The Design and Performance of the New iPad Pro: From Mini-LED to Ultra-Retina Screen, I’m afraid the iPad Pro isn’t quite that big
it’s no secret that Apple has mastered the art of smoke and mirrors. The company’s keynote was streamed and the hands-on event made it seem as if the new iPad Pro was the biggest refresh in years. And this is technically true. But that’s also because the bar is already set fairly low.
On the design front, the new Pro is more of a refinement than a redesign, but the difference is still pretty remarkable. The weight is the most significant thing, since the 13 inch and 11 inch models are the lightest yet. The 13-inch Pro I’ve been testing weighs about a quarter of a pound less than last year’s model, which doesn’t sound like much but is very noticeable when I’m holding this big slab of glass in my hands on the couch. I have held and used the larger-sized iPad several times, but I always thought it was too big to use. It’s so thin and light that I’ve worried about it being fragile. So far, it’s been sturdy.
Compared to mini-LED, there are deeper blacks and more vibrant colors with an improved contrast ratio. The Ultra Retina XDR screen has a different look to it, but it still provides twice as much light as a standard panel. Both sizes can hit 1,600 nits of peak brightness in high definition, which is the same amount as the sixth-generation iPad Pro. The iPad Pro with the M4 engine can hit 1,000 nits, which is 600 nits more than its predecessor.
The new iPad pro is a great achievement in tablet design. It is the closest thing that I have ever seen to the vision of a tablet being something you can hold in your hand. I’m honestly not sure how you’d shrink it more; the USB-C plug I use to charge the 13-inch Pro I’ve been testing is already thicker than the iPad itself. It is a fast and light machine.
Does that count for anything anymore? You could do anything you wanted with the iPad, it’s fast and light, and lasts a long time. The problem has always been the operating system that Apple has prevented the machine from being a full-fledged computer so many people want it to be.
I spent most of my testing on a version of the iPad Pro that had 1 terabytes of storage, 16 gigabytes of memory, and a built-in cellular connection. That is $2,099 for a device. The amount you would spend on a high-end laptop is included in the review of $2,577 worth of iPad. The Pro is never inexpensive, but you can get it cheaper if you go for the 11-inch model that comes with a 128 gig of storage and 8 gig of ram. The entry-level storage option is double what it used to be, but still spendy.
The best M4 with an additional performance core can be found in the top-tier models of Pro, with 1 or 2 terabytes of storage. I would be amazed if there was a way to tell the difference in everyday use, because I am happy for more power. The raw performance of the iPad has not been a problem for a long time.
The main purpose of the M4 is to power the new display. Apple’s new “Tandem OLED” setup basically smashes two OLEDs together to get a sharper, brighter panel. Apple calls it Ultra Retina XDR, which is a ridiculous name, but whatever, it works beautifully. All of the traditional upsides of OLED are immediately apparent: since OLEDs control each pixel individually, you get much richer blacks, so the letterboxes above and below a video just disappear into the bezel, and photos look much more dynamic. Sometimes the colors are too contrasty andHDR-y to my eyes. The Pro’s peak brightness is significantly brighter than the new Air, too, which is tough to pull off with an OLED.
I have noticed that the Air’s LCD panel does not pick up as much glare and reflection as the OLED panel does. I crank the brightness a little higher than I want to be able to see everything on the screen when I use it outdoors. The screen looks fantastic and the battery is not draining faster than before.
The front-facing camera will be in the middle of the long side of the iPad, which is the only design change here. This is a landscape-first device, which is a good thing. The iPad is definitely a landscape-first device. I don’t think the front facing camera is good but it’s better now than when I first saw it.
This year there are new features mostly in the form of the Pencil Pro. It has a new squeeze gesture that makes it quicker to bring up menu items and commonly used tools. Apple’s also letting developers customize what happens when you squeeze in their apps, so expect some cool and deeply weird integrations soon. The new Barrel Roll feature is going to be a great win for artists in that they will be able to turn their virtual brush or pen simply by twisting the pencil. (It works really well, though honestly, I’m woefully unqualified to review anything from an artist’s perspective. We will have more on that soon.
I rarely leave the keyboard case if I’m using my iPad. I use the Magic Keyboard to write, email, and stand while I watch shows. It’s important that the keyboard is in a smaller package. It will be hard for a lot of people, especially at $299. With both of its accessories, Apple is making the Pro more appealing to the people who might already have a Pro and not doing much to win over those who don’t.
