Why did I buy the M2 iPad Pro instead of the M4?
Back in June, I compared my 2018 iPad Pro with the newly released M4 iPad Pro and at the time, I decided not to update. For details:
Two weeks later, my dad showed interest in acquiring my iPad Pro as he wanted something bigger than his 10.5 inch iPad Pro. I gave (for free) my iPad Pro to my dad and bought another one for me. I don't accept money from my parents. It makes me uncomfortable. I hope my dad isn't reading this because he might ask me to buy him a yacht 🤣.
Choosing the right iPad Pro was a challenge for me. If I were to buy the newest iPad Pro, with the addition of a new magic keyboard and new pencil, it would set me back AUD3,347 (USD2190) 🤯.
The cost is outrageous because my existing keyboard and pencil will not work with the new iPad Pro. Furthermore, I would be nervous carrying around such an expensive device. Something I do not worry about when I took my 2018 iPad Pro almost everywhere.
The price you pay for things is important. We all care about the cost of what we buy. If Apple raised the price of the iPhone to $5000 tomorrow, I'm sure there would be people who wouldn't buy it, no matter how much they love Apple.
However, it wasn't just about the money. The new iPad Pro has one major flaw that really matters to me: it doesn't have a sim card slot. I use a data sim that I transfer between devices as needed, and I can't do that with an e-sim. Unfortunately, my current provider doesn't offer an e-sim option. This was a deal breaker for me.
Long story short, I bought a used iPad Pro ( M2 2022) for approx AUD1400 (USD915). This purchase included:
- iPad Pro 12.9 (M2 2022 edition) with 512GB storage (with cellular)
- Apple Pencil
- Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard.
I saved nearly 60% by purchasing the M2 iPad Pro instead of the M4 version. The major drawback of buying a used iPad is the battery life. Fortunately, the battery life is not too terrible, and given the cost savings, I am willing to accept this tradeoff for how I use my iPad Pro.
The question that has been on my mind is what features the 2024 iPad Pro has that my 2022 iPad Pro doesn't:
- M4 vs M2 chip: I don't fully understand the power of the M4 and M2 chips because I don't use my iPad for CPU intensive tasks. Even if I wanted to, iPadOS makes it difficult. I prefer using my MacBook for those tasks. I'm not saying it's impossible to work on the iPad, but I simply prefer macOS because of the current state of iPadOS.
- OLED display vs mini led display: coming from the 2018 iPad Pro, the only meaningful difference I notice is the display. The M2 2022 iPad Pro has a mini led display compared to the standard LCD display on the 2018 iPad Pro. Having said that, I have never wished for a better iPad Pro display. The 2018 iPad Pro was just fine. For watching movies and TV shows, my LG OLED TV provides a far superior experience compared to any iPad. Since 2018, the only movies I have watched on my iPad are when I am on the plane.
- 102 grams lighter than my 2022: the 12.9 inch iPad isn't really a portable device. 99% of the time, I am using it on a desk of some sort. Despite being lighter, the 2024 iPad Pro will not change how I use the iPad. The weight reduction in the 11inch iPad Pro is more meaningful because I gather that is a more portable device that people carry around.
- FACE ID in the centre compared to on the side. This is an underrated feature. It's a feature I would like to have in the future for sure.
- A better Apple Pencil: this doesn't interest me at all because I mainly use the Apple Pencil for taking notes, etc. I am not an artist.
I gave the Logitech touch keyboard to my dad, and he is loving it. He barely uses the keyboard and is using the Logitech to prop up his iPad like the Microsoft Surface, because the Logitech case comes with a kick stand. The Logitech keyboard can be detached, unlike the Apple Magic Keyboard. This is a killer feature of the Logitech Combo keyboard.
With the extra Apple Pencil, I now have the luxury of keeping one in my bag and one in my study.