I will come right out and say it: The new iPad Pro is the iPad we’ve all been waiting for. However, the price will be a barrier for many.
The first major design change since the iPad Air in 2013, the latest iPad Pro has no home button. edge to edge display, Face ID, a thinner design, and wireless charging for a new Apple Pencil. It is the culmination of every iPad from the past 8 years, and while I’m sure the product will continue to evolve, I’m sure this was the iPad that was envisioned nearly a decade ago.
The Display
The new Liquid Retina display comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch options and takes cues from the iPhone X, Xs and XR. Edge-to-edge display. Rounded corners. No home button. Face ID. However, relative to the iPhone, the “edge-to-edge” display is not quite to edge to edge. It actually has quite a bit of a bezel still, but when you handle the device, you quickly understand why the screen isn’t closer to the edge. For one, Apple needed to fit the Face ID camera array in to the bezel. But, the more subtle reason, is that when you hold the iPad, your thumb wraps around the front of the device and you see that the bezel perfectly accommodates this.
More importantly, the new display removes the forehead and chin of the iPad, better utilizing the footprint of the iPad. The 11-inch model has the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model, but by removing the top and bottom bezels, the screen gains that additional .5 inches. As a by-product, the 11-inch model has a new aspect ratio of about 4.5:3. The 12.9-inch model has the same screen size and aspect ratio, but by removing the forehead and chin, the overall size of the 12.9-inch model is smaller than the previous version.
These are truly impressive screens and is the clear stand out feature of these new models. The 12.9-inch model in particular is so immersive, it really feels like you’re just holding your content.
The Design
The new, more squared, design is very slick. Reminiscent of the iPhone 5 and the original iPad, the design is very slab-like. It’s the thinnest iPad ever (of course) and it does feel really nice in hand. I do like the design, but I feel this is a 1.0 design and when the iPad gets inevitably thinner, I can see Apple going back to a more rounded design again.
New Accessories
Two new accessories were also introduced along side the new iPad Pro models. A new Smart Keyboard Folio and a new Apple Pencil.
The new Smart Keyboard Folio is a full back and front cover for the iPad that opens up to a keyboard. This is a different take on the previous fold out smart keyboard. It’s very similar to the Microsoft Surface design. The original Smart Keyboard has a confusing origami fold out design that confounded users and the build quality was always a little soft. The new Folio case simplifies the usage by magnetically connecting to the back of the iPad allowing for a more simple open and set motion. The build quality of the keyboard is also much improved. The keys are less mushy and the overall case is more rigid.
The other new accessories, but definitely not least, is the new Apple Pencil. This new design is just amazing. First, it pairs and charges wirelessly by magnetically connecting to the iPad Pro on its right side, or top side, depending on the iPad’s orientation. So, no more taking off a cap and sticking it into the iPad. The new Pencil is also shorter, has a flat side, and has an accelerometer so you can double tap the Pencil to change tools in a given app. It also just feels great in-hand. Version 2.0 of the Apple Pencil is a full realization of the product and makes it a must have accessory for the iPad Pro.
An iPad You Will Want, But Won’t Likely Need
The new iPad Pro is a device you will really want, but with the cost, will be hard to justify if you already have an iPad Pro or even an iPad Air 2. The edge-to-edge display and the new Apple Pencil huge, positive features, but the price tag will likely only entice people who are buying a Pro for the first time, or haven’t upgraded their iPad in a long time. iPad users are more like MacBook user, and less like iPhone users. People tend to not upgrade as often. Most people will hold on to their iPad for 3 or 4 years before upgrading. So, if you are looking for a new iPad and have the extra cash to invest, the new iPad Pro won’t disappoint.
