Apple’s “Spring Springed” event in 2021 included a major overhaul of the iPad Pro.
Apple / Screenshot by Sarah Tew / CNET
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Apple finally announced upgrade to the iPad Pro we’ve all been waiting for, as part of 2021 Spring Forward Tuesday. The iPad Pro had to be refreshed by the processor, as well as more advanced camera and screen technology, and now Apple has delivered – mainly with the addition of its home M1 chip.
Last year, Apple’s iPad Pro 2020 refresh saw few things that excited us about the design improvements and new additions – a small processor and a lidar sensor that detects depth aside. This means that we have reached our expectations in 2021 as the iPad Pro receives a more significant review.
“The iPad is a magic sheet of glass that can become whatever you want it to be,” said Raja Bose, iPad product marketing manager, as he introduced the updated tablet during the Apple event.
Look at this:
Apple launches a new iPad Pro M1 with 5G
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The new iPad Pro will be available in two different sizes: 12.9 inches and 11 inches. The devices will have up to 16 GB of memory and up to 2 TB of storage. The price of the 12.9-inch model starts at 1,099 USD (999 GBP, 1,649 USD), the 11-inch model starting at 799 USD (749 GBP, 1,199 USD). Orders will open on April 30, and Apple expects the devices to begin delivery in the second half of May.
The key to the 2021 updates is the addition of Apple’s M1 chip, first announced in November last year, and the “highest-performing” processor ever created by the company. Adding the eight-core chip to the iPad Pro could mean a huge increase in speed and better battery performance, with Apple promising a 50% improvement in performance over the previous version.
The existing iPad Pro with its A12Z processor offers a zippy experience as it is. But a higher speed is always appreciated and, hopefully, it means that the iPad becomes even more of a multitasking monster and can also provide real support for the second monitor. The M1 chip will also bring a boost in graphics performance, which is over 1,500 times better than the first-generation iPad, according to Apple.
The iPad Pro 2021 is also the first Apple tablet to provide 5G connectivity. With 5G launches accelerating around the world, users who rely on high-speed connectivity on the go will likely appreciate the option to take advantage of the fastest data speeds available.
Another premiere for iPads (and tablets everywhere) is the introduction of a high-speed Thunderbolt port on the iPad Pro. Until now, Thunderbolt has only been available on Macs and Windows PCs. It uses the same connector as USB-C, but allows for extended and faster external storage, improved monitor connection, and more advanced docking stations.
As part of the iPad Pro screen review, Apple is inserting a Liquid Retina XDR display to its 12.9-inch tablet. With 5.59 million pixels, this technology is the same as the technology that can be seen on Apple’s top XDR pro display. It offers a bright brightness, with a maximum level of 1,600 nits, together with a wider color spectrum than ever before and an extremely high contrast.
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Highlights from the Apple Spring Loaded event in 10 minutes
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Perhaps in recognition of the fact that we all spend a lot of time on Zoom calls these days, Apple has moved its forward-facing camera from a portrait position at the top of the iPad Pro to the landscape position on the side. The 12-megapixel TrueDepth wide-angle camera should still allow you to unlock your device with Face ID, regardless of the rotation in which you use it. A new “center scene” feature means that if you’re in a video call, the iPad will move to keep you in the center of the camera’s field of view even if you’re moving around the camera. If other people join your room, it will also shrink to make sure everyone appears on the screen.
The new iPad Pro powered by the M1 will work with Apple Magic keyboard, which now comes in a new white color. From next week iOS 14.5 will be available for all iPads, including the new iPad Pro when available, which will provide extended language support for the Apple Pencil and support for the latest game controllers.
As expected due to current circumstances, Apple’s spring event on Tuesday was fully virtual. Although Apple could not rely on it typical scene format due to the pandemic, it managed to reproduce a large part of the slick presentation through live streaming videos.
We’re also just weeks away from the second full-virtual WWDC, Apple’s annual developer conference, where we’re sure to find out about software updates coming to the new iPad Pro, along with other iPad models, at the end this year. So, for everything we got with the new range of iPads, it will be sure that more will come soon.