The New iPad Pro Will Convince Anyone on the Fence to Use a Tablet
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As our phone sizes have gotten bigger, so have our tablets. When Apple first announced the iPad Pro, I was amazed at its size and that it looked suspiciously familiar to the Surface Pro 3. So when the company released the latest details of the smaller but newer iPad Pro, I knew that maybe this would be the tablet that could finally convince me to buy one from Apple. Since trying out the new iPad Pro, lent to me by Apple, I'm slightly more pro Apple tablets.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is a smart move for the company. It's a tablet that is capable of a lot, yet is extremely portable and easy to use. A first-time tablet user feels a little more comfortable with it, than say, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Keep reading to see our take on the product and whether or not you should get it.
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Compared to other models, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is kind of superior.
One of the iPad Pro's strongest competitors in the tablet game is the Surface line of tablets from Microsoft. Those tablets truly do feel like they could replace my personal laptop, and that's what Apple is trying to do with the iPad Pro line. When it comes to the tech specifications, it's now a true competitor with the Microsoft's latest Surface model.
| iPad Pro (9.7 inch model) | Surface Pro 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 9.7 inches | 12 inches |
| Processor | A9X Chip | Intel Core M3, i5, or i7 |
| Memory | 32/128/256 GB | 128/256 GB |
| Resolution | 2048 x 1536 pixels | 2736 x 1824 pixels |
| Camera | 8 MP; 1080p HD | 8 MP; 1080p HD |
| Front Camera | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Battery | 10 hours on WiFi | 9 hours on WiFi |
| Colors | Silver, gold, space gray, rose gold | Silver |
| Keyboard | $149 | $129 in Black, blue, bright blue, red, and teal |
| Stylus | $99 | Included with the Surface Pro 4 |
| Price Points | $599-$899 | $899-$1,799 |
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The screen is smaller, but it's easy to use Split View.
The screen size feels completely normal. It feels like a notebook when I try to write on it and is the ideal size to carry around. For many of Apple's other features included on iOS 9, like Split View, the screen size doesn't feel squished or hard to read. Plus, with True Tone display — a feature that constantly changes your iPad screen display light to suit your environment — there's really no fault with the screen.
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While the screen size is perfect, the keyboard size is a different issue.
It's a little narrower than the one built for the iPad Pro 12.9-inch model and yes, it definitely matters. If this is a product that Apple is trying to tout as a replacement for your laptop, it fails miserably with the keyboard. To use it comfortably, you definitely need to use it on a desk — not on your lap or an uneven surface. Compared to my Microsoft Surface keyboard that actually feels more natural and easier to use, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro keyboard just feels useless, and I didn't really use it.
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Our final thoughts.
Though I've never been a tablet believer, I've slowly started coming around to the idea since playing around with the Amazon Kindle Fire 6-inch model and the Surface. And now, after trying out the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, I'm fully convinced that if you don't have a tablet, you should get this one. The few annoyances of using it are minimal, and though it's pretty pricey, it's worth it for a tablet that should serve you for years to come.
However, if you're looking to make an upgrade, it's probably not your best bet to get this model.
With the iPad Pro and iPhone SE, Apple has once again given its customers what they want: impressive power and technology without sacrificing the portability of these devices.