iPad Pro 10.5" - The Perfect Blend of Power & Portability for Creatives

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Wanted a larger screen for reading and video calls with grandkids

📌 Purchase Motivation

Simple iOS interface and family already uses FaceTime

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost got an Amazon Fire tablet but daughter insisted on iPad for longevity

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Apple Store—staff patiently helped set up accessibility features

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

My hands shook a little—it felt so expensive! Granddaughter helped enlarge the text size.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Heavier than my old Kindle but the screen colors are vibrant. Speakers are loud enough for my book club videos.

⭐ First Week Usage

Learned to use Libby for e-books. Accidentally took 200 screenshots trying to master gestures.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Morning ritual: coffee, iPad, and the NYT crossword. Zoom book club meetings don’t freeze like they did on my Android phone.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Guided Access keeps me from exiting apps accidentally, Speak Screen reads articles aloud, and Night Shift reduces eye strain.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Still confuse the swipe-up and swipe-down gestures. Miss the home button from my older iPad.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Like upgrading from a bicycle to a Cadillac! My 2014 iPad Mini feels ancient now.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Digitized all my recipe cards. Finally see grandkids clearly on weekly calls.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Book club thinks I’m tech-savvy now. Neighbor asks me to troubleshoot her iPad issues (hilarious!).

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Big button Bluetooth keyboard, adjustable floor stand, and a quilted sleeve my sewing group made.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

10/10 for seniors—just get AppleCare+ (I dropped it once already!). Worth every penny.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a reliable device for lesson plans and interactive classroom demos

📌 Purchase Motivation

Split-screen multitasking for textbooks and notes, plus durability for daily use

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Almost bought a Chromebook but wanted iPad’s app ecosystem for science simulations

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Best Buy—used a teacher discount and could inspect the display model first

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Kids helped me unbox it—they were more excited than I was! Set up was simple with Schoolwork app pre-installed.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Solid build, though I immediately bought a rugged case. The laminated display makes diagrams pop.

⭐ First Week Usage

Used it to annotate PDF worksheets and play cell division videos. Students loved the clarity.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

Now my desk is paperless. AirDrop lets me share quizzes instantly. Sometimes wish it had a trackpad for grading spreadsheets.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Screen recording for flipped classrooms, Apple Pencil for grading, and long battery life for back-to-back classes.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Google Classroom app crashes occasionally. Wish it had more file management flexibility like a laptop.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

Night and day versus my cracked Samsung tablet—no lag when switching between 30 Chrome tabs.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Saves me 2 hours weekly on grading. Even use it for grocery lists and coaching my son’s soccer team.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Colleagues ask for app recommendations. My wife ‘borrows’ it for her Pinterest addiction.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

OtterBox Defender case, knockoff Pencil for emergencies, and a wall mount for lab demonstrations.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

8.5/10—ideal for educators if you supplement with cloud storage. Just don’t expect full laptop replacement.

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Needed a portable device for digital art and client presentations

📌 Purchase Motivation

The Apple Pencil support and large, color-accurate display

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Compared it to the newer iPad Pro models but found the 10.5" was the perfect size for my workflow and more affordable

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Apple's online store for the warranty and easy returns

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

The unboxing felt premium, and setting it up was a breeze with my existing Apple ID. The screen looked stunning right out of the box!

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Sleek and lightweight, but the bezels felt a bit dated compared to newer models. The speakers were surprisingly powerful.

⭐ First Week Usage

Took some time to adjust to the size for drawing, but Procreate worked flawlessly. Battery life was impressive—lasted through full workdays.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

It's my go-to for sketching, emails, and even Netflix. The Smart Keyboard is a bit pricey but worth it for typing comfort.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

Apple Pencil precision, True Tone display, and multitasking with Slide Over are game-changers for my design work.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Wish it had USB-C for faster file transfers. Also, the 64GB storage fills up quickly with Procreate files.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

A massive upgrade from my old iPad Air—way faster and the Pencil support makes all the difference.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Clients love seeing edits in real-time during meetings. It’s replaced my sketchbook entirely.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

I take it everywhere—coffee shops, flights. Friends joke I’m surgically attached to it.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Apple Pencil (essential), Smart Keyboard, and a sturdy folio case for protection.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10—perfect for creatives on a budget. Just get more storage than you think you’ll need!

⭐ Reason for Purchase

Note-taking and coding on the go between classes

📌 Purchase Motivation

Wanted iOS for app development testing but couldn’t afford a MacBook yet

⭐ Research or Comparison Before Buying

Debated Surface Go but preferred iPad’s battery life and app optimization

⭐ Place of Purchase & Why

Facebook Marketplace—got a barely used one for $300 with a Pencil

⭐ First Unboxing & Setup Reaction

Seller kept the original box! Felt like new. Was shocked how well Pythonista ran for coding.

⭐ Initial Impressions (Look & Feel)

Thinner than expected. The 120Hz display makes scrolling code silky smooth.

⭐ First Week Usage

Took all my notes in Notability. Split View with PDF textbooks was clutch for finals week.

🚀 Daily Usage Experience

My backpack is lighter now. SSH into campus servers with Termius. Sometimes miss a physical keyboard for marathon coding sessions.

⭐ Features Found Most Useful

ProMotion display, Files app with GitHub integration, and Sidecar to use it as a second monitor for my Windows PC.

⭐ Any Difficulties Faced

Xcode won’t run natively—have to remote into lab computers. Wish it had mouse support for terminal work.

⭐ Experience Compared to Previous Device

My Android tablet felt like a toy next to this. iPad handles 20+ Safari tabs without breaking a sweat.

⭐ Performance in Profession or Personal Life

Debugging apps on the bus is now possible. Also the best device for group study Zoom calls.

⭐ Social or Lifestyle Impact

Dorm mates borrow it for Fortnite. Dating profile pics look sharper with the great rear camera.

⭐ Any Accessories Used or Needed

Logitech Keys-To-Go keyboard, matte screen protector for Pencil grip, and a Power Bank for all-day use.

⭐ Overall Satisfaction & Personal Recommendation

9/10—perfect student companion if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. Jailbreak tweaks make it even better.

Benchmark Scores

The iPad Pro 10.5" still holds up surprisingly well in benchmarks, scoring around 250,000 on AnTuTu. That’s comparable to some mid-range Android tablets today, which is impressive for a device from 2017. Geekbench single-core scores hover around 3900, making it snappy for daily tasks. For a tablet t

Build Quality & Materials

The aluminum unibody design feels premium even today, with a slim profile and balanced weight. The chamfered edges give it a polished look, though the bezels feel dated compared to modern tablets. The Smart Connector is a nice touch for keyboard accessories, but the lack of USB-C is a bummer—you’re

Display Quality

The 10.5" ProMotion display is still one of the best features—120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling buttery smooth. Colors pop thanks to the P3 wide color gamut, and brightness hits 600 nits, so outdoor visibility is decent. The laminated display reduces glare, but the bezels look chunky by today’s sta

Camera System & Performance

The 12MP rear camera is serviceable for quick scans or casual shots, but don’t expect smartphone-level quality. The 7MP front camera handles FaceTime well, though low-light performance is mediocre. No Night Mode or Deep Fusion here—this is strictly a "document scanner and video call" camera setup.

Software & User Experience

iPadOS keeps it feeling fresh, but you’ll miss out on Stage Manager and other newer features. The A10X still runs most apps smoothly, though heavy multitasking can cause stutters. If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, continuity features like Handoff and Sidecar (with limitations) are handy.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is solid—about 10 hours of mixed use, though heavy tasks drain it faster. The lack of fast charging (stuck with 12W) is frustrating, especially when newer iPads charge much quicker. No wireless charging either, which is expected for a tablet this old.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

The A10X’s GPU handles casual games like Genshin Impact on medium settings, but don’t expect maxed-out graphics. Frame rates stay stable thanks to ProMotion, but newer titles may push it to its limits. Great for Apple Arcade, though.

Connectivity & Ports

Lightning port feels archaic in 2024—no USB-C means dongle life for external drives. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 are showing their age, too. LTE models support gigabit speeds, but no 5G here.

Durability & Protection

The aluminum back is prone to scratches, and the display isn’t as crack-resistant as newer iPads. No official water resistance, so keep it away from spills. A good case is a must—repairs are expensive since Apple considers it vintage.

Price & Value Proposition

Used prices hover around $250-$400, which is fair for a secondary device. Newer base iPads offer better value for most, but if you find one cheap, it’s still a capable media machine. Just don’t expect long-term software support.

Benchmark Scores

The A10X chip in the iPad Pro 10.5" scores around 240,000 in AnTuTu, which is impressive for its age. Single-core Geekbench hits ~3900, showing it’s still snappy for web browsing and light creative work. Multi-core drops to ~9200, so don’t expect M1-level performance, but it’s no slouch.

Build Quality & Materials

Sleek aluminum body with a premium heft—feels sturdy but not heavy. The bezels are thick by 2024 standards, and the Lightning port is a glaring omission. The Smart Connector is a lifesaver for keyboard users, though.

Display Quality

The 120Hz ProMotion display is the star here—scrolling and drawing feel fluid. Colors are vibrant (P3 wide gamut), and brightness is solid for indoor use. Outdoor visibility suffers slightly compared to newer iPads.

Camera System & Performance

12MP rear camera is fine for document scans or casual shots, but don’t replace your phone with it. The 7MP front camera works for Zoom calls, but low-light graininess is noticeable. No portrait mode or advanced computational photography.

Software & User Experience

iPadOS runs smoothly, but missing features like Stage Manager hurt. The A10X handles split-screen apps well, though heavy multitasking can cause hiccups. Pencil support (1st gen) is a plus for note-takers.

Battery Life & Charging

Around 9-10 hours of real-world use—less if you push the ProMotion display. The 12W charger feels painfully slow in 2024. No fast charging or wireless charging, so plan ahead.

Gaming & Graphics Performance

Handles casual games like COD Mobile smoothly, but newer titles like Diablo Immortal strain the A10X. ProMotion helps with frame consistency, but don’t expect ultra settings.

Connectivity & Ports

Lightning port is a dealbreaker for some—no USB-C means dongles for external storage. Wi-Fi 5 is fine for streaming, but lack of Wi-Fi 6 hurts future-proofing. LTE models still hold up for on-the-go use.

Durability & Protection

The aluminum back dents easily, and the display isn’t as tough as newer iPads. No water resistance, so keep it dry. Repair costs are high since Apple labels it vintage.

Price & Value Proposition

At $300 or less used, it’s a decent pick for students or artists needing ProMotion. But the 9th gen iPad often beats it on value with longer software support. Only buy if you find a steal.