My iPad's iOS maxed out at version 9.x and I since I never used it a lot for working I have not been using it much the past few years. I now have several good uses for an iPad in my work flow so am upgrading and going for an Apple refurb iPad Pro 2017. Aside from a few years extended iOS upgradeability, are there any salient abilities of the latest one that the 2017 lacks? I need it to sync with my Mojave MacBook Pro and my High Sierra CMPro for some apps, and also as a field computer for photography, both for light image correction and camera control. I have lost the feel for recent iOS and iPads and figure user's inputs will be the best way to get up to speed.
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All iPads iPad Pro 2017 vs. latest model differences
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The round Apple Pencil 1 for the iPad Pro 2017 is really annoying. It rolls off the table, is awkward for charging, and there is nowhere to put it. Also, I think I would prefer the Face ID feature of the 3rd generation. In addition, making external storage work on the iPad Pro 2017 is really annoying. If you're doing photography and need to plug in external drives, it would be much more convenient on the 3rd generation with its full power USB-C port.
That said, the 2017 model is WAY cheaper, as is its version of the Apple Pencil and the Apple Smart Keyboard (on Amazon).
That said, the 2017 model is WAY cheaper, as is its version of the Apple Pencil and the Apple Smart Keyboard (on Amazon).
I have a 2017 12.9” and really enjoy it. Sure the first gen Apple Pencil is a bit quirky to charge and such but I found a case with a little pocket for it on Amazon.
Amazon in fact, is where I bought mine refurbished before the Christmas rush and cost me just a little over $550 for the decked out 512GB Cellular model. It came flawless and no issues with the display.
Runs like a champ with iPadOS 13 and Procreate offers plenty of layers.
Amazon in fact, is where I bought mine refurbished before the Christmas rush and cost me just a little over $550 for the decked out 512GB Cellular model. It came flawless and no issues with the display.
Runs like a champ with iPadOS 13 and Procreate offers plenty of layers.
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Thanks for sharing. Cost is a factor, which is why I generally buy used, refurbed or last years model. I'm willing to sacrifice some convenience as repetitive tasks become easy to do with time.
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Good to hear performance is great. I have confidence this will be a cost-effective solution for me.
As @EugW noted.. the Apple Pencil 2nd generation, FaceID and USB-C is the only noticeable abilities that differentiate the 2018 iPP from the 2017 iPP.
But since you are on iOS 9 and haven’t upgraded to the past 4 versions... you’ll be in for a treat with iPadOS.
Yup go for it, there are nice to have features on the newer generation but they are by no means deal breakers in terms of one's abilities to get things accomplished vs the older models.
Heh. Even the iPad 7th generation could work for his purposes, although the screen is not as good as the Air’s.OP has an iPad 3. Practically anything is better than that.
OP has an iPad 3. Practically anything is better than that.
Not the battery life... this thing have a 11000mAh battery... huge
That I concede. Iirc, I could leave the iPad 3 on standby for a month and it would still have some charge when I pick it up.
The 2017 Pro 12.9 has a similarly sized battery (41.4 Wh) as the iPad 3 (43 Wh) but its standby power consumption appears higher (perhaps due to background refresh and multitasking?).
Looking forward to it. Setting up now.
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True abut the 3, although the battery charge is not as good as in its youth by a long shot. I need to recondition it a bit with some repetitive charging and discharging. It will be now be repurposed as an alarm clock/picture frame. Higher clock speed of the 2017 would use more power in itself, I'd think.
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Inputs regarding accessories? My "new" refurb did not come with a pen. Should I go with an Apple pen gen 1 or can I go with one of the third party versions? I assume all compatible pens that support pressure sensitivity and palm rejection are otherwise functionally identical. Apple gen 1 is the most expensive, but for the sake of KISS I'll probably go with it, unless there is a reliable equivalent (or better) from a third party. What about keyboards and cases? Third party OK or Apple? Thanks again for sharing experiences.
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No, no, not functionally equivalent. Not even close, according to just about every review. Get the Apple Pencil on the refurb store if it’s available.
A viable alternative (that’s missing some features) for some might be Logitech Crayon, but that’s not compatible with the iPad Pro 2017.
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Nothing beats the Apple Pencil. I have a handfull of passive and active stylii that tried to do the job, but they couldn’t even handle something as simple as dotting an i in the correct place. I could tap the screen twice in the same place with the non-Apple stylus and get two dots in two different locations on the screen. This doesn’t happen with the Apple Pencil.
Are you sure that it's an iPad 3? It could be an iPad 2 or a 1st generation iPad mini.OP has an iPad 3. Practically anything is better than that.
OP has iPad 3 listed in his sig.
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I have the Logitech Crayon. Doesn't have pressure sensitivity but it's just as accurate as the Apple Pencil. Too bad it only works on 2018 iPads and newer.
I have a 2017 iPad Pro 12.9” 512GB model. It still works great for me, I like the Touch ID and it is incredibly responsive at doing all the things I throw at it. It doesn’t have the Bionic chip that my phone now has, but it’s not a big deal.
I don’t plan to ever upgrade again on the iPad line however, with phone screens getting larger and larger, and MacBooks getting lighter and lighter, I find that the things I do on my iPad are easily done on my MacBook or my phone, so over the long term, I plan to eliminate the iPad from my device usage once my current iPad Pro can no longer be updated. It’s got a beefy A10X chip which should still last a few years.
I don’t plan to ever upgrade again on the iPad line however, with phone screens getting larger and larger, and MacBooks getting lighter and lighter, I find that the things I do on my iPad are easily done on my MacBook or my phone, so over the long term, I plan to eliminate the iPad from my device usage once my current iPad Pro can no longer be updated. It’s got a beefy A10X chip which should still last a few years.
I just upgraded ever so slightly from the 9.7” iPP to the 10.5” iPP.
It’s mostly been great, but I do notice the “heft” being a touch more, I think mainly as the very similar weight is now distributed over a larger piece of physical hardware.
I purposely didn’t go newer as I like the bezels for gripping it in hand easily and I personally love TouchID and...it’s also fully and forever jailbreakable with checkra1n.
Also - I have nothing USB-C and thus I dramatically prefer to keep my “all Lightning” world going. It’s great to just have the right cables and connections everywhere since everything Apple around the house is Lightning.
It’s mostly been great, but I do notice the “heft” being a touch more, I think mainly as the very similar weight is now distributed over a larger piece of physical hardware.
I purposely didn’t go newer as I like the bezels for gripping it in hand easily and I personally love TouchID and...it’s also fully and forever jailbreakable with checkra1n.
Also - I have nothing USB-C and thus I dramatically prefer to keep my “all Lightning” world going. It’s great to just have the right cables and connections everywhere since everything Apple around the house is Lightning.
I ordered an Apple pencil v.1 new from a good dealer who picked up the sales tax and shipping, bringing the cost of new to within pissing range of used or refurbed. The used and refurbed v.1's are hard to find at a price lower enough to make them compelling. (Probably because the prices of used/refurb iPad Pros for them are really compelling.) Would love to get any inputs on screen protectors (for image editing, writing, sketching), protective cases for the iPad Pro and pen, and also keyboards. Since I have a neoprene tablet bag maybe I'll go with a protective keyboard. I have seen glass screen protectors like the ones I have on my DSLRs. Any good, or will they interfere?
Apple sells refurb Pencils every couple of weeks or so. Only about 15% off though IIRC.
You should check out the iPad accessories forum here for ideas. I did buy an Elecom screen protector for my mini 5 last week and so far I am happy with the friction it’s added as it makes writing / drawing feel more like writing on paper vs a sharpie on a whiteboard of an uncovered iPad screen.
Performance wise the 2017 still is a good ipad.
But there is a single flaw which I found to be very annoying : the (in)famous bright spot.
I had it on my 2017 and it is something that would prevent me to buy another one.
I had the bright spot(s). Apple exchanged it for another one. (iPad that is, not a bright spot!)