Talk about the 12.9-inch iPad Pro hitting the shelves on Nov. 11 in both physical and online stores is making rounds on the Internet. Originally, Apple only announced a release date sometime in November when it introduced the tablet in September.
Aside from the huge tablet, Apple will also be rolling out the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, allowing the device to somewhat function like a MacBook, a notepad or a drawing book.
Other than providing the functionalities of a keyboard, the Smart Keyboard also serves as a protective case, and it connects to the new iPad via Smart connection that'll also charge it. On the other hand, the Apple Pencil has 12 hours' worth of battery life and charges with a Lightning connector, which means it can get up to 30 minutes of juice in a 15-second charge.
When using the Apple Pencil, the tablet is pressure sensitive, allowing users to draw thicker or thinner lines depending on how hard the stylus is pressed. Also, it can detect angles to draw shading effects.
Michael Johnson, Pixar's media lead, tested the tablet along with the stylus when Apple visited, saying that it has "perfect palm rejection."
@kalmichael It has perfect palm rejection as far as we were able to see.
— Michael B. Johnson (@drwave) September 28, 2015
Now, let's get on with the specs. With a new A9X processor, the upcoming iPad Pro allows blazing-fast performance, not to mention Apple boasts it's two times better in terms of graphic performance and 1.8 times faster than the iPad Air 2.
"[W]ith its expansive 12.9-inch Retina display, nearly double the CPU performance of iPad Air 2, and refined Multi‑Touch technology, iPad Pro adds another dimension to that experience," Apple posted on the iPad Pro page.
It can also display 3D images as well as handle 4K video and RAW photo editing. Adobe Photoshop Fix and AutoCAD 360 are among the supported third-party apps.
With a 12.9-inch screen with a 2,732 x 2,048 resolution and 264 ppi, the iPad Pro will definitely have a pixel-perfect display. Apple says that the tablet will have a 10-hour battery life, and if it's true, it's more than enough to last an entire workday.
Weighing in at 1.57 pounds and 12 x 8.68 x 0.27 dimensions, it's not cumbersome nor heavy but rather light and portable for a large tablet.
Instead of the standard two speakers found in most tablets, the iPad Pro sports four front-facing speakers in all its corners, which can deliver clear-cut audio. All of them are capable of bass sounds, and the top speakers always produce higher frequencies. By "always," it means that the device will adjust output based on the orientation, whether it's on landscape or portrait mode.
Taking security measures up a notch, the iPad Pro features Touch ID, where users will be able to access the tablet or make purchases using biometrics. Also, the Touch ID security can replace passwords to make purchases in popular payment apps such as PayPal.
Just like the iPad Air 2 running iOS 9, it supports the split-screen feature. Moving forward to the cameras, it's fitted with an 8 MP iSight rear-facing camera that supports panoramas, burst shots and 1,080p video recording. On the front, it has a 1.2 MP FaceTime HD camera, which supports face detection and 720p video perfect for video calls. The tablet, however, doesn't have a flash.
The iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 32 GB model up to $1,079 for the 128 GB model. While both support 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 technology, only the 128 GB variant will support LTE and a Nano SIM.
