Apple iPad Pro (10.5-inch)
THE ‘WORKING TABLET’ AGE IS HERE.
THERE’S AN ADAGE for most new tech: don’t buy the first version. No matter how groundbreaking it is, the second will be even better. And so it has come to pass that the smaller iPad Pro’s second version leaves its predecessor looking like an unfinished thought.
The move to a 10.5-inch screen with a higher resolution of 2,224 x 1,668 adds about 20% more display area, while keeping the same sharp pixel density (and barely any extra size to the chassis, due to the new design). Items on the screen generally stay the same size as they were on the 9.7-inch model, but you have more space to play with, and it allows for extras such as the on-screen keyboard (and attachable Smart Keyboard) being just about full size. It’s subtle overall, but it’s instantly obvious if you work in Split View a lot. Before, it was usable but a little cramped on the smaller Pro. Now, we’ve found that we can happily do all kinds of work. This screen is now a wonderful balance between space and portability.
But the size isn’t the only interesting change. One big feature is 120Hz support, which doubles the number of frames per second the screen shows compared to Apple’s previous displays. It makes animations look extremely smooth and scrolling text more readable. It also makes the screen twice as responsive, because it shows the result of any interactions twice as fast. The iPad display is powered by ProMotion tech, which doesn’t always operate at 120Hz. If you’re watching a TV show or reading a book, the screen runs at a lower rate to save power. This is essentially unnoticeable — and the iPad Pros do have excellent battery life anyway — but it seems to do its job.
The screen’s brightness has been amped up, too. Combined with the wide colour gamut, it makes photos look astoundingly vibrant, and helps with viewing in bright light (along with an improved anti-reflective coating). And it’s even good enough to display HDR video, though support for this won’t arrive until iOS 11.
There’s another huge boost to the Pro: the sheer, raw computing power. The new A10X chip is a triple-core chip (up from the dual-core A9X), with 4GB of memory and a new, more powerful graphics unit. Opening and switching between apps is very fast. In the general-performance GeekBench 4 test, it scores 81% higher than its predecessor, and 42% higher than the latest generation of 12-inch MacBook. In fact, that score beats most 13-inch MacBook Pro models.
In real-world tests against its predecessors, you see less dramatic results, but still big. To test the processor, we compressed a 1.2GB folder of files, and the new Pro finished the task in 25.16 seconds — 30% faster than the 39.93 seconds of the 9.7-inch Pro.
Not many apps use this much power now, but it helps future-proof this machine as more and more powerful apps appear. Take Affinity Photo, which is basically a full-fat equivalent of Photoshop on the iPad. On the old Pro, it works great, but with some pausing after you apply certain brushes. There’s no such waiting on the new iPad Pro.
There are improvements for pros in other areas, too, such as the option of up to 512GB of storage, and USB 3.0 support over the Lightning connection. The speakers are still great, and while the Smart Connector hasn’t changed, it’s handy for accessories like the Smart Keyboard.
So should you get it? If you’re looking for a portable work machine, absolutely. If you just want an entertainment tablet, its HDR support is great, but it’s very much overkill — the fifthgen 9.7-inch iPad is almost half the price and fantastic for non-pro stuff. But with its power, gorgeous display and amazing drawing prowess, this really can be a laptop replacement for some. In fact, it might just be our favourite computer in years.