throAU
macrumors G4
Prediction :
iPad steps into air segment
iPad neo next year
Air name dropped
Maybe same for Mac.
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All iPads The iPad lineup is a mess and upgrading from older Pros is a nightmare
- Thread starter Cassandle
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iPad steps into air segment
iPad neo next year
Air name dropped
Maybe same for Mac.
RashyIsBack2
macrumors newbie
I totally agree with the OP in this regard, being an iPad Pro M1 owner myself. The new M4 and M5 Pro models became very expensive and have awful OLED PWM (240Hz), while even the newest Air is still stuck at 60Hz, TouchID, dual speakers, worse mics, and doesn‘t even have the camera LED (which even the Mini has). So it would be a massive downgrade in nearly every regard, and the same applies to all A12X and A12Z owners, frankly. Not even the stock storage got upgraded to 256GB. Super lazy by Apple. I think the gap between the Air and the Pro became too big. With the Pros now having Tandem-OLED, giving at least 120Hz and maybe FaceID to the Air, wouldn‘t hurt their sales.
Since there was also no M3 iPad Pro model, all that would left for my is the M2 iPad Pro. Certainly not worth it over my M1. Bummer.
(Before anyone wonders, M1 is still doing fine, but eventually software support and the battery will become an issue. So I already observe the upcoming models, to plan ahead)
Since there was also no M3 iPad Pro model, all that would left for my is the M2 iPad Pro. Certainly not worth it over my M1. Bummer.
(Before anyone wonders, M1 is still doing fine, but eventually software support and the battery will become an issue. So I already observe the upcoming models, to plan ahead)
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100%. Feels like the ‘trickle-down’ that normally happens with Apple products - whereby the mid-tier products get the top-tier functions a few years later, isn’t really happening with the iPad line.
The iPad Air was always an odd device once it was resurrected. The ‘Air’ moniker made sense when it was the thinnest and lightest iPad, but it’s not anymore. Seems that Apple’s approach is to just put a year old M chip in the Air but not update anything else, which has left it behind the Pros in a big way. Unless you want the 13”, there’s not a compelling reason to get the Air over the standard iPad. (Yes I know the M chips are way more powerful, but realistically if you need the power of an M chips you’re getting a Pro iPad. For most things people might use the Air for, an A chip is fine - see the MacBook Neo).
I’d be tempted to go all-in for an Air (complete with the necessary new Magic Keyboard and Pencil I’d be forced to buy as Apple as obsoleted the ones I own) if some of the functionality that was in the Pro lineup 6 years ago (namely FaceID, Pro Motion, better base storage) was now in the Air. But in almost every sense - except the silicone, it’s a worse device. And as it stands, it’s over £1200 for a 13” Air with accessories and a meagre 128GB storage. (For comparison, the 13” Pro would be almost £1800).
Compare this to the Mac line-up, which seems fair as the prices are in the same ballpark, once you add a keyboard and pencil. Like with the iPad, most people don’t need a Pro. But the MacBook Air isn’t so badly kneecapped compared to the Pro as it is with the iPad lineup. Compare the current MacBook Air to the final Intel MacBook Pro (from the same year as the A12Z iPad Pro) and the MBA is a superior device in every way.
Greenmeenie
macrumors 68020
Actually the price increase from the 2020 12.9” iPad Pro to the current M5 iPad Pro aren’t that bad considering that the current iPad Pros come with 12 or 16 gb of ram compared to the 2020 iPad Pros as well as an OLED screen among other improvements. Not to mention inflation, memory chip shortages due to a.i. as well as a war going on right now.
Price differences:
2020 12.9” iPad Pro: M5 13” iPad Pro:
* 128gb - $999 - None
*256gb - $1,099 - $1,299 ($200 bucks more)
*512gb - $1,299 - $1,499 ($200 bucks more)
*1TB - $1,499. - $1,899 ($400 bucks more)
Yes, the corresponding prices have gone up $200 for similar storage models (256 & 512) and $400 for the 1TB model. But you also get twice as much ram 12/16gb vs 6gb as well as an OLED screen and other improvements. Yes having to upgrade the apple pencil & smart keyboard is annoying. But all in all, the increases aren’t horrible considering how long the iPad Pros last. I’m still using my 11” 2018 iPad Pro after 7 years. That works out to pennies a day. Less than a cup of coffee. So a great investment.
My 11” 2018 iPad Pro is still going strong. I also have an iPad mini 7 and am going to add a 13” iPad to my collection soon. I don’t own a laptop or a computer anymore. I do everything on iPads. As an artist, i am debating if I should go with the 13” iPad Air or a 13” iPad Pro.
Price differences:
2020 12.9” iPad Pro: M5 13” iPad Pro:
* 128gb - $999 - None
*256gb - $1,099 - $1,299 ($200 bucks more)
*512gb - $1,299 - $1,499 ($200 bucks more)
*1TB - $1,499. - $1,899 ($400 bucks more)
Yes, the corresponding prices have gone up $200 for similar storage models (256 & 512) and $400 for the 1TB model. But you also get twice as much ram 12/16gb vs 6gb as well as an OLED screen and other improvements. Yes having to upgrade the apple pencil & smart keyboard is annoying. But all in all, the increases aren’t horrible considering how long the iPad Pros last. I’m still using my 11” 2018 iPad Pro after 7 years. That works out to pennies a day. Less than a cup of coffee. So a great investment.
My 11” 2018 iPad Pro is still going strong. I also have an iPad mini 7 and am going to add a 13” iPad to my collection soon. I don’t own a laptop or a computer anymore. I do everything on iPads. As an artist, i am debating if I should go with the 13” iPad Air or a 13” iPad Pro.
rui no onna
Contributor
Note, there was a price drop from the 1TB 2018 A12X/6GB ($1699) to the 1TB 2020 A12Z/6GB ($1499) after Apple made 6GB RAM standard across the board.
I've wanted 1TB since I got my first iPad (iPad 2) but the massive price jump from my 2017 512GB cellular ($1229) to the 2018 1TB cellular ($1899) kept me from upgrading. It worked out well in my case as I don't think I would've gotten as good longevity with the 2018 iPP as with the 2021 M1/16GB 1TB cellular ($1999).
Greenmeenie
macrumors 68020
I dunno. I got the 11” 2018 iPad Pro with 1 TB(6gb ram) and it’s still going strong. No matter what year iPad Pro you get, these things really do last forever. Over 7-8 years the $1,800 i spent works out to literally pennies a day. Less than a cup of coffee! But it’s been a great investment for me. I’ve gotten tons of creative production out of it.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
SnowCrocodile
macrumors 6502a
I honestly don't get all that hate for the Air.
I lost my 11" M1 Pro somewhere while being busy and going on many business trips. After a while just accepted that it was gone and bought M3 Air.
Other than the lack of FaceID, there was nothing significantly worse about it. The screen was just fine. I don't use iPad speakers to play music so this wasn't a big deal either. I've happily used it for a few weeks and then by pure accident stumbled upon my Pro laying in the back of a storage rack in my basement furnace room. Must've been looking for something in a hurry before a trip and left it there. I returned the Air, but it's not like it was a night and day difference.
throAU
macrumors G4
its not that the air is inherently bad. its just that compared to what you get with the pro, once you take everything into account (peripherals) its just not cheap enough to be worth it.
And the screen really, really is a massive downgrade. As are the speakers. The air really should be cheaper, as above it seems that the air is really there to make the pro look like better value.
Also, m4/m5 pro vs. air is a much bigger gap than M1 Pro to M3 Air.
The M4/M5 generation is a big leap.
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Greenmeenie
macrumors 68020
The iPad Air is a great deal for many artists. It has all of the essential features an iPad Pro has for drawing. The Apple Pencil Pro. 12gb of ram so they get the same amount of layers in the Procreate app. Sure, the OLED screen is brighter & the colors are more vibrant with blacker blacks. But the LED screen is still an awesome screen for art! It has the same P3 color gamut support the pro does, with the same fully laminated screen, providing accurate, rich, and saturated colors suitable for creative tasks and media consumption. Also it might have a couple of advantages to the OLED screen. One being the possible risk of long term burn in on OLED screens and also the PWM flickering that gives some people eyestrain & headaches.
And lastly the 60hz vs 120hz debate is overblown. At least for drawing it is. I have extensively tested both side by side and for drawing there is no difference to the naked eye. For scrolling webpages yes, theres a very slight difference. But not for drawing. All those videos by tech youtubers that show a difference with the apple pencil are very misleading. First of all they are shot in super slow motion. And secondly the person is ferociously zipping the apple pencil back & forth. Nobody draws like that. 😂 Trust me, in real world drawing, both the 60hz & 120hz feel & look exactly the same.
All in all, the iPad Air gives artists & others wanting many of the pro features a tablet that costs significantly less.
It is rumored that the M5 iPad Air will get a single panel OLED screen & 120hz refresh rate next year. So the decision to go for the Air & save some money may get even easier.
Makes me wonder what new features the M6 iPad Pros will get to make people want to pay up for them. 🤔
And lastly the 60hz vs 120hz debate is overblown. At least for drawing it is. I have extensively tested both side by side and for drawing there is no difference to the naked eye. For scrolling webpages yes, theres a very slight difference. But not for drawing. All those videos by tech youtubers that show a difference with the apple pencil are very misleading. First of all they are shot in super slow motion. And secondly the person is ferociously zipping the apple pencil back & forth. Nobody draws like that. 😂 Trust me, in real world drawing, both the 60hz & 120hz feel & look exactly the same.
All in all, the iPad Air gives artists & others wanting many of the pro features a tablet that costs significantly less.
It is rumored that the M5 iPad Air will get a single panel OLED screen & 120hz refresh rate next year. So the decision to go for the Air & save some money may get even easier.
Makes me wonder what new features the M6 iPad Pros will get to make people want to pay up for them. 🤔
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I bought my 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 in 2020 along the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil.
I disliked the 4GB ram from the start.
I upgraded to the M5 13”. It is spectacular. I haven’t purchased the keyboard & pencil yet.
The old pencil and keyboard worked all the way up till the M4 redesign. They could’ve kept the magnets same but oh well.
There is no upgrade apart from one pro to another pro, Face ID + OLED + 120hz + Speakers + lidar + flash + better peripherals. Even the base iPad is way faster than my 2018 pro but the user experience just isn’t there.
iPad Pro is an expensive proposition, same as it was in 2020. I do wish to own an iPad mini or 11” pro too.
I disliked the 4GB ram from the start.
I upgraded to the M5 13”. It is spectacular. I haven’t purchased the keyboard & pencil yet.
The old pencil and keyboard worked all the way up till the M4 redesign. They could’ve kept the magnets same but oh well.
There is no upgrade apart from one pro to another pro, Face ID + OLED + 120hz + Speakers + lidar + flash + better peripherals. Even the base iPad is way faster than my 2018 pro but the user experience just isn’t there.
iPad Pro is an expensive proposition, same as it was in 2020. I do wish to own an iPad mini or 11” pro too.
I think there’s an argument that it shouldn’t be called the Air at this point, the name was invented for the thinnest and lightest. If they wanted to simplify down to three iPad lines, then logically Air would be the casualty as it doesn’t have a USP in the way that the others do.