Apple’s New iPad Pro Has Face, Slimmer Bezels & USB-C
Apple has introduced two new iPad Pro’s marking the biggest change in the iPad range.
The new 11-inch iPad Pro packs a bigger display with more pixels in the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model while the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro places the largest display of any iPad into a more portable package. Both models are just 5.9 mm and lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.
With over a million apps designed to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch display, including next-generation apps like Photoshop CC, which will be available next year.
Apple says the A12 X Bionic which features four performance cores and four efficiency cores for up to 35 percent faster single-core performance was Built specifically for iPad Pro
The iPad Pro has no home button and features Face ID for the first time.
Designed to work while holding iPad Pro in any position or while seated using the new Smart Keyboard Folio, Face ID takes advantage of the TrueDepth camera system to map and recognise the face to unlock the device, enable Apple Pay in apps and online and allow users to easily gain access to secure apps. The TrueDepth Camera on iPad Pro also enables Animoji and Memoji.
With support for the next generation of AR apps, a new world of AR experiences is possible on iPad, such as measuring the reflection on real-world objects, navigating buildings in 3D and exploring entire universes. Adobe’s Project Aero (coming 2019) will enable creators to design experiences that take AR on iPad even further.
Apple also launched the new Smart Keyboard Folio and second-generation Apple Pencil which magnetically attaches to iPad Pro for pairing and wireless charging.
The Smart keyboard features a full-set of keys that never needs to be charged or paired.
A new USB-C connector replaces the Lightning connector for charging and supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 for high-bandwidth data transfers up to twice the speed to and from cameras and musical instruments, and drives external displays up to 5K. With USB-C, iPad Pro can even be used to charge an iPhone.
iOS 12 brings new gestures to iPad that are already familiar to iPhone X and iPhone Xs users including tap to wake and swiping to go home, access Control Centre and for multitasking.
Group FaceTime now makes it easy to connect with groups of friends or colleagues at the same time. Participants can be added at any time, join later if the conversation is still active and choose to join using video or audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space grey finishes in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations as well as a new 1TB option.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at £769 (R 14,300) for the Wi-Fi model and £919 ( R17,100) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £969 (R 18,014) for the Wi-Fi model and £1,119 (R 20,802) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
The new iPad Pro models, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio are available to order starting today with availability starting 7 November in the US and more than 40 additional countries including South Africa.
The second generation Apple Pencil will be available for £119 (R2,200). The new Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Pro is available in space grey for £179 (R 3,330) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and £199 (R 3,700) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
