📱My 2018 iPad Pro is not retiring anytime soon

Apple launched new iPads today, and people are rightfully excited. This is where I stand.

I have always had an iPad. Sometimes, more than one, but my iPad has always been a secondary device.

My use cases are:

• blogging
  - watching media (Netflix, Disney etc)
  - reading magazines
  - email
  - reading news and blogs
  - internet browsing
  - task management
  - photo management
  - as second monitor for my MacBook
  - travel device (also used as a speaker to play sleeping music when I travel)
  - note taking with Apple pencil
  - colouring with Apple pencil

The new iPad Pro 13 inch will be great for the above use cases. I can say the exact same thing for my current 2018 iPad Pro. The only issue that annoyed me with this iPad is its battery life (details here). Apple refused to replace my battery despite my willingness to pay (read here).

However, almost 3 weeks ago, thanks to an Apple representative who provided me with incorrect information regarding my iPad, Apple finally gave me a refurbished 2018 iPad Pro with no charge. So today, the only issue that previously annoyed me is fixed. The battery life is great again.

It has to be said, how great the 2018 iPad Pro hardware is that in 2024, I do not find the need to upgrade despite meaningful hardware upgrades on the 2024 iPad Pro. Similarly, this also demonstrates how far behind iPadOS is in terms of not being enhanced to take advantage of the significant performance boosts from Apple silicon.

Apple's dilemma from my perspective is: Apple is putting desktop class performance in hardware that essentially is based on an iPhone operating system. When this changes, my uses cases are likely to change and at that point in the future, I will seek to upgrade. So, today, I will keep my AUD3000 and continue using my 2018 iPad Pro.

Right now, I am eagerly waiting for the launch of the Microsoft Surface devices later this month. I am finding it more interesting than the iPad Pro.