M4 iPad Pro: has Apple lost the plot?

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I've had a chance to spend some time with the new M4 iPad Pro and man, this is a beautiful machine. But it's an iPad no less or more than others. So today I'd like to discuss the problem with iPads and the problem that I have in reviewing them
time stamps
0:00 intro
2:03 Why I bought it
3:14 Apple Pencil Pro
3:56 Magic Keyboard is hit or miss?
5:19 Can it do more than previous iPads?
6:22 What do people do with iPads?
7:19 The biggest improvement
8:04 Battery test
10:04 The big realization...
#ipadpro #apple #ipados #Ankeripadhub #Desksetup #AnkerMACximize #ipadaccessory
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[@MrJmanrey]

The iPad Pro 2018 is like the GTX 1080 ti. It was just too good and set the bar too high.

[@SyedFaiz3347]

That is so true man! Never realized the simularities.

[@Shteven99]

Best way to put

[@mattb9664]

Yeah, it's like the hardware manufactures in 2017-2018 still didn't realize how long their hardware was going to actually last, performance wise, for at a medium level of use. And they didn't realize that high and ultra high use was really only a 10% better experience than medium. The days of these devices becoming unacceptable after 3-5 years are gone for now. Until they figure out how to pull a Microsoft/Intel to use 'sake of security' as the justification to obsolete a perfectly good computer or component.

[@TheMaristBoy]

I get what you mean, but I hate this line of thinking because it tells brands not to make products as good as they can be. What we should be saying is they're not innovating today; not that they innovated too much before.

[@ahmaddeeni]

@@TheMaristBoy agreed, shouldn’t companies like apple look at it as beneficial, instead of investing into manufacturing a new device every year they can really hone in on software and experience in a way we are gladly handing over our money towards their saas offerings like icloud and apple TV.

[@ElliotsTrains]

Watching this on my iPad Pro 11 2018! Still does absolutely everything perfectly.

[@sotosoul]

I still have my old iPad 4 (yes, that dinosaur from late 2012) that I use almost daily as PDF reader, web radio, movies, music, e-mailing, messaging and note-taking, garagebanding, some old games... Battery still holds about 80% charge which translates to 6-8 hours of use. It still has some value, at least to me.

[@ColinStyles]

I'm still sporting an iPad 2 which I use for software that was not updated to the latest or removed from the App Store. The web browser is having issues with some modern websites now, so not all rosy. As a Book and Comic reader, casual games it works fine. I'm still getting several days of casual use and weeks of standby. It can barely access the App Store now and if I ever reset it, it will be pretty useless. But runs like a trooper, hats off to the older iPads.

[@clebbington]

This makes me think of the iPad 4 Dankpods uses as his deskmat 😂 Sometimes he flips it over and shows that it's still faster and more useful than some of the new cheap Android tablets he's reviewed. Old iPads ftw!

[@tomwagner4516]

Good for you! We don’t need all of this silly stuff. Keep it simple, like Apple used to be.

[@emilsecker7881]

Hopefully you also have a more modern iPad too

[@oluisberaldo]

iPad 3 here. And going strong!

[@DanZimmerli]

I also had the 2018 iPad Pro 11” and when I saw that I would also need to spend $1500 to duplicate my existing setup I decided to take a step back and find a refurbished 2022 iPad Pro 11” with the M2 processor and keep using my Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil that I already had. This saved me about $600 and I’m more than happy with the M2 and am confident that whatever Apple throws at it at WWDC it will be compatible vs the 2018 potentially losing some features or not being supported at all.

[@clebbington]

Smart move. Refurbished and used Apple products when they're a few years old is always such a sweet spot. I think Luke has done a good job of highlighting the value of refurbished Apple products.

[@laurence2192]

But what did you gain by moving to the M2 version?

[@DanZimmerli]

@@laurence2192 longer term support for one. If Apple doesn’t drop support for the 2018 iPad Pro this year it doesn’t have many left. A few generations of better internals for another including better cameras and that M2 chip I also enjoy in my MacBook Air.

[@TestarossaF110]

i hope apple doesnt give the m2's a split os (if they were to do that) should be pro only anyway and then they have plenty of reasons to make it m4 only, just wish it was a 100 to 200 dollars cheaper and did have split os or something more macbook-like.... but yh i dont see it happening :/

[@emilsecker7881]

Thanks for that wisdom, I think I’m going to do the same. I’m in the market for an iPad mini and I think I’m going to get the mini 6, so I can continue to use the Apple Pencil I already have

[@SebastianSteele]

I use my 2020 11” iPad Pro for 85% KZbin, 10% social media, 5% video editing. My iPad has never seen a keyboard or Apple Pencil.

[@TheTCTech]

Still using my 2018 12.9” iPad Pro daily, honestly it’s still pretty great. The only issue I really have with it is the 4GBs of ram which makes it difficult to keep apps open in the background and has been causing problems with some of my video project exports in LumaFusion. I was interested in possibly upgrading this year, but the issue of having to buy completely new accessories is really off putting. At this point, it does make the previous iPad Pro an interesting proposition. Being able to use the accessories I have already would save quite a bit of money, sure it doesn’t have all the features of the new ones, but the main features are here. As someone who uses their Apple Pencil for illustration as well, I wish the Apple Pencil Pro would have been compatible with the previous generation iPads. I think I’ll end up making a decision based on what happens at WWDC this year. If there’s major changes to iPadOS, I might consider the M4, but the previous M2 iPad Pro offers an interesting value proposition at the moment.

[@topmech71]

I have the model with the A12Z chip a year later 11 inch, it has 6gb of ram and runs great.

[@Kevin.Morgan]

yeah the 2018 12.9” iPad Pro is still great, but the only issue is the update support.

[@TheTCTech]

@@topmech71 yeah, it’s definitely down to the ram honestly. I still use mine for pretty intensive tasks, but having apps reload on me is starting to get pretty annoying. I use my iPad on the go as my video editor since it’s able to handle 99% of what I need, but it’s been struggling handling the footage from my Canon R8 so that’s why I was considering upgrading this year. I made a review recently on the 2018 Pro, and it really came down to the software being gimped as reasons why the iPad has remained pretty much the same for most people. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the next iPadOS for sure.

[@joelv4495]

Yeah, the M1 or M2 off the refurbished store is the way to go. Factoring in all the accessories you can retain it's a LOT cheaper, and it's functionally the same unless you're a heavy Pencil user.

[@TheTCTech]

@@joelv4495 Yup, or if you can potentially get a deal for the M2 pro leftover stock for around the same price as the new airs, it’s kinda a no brainer. I’m able to get 10% off anything from apple’s store through their military/veterans discount, including refurbished items and accessories. So the current price for a refurbished 12.9” M1 Pro 256gb is $746 which is super tempting. Waiting for M2 stock to show up though and see how those get priced first. Funny enough, a refurbished 2TB M1 12.9” Pro through the military Apple Store is only $100 difference from the base model 12.9” M4 Pro, so it’s kind of crazy.

[@jiddofaddoul]

It is amazing how some people - due to some whatever notion - misinterpret, then bash out what an individual is NOT saying. This guy is not denigrating the iPad Pro 2024, his statement is focused on the average person’s use for a high performing tablet. It’s not like Apple is trying to a promote the unit to a certain niche of advanced users… apple is trying to sell it “to” the average person (no specificity in the adverts.). There is absolutely nothing wrong with this presentation. It’s strictly informative. Thank you Luke.

[@Semi-Detached]

So for me, the iPad pro is a drawing/animation tool. And when I see people saying its too expensive for what you get, I like to refer them to devices like the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro. Thats a device that is centered around drawing that starts at $3,500, though you can sometimes find it on sale for $2,500. And that gets you a fairly mediocre Windows computer with an IPS display. While I think the "need" for the pro iPad is narrow, it's not actually priced that poorly against its actual pro competition. Assuming you fall in the category of people that actually need that kind of device. If on the other hand, you just use the iPad for content consumption, you really don't need to spend the money to get the pro, the air or even the base model will likely serve your needs fine. If you want the features of the pro, like the display, but don't need them, well then the only real justification is you want it and for some people thats enough to spend the extra. Its a tool, probably a more narrowly focused tool then a lot of youtube reviewers want it to me, but that does not mean its not the right tool for the audience its targeting.

[@xiongej]

Exactly 100%

[@braixeninfection6312]

My uses were more than satisfied on the iPad 9th gen. The 10th was already out however I do not like the weird design choices. So I went for a 256gb 9th gen instead. And it does everything I need. I can draw if I want. Watch videos, and browse the web. Also make notes on pdf documents when I work on electronics. Some people need to just realize that the base model is more than enough for their needs. I do not need, nor want a iPad Pro at over $2000. I'll happily take my $400 iPad 9 any day lol.

[@xiongej]

@@braixeninfection6312 If you do not need the iPad Pro then it’s not really targeted towards you though. That’s the whole point. It has an entirely different audience

[@BeanThereBunThat]

Spot on

[@manart6506]

Yeah. Basically. iPad does a lot… for people that don’t much the basic iPad is a Swiss knife but they would rather just pay for the knife and not the other stuff they never use in the multi tool. But for those people even a computer must be too much for them. They need only their only phones or a very basic iPad.

[@swerzer]

Luke - you give the best complete honest reviews. Keep 'em coming!

[@Mooooooof]

Crazy to think it’s practically a Mac within 5mm case with touchscreen and great battery life.

[@bhavdeeprehal8827]

Almost. Just has software holding it back

[@simply-the-max]

@@bhavdeeprehal8827 Just what I wanted to say: It's an artificial limitation created by Apple. So sad.

[@clebbington]

Yeah man my MacBook Pro is less powerful than this new iPad but at least it can run Windows games through Crossover and virtualize an entire Windows 11 desktop through Parallels. High-end hardware deserves an enthusiast's operating system.

[@joemaijinni]

I agree 100%! I am a business owner with multiple clients and also do photography and videography. I bought the m2 iPad Pro thinking it was going to support my 16” M2 Max mbp. I attempted to edit on Final Cut and use basic client tools like ASANA and slack. I ended up just getting on my mbp because I felt it took too long on my iPad. I guess I’m too slow to adapt to change. I now just use my iPad for travel like you. I have no issues carrying my 16” around or taking it with me to do heavy or even basic work. I actually prefer it. I think the pro is really great for niche artists just not me.

[@clebbington]

I bring my 16" M1 Pro MBP with me everywhere. The big screen and great keyboard/trackpad make for an amazing mobile dev setup. I do miss the touchscreen from my previous Windows laptop but I'll take the tradeoff for better build quality and an operating system that isn't full of ads

[@lavitasecondolibero2310]

I’m an engineering student and I’m using a 2018 ipadPro 12,9. I use it literally for everything, from note taking and media consumption to 3d modellling and CAD. After all these years it’s still perfectly fine except the glass that I shattered but it’s still working . In the last 6 years I used it to its maximum maybe one or two times and I never had problems. Now I’m forced to buy a windows laptop because most of the software I use for work are available only for windows. During these years I met many engineering students daily driving iPads.. from my experience I think that the only device that is comparable with a macbook pro is the 13’ ipad pro with the Keyboard, but I prefer the ipad with the pencil, the possibility to use such an input device is really important for my use case and that’s something’s that you can’t do on a macbook, the other thing is that the ipad is meant to be used handheld, if you pass all your days jumping from one class to an other and taking trains and similar that’s a crucial advantage. The smaller ipads are a perfect companion for a real laptop. The only one that doesn’t make a lot of sense is the 11’ ipad pro. Since for my job I need a Windows laptop , if I had to buy a second device I would probably choose an iPad air with the pencil.

[@clebbington]

But your use case also highlights the same point tech reviewers have been making for years. You know what you can do on a Mac that you can't do on an iPad? Run Windows software. My M1 Pro MBP can emulate an entire Windows 11 desktop via Parallels. USB devices even work. It can play Windows games through Crossover. The open nature of MacOS means that the amazing power of Apple Silicon isn't held back like it is on the iPad. If Apple opened up iPadOS you could use the Apple pencil you like with the Windows software you have to use for work on a best-in-class OLED display. That's why these tech reviewers keep saying over and over again that iPadOS is the Achilles heel of these otherwise amazing tablets.

[@emilsecker7881]

Should’ve used a screen protector

[@lavitasecondolibero2310]

At least for my use case all the softwares i need to use barely works on windows laptop, using them on a virtual machine is not a good idea, and older intel MacBooks which can run windows natively are too old now. Anyway you missed my point, iPads but high performance tablets in general should be considered as a cheap laptop alternative/ professional laptop companion. When Apple started marketing iPads as laptop replacement all the youtubers missed a crucial point, people are not all content creators and pro users. Base ipad models are far better cheap laptop/ chromebook replacement e than ipad pros can be for professional laptops. For what concerns the ipad pros if you check the Apple website you find out that an m4 iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil has around the same prince of a MacBook Pro 14 with similar storage, if your job requires a pen, like if you are an artist, an illustrator, a designer the ipad is better for you. No one talks about this but even the best specked ipad pros are surprisingly cheap when you compare them with Wacom graphic tablets, and allow you to do what more things than simply drawing. For what concerns ipad OS i think that an ipad running macOS would not be an ipad anymore, take as example the surface pro from Microsoft, it’s a tablet running a proper full OS than no one have ever used as a tablet simply because it’s running a software created for a keyboard and a mouse. That’s also the same reason why on an ipad with 4 gb or RAM which is also VRAM you can do things that you can’t even dream to do with a proper laptop with 4 gb of RAM, a light and snappy OS is the key for a long lasting device. Al least on the pros Apple should add cross-compatibility with Mac Apps ands some other minor details but in general iPadOS should remain iPadOS

[@simply-the-max]

I completely agree. After having owned a 2018 iPad Pro 11 for many years, I actually switched to the new iPad Mini two years ago. And I don't miss anything except for the 120 Hz screen. For hourlong gaming it's even better in my opinion. And I enjoy to have a compact and light package for my travels :)

[@clebbington]

I hate that Apple uses high refresh rate to separate their Pro devices from the rest. I would have gone with the base iPhone 15 instead of the 15 Pro but now that I have 120Hz on my MBP and 165Hz on my gaming desktop, I can't go back 😅

[@vraalten]

The IPad Pro is really great for creative work! It can now rival desktop and laptop apps. As an electronic musician this machine is heaven. But as you pointed out, most people do not need it at all. I use a base IPad from 2018 for daily use, which works more than fine! My IPad Pro is only used for creative work. Keep up the good work!

[@clebbington]

Finally someone who gets it. There are so many butthurt comments saying that Luke doesn't understand what this device is for, but that poll that he took shows that most people using these devices are not power-users either. I'm glad you have a use case for the hardware and don't feel locked behind the software - do you use Logic for your music?

[@true2life73]

Luke, this was an awesome video! I appreciate your honest and logical approach, so I had to sub! Keep up the great work, brother.

[@ansucoomber9142]

oh it is not weird at all. I faced a similar decision the other day. the new iPad Pro is out so I thought it was a good time to switch to the old iPad Pro from my 4th gen iPad Air. I was about to pull the plug and buy it and then I asked myself "what exactly do I need the pro to do that my iPad does not currently do?" I realised it will be new but it will not do anything new and I am happy to say my iPad Air is calmly seated in my bag next to my MacBook Pro (M1 Pro). Apple makes their products so good that only a few people would ever find a use case for their expensive stuff. I see you apple vision

[@ordinaryalan]

Apple will never create an ecosystem where they put MacOS on an iPad. Everyone who hopes that will happen can forget about it! They're not going to kill their own macbook product line. That's all that's missing on the iPad at this point, a desktop class OS. Other than that, it's perfect. Too perfect for most people.

[@clebbington]

It's such a shame. I love MacOS. Especially with how Windows 11 is just adware at this point.

[@TestarossaF110]

they dont need to kill their macbook lineup by making it limited to a 2000$ device (ie only give it to the 1tb+ 13" m4) with what apple has done they have plenty of room to say youll need the full m4 chip, 16gb of ram and atleast 1tb to make use of their split os, so it would not cannabilize their macbook lineup. its a long shot and a lot of hopes and wishes indeed but yh... :/

[@jesseandersen4055]

It's annoying because it feels like the only reason they won't give the iPad more powerful programs is because it would defeat the purpose of the Mac. if an iPad could do everything a MacBook Air could do who tf would buy the MacBook Air when everything is 10x better on the iPad. If the iPad could run every program a Mac could there would be no comparison the iPad would win at everything other than comfort, cause the keyboard like you mentioned is a little bit awkward. Hell that tandem oled even beats the MacBook Pro screens and those compete easily with other manufacturers' oled laptops. they're better than other laptops with oled.

[@TheStopwatchGod]

I'd say apart from the refresh rate, the screen on the new iPad Pro beats every Windows laptop, especially with that brightness

[@jesseandersen4055]

@TheStopwatchGod definitely, 100% agree. Even the refresh rate looks better, although I know it's the same as the old ipads.

[@TheFeedRocket]

If they just had MacOS run when purchased the 13" plus upgraded storage to get the higher memory then you have to attach the special keyboard it would cost over 2 grand and still it's just 13" and they keyboard doesn't beat the Macbook keyboard. So honestly I think it would not hurt the MacBook sales much, plus the profit on these would be huge. Also there are already many of us who gave up the MacBook in favor of the iPad, and we would all buy this. But sadly now I can stick to the older version and it does almost the same as the new one.

[@lavitasecondolibero2310]

Given that the price is comparable, if you can benefits from the Apple pencil you should buy an ipad, if you benefit more having a real keyboard you should buy a macbook. I don’t understand why everyone is reviewing the ipad pro with the magic keyboard, it’s an handheld device meant to be used handheld, if Apple really wanted to create an iPad that could replace a laptop now all Macbooks would be convertible and with touch screen. Microsoft had the surface pros for 10 years right now, no one used, and use them like tablets, they are glorified convertibles with a detachable keyboard. The only category of professionals who can really benefit of this new ipad pro are designers, illustrators and photographers.

[@jesseandersen4055]

@lavitasecondolibero2310 the point is that it has and has had the hardware to do everything a Mac can but is being purposefully limited for no reason.

[@AnonN-sr6uu]

Everything you said you can do with your 2018 iPad Pro would also apply to MacBooks. Yet, you’re the first one to upgrade to a new MacBook Pro that has 15% faster performance. The iPad Pro objectively is Apple’s most cutting edge mainstream product. It’s gained the most features year-over-year for the past decade than any MacBook could ever dream about. Why are tech KZbinrs insistent on setting unrealistic expectations on it? Is it just that good of a product? It’s baffling.

[@bigshoe84]

I’m still using a first gen IPad Pro 12.9” with the A9X processor. I don’t use it for anything super demanding and it has a cracked screen but it’s still chugging along.

[@deyant8230]

really depends. Upgrading from M chip iPad is a bad idea. But if you look at it as… investment in your entertainment. Switching iPads once in 6 years (divide price to years) compared to switching 2 or 3 other devices during the same period, 120hz refresh rate, amazing screen, the build quality, always relevant hardware specs, the apple eco system, just the pleasure from using such well crafted device - probably not everyone’s cup of tea but I’m sold.

[@TheWobart]

100%. I’ve had my iPad 6th gen since launch so this is a huge upgrade. My main use case is digital art, media consumption and light gaming. This handles everything I can throw at it and will last me 5+ years so it’s the best fit for me!

[@clebbington]

I think it also comes down to how much disposable income you have. My stepdad was the same way with his iPad pro - just needed a solid tablet that would last him for years, and had the extra cash to drop on it.

[@VoicefulRiver]

I have an iPad Mini 6 and an iPad 7th Generation. I use them for casual browsing and content consumption, they do it just fine. Once the iPad 7 stops getting software updates I'll probably grab an M2 Air. Heck, my M1 Pro MBP 16" is still overkill for me.

[@clebbington]

Same, I'm a web dev and my MBP is mad overkill. Also emulates Switch games like a champ. Glad I got it used for cheap

[@jakthebomb]

My reasons for updating from my M1 12.7" iPad Pro to the new 13" M4 iPad Pro came down to AV1 Decoding, lighter and new keyboard. I never had a problem with the Mini-LED display, sure there is slight blooming, but not enough for me to care. AV1 Decoding has made KZbin not burn through my battery so quickly. I think the media engine is more efficient vs the M1. I mainly use it for Manga / Reading, KZbin, Crunchyroll and writing. It was a hard justification to upgrade, but since I use my iPad more than any other device, it was easier.

[@MalcolmREBORN]

What do you mean? Is there decoding happening when we watch a KZbin video in high quality on mobile devices?

[@jakthebomb]

@@MalcolmREBORN Yes, hardware acceleration for decoding a video stream. If your device doesn't have native decoding support, it tries to run in software which burns through power like crazy.

[@clebbington]

I wonder if the AV1 hardware support actually made up the different or if it was just the more efficient chip. Either way happy to see native support for an open and efficient codec

[@MalcolmREBORN]

@@jakthebomb Oh so this explains why Video streams are like the most laborious tasks for 7-8 years old mobile devices and computers.

[@clebbington]

@@MalcolmREBORNThat's exactly right. Newer codecs are much more data-efficient but they require more computational power to decode and encode. Newer devices have hardware that is purpose-built for these tasks so they don't break a sweat. Older devices have to do it in software and if your processor isn't up for the task, it's gonna be a bad time 😂

[@joeygigahertz]

Great job Luke. You’re one of my favorites very honest and direct to the point. Once again you can put all the horsepower you want into this thing but it’s still just an iPad. My advice is the same by the cheapest newer one for 350 and call it a day.

[@gargallant9811]

Not really, Luke himself said that with WWDC coming up this video was hard to do and in that case, should’ve waited to see what is in store for this powerhouse

[@ivssimo]

As as student I recently bought an 11 inch 2020 iPad Pro, and coming from a base model iPad 7, I can say that this definitely is an improvement, I upgraded because I just couldn’t stand the little space since I had to delete apps every time a software update came. Plus, promotion and better processor make this feel really smooth compared to my old one. Planning to keep it until the end of support, even because it has only 30 charge cycles

[@raymart86]

My kiddo is still using an iPad Air 2. Those were a special version similar to the 2018 iPad Pro. Laminated display. It’s lasted a very long time even with just 16GB of storage. It’s used for streaming kids shows and is still amazing. The battery is gonna go eventually but what a tough device this has been!

[@rhoderzau]

Among many other things, I use the iPad as a local game streaming device using Moonlight and the motion clarity is a huge improvement. If the MacBook Air had a similarly spec'd screen I'd be happier with that for productivity tasks but that's not gonna happen this decade. I'm finally opting to only carry the iPad 13 though rather than a laptop too, making use of remote systems to fill any gaps.

[@mpetrides]

I find my M4 iPad Pro 13 inch to be much more responsive. In particular, it is really much easier to use for taking handwritten notes; there is noticeably less lag when handwriting on it.

[@changez77654]

Fellow 2018 iPad Pro user checking in. My main usecase is casual computing. Occasionally I use it with Lightroom and it makes easy work with high res images. Back in 2018 the iPad Pro was for some people like me. Now if it broke I would just get the iPad Air. I see the iPad pro as a showcase of technology. Its Apple showing off what they can do if budgets are not a thing.

[@jayemery]

I'm the same as you, but I don't think I could give up Face ID and pro-motion!

[@changez77654]

@@jayemery fair point! I didn’t think of that! That is a conundrum with such a high entry price for the pro replacement

[@flyingwoodshop1545]

Def agree! I bought the 2018 iPad for the Apple Pencil so I could make custom vinyl. Of course, I use it to watch your videos and listen to podcasts. I could do this stuff on a non-pro iPad today, but not in 2018. Still, I don’t feel that I will need to replace it any time soon.

[@kmlex1965]

I updated to the M4 13 inch and I’m happy with it. I’ll keep it 5-6 years and use it for notes and reading pdfs. It’s a pleasure to use and if it costed more than you think I should have paid, oh well.

[@Matthanna90]

Hey Luke, love your Apple videos and great job on this one! I did have a take on this and I think you touched upon it at the end. I am someone who loves my ipads and have been using ipads as travel companions since 2014 so I have had my fair share of versions. As of late I have upgraded to the bigger screen for more real estate when watching movies or browsing and I had the M1 ipad pro 12.9inch and decided to upgrade to the M4 13 inch for basically the screen and now that it has gone OLED, a future proof iPad for atleast 5 years. I feel like the OLED screen was the last big hardware piece missing in the iPad lineup and now that it has arrived, I will probably hold on to this one for some years to come.

[@clebbington]

That's a good point. If you know you like the form factor, and you're enough of an enthusiast to care about OLED, I can understand making the jump.

[@Matthanna90]

@@clebbington like every review I do wish I could do more with it. I have a MacBook as well and it feels redundant too often. The iPad remains the best travel entertainment device though. Weight to usefulness ratio is unmatched

[@bryanjensen2614]

Luke I carry around two power bricks for long layovers they certainly come in handy when you're walking around the airport to stretch out your legs and just plug it into your iPad and iPhone in the quick charge ports.

[@clebbington]

That works but it's one more thing to charge and not everyone wants the extra weight in their bag. I used to use one but now I'm glad my devices last long enough to not need one.

[@bryanjensen2614]

@@clebbington Power bricks don't really weigh that much I barely even notice the difference if they are in my backpack.

[@artemvsprime]

I’ve upgraded from my 11 inch 2018 model to the 13 inch M4 and have no regrets. To me the OLED display is worth it, my eyes get tired of standard LCD screens but not OLED ones. The new 13 inch is only slightly heavier than my old 11 inch which is ridiculous. Pity I won’t be able to use my old pencil with the new one but from what I understand they had to redesign the magnetic charging port because of moving the camera to landscape.

[@Everyday-man]

Do you find the Oled good on your eyes? I have an 11 with the LCD atm. But I've been reading about PWM flicker on the new Oled causing eye strain, dry eye or headaches.

[@artemvsprime]

@@Everyday-man I haven’t noticed any flicker to be honest. And if there is some on some models, I’m sure they could patch it in an update. I went to the Apple Store and compared my old iPad with the new ones.

[@Everyday-man]

@artemvsprime awesome 👌 I really love the idea of the new ipad and after some realisation/ thinking. I use my ipad Pro frankly more than any other device, whether that be my phone, macbook Pro, Gaming laptop, or even my TV to be completely honest with myself. So I really am thinking about upgrading my ipad pro 11inch 2020 model with the A12x Bionic. It's a pretty great device, but the screen and power of this new one really interests me. I've had warzone over heat my ipad even on lower settings. ( was a good hour long or more gaming session) read this new one has graphite and copper to help with heat distribution. 20% better than M2, which was already way better than my current hardware.

[@artemvsprime]

@@Everyday-man although, I don’t play games on iPads so I can’t comment on frame rates or flickering while playing

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

I have an ipad pro i got around that time but it's the 2017 one, and it still is in great shape and works awesome. That being said I am starting to consider upgrading at some point. especially as ipados audio devices become more readily available.

[@calvee1100]

I ended up returning my M4 ipad Pro. I LOVED the display but it just wasnt worth 1k to me. Bummer. I got a Samsung Tab S9 FE open box from best buy for 300 bucks. The screen isnt as nice but its less than a third of the cost and does what I need. Oh well...

[@ab4805]

We went for Ipad Air M2 13 in and we are very happy.

[@GaryScott-pdx]

I have a 12.9” iPad Pre that is two generations old. I’m waiting for the announcement of 18 to see if I will lose any functionality running it on my older iPad. Then I’ll make my buy or not decision.

[@B-Hathaway]

I'm an actor/singer and I use my original 12.9" iPad Pro with the original Apple Pencil constantly for scripts and sheet music. It's getting a bit sluggish, so I'll probably upgrade to a newer 12.9" model. But I can't imagine being without some version of iPad.

[@michaelconroy5668]

Still using a 2016 IPad Pro 9.7 inch.

[@JackieDElia]

I decided to upgrade to the iPad Pro 12.9 6th gen and traded in my 3rd gen yesterday. Only reason was the USB-C port - glad I had AppleCare as they did replace the 3rd gen once for me last year due to same issue. The 2nd one started acting up as well and I decided it to upgrade. Not sure why but the 3rd gen USB-C port starts being very selective about what cable will charge it and my Capture card completely stopped working. New iPad today - Capture card works fine. By the way, I couldn’t do this at the Apple Store but Best Buy had the 6th GEN in stock and I was able to do the trade-in right at the store.

[@spencerbacon]

I got myself a 2021 iPad Pro with 1tb of storage and I love it. I edit videos on it, do my personal computing on it. It works for what I need it. It was more expensive for sure but what I loved about it is the size, the 11in with the keyboard case is perfect, I hated lugging around even a 13in laptop. This just feels better for me.

[@aaref04]

Agreed with you, now it will be very difficult for iPad because of new surface Pro 11, please need your review for that also

[@JackStavris]

My 2018 iPad Pro 11-inch is fine, battery is a bit old but still mostly fine. I have the original keyboard folio case for it and it’s fine, not great but good enough for an iPad since all it does mostly is KZbin and some browsing when I need a bigger screen than my phone but don’t want to cart my laptop around. If something ever happened to this iPad Pro I’d honestly just get a used iPad Air or another 2018/2020 iPad Pro to replace it, no need for anything newer or faster honestly since this one still does the job I want it to do pretty well.

[@JCU84]

I’m upgrading from my 11” iPad Pro 2018 because i want the new oled screen. I wanted to upgrade to the M2 12.9” because of the miniLED but I decided to wait. I’m glad i can keep the same size but get a better screen. Only thing I’m disappointed is not being able to use my 2nd gen pencil.

[@MikeDold]

I literally only want to upgrade to this iPad for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s landscape Face ID. I don’t even care about FaceTime calls having a better angle and looking better, that’s not a big deal to me. But what I have HATED for years is swiping to unlock the iPad with my right hand and to constantly be notified that my left hand is covering the Face ID camera. It just drives me nuts. I have wanted landscape Face ID for as long as I can remember lol and it sucks I have to pay for all these other features just to get it lol.

[@greenbanana2332]

I have 2017 9.7 iPad Pro 128gb and it has served me well for the past 7 years. I am leaning towards a 2024 iPad Air 11” M2 256gb. Seems to me (for me), it’s the best bang for the buck.

[@gwellz]

might finally upgrade my 2018 iPad Pro. If only because I have noticed its slower than my iPhone and iMac of video exports. It's not that its slow, just not as fast. Might as well trade it in whilst it has some value

[@clebbington]

Now it might even be faster than your Mac 😂 If anything I'm just excited for M4 to come to laptops. My M1 Pro MBP is overkill for my job but I push it to the limit when I play Valheim on it.

[@BigBoss9696]

I literally went with the iPad Pro 11” M2 model weeks before these new ones were announced, got Apple’s Folio Keyboard to accompany it plus I already had a Apple Pencil 2nd Gen very happy with my purchase and new iPad set up, out the door total was $550 with my trade in (traded in my old iPad Pro)

[@DGgraphicsNY]

Still using my 2018 iPad Pro daily…Not tempted to upgrade

[@chrislonie4838]

I’ve had 11” 2nd and 3rd gen but I was trying to find a good deal on 13” 2tb 6th gen. Mostly for photo editing and dorking around on the web. Finally went for Samsung S9 ultra for screen real estate and can put 1tb card in it. Cost me about $800 used and the s-pen is included.

[@Andy-xd7ng]

I started using my Meta Quest 3 as a monitor for my 2018 12.9 inch iPad with the Magic Keyboard attached of course so I have the cursor... I setup stage manager and have 4 apps running, typically KZbin, Files (with a movie on it), Safari and X...the experience is good, is still fast and it doesnt lag... is like having a giant 100 inch screen iPad... WHAT IF THAT iPad keyboard Apple patent does come true and a MAC OS is coming to the M series iPads this summer at WWDC!?!??!?! would be a huge curve ball but could be possible!

[@gozzkesshell]

Just recently bought second hand iPad Air m1 for roughly 370$. My use case is just a couch machine, watching videos at home and browsing the internet. For That use case it’s more than enough and I hope it will serve me well for next 5 years as my previous 2018 base iPad did.

[@aplace4seeing3874]

I, too, have the 2018-12.9. I use it for mild 3D design, photoshop and Lightroom and music playing and recording apps along with some graphics tools and word processing and the web. The camera placement is a design feature I long for but I would like to do more serious video especially since Final Cut has appeared last year. I have a 1TB 2018 and I really need the space although the thunderbolt is intriguing. My dilemma is that I need 1TB but I wonder if the 1 TB M2 iPad Air will do as good a job for almost $400 less. At present, I am awaiting the announcements from WWDC. I hope it will provide answers.

[@robbristow]

Still using my iPad air 2 for casual stuff but always move to my iMac(2019) or laptop (2024 air) if a keyboard is required! It is still a halfway point between my phone and desktop/laptop - I'm in the 83 percentile.

[@murosekai]

I have an iPad Pro m2 13 inch base config. I wish they had made the new pencil pro for the older pro iPads. Although I’m no artist, I would really enjoy the new squeezing feature as I draw many schemas for my university studies etc and for that purpose I use multiple colours, pens, etc. and having that setting menu near the pencil tip would save up a lot of time reaching the top of the screen with my hand.

[@matt_kelly]

I tried the new iPad at BestBuy and the while the screen looked great, it was at 100% brightness under the store lights and it didn't looked noticeably better than on my M2 12.9". I still notice blooming under certain conditions, but I don't notice it unless I'm looking for it. It was a definite upgrade from my old 11", but I don't think it's outclassed by the new 13". I still want it for reasons I can't quite pinpoint, but nothing is really pushing me over the edge. I would want the larger size, but something is pushing me to get the 512gb version so I don't get the slowness of the single-nand SSDs, and it's not enough of an upgrade for me to spend that kind of cash on it. Maybe something will change at WWDC, but for now I'm happy where I am.

[@TraneFrancks]

I'm also a super light iPad user. Still daily driving my iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi. Battery doesn't do all that well after more than 10 years, but it's good enough for reading, running various workout apps, using the Windy app to track weather, etc. Hell, even doing some loops in GarageBand isn't a problem. I even have a cheap Bluetooth keyboard for it to use MS Remote Desktop for client visits in case of emergencies and my laptop is down for some reason (has happened and the iPad worked a treat for accessing the servers). iPad Pro is not ever in my foreseeable future.

[@erikellehoj3593]

I have an M1 iPad Pro and I use it to scan historical documents into PDF and then do intensive edits of those PDFs. I have several hundred PDFs and they all contain more than 100 pages, some close to 1,000. The M1 is fast, but I often wait several seconds for certain operations to finish. My battery life is much shorter because I am pushing the chip to the limits, sometimes four hours and I need to start thinking of recharging. Doing this work on the iPad is much better than using the Mac. I can't justify the cost of the M4 version because a few seconds saved is not worth the huge expense, at least for now.

[@clebbington]

That's super interesting; definitely a niche use case but one that justifies having bleeding edge processing in a tablet. Thanks for sharing.

[@Earendilvingilot13]

I guess I’ll hold on to my 4yr old 2018 pro for another year

[@josh3326]

I still use a 6s iPhone, and a 2018 11" iPad. both work just fine for me, and I don't see myself upgrading for a while. More money not being tied to devices, and to travel with.

[@carlsouthern]

I upgraded from the 11 inch M1 iPad to the 13 inch M4 with 1TB and the new Magic Keyboard and I LOVE IT. Specifically because it has 5G. I work on the road a lot and having an Apple computer with cellular has been a game changer

[@kr555wizard]

I draw on an ipad air and it does the job well enough for me, like i’ve done dozens of amateur illustrations and never felt limited by it, so yeah i think the pro moniker is really meant to match who is meant to use it which are professional artists, cause they are the only ones I could see possibly pushing it and even then they would have to either use apps that use up alot of power, or work on animations with dozens to hundreds of frames, or illustrations with that many layers. My own personal issue is just that they locked things behind higher memory models like the nano texture screen or more powerful cpu, and made it not compatible with the older peripherals.

[@berndkiltz]

U are totally right. But I ordered one anyway...

[@superNova5837]

As someone who both wants/ needs larger displays the only thing I would use to justify it is “it’s larger than my current one” (iPad 10th gen That would be the only major factor Also atleast on newer delta planes it’s one of the nicest if not the nicest screen for an in flight entertainment screen (delta is phasing out the seat back TVs

[@Nemlv]

i tried to upgrade from 2018 11 pro to m4 13” and it was so top heavy i was shocked apple would actually release it. Returned it and got the 11. Believe it or not its still way more stable than the 13”, while still being almost unusable without a table.

[@barron204]

Still using iPad Pro 9.7 2016 every day. But will upgrade for drawing eventually.

[@alanhughes8152]

still using my 2020 iPad with a Magic Keyboard (like the iMac Magic Keyboard) and it works great. Obviously still have to use my Macbook for designing and coding tho, but that's the issue for all iPadOS devices.

[@PittsburghAfterDark]

I'm on a 2018 A12X iPad Pro and it is pretty much phenomenal as far as tablets go. There's nothing on it that tells me it's 6 years old as far as performance goes. However I am getting an M4 because I typically update everything in the 5-7 year range. Is it necessity? No, absolutely not. However I have a family member that really wants it and that's my excuse.

[@eriknelson5585]

I am still holding on to my base 2020 iPad Air. Similarly, it works perfect for travel and still has 94% battery health!

[@BurstupTV]

My main use for iPads is music production. iPad OS has brilliant virtual instruments.

[@Bluestarferies]

But does your workflow include vocals? Tuning them and mixing them and all that. Is it possible on the iPad?

[@BurstupTV]

@@Bluestarferies No. I used to record vocals in the past for my band. But these days, most of my music is instrumental only. I guess what I wanted to say was that while the iPad can be great as a media consumption machine (and I'm sure most people use it that way), for some artists (musicians, painters etc.) it can be a powerful creative machine. I still prefer a good Windows 10 or 11 based PC for work and creativity thougth.

[@juanlvo]

totally agree with your point, unless iPad OS change a lot, I cannot justify an iPad Pro with M4, is so much power for a tool that I will use for writing notes, having the backup of my document from the cloud when I travel and watching Netflix

[@commentarytalk1446]

Totally get you for travel iPad being light and thin is a great choice for a portable computer. Gotta baby-sit the battery a little bit if using intensive apps eg FreeForm gobbles battery fairly high and turn off email fetch if it's very active and put battery saver mode on etc and it should work for a day's work. But I find remote desktop is the only current way to make it a productivity portable powerhouse instead of using the native hardware which is wasted given a remote machine is doing all the heavy lifting. So cheaper iPads are still the way to go until that changes?

[@vitalis]

I went to the Apple Store to check out the new OLED screen side by side with the new iPad Air’s Mini LED and yes jt was somehow noticeable but not worth the price difference

[@Fen2C]

I just watched this video on my 11” M4 iPad Pro. It’s replaced a mini 6 for me and I wanted it because of the display. I bought the Pencil Pro, but I don’t need that at all. I’m going to try to use Scribble for note taking to “justify” it. I didn’t get the keyboard and won’t unless we get something like macOS on the iPad at WWDC, but unless that happens (and I am hopeful but not optimistic it will) my M2 MacBook Air will travel with me alongside the iPad. It’s definitely a luxury for me to use casually, but it doesn’t hurt to have lots of performance and the awesome screen, and who's to say it won’t still be my go-to in six years like the 2018 is for so many people - my wife included, and myself until I decided the 12.9” was just too big for my needs and went mini.

[@danielgall55]

100%! Agree, it’s only good for traveling, moreover I still use my 2020th, only because of its durability compared to MacBook, and it quite harsh to use a MacBook in a moving car or in a train due to vibration. To me, it cannot be a productivity tool of any kind, if you’re trying to concentrate on something, and you need all of your intelligence resources, you don’t wanna think about the interface, and I’m catching myself at all times I’m thinking where to click how to make two windows and what to press on an iPad… and I have absolutely no problem with the Mac interface

[@AlMarche90]

The lightness of it tempts me. I have had a few regular-sized iPads (a 5th gen iPad Air, a 10.5 iPad Pro, an 8th gen iPad, etc) and I have ended up selling them all and settled on an iPad mini because of how light it is compared to the others. I just can't with the weight of it, since I use it one-handed a lot.

[@KrycekA]

I am still on the 2020 iPad air and feel no need to upgrade it yet. Like most people I just use it mainly for browsing the web, watching YT/Netflix content or playing some mobile games (e.g Diablo Immortal). This device still feels very fast for the things I do 🙂

[@Wulfric1303]

I’m loving my new iPad Pro, sadly I got one with the grainy screen issue. Other than that it’s been absolutely amazing! I might return it or take it to the Apple Store

[@athk24]

I was thinking of buying a new iPad Pro/Air to upgrade to... but ultimately decided on keeping my Mini 5 and replacing my Intel MBP with a M3 MacBook Air - It was a bigger jump from a Mini 5 to any current iPad for sale

[@Iwaslemon87]

in the 2018 IPad Pro camp. Thinking about upgrading because 64gb isn’t enough storage, but then the new pro is way too expensive for my budget. Also thought about the air but I wonder if that’s sidestepping as opposed to upgrading.

[@JE-gy4ew]

I have a Mac Mini as my main computer which I do 95% of my work on. But every now and then I travel and have to do some work on the go. For that I have a few years old laptop (which I never use at home), but I also have a tablet that I take with me for consuming content etc, as it's more convenient than a laptop. I plan to get the new iPad to replace both the laptop and the not so powerful tablet I have.

[@SyedFaiz3347]

cool video as always luke!

[@soyanchd5439]

Why are you commenting without watching the video seriously.

[@SyedFaiz3347]

@@soyanchd5439 because i know his videos are always good and turns out, i was right

[@soyanchd5439]

@@SyedFaiz3347 you’re just fishing for likes, you ain’t fooling anyone

[@clebbington]

@@soyanchd5439what are you taking notes or something? what is "serious" about watching an iPad review? 😂

[@soyanchd5439]

@@clebbington it’s akin to talking without thinking first. It’s pointless. Dude was fishing for engagement, and it’s utterly lame and pointless. But to each their own I guess

[@didy3615]

tbh I started to use my iPad (Pro 2018 12.9") again due to apple allowing emulator in the App Store, finally I can put in use its power and du not worry about damaging my iPhone battery

[@kusiled8084]

I love my 2018 11 iPad

[@The12th_]

Sometimes we can buy things just for what they are: a luxury product we enjoy as a hobby. I am replacing my 2020 model and hope for some nice OpenAI tutoring over the next year, where the software will take advantage of the powerful hardware. And I do want to improve the writing experience with the pen. But yes, I do not really need it. It’s a pleasure.

[@compaqdeskpro5770]

I use my 2018 iPad Pro 11 daily as a glorified clipboard, and my 2021 Pro 11 as a glorified eBook reader. There is no need to disrupt anything, the iPad and the Mac are both good enough.

[@ExBenzi2]

Hey Luke! Like youself, I’ve been using my 2018 Pro for quite a few years now. Mainly for content consumption, taking notes, drawing a few sketches, the odd Word or Excel document and some gaming every now and then (great for emulation!). Tbh, I think they made a similar „mistake“ as with the Air 2 back in the day: The first iteration was too good and they couldn’t really improve it all that much. Unless Apple really pulls a rabbit out of its hat at WWDC and finally gives the iPad an OS that doesn’t limit its power and use cases (macOS mode when docked for example), I think I’ll just keep rocking my old iPad up until it’ll be out of support eventually. I got to admit though, that tandem OLED display looks mighty nice!

[@kevinpascual]

Guilty I use mine for just casual browsing and KZbin/Movies when I fly. I see a more commercial use in warehousing, manufacturing, and office management.

[@stephenmusic69420]

my ipad pro 10.5 still works fine for affinity photo, garageband, pdf and doc editing, and consumption. i’d love a new 13” 1TB with the matte display, but i work in video production and ipads can’t run resolume. so there’s no reason for me to upgrade.

[@LuxeFilmography]

I would've kept my 2018 iPad Pro, but it got bricked when updating to iOS 17.5. No way to recover and apple support said it's effectively dead unless I spend $500 to replace the charging port, so I just bought the new M2 iPad Air. I couldn't justify $1000 for the base iPad Pro.

[@JenniferMassey71477]

If you’re someone who might need what an iPad Pro would provide, it’s worth buying. I have an iPad 10th Generation and it works perfectly for content watching , browsing, using as a Kindle and writing and it’s great foot in the door to an IPad for someone who wants a cheap iPad. I am hoping to hold on to the 10th Generation iPad for a while and upgrade to an iPad Air so it’s hopefully going to be supported for a long time.

[@Legocreatorr18]

Planning to buy my first iPad. Which one should I get? I'm conflicted between iPad Air M2 (2024) and iPad Pro M2 (2022).

[@noahmuwe]

Considering that my 2018 iPad Pro only has 4 Gigabytes of RAM I had to pull the trigger this year. I just really am a big OLED fan and the iPad suits my use case perfectly well. Yes - I actually need the Apple Pencil and a Mac doesn’t cut it for me for that specific reason.. among a few other things. Anyways- It can’t keep open my apps and thus slows everything down immensely. Importing new documents into GoodNotes also takes a fair bit of time which doesn’t help during classes so the extra horsepower is more than welcome.

[@tttrelva]

i’m waiting for WWDC to see if there is a major upgrade on iPad OS that takes advantage of the new hardware

[@RussellGi]

Having owned a 2020 11 inch and a 1tb 2018 12.9 inch, the only real limitation of the A12X/Z iPads is the lack of 2nd display and full screen external display support.

[@markmcinnis2526]

I had an iPad Air 128GB that got only casual use and I quit using it when the battery started to fail. By this time Apple no longer supported it anyway. Grabbed a used M1 iPad pro 12.9 about a year ago with keyboard and pencil. I use it a lot more but I would still call it casual use and I rarely use the pencil. There is no way I can justify going to the M4 iPad Pro at the current pricing. Maybe with full MacOS?

[@ericthompsonofficial]

I love my M1 iPad Pro. I'm a graphic designer, so I use the Affinity Apps all the time. I'm also building my website on it. I'm mad that my 3 year old iPad is not compatible with the apple pencil pro. I went and played with the new iPad Pro at Costco the other day, and its nice, but I wont be upgrading

[@peteralmeyda4211]

My 2018 is seriously starting to stutter and lag across the board. Its very noticeable when you have a 15P

[@PrestoMoto02]

Still using mine everyday since launch