Apple will announce two new iPad Pro models during its 30 October press event, if the flood of rumours are proved to be true. So far, so normal.
But this year’s line-up promises to be the best in a fair few. Rather than mere upgrades, the new iPad Pros are said to represent generational leaps over their predecessors.
And that makes us more excited than we have been for a long while. If you have been waiting to upgrade your current iPad, now should be the time to do it. Here’s why.
Screen size
Although the larger of the two iPad Pro models is said to have the same screen size – 12.9-inches – the smaller will get a significant bump, especially if you are still working off the 9.7-inch iPad Pro from 2016.
That’s because the new, smaller iPad Pro will have an 11-inch screen, if speculation is to be believed.
That doesn’t sound much of a leap on paper but will be considerable when you get in your hands. Just think of the difference between a 5.2-inch and 6.5-inch smartphone.
Adding an extra 1.3-inches diagonally will give you a much bigger area to work and play on.
Superthin bezel and smaller device
What’s perhaps even better considering the above is that the larger screen size will not mean a larger tablet. In fact, it could be the same size as the device you currently use but with more screen real estate to play with.
That’s because the leaked images we’ve seen so far show devices with very thin bezels. In comparison with the current iPad Pros, they offer much more display for a similar sized, even smaller device.
The home button is gone, so the top and chin straps are greatly reduced. This is a much more elegant design than ever before.
Rumoured measurements suggest the 11-inch iPad Pro will be 247.64 x 178.52 mm. The current 10.7-inch iPad Pro is taller, at 250.6 x 174.1mm
The new 12.9-inch Pro is said to be 280.66 x 215mm, while its current equivalent is 305.7 x 220.6mm.
USB-C
Another big rumour is that the new iPad Pro tablets will ditch Apple’s Lightning connector for USB-C, as also found on the Apple MacBook.
That seems surprising but actually makes sense. Considering the iPad Pro range is pro-sumer rather than consumer – for which the standard iPad is designed – adopting USB Type-C enables them to be easily compatible with MacBook accessories and chargers.
One big feature to benefit from a switch to USB-C is said to be 4K video output. It will enable 4K streams to work through a cabled connection.
New Pencil
As well as the new iPad Pros, Apple will introduce a new Pencil.
The main difference between this one and the last is rumoured to be the adoption of the W1 chip – as found in AirPods and Beats headphones. That will simplify pairing between devices.
It will also benefit from the larger screen on the smaller of the two tablets.
The other big change with Pencil 2 is said to be magnetic connectivity. It will be able to attach to the side of the new iPad Pros via magnets – something we’ve been asking for since the first Pencil emerged.
We’re also quite excited by the rumoured idea that it could work with a new Mac trackpad too.
Software support
Finally, one of the biggest reasons we’re enthused by the new iPad Pro models is that Adobe seems to finally feel they are ready for full productivity.
Rather than a cut-down version of Photoshop for iOS, it will release Photoshop CC for iPad – a no limits version of the photo manipulation software many use on Macs and PCs on a daily basis.
Adobe’s decision to unleash it now – and talk about it during its recent Adobe Max conference – is no coincidence. The new iPad Pro devices will be powerful enough to give you the full experience.
Yes, there are other fully-fledged photo editing apps for iOS, but the seamless link between desktop and iPad Photoshop will make it very compelling to designers and photographers alike.
Conclusion
Those are just some of the compelling reasons the new iPad Pro editions will be bigger generational upgrades than we’ve had for a while. We have no doubt there will be others revealed during the Apple “There’s More in the Making” event on 30 October. Join us then to find out what they could be.
Source: pocket-lint.com