When Apple jacked up the prices of the iPad with this fake ‘Pro‘ moniker, they are just ripping people off. The FaceID camera and fancy rear camera does not make something ‘Pro’. Neither does the ‘X’ variant processor, which was the staple for the iPad up until a few years ago. The Air 2 has an ‘X’ processor and that wasn’t called Pro. Now they call it a Z? They are just making stuff up now, like the fake naming of the iPhone XR. Schiller said they came up with the XR because he thought it sounded like a sports car.
Nonsense. Unless you were born yesterday you know the “pro” moniker means “deluxe”, and only in one product does it mean literally for-pros.
Just because the best tablet in the world is more expensive than the cheaper ones doesn’t mean it’s a ripoff. It means you don’t have the money and are cranky about it. Apple lowered the price of the entry-level model to very reasonable price points; get one of those. You’re not entitled to the top-tier offering for entry-level pricing.
I have the original iPad Pro 12.9", from years ago.. It still does everything I need, but at the same time the battery is finally starting to show it's age. I was ready to dive in on this update (I've used the 2018 pro a bit and it's nice) but until I see some specs I might hold out again, at least until the fall. Especially with all this stuff going on, I'm being a little more picky about spending at the moment.
“Plus, the 2017 iPad Pro won't work with the Magic Keyboard and the likelihood of third-party models coming for a three-year-old design isn't high”
Please do your research before publishing. How could you miss that Logitech has already announced its Combo Touch keyboard that’s coming soon and will support the 2017 10.5 iPad Pro? It has almost every feature of the Magic Keyboard except the sky high price tag: it’s $149, less than half of what Apple is charging.
Not the same. Requires a kickstand, looks flimsy, no extra USB port. Apple’s MK: adjustability looks better, works on lap (doesn’t need a kickstand), and generally know for the best trackpads in the biz, extra port.
I wish Apple would realize that their price gouging on keyboards (& Apple Pencils to a lesser extent) delays my, and I would think countless others, “upgrade schedule” by several years. No excuse for charging what they are for the new keyboards. I own a Brydge keyboard for my iPad Pro 10.5” (also a Premium product, but a far better value than Apple’s previous keyboard) and at $149 regular price, I’m not in a hurry to have to pay even that amount again, along with the premium price tag for iPad Pros. It’s “painful” enough to shell out what Apple charges for their Pro iPads (& justify to a spouse). Then add to that needing a Pencil Upgrade, plus new Keyboard (they are rarely compatible from year to year), and a $800 upgrade is now more than $1,050. No, I’ll wait another year....or two.
Price gouging? Not. Apple keyboard, plus an Apple trackpad, plus a better design than we’ve seen so far. But, good thing there are plenty of options:
I think the main question that really needs to be answers is whether Andrew has his sweater inside out.
Other than that I find the new magic keyboard with trackpad intriguing. Given that most of the time the iPad is generally being held by one hand. I find that annoying especially when reading. Having a keyboard attachment that suspends the iPad seems very useful to me. Cost aside it looks like a smart peripheral that could really bring the iPad closer to a laptops usefulness.
The first is the person that picked up the 11 inch 2018 iPad Pro and now wants the 12.9”.
This is the exact position I'm in. I don't know that saving $100 for the 2018 12.9" iPad Pro is worth it at this point. And as far as waiting for the late-2020 iPad Pro yes it's going to be more powerful but I'm going for a size upgrade not a speed upgrade. So waiting, while it could potentially yield a more powerful experience, has waiting longer for the one things I'm actually interested in upgrading.
The first is the person that picked up the 11 inch 2018 iPad Pro and now wants the 12.9”.
This is the exact position I'm in. I don't know that saving $100 for the 2018 12.9" iPad Pro is worth it at this point. And as far as waiting for the late-2020 iPad Pro yes it's going to be more powerful but I'm going for a size upgrade not a speed upgrade. So waiting, while it could potentially yield a more powerful experience, has waiting longer for the one things I'm actually interested in upgrading.
I’ve owned both and both have significant trade offs. It depends on what you need. The 12.9” iPad Pro is better in every way when in a Folio or Magic Keyboard case (though I haven’t tried the 12.9” Magic Keyboard, the difference between the 12.9” and 11” Smart Keyboard Folio still applies). The 11” is better in almost every way that requires portability.
I use my iPad Pro in bed. For the last 18 months before the release of the 2020 11” iPad Pro, I’ve struggled with the size of the 12.9”. It is just too large to use handheld for any length of time. Coming from the 10.5” before the the 12.9”, I went from an easy to handle iPad to an overly large iPad overnight.
But I also gained a lot of productivity with the 12.9” when sitting at a desk. The keyboard is a more normal size (about 1-2 mm wider keycaps) and the extra screen real estate is hard to beat. The pencil is much easier to use on the larger screen sitting at a desk. The large screen iPad Pro is very close the the 13” MacBook Pro for day to day use while the 11” seems very small in comparison.
When the 2020 iPad Pro came out, I debated on whether to switch back to the smaller size and ultimately decided that the 11” was better for my over all use. I have a desktop computer for when I need a larger screen and I still have a 13” MacBook Pro until I decide to sell it. But the trade offs between the 12.9” and 11” make it a very close decision.
Comments
Just because the best tablet in the world is more expensive than the cheaper ones doesn’t mean it’s a ripoff. It means you don’t have the money and are cranky about it. Apple lowered the price of the entry-level model to very reasonable price points; get one of those. You’re not entitled to the top-tier offering for entry-level pricing.
Not the same. Requires a kickstand, looks flimsy, no extra USB port. Apple’s MK: adjustability looks better, works on lap (doesn’t need a kickstand), and generally know for the best trackpads in the biz, extra port.
Obviously it’s entirely personal based on use case. If you don’t need it, you don’t need it. So what?
Price gouging? Not. Apple keyboard, plus an Apple trackpad, plus a better design than we’ve seen so far. But, good thing there are plenty of options:
Magic Keyboard for 11" - $299:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXQT2LL/A/magic-keyboard-for-ipad-pro-11‑inch-2nd-generation-us-english
Smart Folio Keyboard - $179:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXNK2LL/A/smart-keyboard-folio-for-ipad-pro-11‑inch-2nd-generation-us-english
Smart Keyboard - $159:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MX3L2LL/A/smart-keyboard-for-ipad-7th-generation-and-ipad-air-3rd-generation-us-english
Magic Keybaord - $99:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english
...plus the after-market options. Good to have lots of options, right?
Other than that I find the new magic keyboard with trackpad intriguing. Given that most of the time the iPad is generally being held by one hand. I find that annoying especially when reading. Having a keyboard attachment that suspends the iPad seems very useful to me. Cost aside it looks like a smart peripheral that could really bring the iPad closer to a laptops usefulness.
I use my iPad Pro in bed. For the last 18 months before the release of the 2020 11” iPad Pro, I’ve struggled with the size of the 12.9”. It is just too large to use handheld for any length of time. Coming from the 10.5” before the the 12.9”, I went from an easy to handle iPad to an overly large iPad overnight.
But I also gained a lot of productivity with the 12.9” when sitting at a desk. The keyboard is a more normal size (about 1-2 mm wider keycaps) and the extra screen real estate is hard to beat. The pencil is much easier to use on the larger screen sitting at a desk. The large screen iPad Pro is very close the the 13” MacBook Pro for day to day use while the 11” seems very small in comparison.
When the 2020 iPad Pro came out, I debated on whether to switch back to the smaller size and ultimately decided that the 11” was better for my over all use. I have a desktop computer for when I need a larger screen and I still have a 13” MacBook Pro until I decide to sell it. But the trade offs between the 12.9” and 11” make it a very close decision.