Underwhelmed by 10.5 Pro

[elf69]

I'm not slating the tablet before anyone jumps in!

Appart from screen res it has not wowed me.

I had a sumsung tab s 8.4 on EE data contract.
It came up for renewal last week so pay £50 upfront and get a pro for not much more than I was previously paying.

I was originally thinking of going with the samsung s2 8.4 but many reviews said it was actually worse in screen department than the first 8.4 I already have.

My fiancee loves her 9.7 pro so decided to go for the pro 10.5

Very very nice tablet, i find it a bit thin and not so easy to hold due to thin bezels.
It is fast but not really find it faster than my old 8.4 samsung generally.
Yes it is faster but not massively that it super noticeable.

It loads the two games i have on it fast but they not too graphic, boom beach and clash of clans.

I'm hoping to use it to try drawing on, think that is where it will come into it's own.
I'm not a master drawer and my disability has hindered drawing with pencil and paper.
So thought try the pro as my fiancee has a pencil for her pro she almost never uses.

I have only had the tablet 4 days and was not able to use over weekend so I need play with it more yet.
I still use my samsung for reading usb memory sticks which as of yet the ipads cannot in same way.
Also I have a usb camera I use down tubes/pipes/small holes etc that is android/windows only and cannot be used on ipad, shame as the screen res would be perfect!

 

[NickYanakiev]

I bought the 10.5 Pro a few weeks back for use at work. I am blown away by the tablet and how much more usable it is with the recent ios updates. The only complaint I have is that they Apple keyboard case is a little to crammed.

 

[willmtaylor]

I'm not slating the tablet before anyone jumps in!

Appart from screen res it has not wowed me.

I had a sumsung tab s 8.4 on EE data contract.
It came up for renewal last week so pay £50 upfront and get a pro for not much more than I was previously paying.

I was originally thinking of going with the samsung s2 8.4 but many reviews said it was actually worse in screen department than the first 8.4 I already have.

My fiancee loves her 9.7 pro so decided to go for the pro 10.5

Very very nice tablet, i find it a bit thin and not so easy to hold due to thin bezels.
It is fast but not really find it faster than my old 8.4 samsung generally.
Yes it is faster but not massively that it super noticeable.

It loads the two games i have on it fast but they not too graphic, boom beach and clash of clans.

I'm hoping to use it to try drawing on, think that is where it will come into it's own.
I'm not a master drawer and my disability has hindered drawing with pencil and paper.
So thought try the pro as my fiancee has a pencil for her pro she almost never uses.

I have only had the tablet 4 days and was not able to use over weekend so I need play with it more yet.
I still use my samsung for reading usb memory sticks which as of yet the ipads cannot in same way.
Also I have a usb camera I use down tubes/pipes/small holes etc that is android/windows only and cannot be used on ipad, shame as the screen res would be perfect!

This strikes me as a bizarre critique.

For one, did you not research the benefits/selling points of an iPad Pro before purchasing? There’s much information out there, and it seems as though in your use case, an iPad Pro is overkill.

The Pro is extremely fast and capable, but you don’t need a fast iPad. It’s like purchasing a hot rod or exotic sports car, but you don’t see much difference in bumper to bumper downtown traffic.

You may be the only person I’ve ever seen complain about reduced bezels on MacRumors.

You knew the iPad didn’t have USB before you purchased it, so your memory stick and camera issues are really on you.

I love my Pro. The color accuracy, resolution, response time, 4 speakers, battery life, portability, speed, Apple Pencil compatibility, and iOS 11 multitasking make it an awesome device for my needs. However, I understand that it isn’t for everyone. The real issue though, is that you could’ve figured a lot of that out beforehand.

Best of luck.

 

[elf69]

I like the device.

yes screen does blow everything else away, no question.
USB drive mounting is not essential and the camera works with my android phone (mate 9 so nice big screen anyway).

there are very very few, (actually only 1 real one I can see) down sides on the pro over the samsung I was tempted to get which is usb host but not a deal breaker for me as have an android phone always with me.

I got the pro as it offers more than the samsung at a marginal extra cost per month.
Better have over kill than just enough...

I am disabled and have issues with my hands, so to overcome the grip/bezel issue I'm just going to buy a big chunky case.

The pro is highly spec'ed up so hope to do more than my samsung was able to do.

IOS11 is very smooth on it as I'd expect it to be.
Speakers do sound excellent over ANY other tablet I have tried (that is quite a few as work in IT sales)

 

[elf69]

To give you an idea at my local carrier store where I went to upgrade I had the following choice:

Ipad mini 4
Samsung tab s2 8
ipad
ipad pro 10.5

all give or take where similar cost per month.
Pro seemed a no brainer!

The samsung reviews where not very promising, so largely ignored it.
The mini I feel would be too small.

As I use it more I shall update here, but I do not dislike it.

 

[Starfia]

Do try drawing if you feel you're able – even drawing with the Pencil and basic art tools in Notes is impressive. Using the Pencil with Procreate is just amazing.

Thin bezels theoretically shouldn't mean you can't grip the visible area of the screen – I haven't tried a 10.5 specifically, but generally the system is decent at inferring you don't mean to touch and select the area you're holding. And of course you can augment the thinness with a preferred case or cover.

 

[elf69]

I was looking at procreate and the cost seems very reasonable.

to me looks like photoshop for mobile devices.

I used to draw years ago but my hands got really bad of late

 

[CrystalQuest76]

I recently came across an app specific to the iPad Pro with Pencil called Nubo. Is anyone familiar with it and what do you think of it. The developer notes says that it will recognize natural handwriting and convert it to text. the notes also report that it will smooth out hand drawn diagrams.
The developer's website includes a demo video that looks really impressive. It reminds me of the features that I had with the Apple Message Pad 120 that I got back in 1996; only more modern and accurate. (I still have the Message pad and last year, when I checked it was still functional. Amazing tech for its time.)

 

[Newtons Apple]

I'm not slating the tablet before anyone jumps in!

Appart from screen res it has not wowed me.

I had a sumsung tab s 8.4 on EE data contract.
It came up for renewal last week so pay £50 upfront and get a pro for not much more than I was previously paying.

I was originally thinking of going with the samsung s2 8.4 but many reviews said it was actually worse in screen department than the first 8.4 I already have.

My fiancee loves her 9.7 pro so decided to go for the pro 10.5

Very very nice tablet, i find it a bit thin and not so easy to hold due to thin bezels.
It is fast but not really find it faster than my old 8.4 samsung generally.
Yes it is faster but not massively that it super noticeable.

It loads the two games i have on it fast but they not too graphic, boom beach and clash of clans.

I'm hoping to use it to try drawing on, think that is where it will come into it's own.
I'm not a master drawer and my disability has hindered drawing with pencil and paper.
So thought try the pro as my fiancee has a pencil for her pro she almost never uses.

I have only had the tablet 4 days and was not able to use over weekend so I need play with it more yet.
I still use my samsung for reading usb memory sticks which as of yet the ipads cannot in same way.
Also I have a usb camera I use down tubes/pipes/small holes etc that is android/windows only and cannot be used on ipad, shame as the screen res would be perfect!

Just return it if you find it does not suit your needs. You got 14 days from the receipt date./

 

[Pete Rodgers]

I used to draw years ago but my hands got really bad of late

My partner has a paralysed left arm after a stroke, so I know how difficult that can be. Procreate is a fantastic drawing app and it has a rubber too!!! Hope your hands get better.

 

[willmtaylor]

To give you an idea at my local carrier store where I went to upgrade I had the following choice:

Ipad mini 4
Samsung tab s2 8
ipad
ipad pro 10.5

all give or take where similar cost per month.
Pro seemed a no brainer!

The samsung reviews where not very promising, so largely ignored it.
The mini I feel would be too small.

As I use it more I shall update here, but I do not dislike it.

Your statements here just seem odd when compared to your thread title and original post.

 

[Precursor]

I recently came across an app specific to the iPad Pro with Pencil called Nubo. Is anyone familiar with it and what do you think of it. The developer notes says that it will recognize natural handwriting and convert it to text. the notes also report that it will smooth out hand drawn diagrams.
The developer's website includes a demo video that looks really impressive. It reminds me of the features that I had with the Apple Message Pad 120 that I got back in 1996; only more modern and accurate. (I still have the Message pad and last year, when I checked it was still functional. Amazing tech for its time.)

Been using Nubo. Works perfectly even though I have terrible handwriting!

 

[elf69]

Just return it if you find it does not suit your needs. You got 14 days from the receipt date./

Do not have 14 days to return as it is on contract, there is no return window.

It will do what I want, I never said was bad device.
It just does not have a wow factor as much as I thought the pro might.

Screen is amazing though without question!
Ipads have always has amazing screens!
[doublepost=1507019636][/doublepost]

Your statements here just seem odd when compared to your thread title and original post.

Not at all, I love the screen but still not feeling a wow factor.
Maybe I been playing with too many devices at work and it's diluted the effect.

 

[RedlegsFan]

I kind of agree, I just went from an Air 2 to the 10.5 and it is a very nice upgrade. But even the promotion didn't "wow" me. I'm just glad I have a very powerful tablet that should last me at least the next 2 years. Plus, I got a great deal on it, so it was a no brainer.

 

[mariotr87]

To me this iPad Pro is pretty much perfect, and there's possibly little more that can be done with the technology we have available today, at least at this scale. No complaints whatsoever. Obviously I'm looking forward to a bezel-less, Face ID and OLED enabled iPad Pro, borrowing from the iPhone X design. Same goes for Force Touch.

In any case, I feel like the iPad has gone from a luxury, nice-to-have device to something which can truly be useful, to the point where it can replace both full-fledged computers and other consumption devices 95% of the time, in many cases providing a more comfortable experience. It won't quite enable you to get rid of your Desktop/Laptop, and it probably never will, but it's always there to cover the vast majority of use-cases. My 10.5 Pro is certainly getting more use than my computer these days, and I've found it to have a good enough form factor to completely replace my Mini for reading and traveling. It's just a joy to use both at home and outside.

 

[maflynn]

Appart from screen res it has not wowed me.

Really? The screen has not wow'd you? That's what caused me to buy the 10.5 - coming from an iPad mini second gen.

It is fast but not really find it faster than my old 8.4 samsung generally.
Yes it is faster but not massively that it super noticeable.

So what actions or apps, do you feel that should have been faster on the iPad that the Samsung was just as fast?

I still use my samsung for reading usb memory sticks which as of yet the ipads cannot in same way.
Also I have a usb camera I use down tubes/pipes/small holes etc that is android/windows only and cannot be used on ipad, shame as the screen res would be perfect!

I think you should have done some further research, unlike other tablets, the iPad does have limited USB support. If you need to use a number of USB peripherals, then find a different platform that meets your needs. One size does not fit all, and so, the iPad may not be something for you

 

[elf69]

I said screen DID wow me. apart from screen I was not wowed!

The tablet is not slow, never said it was.
I use at the moment basic mundane apps so no real speed gain.
I can use better more powerful apps on the pro then the samsung now, although not got round to installing yet.

I went for the pro over the other choices as it would offer me more to play with.
in particular pencil for arty stuff etc.

I also pointed out my phone (android) fills gap of the usb camera/drives etc.
USB support is NOT a deal breaker.

 

[maflynn]

I said screen DID wow me. apart from screen I was not wowed!

My bad, I misread your post.

The tablet is not slow, never said it was.

Well you did say its not faster then your samsung, so that means its slower.

The bottom line is if you don't like it, get something else.

 

[elf69]

not saying don't like it.

thing is i not pushed it yet.
any tablet can open tiny apps or webpages and to be honest you never gonna see super duper speed difference in low end apps.

the pro was no brianer over the other offerings at my carrier.
I think it party due to fact i deal with so much tech and new devices at work it is harder to impress me.

the pro is way better than my samsung, how much better i need play and push it more.
ordered hdmi cable so may be able to use as a desktop with bluetooth keyboard.

 

[Cool Pup]

I kind of agree. I too was underwhelmed by the experience as a general whole considering the tablets and computers I have used in the past few years. For example, the iPad Air line has been extremely good for a while and the former Pros have been very good as well. These are the best iPads ever, but if you aren't a creative professional and use the drawing tools, it really is kind of overkill as a tablet considering the price hike over other iPad models. Or in your case, non-Apple products satiate your needs perfectly at a much more reasonable price.

It's a very nice device, but iPads have been nice devices for a while. I guess it's called "Pro" for a reason, because unless you have specific needs that will replace a computing device or plan on the utilization of the Pencil then it's not really an ideal product for many consumers, even if the screen is very nice and the speed is noticeable increase that makes it much more usable as a product beyond media consumption. But even with iOS 11 it *still* isn't a viable replacement for a laptop for most users, there's just too much you can do with a computer over an iPad when it comes to managing files, installing software, and multitasking that you cannot replicate on a mobile operating system no matter how optimized it might be.

It isn't really that much better than the Mini 4 in my opinion for my needs. I'm more interested in the rumors of an OLED screen and bezel-less iPad next year, especially as a media consumption device. The design is in need of a refresh beyond a spec-bump in my opinion.

 

[elf69]

I persoannly think if IOS could have a file manager like android or finder in osx then the pro would easy be a laptop killer.
i guess this is why it does not have it.

I am going to try run the pro alongside my 2010 macbook and see just what it can and cannot do.

 

[aypues]

i tried the 10.5" twice. just not sold on it completely for the price. I felt the screen's smudging was unacceptable and distracting. Also, the white balance seemed off with true tone on or off, and display accommodations didn't really help either with the color filters. Whites had a pinkness to them which I found weird. My old iPad4 was dying a slow death and what I decided on was to get a holdover for a year or so until the OLED iPad comes out, whenever that is - so I got a regular iPad (2017, 5th gen) and it's fine so far. No weird fingerprint distractions on white screens and much faster than my 4, although not as quick as the 10.5". I would've liked the always on "Hey, Siri" feature too but will deal with the old way til next year.

 

[Cool Pup]

I should also mention that my experience with the 10.5 Pro was hampered slightly by the camera bump on the back. Now, I don't really have an issue with the camera bump on iOS devices because of how you hold the screen, but I felt that with the usage of iPads that you encounter situations where you graze the bump or feel it and it's an unusual feeling. I don't think that the bump is worth it for better quality pictures on a large tablet personally and even though I felt like it wouldn't be something I noticed, I certainly did in my experiences. Surely I would get used to it, but going back to my Mini 4 and the pre-bump world was more of a satisfying experience overall.

Just throwing that out there for potential buyers of the Pro, not something I see brought up all that much by reviews.

 

[perezr10]

I think it depends on what you’re doing with it. If you go buy a Porsche 911 and just use it to go to the grocery store you could say “I’m not impressed”. But if you’re a competitive SCCA racer who’s taking it out on the course you may find it an amazing car.

 

[jamesrick80]

You may be better off with a samsung tablet for the things you like to do. You seem like you actually manage files as well and you wont get a true file manager on a ipad. Look into the newest Galaxy tab A 10.1 with s pen and 3 gb ram. Most people have no problems with this device.