Apple overnight unveiled a new iPad Pro, borrowing a couple iPhone XS features for an all new design.
While there's obligatory spec bumps, the biggest changes this year are aesthetic: Apple has drastically reduced the amount of bezel surrounding the iPad Pro's screen, meaning you now get either an 11-inch screen in a body similar to the classic 9.7-inch iPad, or a 12.9-inch screen in a more manageable size.
This does however mean the iPad Pro no longer has a Home Button or fingerprint reader. Instead, you'll use iPhone XS-style gesture navigation to get around iOS, and facial recognition to unlock the tablet.
Apple has moved to USB Type-C for the iPad Pro's charging port, moving on from the Lightning connector. This means you'll be able to connect your iPad Pro to an external display, charge phones, and connect to devices like cameras to directly access images on them.
Both the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard have also received an update. The new Apple Pencil magnetically clicks to the side of your iPad Pro and now charges wireless, and the Smart Keyboard Folio covers the front and back of your iPad and has two different angles you can rest your tablet at while typing.
Key specs for the new iPads include either an 11-inch or 12.9-inch 264 PPI display with True Tone, an A12X Bionic processor, a 12MP rear-facing camera, a 7MP front-facing camera with Face ID, and up to 10 hours of battery. Neither model has a headphone jack, marking the first time Apple's removed the humble 3.5mm connector from its tablets. Pour one out.
Pricing for the new iPad Pros is as follow:
- 64GB 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $1,229
- 256GB 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $1,449
- 512GB 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $1,749
- 1TB 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $2,349
- 64GB 11-inch iPad Pro (4G): $1,449
- 256GB 11-inch iPad Pro (4G): $1,669
- 512GB 11-inch iPad Pro (4G): $1,969
- 1TB 11-inch iPad Pro (4G): $2,569
- 64GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $1,529
- 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $1,749
- 512GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $2,049
- 1TB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi): $2,649
- 64GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4G): $1,749
- 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4G): $1,969
- 512GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4G): $2,049
- 1TB 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4G): $2,869
Both are available in a choice of silver or space grey.
If outright is a little too pricey, we're expecting to see the 4G iPad Pro variants available through Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus shortly.
The Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio are of course still sold separately. A second generation Apple Pencil will set you back an extra $199, while the Smart Keyboard Folio will cost you $269 for the 11-inch iPad Pro or $299 for the 12.9-inch model. Neither the original Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard are compatible with the new iPad Pros.
You can pre-order the new iPad Pro from today, ahead of a November 7 release date.
Alex Choros
