Apple’s iPad is the most popular tablet in the world. As of third quarter 2018, the iPhone maker’s line of slates captured 27 percent of worldwide tablet sales, making it the market leader by a wide margin, market research firm IDC reports.
But tablet sales have been slowing in recent years, and Apple isn’t immune to market trends. Which is where the new iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 12.9-inch come in.
Like holding a piece of glass
From a design standpoint, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, which is the version I reviewed, and 11-inch, are virtually mirror images of each other. And their most striking features are their displays.
That’s right, like the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max, the new iPad Pros drop their Home buttons in favor of more screen real estate.
By doing so, Apple managed to reduce the volume of the 12.9-inch model by 25 percent. For the 11-inch, Apple simply stretched the screen of last year’s 10.5-inch model, leaving the 11-inch with the same footprint as its predecessor.
Both models use the same Liquid Retina display LCD technology found on the iPhone XR, which allowed Apple to curve the screens at the tablets’ corners.
The Pros also come with Apple’s ProMotion display technology, which means the screens’ refresh rates are set at 120Hz. That makes for a far smoother, more appealing experience whether you’re swiping across home screens or browsing the web. It really makes a big difference when you see it in action.
Raw power
Both iPad Pros come loaded with Apple’s all-new A12X Bionic. That’s one heck of a chip for a slate, and, frankly, a little overboard for what most people need.
There aren’t a hole lot of apps that will take advantage of that kind of power. Sure, it’s great for quick photo edits and some video editing, but for most people that power won’t be as useful as it would be on a Mac or PC.
For now it’s more of a hedge against the tablet slowing down over time, rather than a means to use apps that are built for high-power iPads.
Those accessories
In addition to the iPad Pro, Apple has also rolled out a new Apple Pencil. The latest version of the stylus features one flat side that helps keep it from rolling off your desk, something that was a problem with the original Pencil.
More importantly, though, that flat edge is home to a wireless charger. To power up the Pencil, you
magnetically connect it to the side of the iPad Pro, and you’re set.
Only one side of the iPad works, though. Connecting the Pencil to the iPad also allows you to sync the stylus with your tablet, so you don’t have to go through any real setup process.
The lower portion of the Pencil is also now touch sensitive, which means you can double tap it to
activate features and settings within specific apps.
Unfortunately, you can’t use your old Apple Pencil with the new Pro, and you can’t use the new Pencil with the old Pro, which is a serious bummer.
The Pro also gets a new folio keyboard case called the Smart Keyboard Folio. The new cover wraps completely around the Pro protecting both its display and back panel, something the old Folio didn’t do.
Apple has also switched the Pro from the company’s proprietary Lightning connector to a universal USB C port. It makes a world of difference, as it opens up the iPad to even more accessories, such as a secondary display to mirror your work on the slate, or a camera.
You can also charge your iPhone from the slate, which is a pretty nifty trick if you’re in a pinch.
Should you get it?
The iPad Pro is a high-powered slate with a fantastic design and almost extravagantly large near edge-to-edge display.
The new Apple Pencil is a wonderful accessory for the more artistically inclined, while the Smart Keyboard Folio makes for a genuinely solid typing experience.
Above all, this is the perfect expression of the iPad: Powerful, stylish and capable. But for most people, that $799 or $999 price tag is likely too high.
If you don’t need the power, or can get by without the new stylus or keyboard, and are more interested in a tablet for using basic apps, watching videos and playing games, then I’d suggest going with the 6th-generation iPad for $329.
But if you love excessive performance and screen real estate, the Pro is really the only tablet for you. /Daniel Howley, Yahoo!Tech