Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) released a new iPad aimed at consumers earlier this year, named simply “iPad.” At $329 and a nice upgrade from the iPad Air 2, it’s probably the best tablet for most users. But shortly afterward, the company released another new iPad, and as our 10.5-inch iPad Pro review shows, this is probably the best tablet AAPL has ever released.
In fact, the new iPad Pro just may be the best tablet anyone has released.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) may have kicked off the professional tablet market with its Surface Pro, but once it decided to follow, AAPL has been pushing hard to take a leadership role.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is too large and too expensive for many potential buyers, and the previous 9.7-inch model was a little on the small side. The new 10.5-inch iPad Pro may just hit the sweet spot for everyone, while offering huge technological advances and a price that also makes it a legitimate contender for consumers who want the best tablet experience.
10.5-inch iPad Pro Review: Killer Hardware, Bigger Without a Larger Size
Why would AAPL jettison the 9.7-inch iPad Pro? It’s display was simply too small for some professional users, especially when in split screen mode.
With the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro, Apple reduced bezel sizes to offer a display that works out to being 20% bigger, in a form factor that’s almost the same size as its predecessor. Its still comes in at just about one pound.
That extra screen real estate makes it much more usable.
And AAPL didn’t just tweak the form factor, the new iPad Pro is an absolute monster of a tablet. It has a new A10X Fusion chip that’s claimed to top Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) laptop chips in some tasks. The display is a 264 ppi Retina panel, but it features a new ProMotion feature that gives it a faster refresh rate than virtually any mobile devices, eliminating screen lag. ProMotion is also smart enough to slow down that refresh rate for movies or reading, reducing battery use.
The rear camera is the same excellent 12MP shooter with optical image stabilization found on the iPhone 7. Battery life remains at 10 hours. The Apple Pencil is supported for stylus input (even more realistic thanks to the ProMotion display) and there’s a new Smart Keyboard option that offers full-sized keys.
10.5-inch iPad Pro Review: It’s Going to Get Even Better with iOS 11
The new iPad Pro is tough to beat in terms of hardware and price. Out of the box, it’s a stunning piece of hardware that offers a serious upgrade from consumer-level iPads.
But when iOS 11 is released in September, the new iPad Pro is going to become a much more serious threat to Microsoft’s Surface Pro.
As announced at AAPL’s WWDC 2017 conference, iOS 11 is going to introduce features power and professional users have been waiting years for. In particular, multi-taking becomes much more intuitive, drag and drop arrives, and with the new Files app, users finally gain the ability to manage files directly — just like macOS or Windows.
The Surface Pro retains the key advantage of running Windows 10 and Windows software. But with many applications — including Microsoft’s own Office productivity suite — available for iOS, more professional users are likely to look at the 10.5-inch iPad Pro as their best tablet option.
Especially when it’s so much smaller and easier to carry than the Surface Pro (1.03 pounds vs. 1.70 pounds) and considerably less expensive ($649 to $1,079 vs. $799 to $2,699).
10.5-inch iPad Pro Review: Specs
- 10.5-inch ProMotion, True Tone, full laminated display at 264 ppi and 600 nits brightness
- 64-bit A10X Fusion CPU
- 64GB, 256GB or 512GB storage
- 12MP primary camera with optical image stabilization, quad LED flash and 4K video
- 7MP FaceTime HD camera
- Four speakers, dual microphones
- Lightning port, headphone jack and Smart Connector
- Dual band 802.11ac with MIMO (LTE optional)
- Touch ID
- 30.4 Watt-hour Lithium-polymer battery rated at up to 10 hours video streaming
- Support for optional Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard
- Measures 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.24-inches, weighs 1.03 pounds
- Available in Space Gray, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold
- MSRP $649 and up
10.5-inch iPad Pro Review: Conclusion
While the 12.9-inch iPad Pro got upgraded hardware to match the new model — including the A10X CPU and ProMotion display — the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is probably going to be the most popular choice in AAPL’s professional tablet lineup.
Its combination of size and price make it a compelling choice over the bigger iPad Pro for most professional users.
At $649, it’s a steep upgrade from the $329 iPad, but it does offer a huge leap in performance and user experience for prosumers who want something better than Apple’s base iPad.
And once iOS 11 arrives, Microsoft is going to have a harder time convincing many professional users to fork over the extra money for a Surface Pro. Especially the business users who have switched to a tablet from a laptop for mobile, light duty work like checking e-mail and running Excel or Word.
Based on its combination of price, features and portability, the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro is easily the best iPad AAPL has ever built. And unless you absolutely love Android or are stuck on running Windows 10, it just might be the best tablet on the market today, period.
As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
