Apple Unveils a New iPad Pro with More Power, a Better Display, 5G
The new iPad Pro has a familiar design but a vastly more capable M1 chip and 5G connectivity.
Apple adds a more a more captivating Liquid Retina XDR Display with mini-LED panel to the 12.9-inch variant.
Also onboard is an upgraded front-facing camera.
Apple unveiled an updated iPad Pro today during its Spring Loaded product event. Coming in versions sporting either an 11- or a 12.9-inch screen, the new iteration has a similar design to the outgoing model, but it packs the same industry-altering M1 chip as the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air that debuted last fall. The new Pro is also the first iPad to have 5G connectivity.
That proprietary M1 chip will give the new iPad Pro a massive boost in power. Compared to the A12Z Bionic chips of the previous-generation, the M1 brings 40 percent more graphics and 50 percent more processing power. The optional 5G connectivity, on the other hand, will bring equally fast network speeds.
Both iPad Pro variants have HDR-compatible screens with ProMotion and True Tune tech, support for the P3 color gamut, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil. However, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has an even more vibrant Liquid Retina XDR with a next-level mini-LED display panel. Powered by 10,000 LED lights, it produces more dramatic contrast and higher maximum brightness.
As far as cameras go, Apple upgraded the front-facing one with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. We’re also excited about the new feature called Center Stage, which can keep users at the center of the frame during video calls, seamlessly zoom in and out, and even detect additional participants.
The new iPad Pros also feature a Thunderbolt-capable USB-C connector, which makes them compatible with a plethora of additional accessories, as well as external displays. Available in silver or space gray, the new iPad Pro is made using recycled aluminum and rare-Earth elements.
Pre-orders for the product will kick off next week, on April 30, with full retail availability set to begin in mid-May. Pricing will begin at $799 for an 11-inch device and $1,099 for a 12.9-inch version. Buyers will be able to spec the device with up to 2 TB of storage.
Here’s what else Apple launched during the event:
A completely revamped 24-inch iMac with an impossibly thin and colorful new design, an M1 chip, and an upgraded FaceTime camera and audio hardware.
An upgraded Apple TV 4K with more powerful A12 Bionic chip and an all-new Siri remote.
An AirTag tracker that’s seamlessly integrated into the Find My app of every Apple gadget.
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