New iPad Pro Reviews: Mini-LED Display Looks Great, M1 Performance Held Back by iPadOS

[nsayer]

[delete - posted to the wrong story]

 

[0lf]

some reviewers believe this impressive performance improvement is held back by the iPadOS operating system.

Caitlin McGarry at Gizmodo:

But the iPad Pro isn't competing against other tablets. It's competing against the Mac. And though the iPad is very, very capable, its software often feels hamstrung compared to the Mac's. I give this example all the time, but my most-used app is Airtable, a project management tool I use for my job all day every day. The iPad app looks and works perfectly, just like the Mac app, until I have to do a random task and it boots me to Airtable on the web, which would never happen on the Mac.

So, first exemple of a limitation of iPadOS is not a limitation of iPadOS but a limitation from an app… Great job.

 

[brofkand]

I think it's time to demote the normal iPad back to iOS, and push iPadOS further.

 

[jmgregory1]

I think it's time to demote the normal iPad back to iOS, and push iPadOS further.

That is actually a good idea. When iPadOS has to be developed to the lowest common denominator, the devices that can actually do far more are hamstrung.

 

[isoft7]

For full disclosure, I have an M1 iPad Pro on order... from the first batch, and I'm sure I will love it as much as I do my 2020 model.

But yeah, I think it's obvious from these reviews, as confirmation of what we already knew... there's not a lot of reason to upgrade to this model from the 2018/2020 iPP unless you're a fan of new tech (I admit I am) or have very specific use cases, otherwise it's really just "more" of the "same".

Even with the new screen on the 12.9, media content will see an improvement, but day to day usage won't.

I'm not one of those who believes Apple has any tricks up their sleeves for OS integrations, I'm pretty certain they're going to keep MacOS to their computers and iPadOS to their tablets, separate, as Apples goal is to sell you two products instead of just one product.

But I do think we will get an iPad version of Final Cut soon, which will certainly use this new power, but then again, it'll run really well on the A12 iPads too.

Either way, I'm looking forward to my delivery, but I'm not convinced it's all that big a deal.

 

[djcerla]

iPadOS needs to be it’s own thing since they aren’t planning on merging the iPad Pro and the Mac. iPadOS is a phone operating system that is very much unchanged. It needs to be redone from the ground up.

It’s not a phone operating system. The original iPhone had a tablet operating system. iPad work predates the iPhone.

Wasn’t expecting this misleading inaccuracy from Mr. Spock.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Better multitasking. Better file system.

How better? You mean easier to do? Because I think everyone would agree the ways to invoke multi tasking are bad.

Whats wrong with the current file system? Everything from my Mac that I store in the cloud is there on my iPad. The only difference is that the iPad doesn't have a storage free for all like the Mac does, that is separate from iCloud Drive.

 

[linkgx1]

I have the 2020 version and love it. Want a better display, but would rather take that money and buy an OLED TV. Really hoping WWDC adds much needed changes.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yes, I know. I really hope WWDC will bring some steps towards improvements. Final Cut would be logical step as its Apple's own software. Logic etc. too

Ideally I hope we won't have to buy Final Cut again or at least the price will be very low.

There was a rumor about a Final Cut subscription. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how you get it on the iPad. Didn’t say I’d be pleased, but wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[blairh]

We need a tablet that runs macOS when docked and iPadOS when undocked.

 

[linkgx1]

I've learned to avoid the shill reviews, the two biggest being Dalrymple (although I generally enjoy listening to his podcast, but he's a shill and perhaps a paid Apple shill) and Rene Ritchie, who is the biggest Apple Shill on the Internet. iJustine is up there as well, but she is pleasant to look at, so that's a plus.

Re: the machine itself---the mini LED is a great sounding feature until you realize you don't get the full Mini LED experience unless you've viewing HDR content. Basically, the Liquid Retina XDR works just like a pro display XRD---just a normal, appropriately scaled retina display display until HDR comes on.

Nice machine. Terrible value proposition unless your work (or pleasure) involves consistent HDR use.

Oddly enough, many people change their workflows based on what Apple tells them. I can imagine plenty of folks getting upset with the lack of HDR content soon, when they didn't care about it before.

 

[JamieLannister]

We need a tablet that runs macOS when docked and iPadOS when undocked.

Knock knock...
who's there?
Samsung DeX

 

[dgdosen]

I watched a few...

Here's something Apple could do with the M1 iPad: Allow the iPads to emulate a mac - but only when there's an external monitor and keyboard attached. Call it 'clamshell mode'. If I'm at a desk and the iPad is attached to a monitor/external storage/etc - I'm moving away from consumption mode, and may want to take advantage of the hardware and macos to do my work.

It'd make sense... Sure it might cannibalize iPad/mac sales, but I'd be a winner and win loads of coverts (new customers). And when the day comes where TB's successors work wirelessly, you can just do it based on proximity.

 

[mi7chy]

All the worst YouTube reviewers drunk on cool-aid so you won't get unbiased reviews.

 

[0lf]

How better? You mean easier to do? Because I think everyone would agree the ways to invoke multi tasking are bad.

It is not bad, but it is incomplete. Here were my proposal as an improvement :

I don’t think they need a complete overhaul of multitasking on iPad. For example, simple improvement concepts built on existing bricks and that keep the simplicity of the existing implementation while expanding its capabilities:

• Implement a handle at the top of the app window when in single app view (similarly to what already exist in split screen and slideover view). Touching and dragging the app window by the handle to the side of the screen when in single app view converts the app in slideover mode on top of the springboard. Then, look at your widget on the springboard, launch spotlight, or choose an app. The new app will then launch in full screen mode under the slideover app.
• Add a new setting page where you can choose, for each app compatible with slideover, if you want them to be launched in full screen or slideover by default
• Display all open slideover apps in expose

 

[cwwilson]

iPadOS needs a significant overhaul at this point I know this horse has been beat to dust but these tablets are so powerful that most people don’t even use 5% of device’s potential. Now we literally have a desktop chip and plenty of RAM and great GPU power and it still runs an altered phone OS. We need to have more Mac-like functionality like multi-user support, a true file system and windows for apps that can run in the background and can be resized. Apps also really need to stop relying on the browser so much when they shouldn’t have to, but I’ll blame the developers on that one.

But really, either make it more Mac-like or just give us true MacOS with some elements to make it easier to touch. There’s simply no excuse at this point.

 

[Freida]

If that happens then I'll keep using it on my mac. Subscription models are not working for me. I like to own my software.

There was a rumor about a Final Cut subscription. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how you get it on the iPad. Didn’t say I’d be pleased, but wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[dgdosen]

True second display support is all I want to make this a true pro device (for me)

- Real world pro user wants iPad OS to support a second, independent monitor
- Apple thinks pro users want LIDAR (in 2020)

I'd vote for what the user wants.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Fully functional browser and true multiple display support.

I'm with you on the browser, but Apple already pretends that Safari is the same on iPad as it is on the Mac. So much so that they even have the same user agent, which is absurd. They are nothing alike.

 

[Lemon Olive]

No, they’ve not blown past iPad. Everyone’s sales were raised. The pandemic blip will keep the Mac relevant for a little while longer. BUT there are more people growing up with, using and are comfortable with the iPadOS than the Mac just from sheer numbers alone. And those folks, more and more, are going to want devices that fit that form factor and interface. The likelihood of macOS being around in 20 years is similar to the likelihood of ProDOS being around today.

I’m pretty sure there’s still a few installs of ProDOS out there.

Nah, you've created a fantasy here. iPad has its place, and that place is not as a Mac replacement. Not even close. And yes, Mac sales not only beat iPad sales, but grew more substantially year over year than iPad did. People doing work needed a Mac.

 

[Lemon Olive]

It is not bad, but it is incomplete. Here were my proposal as an improvement :

I do like some of this approach.

 

[GMLP]

IMO it really boils down to what you want to do with your device. Too many feel and say iPadOS is the software bottleneck that dampens the experience on a powerful hardware platform, but it serves EXACTLY what I need and does what I WANT or NEED it to do in my use cases. People too often present their opinions as facts, and it's annoying.

Taking a look on the dark side to see the point. At the price tag of a maxed out 12.9" 5G 2TB iPad Pro, I could have easily gotten a MS Surface device, running fullblown Windows 10. But it doesn't serve my NEEDS and WANTS. I have a powerful gaming rig with Ryzen and RTX graphics for that already. I just can't lug that rig around to work or classes, or draw on it, or lie in bed watching videos or read ebooks and PDFs. I WANT the best of both worlds, a little bit of everything, so instead of sticking to one ecosystem, I chose Apple's tablet, not a Mac, but the best tablet they have. Much like how I love Android on the Galaxy Note, or different games on both Xbox and Playstation. Because that suits MY use case, and MY preference to not having the same user experience replicated on different hardware.

 

[Lemon Olive]

I know this horse has been beat to dust but these tablets are so powerful that most people don’t even use 5% of device’s potential.

Ok, keep talking.

We need to have more Mac-like functionality like multi-user support, a true file system and windows for apps that can run in the background and can be resized.

Uh, what? This has nothing to do with using the devices power. We don't need multi user support, get your own freaking iPad. By true file system, you must mean free-for-all storage directory where you can install/save anything from anywhere, like a Mac. That is legacy aspect of deskop OS's that we should be trying to get away from, not run back to. And windows for apps? So we can have even less space on an already too-small display? No.

But really, either make it more Mac-like or just give us true MacOS with some elements to make it easier to touch. There’s simply no excuse at this point.

There is plenty of excuse. For starters, these are poor ideas.

 

[hellosil]

Touch ID in the power button is the only thing missing from this iPad Pro.

 

[Lemon Olive]

IMO it really boils down to what you want to do with your device. Too many feel and say iPadOS is the software bottleneck that dampens the experience on a powerful hardware platform, but it serves EXACTLY what I need and does what I WANT or NEED it to do in my use cases. People too often present their opinions as facts, and it's annoying.

Taking a look on the dark side to see the point. At the price tag of a maxed out 12.9" 5G 2TB iPad Pro, I could have easily gotten a MS Surface device, running fullblown Windows 10. But it doesn't serve my NEEDS and WANTS. I have a powerful gaming rig with Ryzen and RTX graphics for that already. I just can't lug that rig around to work or classes, or draw on it, or lie in bed watching videos or read ebooks and PDFs. I WANT the best of both worlds, a little bit of everything, so instead of sticking to one ecosystem, I chose Apple's tablet, not a Mac, but the best tablet they have. Much like how I love Android on the Galaxy Note, or different games on both Xbox and Playstation. Because that suits MY use case, and MY preference to not having the same user experience replicated on different hardware.

iPad OS is exactly what it needs to. Improvements? Sure. Overhaul? No.

All that is needed is for more desktop apps to be brought to iPad.....if it makes sense to bring them there. This may be hard to accept, but it might not make sense for every app.