The new Apple iPad Pro 12.9 promises more performance, a more brilliant display and increased productivity with the iOS 11 update. Above all, the new 120 Hz technology and the P3 colour space are intended to benefit both the eyes and the Apple Pencil. In the test, we take a closer look at the top model of the 2017 generation iPad Pro and draw our first conclusion.
Powerful refresh with many technology upgrades
Visually, the new iOS tablet shows only minor changes to the variants from last year. The front remains glazed as usual and merges into the aluminium unibody with a ground side edge. At the back, we can see modified and now more discreet antenna strips in the LTE socket of the iPad Pro 12.9 and the camera standing slightly out of the housing together with the LED flash. Haptics and finish are on a very high level, as we expected and know from Apple.
Even with rough handling, distortions are limited, which is not a matter of course in such a large format with an overall height of 6.9 millimetres. The weight is also impressive: Depending on the chosen equipment we are between 677 and 692 grams.
The new Apple iPad Pro generation is available with up to 512GB of storage capacity, providing enough space for photos, videos, documents and music. In addition, there is an improved 12-megapixel camera with f/1.8 aperture, which was taken from the iPhone 7. The same applies to the 7 megapixel FaceTime HD camera at the front.
So if you’ve been annoyed about too bad cameras in tablets so far, you’ll get your money’s worth here. Still on board: WLAN-ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC for Apple Pay as well as an optional 4G LTE Advanced module including matching SIM card slot and additionally integrated Apple SIM.
The iPad Pro 12.9 includes fast wireless connections as well as the impressive sound of the four built-in speakers. For us, the best sound currently available in the tablet sector. Our iOS device is loaded via the well-known Lightning port, which, thanks to USB 3.0 support, can also accommodate a wide variety of adapters. As usual, the security is taken care of by the fast TouchID fingerprint scanner at the front of the iPad.
New form factor, higher brightness & more colours
With the introduction of the new generation of Pro-Tablets, Apple has not only introduced the 10.5-inch format but has also technically brought its form factors up to date. Both models now feature a Retina display (264 ppi) with an extended P3 colour space, HDR, True Tone adjustment, a brightness of over 600 cd/m² and a high frame rate of 120 Hz.
The latter makes iPad Pro even smoother to use, especially when surfing the Internet or playing supported games. Apple calls this technology ProMotion, which also has a positive effect on the latency of the Apple Pencil. Handwritten input is now much slower and we feel more and more like writing on a real piece of paper.
These technical details and inputs are processed by the new Apple A10X Fusion chip. The six-core with additional M10 co-processor offers 30 percent more system performance and 40 percent more graphics performance compared to the previous iPad Pro generation with A9X chip.
Selected benchmarks can be found in the lower section of our review. The iPad Pro 12.9 is therefore easy to use. Subjectively speaking, apps open faster, installations are processed faster, and calculations in demanding programs are performed with virtually no waiting time. In general, we rarely have the feeling that we need more power when operating the iPad Pro. The high transfer rates of the flash memory and the 4 GB LPDDR4 memory also ensure this.
Even better with Apple iOS 11
Currently, all iPads are shipped with the iOS 10 operating system. In September the update to iOS 11 will follow, which is especially worthwhile for the Pro models and will also be rolled out free of charge. Among other things, a new dock will accompany you, which can carry more applications and favour frequently used apps.
In parallel, Apple introduces the Files app, which works similar to the Finder under macOS and gives you access to all your files stored internally and externally. It also integrates your iCloud storage and third-party cloud folders such as Dropbox.
With the help of a new App Switcher, improved multitasking and cross-app drag & drop functionality, iOS behaves more and more like a macOS optimized for tablets. Productivity is significantly increased and the choice between a Windows 2-in-1 or the iPad Pro becomes even more difficult.
The decision controller is moving further and further in the direction of the iOS devices, especially because the Apple Pencil is also being equipped with more and more functions. If you want to see the new iOS 11 operating system for yourself, you can currently (end of June 2017) install the public beta of the software.
Finally, we would like to talk about the battery life of our iPad Pro 12.9. Apple itself promises 10 hours of creative and productive use. The US company can keep this promise as usual. In most cases, the manufacturer’s own data were even exceeded. Running times of 12-14 hours are not uncommon, depending on display brightness and the load of the WLAN / LTE modules.
We are also always amazed at the low power consumption in standby mode. While Windows and Android devices discharge quickly after a few days of non-use, the Apple iPad Pro could probably last for weeks with one charge.
Conclusion
Apple has managed a very good refresh of the iPad Pro line-up, whose path will be smoothed even further by the upcoming update to iOS 11. Whether you choose the 10.5″ or 12.9″ version, the technical features and future compatibility are convincing in both models. In addition to significantly increased performance, more memory and an improved camera, we are particularly pleased with the touchscreen upgrades of the 2017 generation.
Not just the technology fan, but also the normal consumer as well as the Apple Pencil enthusiast will be pleased about the very bright and high-contrast 120 Hz retina displays, the P3 colour space including HDR support and the True Tone feature. The differences to the 2016 models can therefore not only be seen on the data sheet or in the benchmark values but can actually be seen and felt. If the upcoming productivity upgrades of the iOS 11 operating system can hold their own, the Apple iPad Pro should be a very good and flexible alternative to the classic laptop.
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