New Apple model in the test: the iPad Pro 2018 is a super tablet

The iPad Pro was supposed to send most laptops to retirement. Three years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the Pro Series as a vision of the company for the future of the personal computer. And in the meantime, the number of devices in this series of models sold is greater than that of every notebook manufacturer with its full range of products.

Nevertheless, the category of clbadic notebooks has not disappeared from the scene, quite the contrary. The new iPad Pro must now compete with interesting hybrid devices from manufacturers such as Microsoft or Lenovo.

If you look at the performance of the new iPad Pro, most laptops have gone astray. With the eight-core A12X processor, the new generation of Apple tablets is faster than 92% of all laptops currently on the market. This affirmation of Apple is confirmed by reference measurements. Even with the equipment, an iPad Pro can depend on many competitors, even if the most lush configuration of the iPad Pro with a terabyte of storage space and an integrated LTE modem is terribly expensive ( 2099 euros).

The entry-level models with 64 or 256 gigabytes (GB) of memory, available in the 11-inch variant from 879 euros, are attractive to many potential buyers. The larger version of 12.9 inches is available from 1099 euros. The memory is small in size: In practice, we never feel to reach the limits of performance of the tablet: we now play Fortnite, cut video in 4K resolution with iMovie, draws images in overlays with Procreate or photos with Adobe Edited Lightroom.

Both Pro models come with display without indentation (notch), as they are known since the new iPhones. Although the narrow frame barely leaves room, Apple engineers have successfully installed the sensors and cameras for FaceID facial recognition.

At the bottom, there was no room left for a fingerprint sensor. You can no longer use a TouchID to unlock the iPad. Facial recognition works not only vertically, but also when the iPad is held in landscape orientation. If you inadvertently cover the sensor with your hands or fingers, an arrow will indicate it on the screen.

The screen convinces with a brilliant presentation. The panel can now display colors in the extended DCI-P3 color space. DCI-P3 is a standard Hollywood studio. Devices meeting this standard cover over 85% of natural surface colors. With the standard RGB monitor, it's not even half. The color temperature can be adjusted to the ambient light via the TrueTone function.

The new iPads adjust the refresh rate to display optimal performance when needed, for example when scrolling Web pages. If less energy is needed, the frequency is greatly reduced, which protects the battery. If you increase the brightness completely – which is necessary, for example, to read in the sunlight, you can measure a light intensity of up to 568 candelas – a maximum value for tablets. The 11-inch model displays a resolution of 2388 x 1668 pixels, an extra 164 pixels on the longest side of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch model measures 2,732 x 2,048 pixels.

Fonts and lines are cut cleanly and displayed. If you want to enjoy the full resolution of videos, check out iTunes, Netflix or Amazon Prime. YouTube videos, on the other hand, are not displayed in the highest possible resolution because Apple does not support Google Video Codec VP9.

The screens are housed in a completely redesigned case that looks a bit like the iPhone 5 with its edges. Until now, Apple had largely rounded the limits. The new iPad Pro is better in the hand. And as the larger version with the narrow edge of the screen does not cover as much space as the previous model, you can also watch movies, series or videos comfortably on the couch or in bed. The 12-megapixel camera has also been improved, but still does not have an image stabilizer and therefore does not quite match the quality of current iPhone models.

With the new models, Apple bids farewell to the iPad Pro since taking Lightning and instead uses USB-C. So you can not only charge the iPad and connect it to a computer, but also connect monitors or other accessories. Even an Ethernet adapter to connect to a LAN works.

What's embarrbading is that Apple has some restrictions here. Thus, Word or PDF documents are not recognized on a USB key, only photos can be imported to the iPad in this way. It is also a pity that the conventional audio jack has been removed. If you want to connect a headset, you need an adapter.

There is great progress on accessories. Apple has proposed an external keyboard with an American layout on the first iPad Pro three years ago. The model for the current iPad (199 euros or 219 euros for the largest iPad) has not only umlauts, but also a more stable design. In mobile use on the knees, the iPad Pro hardly wobbles with the new keyboard. Since the Lightning plug has disappeared, Apple has also completely redesigned the stylus for drawing and marking. The new Pencil Pencil (135 euros) is slightly flattened on one side and found – held by powerful magnets – on the edge of the case its place of rest. There he is also inductively charged.

In practice, this concept convinces. On the one hand, the pen is not lost so quickly. Moreover, he is almost always fully charged. The new pencil can switch between two functions by pressing twice on the lower third, for example of a drawing tool specific to the eraser then to the eraser. The first generation of pencils is no longer compatible with the new iPads.

With the stylus, the new iPad Pro for creations can actually become a professional tool. This has also shown the demo of the new version of Adobe Photoshop, which will be released in 2019. On the other hand, it will not be so easy to say goodbye to the personal computer. It's too complicated to switch between different applications of the iPad. In addition, finger or pencil markings can not always replace mouse work, for example if you are editing long texts and constantly highlighting and moving text pbadages.

Conclusion: The new iPad Pro models are the best tablet computers on the market, but do not completely replace a laptop or a Windows MacBook.

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