I have an 2017 10.5 inch iPad Pro. With the recent announcement of a new iPad Pro, is there a big improvement to justify an upgrade? I primarily use the ipad for web and video content. I initially upgraded to the pro because of the sound and improved screen.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Upgrade 2017 iPad Pro to 2020 iPad Pro
- Thread starter CanadianEh
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
This is a question that I’m torn on. In one hand, the 10.5 is 3 years old, mine works perfectly fine. On the other hand, it’s specs are better then this years 7th gen, which should last for years.
At first I wasn’t going to upgrade, but then got an itch and was ready to upgrade. But now after going back and forth, I have no idea what I’m going to do.
I would love to hear some pros and cons from other readers.
At first I wasn’t going to upgrade, but then got an itch and was ready to upgrade. But now after going back and forth, I have no idea what I’m going to do.
I would love to hear some pros and cons from other readers.
Stuck too. There’s a part of me that also says I should extract as much value out of the 10.5 as I can via trade in.
I currently have iPad Pro 10.5 2017 model and debating if I should upgrade now or see if there is another one coming out in October 2020. If I do upgrade, my kids will get an upgrade, since they have an iPad Air (1st generation)’
I mainly use mine for streaming and web surfing.
I mainly use mine for streaming and web surfing.
I have the 10.5" Pro 64 GB. I am definitely upgrading to an 11" 128 GB with 6 GB RAM. The question is when. I would keep both devices.
If I was going to buy a WiFi-only model, I would buy now or soon. However, I am considering the cellular model, so I'm considering waiting until the 5G version comes out. I can afford to wait a bit though anyway, for a couple of reasons:
1) I want the Magic Keyboard, but that doesn't come out until May.
2) I'm currently mostly working from home, so my need for a mobile device is much less right now.
For web and video content at home, the 10.5" Pro is more than fine. My plan was to leave the 10.5" Pro at work, and take the 11" everywhere else, but since I'm not going anywhere these days and do most of my work at home, a new iPad Pro would be superfluous.
Trade-in value for my 10.5" Pro 64 GB would be CAD$290/US$202 if I'm really lucky, so that's not really attractive to me. I'd rather just keep it as my work iPad.
If I was going to buy a WiFi-only model, I would buy now or soon. However, I am considering the cellular model, so I'm considering waiting until the 5G version comes out. I can afford to wait a bit though anyway, for a couple of reasons:
1) I want the Magic Keyboard, but that doesn't come out until May.
2) I'm currently mostly working from home, so my need for a mobile device is much less right now.
For web and video content at home, the 10.5" Pro is more than fine. My plan was to leave the 10.5" Pro at work, and take the 11" everywhere else, but since I'm not going anywhere these days and do most of my work at home, a new iPad Pro would be superfluous.
Trade-in value for my 10.5" Pro 64 GB would be CAD$290/US$202 if I'm really lucky, so that's not really attractive to me. I'd rather just keep it as my work iPad.
I am on the same boat. I was waiting for the 2020 iPad Pros to upgrade me 1st gen iPad Pro 12.9 inch. But the update, didn't really convince me and makes me think that it would have been better if i had updated for 2018 already.
I looked at the trade in values in Italy where I am living, for my mint condition (no crack, no damage..etc) 128 GB Wifi+Cellular iPad Pro, what they are offering is 180 euros / 193 dollars.. I find it a bit too low.
I am mostly using my iPad Pro for sketching / drawing which it still works fine. I was experiencing some lag with the latest big update of Procreate which had started to make me think of updating but the lag seems to have been gone away with the minor updates. I may just have it's battery replaced and go on with it.
I looked at the trade in values in Italy where I am living, for my mint condition (no crack, no damage..etc) 128 GB Wifi+Cellular iPad Pro, what they are offering is 180 euros / 193 dollars.. I find it a bit too low.
I am mostly using my iPad Pro for sketching / drawing which it still works fine. I was experiencing some lag with the latest big update of Procreate which had started to make me think of updating but the lag seems to have been gone away with the minor updates. I may just have it's battery replaced and go on with it.
Why do you guys feel like you need top of the line specs for web surfing and watching videos. The experience will be nearly identical. Most modern iPads are the same. The only real difference is size and shape.
I think that you have a valid point for most people. In my use case, i use it for sketching and drawing, post processing, i enjoy using/learning shapr3d as for work i have to do 3d modelling and trying to see if i can adapt myself to shapr3d but it is a little bit different kind of modelling process compared to nurbs modelling (Alias Studio) so for me, any performance bump would be welcome.
For people who just use it for video watching and basic web surfing stuff, I think that the promotion display can be interesting if it is used during web browsing (for scrolling smoothness) and on video if it use higher FPS but i don't know really as i have never had a direct experience with the promotion display yet.
Second reason, for those who go 12.9, can be the screen size, as without doubt, watching on a bigger screen, or reading on a bigger screen can be pleasingly welcome for many, especially on the go.
Third reason that i can see would be the form factor. I don't think that anyone would argue that the rest of the iPad line up, looks very dated compared to the Pro versions or Android Alternatives. And looks for many, can be a decicive factor. It would be for me, if the money wasn't an issue.
Also usb-c support is something nice to have too, especially for people who may have big video libraries, they can take it with them on usb c flash drives or hard disks.
Having seen the 2020 pro 11, I’m thinking of going for a refurb 2018 as the battery in my 10.5 really doesn’t last long now. Refurb is £250 cheaper than the 2020 model too.
Updating in this case seems like spending a lot just for web browsing and watching videos.
If media consumption is your main use I’d stick with the device you already have.
I have a 10.5" iPad Pro 256GB. I'm doing more travelling for work than when I bought it so it's seeing a lot more use for a wider variety of tasks, but I still don't have any great reason to upgrade. The most demanding apps I use are the Affinity suite which still run just fine.
Although a few years old, the A10X still doesn't really seem to be pushed. The only reasons I'd want to upgrade is the battery isn't quite as good as it used to be and I have a small white spot on the screen (and of course the 11" models do look a lot more modern). I think if all the accessories were compatible I'd bite the bullet on a 2020 model, but replacing the keyboard, Pencil and case adds considerably to the cost. It takes the base 11" from £769 to ~£1,100 (plus another £150 more for the Magic Keyboard with the trackpad instead of the Smart KB folio), which is a bit ridiculous.
The other reason would be if Xcode for iPad were released and only compatible with newer iPad Pros, as that would be massive - I'd run out (if we're all still quarantined, order online!) and buy a new one there and then. Not sure how likely that is though, will wait for WWDC20 and see if there are any announcements.
Although a few years old, the A10X still doesn't really seem to be pushed. The only reasons I'd want to upgrade is the battery isn't quite as good as it used to be and I have a small white spot on the screen (and of course the 11" models do look a lot more modern). I think if all the accessories were compatible I'd bite the bullet on a 2020 model, but replacing the keyboard, Pencil and case adds considerably to the cost. It takes the base 11" from £769 to ~£1,100 (plus another £150 more for the Magic Keyboard with the trackpad instead of the Smart KB folio), which is a bit ridiculous.
The other reason would be if Xcode for iPad were released and only compatible with newer iPad Pros, as that would be massive - I'd run out (if we're all still quarantined, order online!) and buy a new one there and then. Not sure how likely that is though, will wait for WWDC20 and see if there are any announcements.
Last edited:
I’ll be the first to tell you I don’t need the newest specs for my iPad. It’s used for media consumption and online classes. I play some games, I use the pencil for notes, I don’t really draw much. My only reason to upgrade is to get a newer device, with current specs, I usually upgrade iPads every 2-3 years.
So this where I am, I would like to get the new one to continue my upgrade cycle, I have a family member that could use my old iPad, so I wouldn’t be “wasting” an iPad. Now there is that rumor of the 5G iPad possibly later this fall, so that’s what I’m hoping for now, because my 10.5 Pro is running great and don’t really “need“ to upgrade right now.
Oh the first world problems. Lol.
I’m on a 1st Gen 12.9” IPP 32gb (2016), and storage is my biggest issue. It still works well, if perhaps slowing down a tad. I‘ve had a lot of use in the 3.5 years I’ve had it, and feels the right time to change it.
Had a £160 voucher from MBP purchase on Black Friday, some cashback rewards from work scheme and will trade in this IPP too (£170 gone up recently), meaning a fairly cheap upgrade to the new 11” 128gb version.
i like the size and design, get a quicker IPP (future proofing against my current IPP), and 4 times the storage.
Gonna give the Logitech crayon a go too, have a Magic Mouse too. My pencil v1 is going to my daughter for her iPad drawing. Undecided on keyboard, but very unlikely to go down the new Magic Keyboard route.
currently due to arrive 26-30th March.
Had a £160 voucher from MBP purchase on Black Friday, some cashback rewards from work scheme and will trade in this IPP too (£170 gone up recently), meaning a fairly cheap upgrade to the new 11” 128gb version.
i like the size and design, get a quicker IPP (future proofing against my current IPP), and 4 times the storage.
Gonna give the Logitech crayon a go too, have a Magic Mouse too. My pencil v1 is going to my daughter for her iPad drawing. Undecided on keyboard, but very unlikely to go down the new Magic Keyboard route.
currently due to arrive 26-30th March.
I have 2017 12.9 and 2018 11 inch. I’m thinking of upgrading the 2017 12.9 to a 2018 12.9 now that the used prices on those have dropped. I love the form factor, I want the compatibility with the new keyboard, it would be nice to use the same Apple Pencil on both (I use them simultaneously while teaching online), and I’m tired of the touch responsiveness issue on my 2017.
I’m not sure the new features of 2020 are things that really matter to me when I can spend so much less on a used 2018.
I’m not sure the new features of 2020 are things that really matter to me when I can spend so much less on a used 2018.
Are the speakers "louder" and display "brighter and crisper" than the 2017 model? As many have mentioned, speed for surfing is not a factor. I am a casual camera user and the extra wide would be a nice to have feature. The resale value in my area is about 55% of my original costs.
If you made a conscious decision NOT to get the 2018 Pro, then that same logic still applies to the 2020 Pro.
10.5 vs 11
Things that are Similar:
- OS support
- 120hz
- App compatibility
- Pencil Support
- Smart Keyboard Support
Things that are Different:
- Less Top/Bottom Bezel
- USBC Cables/Charger
- Dongletown is a little different here
- Security input method (Touch vs Face)
- Memoji
I’m not saying anyone should buy or stay with any device. But for me I dont regret upgrading last month but in all honestly I’m still using it exactly the same. And thats because the reality of it all is that things haven’t changed much since 2016 and Apple has done an amazing job at supporting old hardware.
10.5 vs 11
Things that are Similar:
- OS support
- 120hz
- App compatibility
- Pencil Support
- Smart Keyboard Support
Things that are Different:
- Less Top/Bottom Bezel
- USBC Cables/Charger
- Dongletown is a little different here
- Security input method (Touch vs Face)
- Memoji
I’m not saying anyone should buy or stay with any device. But for me I dont regret upgrading last month but in all honestly I’m still using it exactly the same. And thats because the reality of it all is that things haven’t changed much since 2016 and Apple has done an amazing job at supporting old hardware.
Last edited:
Not necessarily. For those on 2017 Pros or lower end models, there are some useful upgrades that come with the refresh in addition to the features on 2018.
2018 iPad Pro 11
$799/949 4GB RAM, 64GB Wi-Fi/LTE
$1549/1699 6GB RAM, 1TB Wi-Fi/LTE (launch pricing)
2020 iPad Pro 11
$799/949 6GB RAM, 128GB Wi-Fi/LTE
$1299/1449 6GB RAM, 1TB Wi-Fi/LTE
That said, there are some really nice deals on the refurb 2018 Pros. Waiting for 1TB LTE to go on stock in the refurb store ($1149 11" 1TB LTE, $1299 12.9" 1TB LTE).
What's getting forgotten in terms of power: The A10X is a six-processor chip (three high-performance, three power-saving) whereas the A12X/Z is a eight-processor chip (four high-performance, four power-saving). A change in the CPU governor makes it possible that Apple devices with A11 or later can access all cores simultaneously and the pre-A11-devices cannot. They only switch between all high-performance cores or all power-saving-cores. That explains why everything from A11 onwards is so much better in multithreading - every bit counts there. So for me I wouldn't buy any pre-A11 device anymore; but I type this from a 2017 iPad Pro where I have little to no regrets in terms of performance.
I only upgrade if I believe the enhancements will improve my own personal experience. For me, yes, I do web browse a lot, but I also game. Any performance boost will improve that gaming experience for me because I play action games that are graphics intensive. When I went from the Mini 4 to the Mini 5, I saw an incredible jump in graphics. I’d love to get that bump in performance from a Pro model, but the form factor is too bulky IMO, so I’ll wait for another Mini refresh most likely. Luckily there’s a rumored refresh either this year or next year.
But for those who need the Pro models or are accustomed to that size, and feel they would actually get something out of an upgrade, go for it. I guess you have to know yourself to help decide. It’s difficult for others to know what you want out of it. The biggest improvements with the 4th gen Pros is in the rear camera and RAM (unless you had a 1 TB 2018 Pro, which also has 6 GB of RAM). The keyboard is cool, but that is compatible with some of the other Pros too.
I’d sort of liken the 4th gen Pros to the XBox One X compared to the One S. It’s an improvement, but not night and day. If you want the best, this is it. But I wouldn’t just get it to get it. Know what you’re getting and why.
But for those who need the Pro models or are accustomed to that size, and feel they would actually get something out of an upgrade, go for it. I guess you have to know yourself to help decide. It’s difficult for others to know what you want out of it. The biggest improvements with the 4th gen Pros is in the rear camera and RAM (unless you had a 1 TB 2018 Pro, which also has 6 GB of RAM). The keyboard is cool, but that is compatible with some of the other Pros too.
I’d sort of liken the 4th gen Pros to the XBox One X compared to the One S. It’s an improvement, but not night and day. If you want the best, this is it. But I wouldn’t just get it to get it. Know what you’re getting and why.
A POV on ergonomics
In the past I’ve had lots of different iPad models from the original through the Airs to the Pros. I upgraded from the home button 2017 IPP to the faceID 2018 model.
The difference was really nice for me, the newer design is a real pleasure to use, I really love the smaller bezels and the speakers are definitely better if you use it for media / music consumption.
Whether it’s worth the cash, will be defined by your financial situation. I was lucky enough to sell my old iPad for a decent price and therefore it was not a tough decision.
I am really happy with the upgrade and it is the best iPad experience I’ve had so far.
In the past I’ve had lots of different iPad models from the original through the Airs to the Pros. I upgraded from the home button 2017 IPP to the faceID 2018 model.
The difference was really nice for me, the newer design is a real pleasure to use, I really love the smaller bezels and the speakers are definitely better if you use it for media / music consumption.
Whether it’s worth the cash, will be defined by your financial situation. I was lucky enough to sell my old iPad for a decent price and therefore it was not a tough decision.
I am really happy with the upgrade and it is the best iPad experience I’ve had so far.
Most pertinent question here.... are you going up to the 11” or the 12.9”?
In my opinion- as a previous owner of the 10.5” & then the 12.9”... there is a DRASTIC difference, particularly if you’re consuming a lot of video content.
The bigger pleasure in use will be the removal of the home button & corresponding bezel that was on the 10.5”; not necessarily noticing a difference in “crispness”, per se. Certainly simply the larger size will be generating more light, so will appear brighter (just as a 65” tv will brighten a room more than a 32” tv, even at the “same” brightness).
The above will be true of the 11” as well, but much less noticeably & maybe would not be worth the cost of upgrading, imo.