The annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held by Apple, began yesterday with the usual keynote and new product launches. Along with the stunning new iMac Pro, the all new HomePod and upgrades to the entire MacBook range we were treated to the all new iPad Pro!
iPad Pro 2017
The Pro range of iPad has 2 offerings; the smaller with a 9.7″ screen and the larger 12.9″. The speculation leading up to WWDC was around Apple doing away with the bezel (border area around the screen) to increase the screen size yet keep the model base the same size.
What we got was a brand new smaller entry with minimal bezel and a bigger screen size of 10.5″, and a spec upgrade to the larger 12.9″.
New 10.5″
On the outside, there is no design difference to any of the iPads that have come before the smaller Pro. The new model is bigger than the old in length and width. The thickness remains the same, a very slim 0.24″, and with just a few additional grams in weight, users of the old 9.7″ size will only notice the sharp new screen!
Otherwise all the new goodness for both models is on the inside, both in hardware and the new iOS 11, which is due for release later this year.
Spec Boost
To accompany the new 10.5″ the larger Pro had a hardware refresh to keep it inline with its new smaller sibling.
At the heart of both is the new A10X chip, which translates into a more powerful iPad in every respect. The True Tone display is now 50% brighter than before and the screen itself has a higher refresh rate so those who use the Apple Pencil will notice a vast improvement in response time.
There is now a new storage option at 512GB at the top end with 64GB and 256GB for those not needing as much space or trying to keep the cost down.
At the rear, the main camera has had a bump up to 12MP and is the same as you will find in the iPhone 7. If you need to see just how good it is have a look at the #shotoniphone hashtag on Instagram and with the rise of bespoke rigs from the likes of iOgrapher, you can really unleash the power of these tablets.
The big factor is the battery life. Even though the thickness remains the same, and weight has only increased by a little, the slightly bigger battery can now power the Pro all day long! Apple have suggested a 10 hour shelf life between charges, but this will vary depending on how you are using it.
No matter the task, the new iPad Pro is up to it — and then some. It offers far more power than most PC laptops, yet is delightfully simple to use. The redesigned Retina display is as stunning to look at as it is to touch. And it all comes together with iOS, our intuitive, advanced mobile operating system. iPad Pro. Everything you want modern computing to be. Now even, well, better.
The high-end tablet market is heating up! Despite the lack of Apps and Eco System (that Apple has) the Microsoft Surface Pro is making large gains with business travellers who prefer a tablet over a laptop.
It’s because of this Apple have really focused on the power users and how the upgraded software, due for release in the autumn, can utilise the power of the new models.
iOS 11
By far the biggest news for me, and possibly most iPad users, is the introduction of Files. Finally we can navigate our content, images and documents just like you would in Finder on your iMac or MacBook. There is even support for 3rd party apps such as Box and Dropbox.
Multi-tasking has become easier and with more options thanks to the new Dock. You can customise the Dock and then with just a swipe, access it from within any app you are using. Then open a second app from the Dock and have both in Split screen mode.
It is thanks to split screen you can now drag and drop files from one app to another, such as attaching an image to an email.
All of these features and performance comes at price, but this is where Apple have planned ahead!
How Much?
Back in March, Apple released the iPad, which has taken over from the iPad Air. The iPad is now the entry-level model and even went down in price!
The new Pro line up really is for the power users or those who are now ready to ditch the laptop and travel with just a tablet!
The 10.5″ model starts at £619 for the Wifi only 64GB model and goes up to £1019 for the Wifi & Cellular 512GB version.
Going up to the 12.9″ Pro, that starts at £769 for the Wifi only 64GB model, with the top of the range Pro costing £1169 for the Wifi & Cellular 512GB tablet.
Remember, this is no longer a tablet to have with your laptop. These are here to replace it!!