iPad Pro iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Gen display vs MacBook Air M1 display

[coolbreeze2]

Should the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation display look as great as the display on the MacBook Air M1? I have them both and the display on the Air is far superior to the iPad. I think there is something wrong with the iPad. There are not a lot of choices in the settings to change the display. After adjusting and trying everything, I still can’t get it to look as great as the Air.

The Air has more vibrant colors and is very clear. The iPad seems hazy and the colors don’t pop like the Air. I would have never noticed if I hadn’t starting using the Air recently. After not using the iPad for a week and then returning to it, the difference between it and the Air is very apparent.

The iPad is covered by Apple Care +. So, I am trying to figure out how to state to Apple what the problem is and get it fixed. Can anyone help me point to what in the specs is not working properly. Here are the specs for both. Looking at the the specs for both it seems to me the iPad should have a better display or at least as good as the display of the Air. Am I correct?

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) Display

• Liquid Retina display
• 12.9-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology
• 2732-by-2048-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)
• ProMotion technology
• Wide color display (P3)
• True Tone display
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Fully laminated display
• Antireflective coating
• 1.8% reflectivity
• 600 nits brightness

MacBook Air (M1, 2020) Display

• Retina display
• 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
• Supported scaled resolutions:
  • 1680 by 1050
  • 1440 by 900
  • 1024 by 640
• 400 nits brightness
• Wide color (P3)
• True Tone technology

The first attachment is the iPad and the second is the Air. The difference is very obvious in my opinion.

 

[neutrino23]

Since it is not broken this is tough to deal with.

I'd start with an online session with Apple support. They can walk you through whatever settings are possible. Next step would be to take both of them in to an Apple store for a visual check. Good luck.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Please don't tell me, you came to that conclusion after comparing that lion picture as shown in your screenshots.🤨

 

[coolbreeze2]

Please don't tell me, you came to that conclusion after comparing that lion picture as shown in your screenshots.🤨

That and a lot more of side-by-side comparison. I just happen to have those screenshots saved and could not take new ones because I don't have access to both devices right now. Do you think I sound crazy or picky? I really see a big difference between the two. I thought when I look up the specs they would be very different. Unless I don't understand the specs, it appears the iPad should be better or equal. It's not even close.

 

[iPad Bro]

I haven’t seen the M1 Air display myself, but I thought the 2018 iPP had a superb display. Not sure what the problem is.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

That and a lot more of side-by-side comparison. I just happen to have those screenshots saved and could not take new ones because I don't have access to both devices right now. Do you think I sound crazy or picky? I really see a big difference between the two. I thought when I look up the specs they would be very different. Unless I don't understand the specs, it appears the iPad should be better or equal. It's not even close.

You do know, iOS has the tendency to dim pictures when using them as a desktop picture?
So did you compare that picture in an app to, "Photos" for example?

 

[coolbreeze2]

You do know, iOS has the tendency to dim pictures when using them as a desktop picture?
So did you compare that picture in an app to, "Photos" for example?

Ok, I will do a comparison as you suggested the first chance I get tomorrow. I did do a comparison of the same movie in Hulu and Netflix and the iPad fell short. I also compared numerous websites and the iPad was disappointing.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Ok, I will do a comparison as you suggested the first chance I get tomorrow. I did do a comparison of the same movie in Hulu and Netflix and the iPad fell short. I also compared numerous websites and the iPad was disappointing.

Maybe you should post some comparison screenshots of those website.

EDIT: But then again, a screenshot probably wouldn't show anything. 🤔

 

[OSX15]

I am interested to see the difference, if there is any I am curious whether it is just your device or if the new MacBook Air has a better display than the iPads.

 

[Slartibart]

On the iPad: Do you have Truetone activated? Are you using “dark mode”? Besides that the default colour scheme on iPadOS is different, the Wallpaper doesn’t have a 10:7 ratio, the resolution of the wallpaper scaled to the iPP screen will unsharpen it, in the Mac the picture is much smaller scaled, you or someone added the upper and lower gray bars to it, and there are hideous compression artefacts in these monochrome areas (not sure wether it’s done by MR when you upload?). Anyway, here is a screenshot displaying it (as it is available from the website) besides this page on a iPP 11” 2020:

 

[ericwn]

Different computer products with different screens will look different to a degree. I’d book an appointment with a Genius to evaluate the screens.

And yes, screenshots do not help.

 

[Slartibart]

if you slightly increase the contrast and black point for the original picture (or apply a similar LUT) you will get a similar visual impression on the iPP to what your Mac is showing - adjusted image on the right:

 

[coolbreeze2]

Thank you to everyone who has replied or will reply in the future. I am going to do more comparisons and provide you all the results a little later. Right now I can't cause I'm working. I will be getting back to you all real soon.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Please don't tell me, you came to that conclusion after comparing that lion picture as shown in your screenshots.🤨

Exactly! It's just a random image.

 

[coolbreeze2]

Ok, I took one of the stock Apple wallpapers and set it for both devices. Both devices are in dark mode and True Tone is off for both. The first screenshot is the Air and the second is the iPad. They now look almost the same with the Air still looking better. Which to me seems not right. However, I have to admit this comparison is a better match. I will continue to make additional comparisons.

 

[Slartibart]

Ok, I took one of the stock Apple wallpapers and set it for both devices. Both devices are in dark mode and True Tone is off for both. The first screenshot is the Air and the second is the iPad. They now look almost the same with the Air still looking better. Which to me seems not right. However, I have to admit this comparison is a better match. I will continue to make additional comparisons.

so the color profile on the Mac and iPad are different. well, nothing to see here…

On app level - e.g. Affinity Photo - you can easily use whatever color profile you want - the one you use on your Mac for example. So pictures will look the same on the iPad and any other device. I usually do this when printing coffee table photo books to make sure that the printed book looks like what I have on the iPad.

On system level iPadOS as of 14.5.2 seems not to offer color calibration.

 

[RyanJWilliams]

Ok, I took one of the stock Apple wallpapers and set it for both devices. Both devices are in dark mode and True Tone is off for both. The first screenshot is the Air and the second is the iPad. They now look almost the same with the Air still looking better. Which to me seems not right. However, I have to admit this comparison is a better match. I will continue to make additional comparisons.

When you set wallpapers in iOS, they are faded out and dimmed by the operating system so they don’t interfere with the icons too much. macOS doesn’t do this. As such, wallpapers will not look equivalent.

You need to open the images in a proper image tool like Photos or Preview. This will let you compare the images as they truly look. You may still have an issue, but it’s important to eliminate other factors.

 

[lostom]

I have both and honestly don't see any differences, they are both outstanding to me, granted I'm easily pleased.

I'm going to do a comparison with photo's on both devices and take a closer look.

 

[coolbreeze2]

When you set wallpapers in iOS, they are faded out and dimmed by the operating system so they don’t interfere with the icons too much. macOS doesn’t do this. As such, wallpapers will not look equivalent.

You need to open the images in a proper image tool like Photos or Preview. This will let you compare the images as they truly look. You may still have an issue, but it’s important to eliminate other factors.

Ok thanks. I definitely will consider what you have said.

 

[defferoo]

you said screenshot, a screenshot doesn’t capture how good the display is. you’ll need to take a photo of them showing the same content side by side to show us the difference.

 

[coolbreeze2]

you said screenshot, a screenshot doesn’t capture how good the display is. you’ll need to take a photo of them showing the same content side by side to show us the difference.

I am still planning to further look into this.

 

[wolfboy]

Ok, I took one of the stock Apple wallpapers and set it for both devices. Both devices are in dark mode and True Tone is off for both. The first screenshot is the Air and the second is the iPad. They now look almost the same with the Air still looking better. Which to me seems not right. However, I have to admit this comparison is a better match. I will continue to make additional comparisons.

Why are you still comparing wallpapers? As the other poster said, iOS dims the wallpaper so that icons are more legible (in fact, you can see in your screenshot that it is dimmer in the white/yellow stripe on iOS). Take a screenshot of that image in the Photos app and compare. You can even compare it to the wallpaper screenshot to see the difference.

 

[LFC2020]

Got a 3rd gen iPad Pro and M1 pro, both displays look great thanks to apples great colour accuracy and display calibration.

If I had to pick one, I'd say the iPad Pro just pips the Mac for me when it comes to display preference.

Can't go wrong with either display though.

 

[victry1]

i picked up a MBA a month or so ago. I have to say, my opinion of the displays is different. I felt the iPad’s display was better than the Air. (2018 12.9)

 

[Broadus]

i picked up a MBA a month or so ago. I have to say, my opinion of the displays is different. I felt the iPad’s display was better than the Air. (2018 12.9)

I don't see how any iPP would not be better than any of Apple's computers unless something was wrong with a particular iPP.