Video Review: Using the 12.9-Inch M1 iPad Pro for Two Months

[MacRumors]

Apple in May released the new M1 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, and they're the first iPads that use Apple's M-series chips designed for Macs instead of A-series iOS chips, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has an all-new mini-LED display.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

We did a hands-on video back when the M1 iPad Pro first came out, but MacRumors videographer Dan has been using it daily since launch, and thought he'd revisit it to give an updated review on how it has fit into his workflow and with his other devices.

If you're still on the fence about one of the M1 iPad Pros, Dan's video is worth watching to see how it performs in day to day usage over a period of time and whether it's worth picking up.

Article Link: Video Review: Using the 12.9-Inch M1 iPad Pro for Two Months

 

[Eorlas]

this is a brilliant idea for a review. i'll chime in another user anecdote as well:

have had mine since launch, i was already in the market for a pro and wanted that screen size.

obviously, it's a fantastic performing device. i absolutely cant help but feel like it's restrained from its full potential given the chip that's quarterbacking its whole operation. i also cant imagine that spending the extra $700 or so markup to get the 1TB for the sake of 16gb ram is helpful in this current iteration. at that point, one is better off getting a MBP that will be better off with the same chip, and the additional ram.

as far as ipads go, bottom line is i think if it's what you're in the market for, specifically for the other features the 12.9" tier offers, then it's hardly a bad buy.

if one specifically wants the performance of the M1, a 13" mbp is the cheaper buy as it has the M1, same amount of ram, the keyboard is attached and part of the cost. it doesnt have as nice a display though, so keep that in mind.

it's all about what specifically you're buying for. purely just to make sure you have a fast ipad....i think the preceding pros were hardly sluggish.

 

[lazyrighteye]

If iPadOS was as dialed and supportive of pro apps (FCP, Logic, etc.) as some would want, wouldn’t that cannibalize the MBP line? I can’t see Apple doing that. Thus, I can’t see iPadOS hitting the functionality for which some power users are hoping. I could be wrong.

 

[SonOfaMac]

Well thought out and presented review Dan, I will be staying with the 2018 until IOS makes use of all that POWER!

 

[ddtmm]

Good video. I've been saying for a long time that there are a ton of features they could add in an instant to make the iPad far more capable, like Logic and Final Cut but they haven't. And never will. Why would they sell you that then they can sell you a $3,000-8,000 notebook AND a $1,000 - $2,700 iPad. Not to mention the iPhone as well. That's the main reason they never made a touch screen laptop.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Good job with the review Dan. Very informative and detailed. Looks like you did intensive amount of research to analyze the chip.

I wish Apple brings M1 chip to the iPhones. Let's make this happen

 

[eroslws]

Had the OG 12.9” iPad Pro and a 15” 2016 MBP. Replaced both with the new miniLED LTE iPad and haven’t been this happy with a product in a while. I do wish it didn’t cost me $2k in total, but overall worth it. Work gives me a new Macbook every year so I’m not completely iPad only, but there’s nothing in my personal life that requires a Mac anymore.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

This is the same story 10+ years in.

"It's getting better but can't completely replace by laptop yet."

And it never will. Give it up. Let it go. It's okay to use a Mac.

 

[macrumorsuser10]

I hope Apple adds some hardware or software to continuously scan what you're viewing on the iPad so they can check for CSAM.

 

[tongxinshe]

There are other apps similar to Logic X and Final Cur Pro, but just less capable, fitting with the purpose of iPad Pros. If you heavily rely on Logic X or Final Cut Pro, you are supposed to be using Mac Pros instead of MacBooks.

 

[Analog Kid]

If you could include a text review as well it would be a better fit for many of us. I can scan text much more quickly to find interesting bits.

 

[Macalway]

I must say, my 12.9" 2021 blows my M1 Air away in a number of ways . And the Air is pretty good. Funny how the iPad has overtaken the Laptop, and by a good margin.

But a lot of it is the new screens, which are remarkable. When the Pro laptops come out with this, it's going to be something.

 

[Cronbo]

The reviewer is a videographer and didn't speak once about the 4K camera or video editing apps available like LumaFusion 3.0 ? It doesn't matter that you don't personally use the ipad for that, perhaps your readers/viewers do, and THEY would like to know if it's worthwhile? Missed the Titanic on this one...

 

[jacjustjac]

this is a brilliant idea for a review. i'll chime in another user anecdote as well:

have had mine since launch, i was already in the market for a pro and wanted that screen size.

obviously, it's a fantastic performing device. i absolutely cant help but feel like it's restrained from its full potential given the chip that's quarterbacking its whole operation. i also cant imagine that spending the extra $700 or so markup to get the 1TB for the sake of 16gb ram is helpful in this current iteration. at that point, one is better off getting a MBP that will be better off with the same chip, and the additional ram.

as far as ipads go, bottom line is i think if it's what you're in the market for, specifically for the other features the 12.9" tier offers, then it's hardly a bad buy.

if one specifically wants the performance of the M1, a 13" mbp is the cheaper buy as it has the M1, same amount of ram, the keyboard is attached and part of the cost. it doesnt have as nice a display though, so keep that in mind.

it's all about what specifically you're buying for. purely just to make sure you have a fast ipad....i think the preceding pros were hardly sluggish.

As someone who debated on a new iPad Pro for ages (I have and still use a 9.7” iPad Pro) while owning a 15” or 16” MBP, I’m super glad I picked up a 13” M1 MBP after my 16” unexpectedly died.

Mac OS is the best use of a 13” screen when it comes to editing vidoes. I’d choose that over miniLED’s running LumaFusion any day.

 

[Ethosik]

If iPadOS was as dialed and supportive of pro apps (FCP, Logic, etc.) as some would want, wouldn’t that cannibalize the MBP line? I can’t see Apple doing that. Thus, I can’t see iPadOS hitting the functionality for which some power users are hoping. I could be wrong.

This is why, for me, the Surface Pro line is better in this regard. The poor components in the Surface is a downside. But Apple could destroy the surface line if they made it more professional workflow oriented.

 

[GuruZac]

Well thought out and presented review Dan, I will be staying with the 2018 until IOS makes use of all that POWER!

Same same. The 2018 is still more powerful than iPadOS so whats the point in spending up. Apple threw the M1 in the iPad Pro for streamlining manufacturing not for any other grand scheme. If they wanted to make the iPad Pro equally capable they could.

 

[DanTSX]

Nice! I just got to finally handle the 12.9” IPP in person this week, and am thinking of replacing my 10.5” IPP with one in the next several months.

at least in my assessment, the screen of the 12.9” was much better than that of the 11” IPP, and that is what matters to me.

 

[dgdosen]

Not to mention it's so big it's not a good choice for many mobile use cases...

 

[AMTYVLE]

I got to test a 2021 M1 iPad Pro 12.9” at work VS my daily driver, a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9” with an Intel chip and the difference is night and day. It’s unreal. The M1 is faster and feels a lot more stable. Also that Mini LED screen on the M1…I couldn’t believe the difference.

Edit: Yes, I realized I said Intel chip in an iPad. My B.

 

[genovelle]

I believe you will see many of the features he is talking about in the next year or so. I believe Apple is wanting to get more M1 iPads on the market before making those kinds of changes. Especially with only the Pro models having the chip. That would create confusion with Apps since now they would have Recent Pros and current A series iPads that can’t run software.

 

[I7guy]

Nice balanced review Dan. While I purchased the low end model with the magic keyboard and are missing out on the mini-led we overall love the form factor and my spouse is able to replace 98% of the work on the surface.

Not to mention it’s an awesome consumption device.

 

[d4cloo]

Right now, it seems, the cheaper non-Pro models are the better product.

To leverage the true “Pro” potential, Apple has great laptops and desktop solutions. A true Pro iPad will need to have an evolved operating system, professional apps, and upgraded hardware (true external monitor support, memory limitations gone, USB-C speeds matching laptop equivalent, et cetera)

 

[nick42983]

Had the OG 12.9” iPad Pro and a 15” 2016 MBP. Replaced both with the new miniLED LTE iPad and haven’t been this happy with a product in a while. I do wish it didn’t cost me $2k in total, but overall worth it. Work gives me a new Macbook every year so I’m not completely iPad only, but there’s nothing in my personal life that requires a Mac anymore.

It's easy to "replace" your Mac with an iPad when work provides the Mac. It's not progress (except for Apple's bottom line) when we have to use 3+ devices to do the work of 1-2. I wonder how they will hobble their folding iPhone or iPad in the future so that it can't be used as a single device consolidating the functions of both.

 

[unchecked]

The iPad Pro isn’t going to grow any more ports and that’s the primary hindrance for pro usage. The Mac (be it the desktops or the MacBooks) is the machine with the ports.

 

[dwaite]

Good video. I've been saying for a long time that there are a ton of features they could add in an instant to make the iPad far more capable, like Logic and Final Cut but they haven't. And never will. Why would they sell you that then they can sell you a $3,000-8,000 notebook AND a $1,000 - $2,700 iPad. Not to mention the iPhone as well. That's the main reason they never made a touch screen laptop.

The revenue from the few sales for $2k+ computers they make is a drop in the bucket compared to baseline iMac and MacBook Air sales. They exist so people don't run out of horsepower and have to switch from Mac to Windows to get work done.

Likewise, the Apple ecosystem doesn't exist in a vacuum; growth comes from pulling professionals over from Windows (be that via a Mac Pro or an iPad Pro). While success on that high end doesn't move the needle much for Apple, it makes a lot of difference to the Logic and Final Cut Pro teams. I suspect they are actually the biggest internal champions for "pro" iPadOS features.