I am not a pro, a prosumer at maximum. Yet I am struggling on which iPad to get to update my Air 4... money is no problem but ofc that doesn't mean not thinking and reflecting about the purchase
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iPad Air vs. iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: 30 Differences Compared
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Too bad the iPad Pro doesn’t have multi-user support so can't operate at that level.
I'd love to see a comparison of the 13 inch M2 iPad Air vs my 12.9in 2018 iPad Pro...no way I'm putting out the bucks for a new Pro, but if the Air is a pretty good jump from my 2018 Pro, I might consider it. This is all after WWDC and iPadOS 18 is discussed....right now the only thing holding back iPad hardware is the OS.
LCD vs OLED for a start
The Airs can use the same keyboard, but the Pros use a new one. Of course the 13 inch Air is a new device so if you are coming from an 11 inch Air you will need to buy a 13 inch keyboard. Also, the Apple Pencil 2 no longer works on the Air or the Pro, which is another cost if you use the Pencil (it seems to be a charging issue). Since my finances are bit tight at the moment and my 4th gen iPad‘s battery is dying, I’m buying the 11 inch Air for even though my Pencil 2 will no longer work (I don’t use it as much as I thought I would).
I couldn’t imagine buying an iPad that’s so limited for $600. Honestly both feel like a ripoff but the lower tier one especially So.
Exactly. As I posted yesterday, I actually have use for two iPads and I was able to buy both a 13-inch Air and an 11-inch Air for only $100 more than the price of a single 13-inch Pro. Of course, a couple of Apple gift cards I had laying around made the double purchase possible in the first place.
But it is clear that the Pro is for people making money with their work or power-prosumer users. The Air is for pretty much everyone else and the base Gen 10 iPad is for schools and those who will use it for web browsing, email, texting and some media viewing.
I wouldn’t even “upgrade” to the Air from my 2018 iPad Pro. No ProMotion still is such a deal breaker. Not even 90 hz, Apple?
The McD McChicken sandwich has half the protein of the Chick-fil-A sandwich.
If you’re cool with losing ProMotion, four speaker audio, five microphones (versus two) and Face ID, then sure. I’m not. I don’t need stronger than a A12X Bionic for an iPad with its limited OS, yet alone an M2.
Darth Tulhu
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Or...
-You're a Pro that'll actually benefit from the features missing from the Air...
-You can afford the Pro and have no need to deny yourself the best
-You prioritize the weight savings between devices
-You are the type that keeps the device for a long time, amortizing the cost while enjoying the additional benefits
4TB you would have to start flogging your organs
Well, here are some quick thoughts: You’ll get 128GB of storage with the new Air and improved audio (over previous Airs) despite still featuring two speakers. You’ll also get a landscape camera - perfect for use on the keyboard. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as the outgoing Pro without the fancy screen. Like you, my 13-inch Air will stay on the Magic Keyboard most of the time - negating any weight advantage of the new Pro.
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It looks just what I need. a 13" Pro with Wifi and 1TB SSD. I am very happy with the announcement. I do not understand all the negative posts on line complaining it is too powerful and and is no good as a tablet because it is not a Mac. Then there are those who seem to think they should be given away for free and Apple are charging too much. I guess some people are never happy. For me the super light and easy to pack 13" pro will mean I only need to carry 1 MBP rather than the two I currently have to fly with. I guess some folks are never happy.
About the second point about being able to afford it, don't forget opportunity cost. I could buy my family all new Pros, but I'd rather invest that money into T-Bills paying 5.4% annually and the total stock market index/NASDAQ 100. Sure you can afford it, but you could be compounding your money and keep whichever Pro you already have that can do all the same things. It's not a car or something of significant importance, it's an iPad. Not a Mac, an iPad.
This. And they're very good quality, I've had Logitech keyboard cases for my previous iPad Pros and they've been fantastic. Even Apple's Magic Folio is, ahem, inspired by the Logitech version.
The new Combo Touch for the iPad Air M2 series has a detachable keyboard section, backlit keys, fully-adjustable kickstand and a function row - for a lot less than Apple's older Magic Keyboard. Definitely the one I'll be picking.
Combo Touch Keyboard Case for iPad air | Logitech
If you are getting the 256GB model, I think the pro features are worth the extra $300. The OLED screen should be nice. Though if you already have an Apple Magic Keyboard it's another $300 to replace it if you get the Pro.
With the switch to OLED for iPad Pro, LCD ProMotion should have trickled down to the iPad Air.
Exactly, you might end up buying 2 or 3 Airs during the usable lifespan of a Pro.
Something big is coming at WWDC. It wasn't given the M4 for nothing. It's probably not MacOS, but hopefully it will be some kind of hybrid. Perhaps Mac apps without the Mac along with an updated file system? That would be the perfect solution.
I’m guessing more pro apps, likely AI-focused. I doubt we will get the ability to run Mac apps directly (Mac apps may depend on features not in iPadOS). But yes, I think there is more in store for the iPad at WWDC.