iPad Pro 2020
The iPad Pro is a truly amazing bit of technology, but is it something you need, or just something you really want.
“If you are one of the few left in the shrinking pond of users needing something bigger than a phone, but more portable than a 1.2kg laptop then the iPad Pro is still a standout choice.”
Apple has always been a company that carves its own niches from competitive consumer segments and the iPad Pro is one of the clearest examples of that. The 2020 iPad Pro is sticking to its guns by resisting the trend to convert to a full detachable 2-in-1 laptop equivalent, despite being more than powerful enough to do so – but, at the same time, the new 2020 model is also starting to make some concessions. Most noticeable of these is the new Magic Keyboard which for the first time includes a trackpad.
Since the iPadOS experience is so tailored to the touchscreen interface even the apps that incorporated the new trackpad functionality at launch can’t really use them in the same capacity as their MacOS equivalent software will. This gives rise to a feeling that the iPad Pro hardware has outgrown its operating system, since it’s easily capable of running fully-fledged MacOS apps. See, the iPad Pro outpaces the highest specced Surface Pro 7 by close to 9% in Geekbench 5 multiplatform benchmarks, so it’s undoubtedly a laptop equivalent in terms of power, but open up any of Adobe’s iPad applications and you’ll get the same compact experience you get on a regular iPad or iPhone. It is a little disappointing from a device that costs as much as a capable 1080p gaming laptop to feel constrained by such streamlined and lightweight software.
If you are one of the few left in the shrinking pond of users needing something bigger than a phone, but more portable than a 1.2kg laptop then the iPad Pro is still a standout choice. You can get it in an 11-inch form factor or a 12.9-inch variation, but other than size, weight and screen pixel count, all the internals are the same across the two form factors. Backing up the powerful octa-core A12Z CPU is a sufficient (but unspecified) allocation of RAM and a good range of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 and USB-C interfaces. The Apple Pencil continues to offer market leading responsiveness and the suite of software that accommodates it is rich and allows you a lot of creative freedom.
If you’re a photographer, vlogger or cinematographer that needs something to process your work when you’re out and about then the iPad Pro is capable of filling the space of a laptop in many of these types of workflow. It’s also a great accompaniment to a proper creative workstation for anyone who wants the freedom to work without physical boundaries. It’s even got LTE connectivity to make sure you’re always connected to your cloud and Apple is expanding into new spaces by including things like a LiDAR scanner and dual rear camera array that allows for full scale room scanning – a powerful tool for animators or VR devs. There are a number of professional use cases where the iPad Pro offers unparalleled functionality and if you have the cash to drop on it then you aren’t likely to be disappointed, but we can’t help but think that the iPad Pro really only makes sense for a select group of creative professionals who know in advance exactly how they’re going to use it.
JOEL BURGESS
A supremely powerful tablet that excels in select creative spaces, but may need to pivot to be broadly appealing in the future.