When Apple announced a bunch of new iPhones back in September without mentioning any other devices, things sort of felt incomplete. So now, nearly two months later, Apple is coming back around to finish the job with a number of hardware refreshes highlighted by a pair of new iPad Pros.
Design and specs
Like rumors have suggested for months, the biggest change on the new iPad Pros is the loss of the traditional front-mounted home button in exchange for slimmer bezels and Face ID. This move follows in the footsteps of the iPhone X and iPhone XS, and continues to pave the way for an all Face ID future from Apple, whether you like it or not.
That said, by reducing extra features on the front of the tablet, Apple was able to increase the iPad Pro’s screen size from 10.5 to 11-inches on the smaller model, while also reducing the overall size of larger 12.9-inch version, which retains the same screen size as before.
Thankfully, even with the iPad Pro’s new slimmer dimensions, Apple still had enough room to hide the tablet’s Face ID sensors in its bezels, instead of sticking out into the display using some sort of notch. Additionally, while the iPad Pro’s new Face ID sensor is positioned across the top of the tablet when in landscape orientation, Apple claims you’ll be able to unlock the device in portrait mode too without issue.
Inside, the new iPad Pros are powered by Apple’s new A12X Bionic chip which boasts an 8-Core CPU and a 7-core GPU that the company claims is 35 percent faster when performing single-core tasks and 90 percent faster in multi-core workloads. And on the storage side, Apple says the new iPad Pros can be configured with up to 1TB of storage.
However, one of the most fundamental changes for long-time iPad users is that the new iPad Pros are ditching Apple’s traditional Lightning port for USB-C. This has several advantages such as the ability to send out 5K video to external monitors, faster data transfer, and speedier charging. But the real neat trick is that Apple says the iPad Pro’s USB-C port can also be used to reverse charge other devices like an iPhone (assuming you have the necessary USB-C to Lighting cable).
Revamped Apple Pencil and Smart Folio Keyboard
If new specs weren’t enough, the iPad Pro’s stylus is also getting an update in the form of the new Apple Pencil. Now you’ll be able to tap and swipe along the side of the pen to do things like change fonts or stroke weights. And when you need to recharge the new Pencil, you can attach it magnetically to the side of the iPad Pro, which also doubles as a way to store the Pencil when it’s not in use. And as a final nod to Apple’s continuous quests towards simplicity, the company has streamlined the Pencil 2’s design by removing the thin strip of metal found on previous models.
Apple didn’t forget about the iPad Pro’s keyboard either, as the Smart Folio has been updated with a flap that attaches to the tablet using 102 magnets instead of the old Smart Connector. This should make connecting the keyboard a much simpler process, and with a new second angle of adjustment, it should be easier to use an iPad Pro in awkward environments like an airplane tray table. Sadly, it seems the new Smart Folio still doesn’t have a touchpad, which means you’ll still have to rely on an Apple Pencil for more precise movements.
Price and Availability
The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $800, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,000. Pre-orders for both are live today, with shipments going out starting November 7th.
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