Apple unveils iPad Pro with notebook-grade M1 chip, mini-LED display
What's the story
At its Spring Loaded event, Apple launched a variety of computing hardware including its latest generation iPad Pro powered by the same M1 chip that can be found in its notebook-form siblings such as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The latest iPad features improved internals with almost no change to its physical form. Here's everything you should know about it.
M1 benefits
Shift to M1 processors touted to bring performance improvements
The most significant upgrade over the previous-generation iPad Pro has to be the new eight-core M1 processor. Apple said the new processor would deliver "up to 50 percent faster performance". The processor also packs in eight GPU cores. This makes the latest-generation iPad Pro over 1,500 times faster than the original iPad from 2010, Apple claims. The iPad also packs a 16-core Neural Engine.
Display updates
Larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro has Liquid Retina XDR display
The new iPad has two sizes. The smaller device has an 11-inch screen while the larger features a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display that uses mini-LED technology. Apple claims the XDR display can achieve a peak brightness of 1,600 nits and a one-million-to-one contrast ratio. The display also has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, a feature Apple calls ProMotion.
Battery life
Apple claims impressive nine-hour battery life with the M1 chip
The smaller 11-inch iPad Pro also boasts of ProMotion technology. However, its Liquid Retina display's maximum brightness is capped at 600 nits. In terms of battery life, Apple said the Wi-Fi-only models would last 10 hours and the Wi-Fi+Cellular models would last nine hours on a full charge. We believe the battery life is remarkable considering that the iPad relies on a notebook processor.
Connectivity
Apple finally adds 5G support to iPad Pro line-up
The network and physical connectivity options have received upgrades as well. The iPad now supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 besides 5G support via an eSIM. The iPad Pro sports a new 12MP ultra-wide lens on the front that supports facial recognition unlocking. This camera will also automatically pan to follow you during video calls using a feature called Center Stage.
Information
The new M1 iPad starts at Rs. 71,900
Apple said the 11-inch iPad Pro would start at Rs. 71,900 while the 12.9-inch variant would set you back by Rs. 99,900. The device can be specced with up to 2TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
Availability
Thankfully, iPad Pro will ship with charger in the box
In the accessories department, the Apple Pencil remains unchanged, as does the Smart Keyboard Folio. The Magic Keyboard gets a new white variant. The iPad Pro will ship with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a 20W power adapter. Pre-orders for the new iPads will open on April 30, and the device will ship late in May.