With its newest iPad, Apple seems to be going bigger by going smaller. Only months after releasing the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the company released a new edition that has a screen size of just 9.7 inches. While the larger iPad Pro was not a huge hit, Apple is hoping that the smaller edition will connect with business users, especially when compared to the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet.
Those hopes rest in part on the new model’s improved display, which Apple said is ideal for work settings in a variety of places. The new version of the iPad Pro (pictured above) closely resembles Apple’s iPad Air 2, with a comparable size and screen resolution, along with the same 0.96-pound weight. Battery life for both tablets is also the same — 10 hours of Wi-Fi Web usage or nine hours of cell usage. The new iPad Pro has about two times the storage space of the base model iPad Air 2, with increased processing power and Apple’s top-of-the-line iSight camera with 4K video recording.
The iPad Pro comes with an A9X processor, 4 GB of RAM and pressure sensitivity as well as a Smart Connector for use with a Smart Keyboard. While the iPad Pro offers support for Apple’s Pencil stylus, that tool is sold separately. Like its Air predecessor, the Pro can run Microsoft Office and other iPad productivity software. An individual can use the new iPad for documents, spreadsheets and e-mail by employing the supported Bluetooth keyboards or keyboard cases.
Comparison Shopping
One notable difference between the iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface Pro is price — the cheapest new iPad Pro costs about $ 300 less than an entry-level Surface Pro. But the Microsoft tablet comes with a stylus, while the iPad Pro does not.
Similar to all iPads, the new model comes with only one Lightning port and a headphone jack, while the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has a full-size USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, and a microSD slot.
Also, the new iPad Pro comes with an enhanced 2048 x 1536 Retina display that contains a new wrinkle called True Tone, which adjusts the display based on brightness and ambient light temperature and is 25 percent brighter than the iPad Air 2, according to Apple. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4, by comparison, comes with a 12.3-inch display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels.
Lukewarm Response
Early reviews for the iPad Pro have so far been mixed. Skeptics have pointed to such limitations as the lack of SD card support on the lower-price versions. Some observers have also said that the iPad Pro comes up short in its operating system — iOS 9 — as opposed to the complete Windows 10 that comes with the Surface Pro 4.
The iPad Pro, however, is getting high marks for its rear-facing camera. The 12-megapixel shooter can record 4K video, while the front-facing camera has been increased to 5 megapixels. The Surface Pro, by comparison, sports an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera that can record 1080p video, and a 5 megapixel front-facing camera.
Image Credit: iPad Pro hardware images via Apple.>
John McAssey:
Posted: 2016-03-28 @ 3:13pm PT
You can not put Apple Mobile iOS in the same class as OSX, Windows, Linux and Unix.
iOS devices play on the same field that Android Devices play on. Google based Android on the Linux kernel.
Android and iOS are systems designed for mobile low power devices that can run a full day on a single battery charge.
Applications requiring intensive processing power can not be use on these type of devices. Playing video on these devices can cut the battery run time drastically.
How much longer can Apple charge a premium price for an iPad? There are good things about Apple’s tight control over it. Is that worth the premium?
Personally, I would rather use Google Android OS just because I can see its File system and use it.
Bob Wilhame:
Posted: 2016-03-28 @ 12:18pm PT
Yea, well you can’t even run Xcode on their iPad ‘Pro’. It’s a pro tool where you can’t even develop apps on it!? Not gonna happen.
