model. Two iOS updates in (5 to 7) the iPad 3 began to rapidly decline. Lag, stutter, crashes. By iOS 8 the devices was (to me) unusable. Scrolling in PDFs left massive amount of white until the rendering caught up, Safari took 5-15 seconds per page, you'd tap and app and stare at its darkened icon for 2-5 seconds sometimes waiting for a launch. It was indeed crippled.
The iPad Pro is know for its monumental CPU and GPU horsepower, incredible screen, quality speakers, and Pencil support. True, it's lacking on RAM, but that is only apparent when the device is pushed moderately hard. A lack of CPU/GPU will ruin the experience. A lack of RAM won't makes things slow. If the Pro refershed like the Air 1 then it would be bad due to constant reloading, but - my pro at least - can easily keep 5-6 tabs open in Safari, notes, music, YouTube, Notability all open and responsive.
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Excited for that 120 refresh rate?
The main reason I upgraded was for slightly larger screen (I thought 9.7" was a little too small, but 12.9" was just uncomfortable to me).
Since I ordered last week I've read from hands on reviews that the refresh rate is dramatic. Granted the hype train is chugging along, but I hope it is indeed a noticeable improvement as I was feeling a bit guilty for upgrading.
While I wasn't sure the new Pro would be bigger, I new a faster, better, shinier Pro would come next year, but I won't agonize over it. Instead I'll look at the benefit the Pro gave me.
The 12.9 was not for me so I had to get the for the Pencil. Over hr last year I used this Pro for:
- Teaching using split view to have the book in one side and the solutions in the other.
- Used the hand write over 100 pages of solutions with color coding to help students follow.
- Drawing and writing using the Smart Keybiard (the first iPad keyboard I've been able to use)
The benefits I received out of this sleek and portable computer for teaching alien justified its use and enabled things I couldn't do easily before. I can't regret all that. Had I chosen the 9.7 over the 10.5 I would have, but at the time the 9.7 was my only option.
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I either close my eyes or focus on something at a distance when speed scrolling on the iPad. The blur of text bothers my eyes.
I thought I was the only one! I usually like up at something random or just scroll slowly. I get a headache if I look at the screen because my eyes can't help but try and fixate on the black blurs that look like an etch-a-sketch
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I was not aware of that as usually Apple's metrics are fairly accurate. I've been waiting for reviews to go live.
If true, I'm ecstatic!
You got a link to where you got this info from? Need to see it!
I'm sure if you pull up my posting history, you'd see this is pretty much what my concern was when the 9.7" was released with a ram amount and core count that didn't seem very forwards facing. Its disappointing to just over a year later see a pro marketed (and priced!) device already losing out on features that even the 12.9" pro released before it was equipped to accommodate.
That said, I bought the device for what it could do at the time, and as long as it can do that, I am ok. My bigger concern is that if the 9.7" is already running up against a performance bottleneck preventing the implementation of a new feature, does this mean it might also start to struggle with everyday tasks because of "all the other new stuff" in iOS 11?
This more than anything else is what worries me and has frustrated me with apple devices lately. But I know thats a losing battle to fight around here. It seems like the mantra has become "just sell it and get the latest one" rather than dare challenging apple to maintain a quality baseline for what should be core things like scrolling and input responsiveness for more than just the most recent generation of devices. I even worry how that bodes for these new 120hz displays. If UI smoothness is now being marketed as a tentpole feature, how soon can people be told they're being too picky if OS updates introduce choppiness and lag?
Anyway, I am still happy with my 9.7" because it still perfectly meets my needs, I just hope I can keep it that way.
That said, I bought the device for what it could do at the time, and as long as it can do that, I am ok. My bigger concern is that if the 9.7" is already running up against a performance bottleneck preventing the implementation of a new feature, does this mean it might also start to struggle with everyday tasks because of "all the other new stuff" in iOS 11?
This more than anything else is what worries me and has frustrated me with apple devices lately. But I know thats a losing battle to fight around here. It seems like the mantra has become "just sell it and get the latest one" rather than dare challenging apple to maintain a quality baseline for what should be core things like scrolling and input responsiveness for more than just the most recent generation of devices. I even worry how that bodes for these new 120hz displays. If UI smoothness is now being marketed as a tentpole feature, how soon can people be told they're being too picky if OS updates introduce choppiness and lag?
Anyway, I am still happy with my 9.7" because it still perfectly meets my needs, I just hope I can keep it that way.
Wow, they undersold the GPU performance improvement as well! I thought a 40% improvement while good, wasn't amazing since GPU's are improving at an astonishing rate, and so now that I've seen its actually almost 2x the performance of the previous gen iPad Pro I am very happy indeed. Apple are on fire!
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
While I agree that I would in theory love if it had 4gb of RAM (and thus "full" multitasking), the more I look into it, the more I realize I'm fine with what it gives me. My understanding is that 9.7 pro allows 2 side by side apps and a slide over (all active) OR 2 side by side apps and a PiP (all active). BUT if you have 2 side by side apps, a slide over, and a PiP then only your slide over and PiP will be active. But then (I believe) you can flick away the slide over (effectively minimizing it) to regain full access of your 2 side by side apps. Then it's easy to just flick back the slide over to regain it. (Anyone running iOS 11 please confirm or deny, but this is what I have put together from several sources) If this is all true, then thumbs up for me. I can't imagine a scenario where I'll require all 4 active simultaneously.
And this is coming from someone who just bought my 9.7 pro 2 months ago. I am 100% satisfied with my purchase and having been traveling with it for over a month. iOS 11 is going to make it so much better!
Note: I purchased my iPad refurbished for $380 w/ a discounted new Smart keyboard for $80. So I paid $460 (no tax) for what it would now cost me $810 (plus tax!) to purchase a new 10.5 pro. So even though I knew I was buying so late in the lifecycle I wanted it for my travels, I got it for half the price I would have, and the 9.7" is likely more power than I'll need for a long time to come.
No your Pro if you do 2 apps splitview and then a slide over those split apps become inactive
I sold mine because 12.9 with true tone is what I have been waiting for. Ios11 is great and 9.7 was not big enough to really take advantage of 'pro'
I just tested on a 9.7” Pro. You’re almost correct except 2 apps in split view + 1 in slide over will always cause the split apps to pause. This is whether or not you have PiP going.
I’m perfectly ok with it fwiw
I had the 9.7 pro, but sold it a few months back in anticipation of the 10.5. I’d be a little disappointed knowing the 2GB ram will slow it down pretty quickly, but it’s still a capable machine. I’d say selling and upgrading to the 10.5 is an easy decision. A couple hundred bucks broken out by how much you use the device, it makes sense in my eyes. Some don’t see it that way though.
I still remember the Apple Zealots telling my that I was soooo wrong for criticizing the Air 1 for a piss-poor user experience, due to the RAM. Couldn't even have two tabs open at once, one typing out a response here in Macrumors, and the other researching items to cut and paste.
Apple should ALWAYS be criticized for their proactive choice to deliver a BAD user experience. I hope the 9.7" Pro users can do what they want on their tablets, without running into the dreck that was my Air 1 user experience.
Having said all that, I'll be getting a 10.5" Pro, in the next couple of week
, now that Apple stepped up the RAM. Had the 9.7" Pro come with 3 Gigs of RAM, I probably would have pulled the trigger back then. Fool me once ...
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With a number forums I frequent adding auto-save drafts for replies, storage-backed webpage caching on iOS 9, etc, I found user experience actually improved (at least for tasks that aren't CPU and GPU heavy).
Page reloads are much less painful when the web browser is smart enough to remember where you were last on a page and you don't have to scroll all the way down to your last position. Also, A7 rendered webpages more quickly than A5X and A6X did.
The Apple Pencil was huge this year with all the expanded capabilities. I wasn't sure of it when it originally launched. But with the reduced latency at 20ms and all the editing and sketching, it makes a stronger argument purchase and compliment the Pro moniker that much more.
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Depends on whether one likes the iPad mini, I guess.
At the current resolution, the Pro 10.5 is already like 2x iPad mini (768*1024) side by side. Actually a bit better.
If they move to 326 PPI, it's gonna be like 2x retina iPad minis side by side. For me, multitasking would actually be quite doable with an increase in resolution.
I used split view on a 9.7" iPad Pro quite heavily for over a year. Obviously it's not the same as on a larger screen, but still easily useable.
The 10.5 iPad uses the iPhone interface at 50/50. Where the 12.9 iPad Pro will use the actual iPad user interface. The 12.9 would likely suffice for the better option for multitasking due to the extra display estate.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Thanks guys for the info! It would have been nice to have the 3 apps active, but considering the small display (and how easy it is to flick away and back the slide over apps), I don't imagine I'll really need to have this ability.