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iPad Pro Returning 2021 iPad Pro 12.9”

A

Adelphos33

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 13, 2012
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And it has nothing to do with ”blooming” (which I don’t notice). For $1,000 net after taxes (when accounting for my $530 trade in), the upgrade isn’t meaningful enough at this time. I am going back to my 2018 model. For my use case (apps like Zoom, Bloomberg, Word, occasional movie/streaming, multitasking, some other work apps, etc), the 2018 iPad Pro still works great. Battery life is a non issue as I generally use it at home (I haven 8th gen iPad, which is an underrated beast, for more mobile tasks). In day to day use, I simply don’t expect to see much of a benefit. I am going to run a test tomorrow to confirm - I‘m gonna do a Zoom multitask with Word tomorrow on both the 2018 and 2021 versions to see if I notice any difference. If I don’t, 2021 iPad Pro goes back. I would consider upgrading later if they announce some features exclusive to M1 iPads in a few weeks, but I really don’t expect much meaningful on that front until 2022.

Here is what I would like to see in order to get me to upgrade:

1) Move front facing camera to the top of the iPad when in landscape more, or simply add another camera
2) Improve both front facing and rear facing camera is to iPhone quality
3) Exclusive external display support, additional ports, etc
4) New, more flexible multitasking support
5) New files app
 
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Adelphos33 said:
Here is what I would like to see in order to get me to upgrade:

1) Move front facing camera to the top of the iPad when in landscape more, or simply add another camera
2) Improve both front facing and rear facing camera is to iPhone quality
3) Exclusive external display support, additional ports, etc
4) New, more flexible multitasking support
5) New files app
Click to expand...
Weird you bought it in the first place being as though each of these things clearly hadn’t changed with the new release.
 
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I have just initiated a return on mine.

I have had it since Friday and enjoyed it for it being a new device. It is definitely a little snappier than my Gen 4 12.9 and the display is sharper in certain settings.

However, having sat my Gen 4 12.9 and new Gen 5 12.9 side-by-side all day, I have struggled to find any discernible differences to justify £700-800 cost to upgrade.

M1 or A12Z
The M1 is a little snappier than the A12Z and will likely come into its own in the hands of professional editors, but for my requirements; Safari, Tapatalk, Netflix, Microsoft Office suite etc- the A12Z is more than sufficient.

Mini-LED or Liquid Retina
The new display is certainly sharper with accentuated colouring and deeper blacks. But, I am finding my eyes are straining and the display seeming somewhat difficult to focus on. It’s as if the dimming zones are constantly adjusting and my eyes can’t keep straight focus.
I find the Gen 4 display to be more gentle to view.

5G or 4G LTE
Whilst I often travel the country for work. I have yet to experience 5G on my iPhone Pro Max in metropolitan areas, much less my home county of Devon. 5G on my iPad isn’t going to be any kind of consideration for a year or two at the earliest.

USB-C or USB-4 / Thunderbolt
My Samsung T7 touch is no faster than the 10Gbps of the Gen 4. I have no peripherals that will benefit the transfer speeds or capabilities of Thunderbolt.

Oh well, I wanted to like/need it. Will use the money to upgrade my Apple Watch in the summer and -undoubtedly!- my iPhone too.
 
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cupcakes2000 said:
Weird you bought it in the first place being as though each of these things clearly hadn’t changed with the new release.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but I expected M1 to have a bigger impact on my use case, which it hasn’t yet. It may down the road but I think I will save the grand in the meantime.

I will keep the white keyboard though!
 
Adelphos33 said:
Maybe, but I expected M1 to have a bigger impact on my use case, which it hasn’t yet.
Click to expand...
Huh? I don’t see how you expected the M1 to address all that’s listed below. Those are hardware features that you should of been well aware before purchasing.
1) Move front facing camera to the top of the iPad when in landscape more, or simply add another camera
2) Improve both front facing and rear facing camera is to iPhone quality
3) additional ports, etc
Click to expand...
While features that you listed below are software related.
4) New, more flexible multitasking support
5) New files app
Click to expand...
Only logically reason for doing so.. is that you bought into the hype. Because you were returning the iPad Pro as soon as it was opened.
 
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Adelphos33 said:
Maybe, but I expected M1 to have a bigger impact on my use case, which it hasn’t yet. It may down the road but I think I will save the grand in the meantime.

I will keep the white keyboard though!
Click to expand...
Looking back at the 2018 launch, that was a big change, big increase in power etc, I don’t suppose it felt worth it then either, wasn’t until wwdc which introduced ipados and with a slew of pro apps appeared which changed the landscape and made the pro what it is/can be today.
 
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I’m
cupcakes2000 said:
Looking back at the 2018 launch, that was a big change, big increase in power etc, I don’t suppose it felt worth it then either, wasn’t until wwdc which introduced ipados and with a slew of pro apps appeared which changed the landscape and made the pro what it is/can be today.
Click to expand...

I can always re-buy when the machines are shipping with iPad OS 15 if it makes sense

Also, remember 2018 was a drastic change / improvement in form factor (smaller footprint due to slimmer bezels, flat edges, new and better pencil, etc)
 
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Adelphos33 said:
I’m


I can always re-buy when the machines are shipping with iPad OS 15 if it makes sense

Also, remember 2018 was a drastic change / improvement in form factor (smaller footprint due to slimmer bezels, flat edges, new and better pencil, etc)
Click to expand...
This is arguably even more drastic, true desktop class soc, massive ram increases, vastly improved screen tech. There’s a lot more potential here now than just a redesign (as beautiful as it was)
 
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Hallstar said:
Mini-LED or Liquid Retina
The new display is certainly sharper with accentuated colouring and deeper blacks. But, I am finding my eyes are straining and the display seeming somewhat difficult to focus on. It’s as if the dimming zones are constantly adjusting and my eyes can’t keep straight focus.
I find the Gen 4 display to be more gentle to view.
Click to expand...

This is a perfectly valid reason for returning the device. We can argue all day long over how much blooming is too much and how annoying it may be, but if you’re actually getting eye strain from using the device then back it goes. Paying this much for a device just to get eye strain is a no-go, especially when you already have a good device to rely on.
 
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Yeah, I would've kept my 2018 12.9" if I hadn't already sold it - now I will probably stick with the new 11". Not quite enough dramatically new and exciting to overcome the pain of that $1000 delta. I also took issue with the increased weight of the 2021.
 
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Gandek said:
That's why he didn't feel it was worth it.
Click to expand...
Yes. Thank you. I understood why. But I generally research what I buy before I buy it - even more so if I’m spending that kind of money. The points they mentioned are all easily researchable points that clearly either have not been improved or are not even included. But thanks for your input 👍
 
Adelphos33 said:
And it has nothing to do with ”blooming” (which I don’t notice). For $1,000 net after taxes (when accounting for my $530 trade in), the upgrade isn’t meaningful enough at this time. I am going back to my 2018 model. For my use case (apps like Zoom, Bloomberg, Word, occasional movie/streaming, multitasking, some other work apps, etc), the 2018 iPad Pro still works great. Battery life is a non issue as I generally use it at home (I haven 8th gen iPad, which is an underrated beast, for more mobile tasks). In day to day use, I simply don’t expect to see much of a benefit. I am going to run a test tomorrow to confirm - I‘m gonna do a Zoom multitask with Word tomorrow on both the 2018 and 2021 versions to see if I notice any difference. If I don’t, 2021 iPad Pro goes back. I would consider upgrading later if they announce some features exclusive to M1 iPads in a few weeks, but I really don’t expect much meaningful on that front until 2022.

Here is what I would like to see in order to get me to upgrade:

1) Move front facing camera to the top of the iPad when in landscape more, or simply add another camera
2) Improve both front facing and rear facing camera is to iPhone quality
3) Exclusive external display support, additional ports, etc
4) New, more flexible multitasking support
5) New files app
Click to expand...
So, after reading your post, I have to ask ‘why did you buy it?’ You knew the spec, probably watched the Apple event and knew your use case from already owning the 2018 model.
 
Sander25 said:
Ok. If you say so.. I have IPad Pro 11 and 12.9 2020. I was hoping for a more noticeable improvement of the screen. M1 is faster - but overkill for my use
Click to expand...
Well it’s not me saying so is it 😂 The screen is an improvement as evidenced by the many reviews on it, and as seen in reality and you yourself just stated that it’s faster.

Anyway, I was just enquiring as to what your goalposts are considering this is better in every respect to older iPads.
 
cupcakes2000 said:
Well it’s not me saying so is it 😂 The screen is an improvement as evidenced by the many reviews on it, and as seen in reality and you yourself just stated that it’s faster.

Anyway, I was just enquiring as to what your goalposts are considering this is better in every respect to older iPads.
Click to expand...
Ok. Thanks for letting me know. I better go buY another one
 
Sander25 said:
Ok. Thanks for letting me know. I better go buY another one
Click to expand...
To be honest- that’s not what I said or suggested, I was just asking what you’re comparing it to, considering it’s a clearly better machine. But ok with the one line sarcasm! You can have 1 point. 👍
 
Just returned my 12.9 256 cell today. Back on my iPad 5th gen for now. Expected huge difference in performance. Got minimal increase. Also, unweildly. Prefer the smaller one.

But now I know.
 
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I just learned from Apple that I have until next Friday to send my device back if I want to keep the current iPad Pro, so I will test a bit more the next few days
 
Well, you got to have that excitement of pre-ordering and/or being one of the first to have one! Now that that value has been consumed, who needs the latest and greatest… return that sucker 😂 (I mean it is true what’s been said for years— as good as the hardware is, the software really holds it back in a lot of ways).

As for myself? I’m about ready to get an 11” 2021 to complement my 12.9” 2021 to compensate for all the people returning theirs 😝
 
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Adelphos33 said:
And it has nothing to do with ”blooming” (which I don’t notice). For $1,000 net after taxes (when accounting for my $530 trade in), the upgrade isn’t meaningful enough at this time. I am going back to my 2018 model. For my use case (apps like Zoom, Bloomberg, Word, occasional movie/streaming, multitasking, some other work apps, etc), the 2018 iPad Pro still works great. Battery life is a non issue as I generally use it at home (I haven 8th gen iPad, which is an underrated beast, for more mobile tasks). In day to day use, I simply don’t expect to see much of a benefit. I am going to run a test tomorrow to confirm - I‘m gonna do a Zoom multitask with Word tomorrow on both the 2018 and 2021 versions to see if I notice any difference. If I don’t, 2021 iPad Pro goes back. I would consider upgrading later if they announce some features exclusive to M1 iPads in a few weeks, but I really don’t expect much meaningful on that front until 2022.

Here is what I would like to see in order to get me to upgrade:

1) Move front facing camera to the top of the iPad when in landscape more, or simply add another camera
2) Improve both front facing and rear facing camera is to iPhone quality
3) Exclusive external display support, additional ports, etc
4) New, more flexible multitasking support
5) New files app
Click to expand...
Same here. I’ve decided my 2018 iPad Pro is plenty But IF the 14” MacBook Pro features Mini-LEDs and the rumored M1X processor. Then that’s a deal.
 
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