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Apple iPad goes Pro with new high-spec 10.5-inch model

Peter Wells

Let's cut to the chase, the new iPad Pro is the best iPad Apple has made. It's better than any iPad before it, better than any Android tablet. The question is, is it pro enough to be a laptop replacement? Does it even need to be?

First, let's talk about the hardware changes to the Pro line. The iPad Pro introduces a new screen size, the smallest Pro screen is up from the traditional 246mm (9.7-inch) display, to 266mm (10.5-inch). Apple reduced the bezels around the screen so the 10.5-inch iPad feels just as comfortable in the hand as the 9.7-inch model it replaces, while still weighing under 500g, making it light enough to hold for long stretches, or keep in a bag without weighing you down.

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Apple drops its latest gear

The computer giant unveils an enormous assortment of new products.

Of course, there's also the gigantic 12.9-inch iPad Pro that I know some people love, but for me the 12.9-inch model is just too large to use handheld, and that defeats the purpose of an iPad.

An iPad is defined by its screen, and most of the improvements have been made with that in mind. Apple has increased brightness while reducing the reflectivity of the display, making the iPad easier to use outdoors.

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The iPad Pro's screen joins the rest of the Mac family in receiving a P3 wide colour gamut display, which makes your photos look amazing and brings support for HDR content in apps like Netflix.

But the most obvious improvement is the new 120Hz refresh rate of the iPad Pro. The refresh rate is variable, slowing down to 60Hz when you're reading email, increasing again as soon as there's movement on the screen. It makes scrolling through images, maps, and even websites a much smoother experience – and makes the screen feel far more responsive to touch. This is one of those features, like the original Retina displays of the iPhone 4, that needs to be seen in person to truly be appreciated.

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It also reduces lag on the Apple Pencil, which was already the best in class stylus for a touch screen device. I'm no artist, but Apple Pencil feels so much better than the Surface Pen when sketching up pictures, or simply jotting down notes.

The new screen size gives a little bit more room for keyboards, both the on-screen keyboard and the Apple Smart Keyboard are now full sized. That makes for a more comfortable typing experience.

Apple claims this new iPad is more powerful than some PCs, citing the ability to edit 4K video. I was able to edit 4K video in Apple's entry level iMovie, and the more pro-oriented Luma Fusion, and was amazed at the performance. As a former video editor who remembers desktop towers struggling to edit standard definition video not that long ago, it boggles my mind how powerful the iPad has become. To take full advantage of the the power of the iPad Pro, I would love to see Final Cut Pro or perhaps an improved iPad version of Adobe's Premiere introduced.

And that is the main sticking point when it comes to the iPad Pro – many of the apps I use on a laptop are missing on the iPad, or they're paired down versions of their desktop counterparts. Despite all the obvious hardware improvements and the incredible power of the A10x chip, I'm still not sure I could use the iPad Pro as my one portable device. And I feel I'd need to, to justify its price tag.

If you can take advantage of the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is well worth the purchase – but being an iOS device, you'll need to find apps and use apps like Procreate in place of industry standards like Photoshop. The Surface Pen may not be as precise as the Apple Pencil, but as the Surface is running a full version of Windows, you have a full version of Photoshop at your disposal. The same could be said of Autocad, Illustrator, or many other 'Pro' applications.

Still, there are obvious advantages in using iOS – designed with only touch in mind – over Microsoft's sometimes touch, sometimes point and click Windows 10 interface. The iPad is a much simpler, friendlier and safer environment, with some of the best applications, mobile or otherwise, available today. Ironically, Microsoft's own Office Apps are a great example of full featured, no compromise, iPad apps.

Apple's preview of iOS 11, due in September, shows powerful new multitasking features and a new dedicated file browser, built specifically for the iPad. Perhaps it will bridge the gap between iPad and laptop?

I've written and rewritten this review multiple times these last few days, and I'm still not sure where I land. The iPad Pro is phenomenal hardware, made even better with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. I would love to use an iPad Pro as my one portable device, but there's still something holding iOS back, something keeping iOS from being a true laptop replacement. Hopefully iOS 11 will finally let the iPad earn that Pro moniker.