Every time Apple launches the renewal of one of its products, there are those who wonder if Is it worth it or not to upgrade?. The 2020 iPad Pro does not get rid of this question and we anticipate that if you have the 2018 model, it is very likely that you will not be interested in doing so. But if you want to know the reasons and what could make you really consider it, keep reading.
iPad vs iPad Pro 2018 Pro 2020
The 2018 iPad Pro marked a major leap within the iPad range. With a renewed design and powerful hardware, it positioned itself as a great device that only lacked good software to earn that name Pro on its own merits.
That software came with iPadOS and if you're an iPad user you'll already know what we mean: the ability to connect external drives, better integration of shortcuts, or the option to use an external mouse, among many other new features.
Now, with the launch of the new iPad Pro, the question is whether it is really worth upgrading with this 2018 model. We have already told you no. If you are not interested in augmented reality issues or use apps or games that make use of it, you will not need to change your iPad. In any case, keep reading and we will explain each of the aspects that you should consider if you want to renew.
Those yes, first let's talk about design and quickly because there is not much to tell. Physically both generations of iPad Pro are identical. Only the camera is what will allow you to differentiate if it is the third or fourth generation. Because by thickness, dimensions and screen diagonal they are the same product.
The cameras, as we already told you, arrive in a square package similar to that of the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro. In it you have a double camera and a LiDAR sensor which is specially designed for use with augmented reality applications. This allows you to improve the experience by better measuring the distance between the different objects in a room or place where you are.
However, the only physical difference is in weight. It is minimal, although it could be an indicator of possible improvements that they had made in order to give it greater resistance to the bending problems they suffered. But well, that is something that will be seen with the product on the market. Now let's talk inside.
iPad Pro: CPU, RAM and storage
Not long ago there was talk of the possibility of Apple introducing a new Apple A14 Bionic processor. This would be a significant leap in terms of performance and power, but it has not been like that. The CPU that accompanies these new iPad Pro is the Apple A12Z with the same M12 coprocessor.
The A12Z Bionic chip offers eight cores and, according to Apple, improves performance in tasks with 4K video, 3D modeling and, of course, in augmented reality tasks. But beyond that, Apple makes no reference to how it improves on the Apple A12X we had on the third-generation iPad Pro. They do indicate that this new CPU places your tablet as a more powerful device than many computers on the market. But that is not surprising, because the previous iPad Pro was already better equipment than many PCs on the market and even some Macs.
Something similar happens with RAM and storage, although here there are some details to qualify. First of all, Apple finally eliminates the 64 storage model and the options are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. As for RAM, all models have 6 GB of RAM instead of the 4 GB that all the previous ones had except for the model with 1 TB of storage that did have 6 GB of RAM.
Therefore, even if there is a change of processor, the difference that you will find in the execution of the tasks that you were already carrying out on your 2018 iPad Pro will be minimal. The increase in RAM will give a little more ease when it comes to running various apps, but do not look for an abysmal leap in performance issues because there won't be.
Same Liquid Retina display
The Liquid Retina display of the 2020 iPad Pro is the same than that of the 2018 model. Identical in screen diagonals, resolution and other technologies that have positioned it as one of the best on the market.
That is, we have 11 and 12,9 inches with resolutions of 2388 x 1668 pixels and 2732 x 2048 pixels respectively. All of them with a pixel density of 264, 600 nits of maximum brightness and other advantages such as True Tone, support for DCI-P3 color space and ProMotion. So, as we already pointed out, one less reason to justify a change in model.
Battery
The data provided by Apple on its website indicates that the autonomy of both generations is identical. Making use of Wi-Fi connectivity, some 10 hours of use consuming information on the internet, playing music and video. In the case of using cellular/LTE connectivity, it would arrive until 9 hours.
Cameras
It is in the camera where there are clearly visible novelties. The new 2020 iPad Pro integrates a package reminiscent of the iPhone 11 and offers a dual sensor plus a LiDAR scanner. In this way, you go from having a single angular 12MP sensor to two. The first with the same 12 MP resolution and focal length, and the second with 10 MP resolution and slow ultra-wide angle.
Although the most differential is the included LiDAR scanner that improves the use of augmented reality applications by providing more reliable information on depth of field and distance between objects. But if you are one of those who have barely used the camera on their current iPad, all these new features are not going to bring you any real benefit.
Reasons to update or not your iPad Pro
| iPad Pro 11 "(2020) | iPad Pro 11 "(2018) | iPad Pro 12,9 "(2020) | iPad Pro 12,9 "(2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A12Z Bionic + M12 Coprocessor | Apple A12X Bionic + M12 Coprocessor | Apple A12Z Bionic + M12 Coprocessor | Apple A12X Bionic + M12 Coprocessor |
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB (6GB in 1 TB model) | 6 GB | 4 GB (6GB in 1 TB model) |
| Storage | 128, 256, 512GB and 1TB | 64, 256,512 GB and 1 TB | 128, 256, 512GB and 1TB | 64, 256,512 GB and 1 TB |
| unlock system | Face ID | Face ID | Face ID | Face ID |
| Cameras | 12 MP Wide + 10 MP Ultra Wide | 12 MP | 12 MP Wide + 10 MP Ultra Wide | 12 MP |
| LiDAR scanner | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Screen | 11 " | 11" | 12,9" | 12,9" |
| Decision | 2388 x 1668 | 2388 x 1668 | 2732 x 2048 | 2732 x 2048 |
| Pixel density (DPI) | 264 | 264 | 264 | 264 |
| maximum brightness | 600 nits | 600 nits | 600 nits | 600 nits |
| display improvements | P3 Wide Color, True Tone, ProMotion | P3 Wide Color, True Tone, ProMotion | P3 Wide Color, True Tone, ProMotion | P3 Wide Color, True Tone, ProMotion |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi Up to 9 hours cellular | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi Up to 9 hours cellular | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi Up to 9 hours cellular | Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi Up to 9 hours cellular |
| Dimensions | 247,6 x 178,5 x 5,9 mm | 247,6 x 178,5 x 5,9 mm | 280,6 x 214,9 x 5,9 mm | 280,6 x 214,9 x 5,9 mm |
| Weight : | 471 gr | 468 gr | 641 gr | 631 gr |
| Apple Pencil support | Compatible 2nd generation | Compatible 2nd generation | Compatible 2nd generation | Compatible 2nd generation |
| Price | Since 879 € | Since 879 € | Since 1.099 € | Since 1.099 € |
Are the new iPad Pro worth it? Yes, they are very capable devices thanks to the latest version of the system and having more than proven power for a good number of daily tasks and other demanding ones, such as video editing. But the question is not whether buying it is interesting or not, the question is whether it is worth upgrading having the 2018 model.
The answer is no, because the differences at the performance level are going to be very small. The only great incentive is that the subject of augmented reality is interesting to you, but beyond educational, professional fields or use in certain games, it is not something that still has a lot of traction.
Therefore, although having two cameras and being able to take advantage of functions such as the views on the iPhone, which allow the recording of two cameras simultaneously through applications such as Filmic Pro, we do not believe that it is worth upgrading even for the camera. In addition, we will have to see how it performs, but it could be very similar to what is seen in the iPhone 11, where it is interesting in good light, but with little noise and overall quality drops significantly.
So, with all this and knowing that The great attraction of this iPad Pro is the new keyboard cover with trackpad Along with the improvement in the use of an external mouse or trackpad, our advice is that you do not update. Because you can also use the case on your current 2018 iPad Pro. And mouse and trackpad support will reach all iPads that can update to version 13.4 of the system.
After the time between renewal and renewal, an extra was expected and it has not arrived. It is true that it is no longer so easy to improve this type of product and we are also seeing it with smartphones, they have reached a point of maturity that beyond the software and some new features in their cameras do not leave room for much more.
In any case, when we analyze them, we will tell you in detail everything you should keep in mind if you consider buying them. For now, if you are an iPad user, watch out for the next March 24 when the new version of iPadOS arrives.