ipad pro lcd screen free sample

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced the new iPad Pro with the M2 chip, delivering the ultimate combination of portability, versatility, and unbelievable performance. The new iPad Pro features a next-level Apple Pencil hover experience and superfast wireless connectivity, along with the world’s most advanced mobile display, pro cameras, Face ID, Thunderbolt, and a four-speaker audio system. New features in iPadOS 16 — including Stage Manager, full external display support,1 desktop-class apps, and Reference Mode — take pro workflows on iPad even further. Enabled by its advanced hardware and iPadOS 16, iPad Pro has an incredible ecosystem of powerful pro apps unlike any other device of its kind. The new iPad Pro is available to order starting today, and in stores beginning Wednesday, October 26.

“The next-generation iPad Pro pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on iPad, bringing even more versatility, power, and portability to the ultimate iPad experience,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Powered by the M2 chip, the new iPad Pro features incredible performance and the most advanced technologies, including a next-level Apple Pencil hover experience, ProRes video capture, superfast wireless connectivity, and powerful iPadOS 16 features. There’s nothing else like it.”

M2, the start of Apple’s next generation of M-series chips, brings even more breakthrough performance and capabilities to iPad Pro, with industry-leading power efficiency, a unified memory architecture, and custom technologies.

M2 features an 8-core CPU — up to 15 percent faster than M1 — with advancements in both performance and efficiency cores, and a 10-core GPU, delivering up to 35 percent faster graphics performance for the most demanding users. Combined with the CPU and GPU, the 16-core Neural Engine can process 15.8 trillion operations per second — 40 percent more than M1 — making iPad Pro even more powerful when handling machine learning tasks. The M2 chip also features 100GB/s of unified memory bandwidth — 50 percent more than M1 — and supports up to 16GB of fast unified memory, making multitasking and working with large assets even more fluid.2

The performance of M2 turbocharges even the most demanding workflows, from photographers editing massive photo libraries and designers manipulating complex 3D objects, to healthcare professionals taking advanced imaging and analysis, to gamers enjoying graphics-intensive games. The power of M2 also extends to the new media engine and the image signal processor, which combined with the advanced cameras, enable users to capture ProRes video for the first time and transcode ProRes footage up to 3x faster. This means content creators can capture, edit, and publish cinema-grade video from a single device out in the field.

Powered by the new iPad Pro and iPadOS 16, hover with Apple Pencil (2nd generation) provides a completely new dimension for users to interact with their screen. Apple Pencil is now detected up to 12 mm above the display, allowing users to see a preview of their mark before they make it. This also allows users to sketch and illustrate with even greater precision, and makes everything users do with Apple Pencil even more effortless. For example, with Scribble, text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen, and handwriting converts to text even faster. Third-party apps can also take advantage of this new feature to enable entirely new marking and drawing experiences.

The new iPad Pro supports the fastest Wi-Fi connections with support for Wi-Fi 6E,3 so users who need fast connections can take their demanding workflows with them everywhere. Downloads are up to 2.4Gb/s, 2x faster than the previous generation. Wi-Fi + Cellular models with 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave4) now support more 5G networks around the world, so users can access their files, communicate with colleagues, and back up their data in a snap while on the go.5

In addition to big updates to Messages, new tools in Mail and Safari, the new Weather app, and more ways to interact with photos and video with Live Text and Visual Look Up, iPadOS 16 also introduces powerful productivity features that elevate the iPad Pro experience:

Stage Manageris an entirely new multitasking experience that automatically organizes apps and windows, making it quick and easy to switch between tasks. Later this year, Stage Manager will unlock full external display supportwith resolutions of up to 6K, so users will be able to arrange the ideal workspace, and work with up to four apps on iPad and up to four apps on the external display.

Desktop-class apps enable new capabilities optimized for the display on iPad Pro — making apps more capable with new elements and interactions, including a consistent undo and redo, a redesigned inline find-and-replace experience, a new document menu, customizable toolbars, and the ability to change file extensions, view folder size in Files, and more.

Reference Modeenables the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Liquid Retina XDR display to match the color requirements in workflows like review and approve, color grading, and compositing, where accurate colors and consistent image quality are critical. That means pro users, including photographers and videographers, can edit HDR images and videos with every true-to-life detail right in their hands, and cinematographers on set can preview content in a color profile that represents the final capture.

The new iPad models are designed to minimize their impact on the environment and include 100 percent recycled gold — a first for iPad — in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards, as well as recycled aluminum, tin, and rare earth elements. All iPad models meet Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and are mercury-, BFR-, PVC-, and beryllium-free. Redesigned packaging in the new iPad Pro eliminates the outer plastic wrap, and 99 percent of the packaging is fiber based, bringing Apple closer to its goal of completely removing plastic from all packaging by 2025.

Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations, and by 2030, plans to be 100 percent carbon neutral across the entire manufacturing supply chain and all product life cycles. This means that every Apple device sold, from component manufacturing, assembly, transport, customer use, charging, all the way through recycling and material recovery, will have net-zero climate impact.

The new iPad Pro is available to order beginning today, October 18, at apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions, including the US, with availability in stores beginning Wednesday, October 26.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $999(US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model; the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099 (US) for the Wi-Fi model, and $1,299 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.

Magic Keyboard is available in black and white for $299(US) for the new 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 (US)for the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with layouts for over 30 languages.

Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and home-school teachers of all grade levels. The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $749(US), and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at$999 (US). The second-generation Apple Pencil is available for $119 (US), and the Smart Keyboard Folio is available for $159(US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $179(US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The Magic Keyboard will be available at $279 (US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and$329 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. For more information visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.

iPadOS 16, the powerful operating system designed specifically for iPad, will be available beginning Monday, October 24, and ships for free with the new iPad Pro. iPadOS 16 will be available as a free software update for iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), and all iPad Pro models.

Customers can trade in their current iPad and get credit toward a new one. When their device has been received and verified, Apple will credit the value to their payment method.

Apple provides customers with a number of services in-store and online. From personalized support and advice from Apple Specialists to convenient delivery and pickup options, Apple ensures the best way to buy Apple products is from Apple Store locations and apple.com/store.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.

If you want your keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to control your Mac and iPad, with the iPad showing its own Home Screen and apps rather than the desktop and apps of your Mac, use Universal Control instead.

You can repeat this step for other Mac windows, or simply drag other Mac windows to and from your iPad. To move a window back to your Mac, you can also move your pointer over the full-screen button

The sidebar puts commonly used Mac controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.

To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it"s extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.

Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. Tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil. If the Touch Bar doesn"t appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls:

During your session, you can type using the keyboard connected to your Mac, or you can use a keyboard connected to your iPad, such as the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad. To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.

While using your iPad as a display, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your session until you switch back to the Sidecar app, which appears on your iPad home screen only while using Sidecar.

To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Your iPad must not be sharing its cellular connection and your Mac must not be sharing its internet connection.

1. If you don"t see this menu: In macOS Ventura or later, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Control Center in the sidebar, then choose an option from the Screen Mirroring menu on the right. In earlier macOS versions, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Dock & Menu Bar, then click Screen Mirroring in the sidebar. Select the Show in Menu Bar checkbox, then choose Always from the adjacent pop-up menu.

Every aspect of the light imaging system in Pro Display XDR is crucial to the overall quality of what you see onscreen. Each element builds on top of the last to create a display with unbelievable brightness and contrast.

Typical LCDs are edge-lit by a strip of white LEDs. The 2D backlighting system in Pro Display XDR is unlike any other. It uses a superbright array of 576 blue LEDs that allows for unmatched light control compared with white LEDs. Twelve controllers rapidly modulate each LED so that areas of the screen can be incredibly bright while other areas are incredibly dark. All of this produces an extraordinary contrast that’s the foundation for XDR.

For even greater control of light, each LED is treated with a reflective layer, a highly customized lens, and a geometrically optimized reflector that are all unique to Pro Display XDR. Through a pioneering design, light is reflected, mixed, and shaped between two layers to minimize blooming and provide uniform lighting.

Converting blue light to white is a difficult process that requires extremely precise color conversion. It’s why most display makers use white LEDs. Pro Display XDR accomplishes this conversion with an expertly designed color transformation sheet made of hundreds of layers that control the light spectrum passing through them.

Pro Display XDR extends exceptional image quality to the very edge. To ensure that LEDs along the sides of the display mix well with adjacent ones, a micro-lens array boosts light along the edges. This creates uniform color and brightness across the entire screen.

With a massive amount of processing power, the timing controller (TCON) chip utilizes an algorithm specifically created to analyze and reproduce images. It controls LEDs at over 10 times the refresh rate of the LCD itself, reducing latency and blooming. It’s capable of multiple refresh rates for amazingly smooth playback. Managing both the LED array and LCD pixels, the TCON precisely directs light and color to bring your work to life with stunning accuracy.

Note:Sidecar is a Continuity feature. To use Continuity features, your devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and meet system requirements. See the Apple Support article System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Select the name of your iPad on the right, then do one of the following:Click the “Use as” pop-up menu, then choose whether you want to use your iPad as the main display or to mirror or extend your display.

Do any of the following:Move windows from Mac to iPad:Drag a window to the edge of the screen until the pointer appears on your iPad. Or while using an app, choose Window > Move to iPad.

Move windows from iPad to Mac:Drag a window to the edge of the screen until the pointer appears on your Mac. Or while using an app, choose Window > Move Window Back to Mac.

Use Apple Pencil on iPad:With your Apple Pencil, tap to select items such as menu commands, checkboxes, or files. If your Apple Pencil supports it (and you selected the option in Displays settings), you can double-tap the lower section of your Apple Pencil to switch drawing tools in some apps. See the Apple Support article Connect Apple Pencil with your iPad.

Use gestures on iPad:Use basic gestures, such as tap, swipe, scroll, and zoom, as well as gestures for entering and editing text. See the iPad User Guide.

Using a consistent layout that adapts to various contexts makes your experience more approachable and helps people enjoy their favorite apps and games on all their devices.

A layout guide defines a rectangular region that helps you position, align, and space your content on the screen. The system includes predefined layout guides that make it easy to apply standard margins around content and restrict the width of text for optimal readability. You can also define custom layout guides.

A safe area defines the area within a view that isn’t covered by a navigation bar, tab bar, toolbar, or other views a window or scene might provide. Safe areas are essential for avoiding a device’s interactive and display features, like the Dynamic Island on iPhone or the camera housing on some Mac models.

In iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, the system defines a collection of traits that characterize variations in the device environment that can affect the way your app displays on the screen. Using SwiftUI or Auto Layout, you can ensure that your interface adapts dynamically to a wide range of traits and contexts, including:

Respect key display and system features in each platform. Safe areas help you accommodate features like the corner radius and sensor housings on various devices, and avoid interfering with interactive system elements like Dynamic Island on iPhone and the Home indicator and app switcher on iPhone and iPad. Safe areas also help you account for interactive components like bars, dynamically repositioning content if sizes change.

Use placement to convey relative importance. In general, place principal items in the upper half of the screen or window, near the leading side. People typically start in this area, whether they’re looking at the screen or using a screen reader like VoiceOver.

Elevate essential information by giving it sufficient space. People want to view the most important information instantly, so you don’t want to clutter the screen or window with nonessential details. People can easily access secondary information by scrolling.

Be mindful of aspect ratio. Different screen sizes may have different aspect ratios, causing artwork to appear cropped, letterboxed, or pillarboxed. When this is the case, don’t change the aspect ratio of the artwork; instead, scale it to fill the screen so that important visual content remains in view on all display sizes.

When possible, consider alluding to hidden content by partially displaying offscreen elements. In large collections where content doesn’t fit on a single screen, you might be able to hint at the additional content by showing portions of the offscreen items.

If your app runs on a specific device, make sure it runs on every screen size for that device. In other words, an iPhone-only app must run on every iPhone screen size and an iPad-only app must run on every iPad screen size. For guidance, see Device screen sizes and orientations.

Inset full-width buttons. Respect the standard system-defined margins on the sides of full-width buttons. A full-width button at the bottom of the screen generally looks best when it has rounded corners and it aligns with the bottom of the safe area — which also ensures that it doesn’t conflict with the Home indicator.

Extend visual content to fill the screen. Make sure backgrounds extend to the edges of the display, and that vertically scrollable layouts, like tables and collections, continue all the way to the bottom.

On iPad, consider placing controls on the sides of the screen in landscape orientation. When controls are on the left and right sides of the screen, people can reach them easily with both hands while they’re holding the device.

Avoid placing interactive controls at the bottom edge of the screen when possible. Regardless of orientation, people use system gestures at the bottom edge of the display to access features like the Home screen and app switcher, and these gestures may cancel custom gestures you implement in this area. Also avoid placing controls in the far corners of the screen because these areas can be difficult for people to reach comfortably. If your game needs to place controls in the lower portion of the screen — below the safe area — use matching insets when placing them at the top and bottom of the screen, and leave ample space around the Home indicator so people don’t accidentally target it when trying to interact with a control.

Hide the status bar only when it adds value or enhances your experience. The status bar displays information people find useful and it occupies an area of the screen most apps don’t fully use, so it’s generally a good idea to keep it visible.

The safe area defines the area within a view that isn’t covered by a navigation bar, tab bar, toolbar, or other views a view controller might provide.

iOS 15 and later provides a keyboard layout guide that represents the space the keyboard currently occupies and accounts for safe area insets. Using this guide can help you make the keyboard feel like an integral part of your app, regardless of the type of keyboard people use or where they position it. For developer guidance, see UIKeyboardLayoutGuide.

Avoid placing controls or critical information at the bottom of a window. People often move windows so that the bottom edge is below the bottom of the screen.

TVs vary widely in size. On Apple TV, app layouts don’t automatically adapt to the size of the screen like they do on iPhone or iPad. Instead, apps show the same interface on every display. Take extra care in designing your layout so that it looks great in a variety of screen sizes.

Adhere to the screen’s safe zone. Inset primary content 60 pixels from the top and bottom of the screen, and 80 pixels from the sides. It can be difficult for people to see content that close to the edges, and unintended cropping can occur due to overscanning on older TVs. Allow only partially displayed offscreen content and elements that deliberately flow offscreen to appear outside this zone.

Include appropriate padding between focusable elements. When you use UIKit and the focus APIs, an element gets bigger when it comes into focus. Consider how elements look when they’re focused, and make sure they don’t unintentionally overlap important information.

Use layout templates to build media-centered apps and use grids to provide collections of content. If the layout of your media app simply needs to present content beautifully with minimal layout customization, use a predesigned layout template. If your app needs to showcase a collection of content, use a grid to make the content easy to browse at a distance and quick to navigate with the remote.

Apple TV templates deliver clean, consistent layouts that make content the center of attention. These templates — based on JavaScript and the Apple TV markup language (TVML) — dynamically load and populate with content when people open your app. Templates give you flexibility to create content-rich apps with predefined layouts that look good on the TV screen and are ideal for streaming media.

Keep alerts short and avoid making people scroll. Reading lots of text on a distant screen strains the eyes and isn’t much fun. Minimize the amount of text your app displays.

The loading template temporarily displays a progress indicator and some descriptive text while the server retrieves your content. It lets people know something is happening, so your app doesn’t appear frozen.

Keep menu items onscreen. When the menu bar is in focus, ensure that all of its items are visible. In general, include seven or fewer items with short labels, to avoid crowding content and causing items to scroll off the screen.

The product template promotes movies, TV shows, or other products. It typically includes a product image, background, and descriptive information. A shelf below the product content displays related products, and people can scroll down to bring up more information, like cast and crew listings, ratings, and reviews.

If you customize the background, make sure it doesn’t clash with your other content. Consider image and text colors carefully before customizing the background. By default, the background displays a blurred copy of your product image, producing a complementary visual effect.

The product bundle template promotes a series of related TV shows, movies, and other products. It typically includes an image, background, and descriptive information. A shelf below the content displays the products the bundle contains, such as the episodes of a TV season. People can scroll down to bring up more information, such as cast and crew listings, ratings, and reviews.

The stack template displays groups of products — such as different genres of movies — in rows. Each group of products displays directly beneath the previous group.

The following grid layouts provide an optimal viewing experience. Be sure to use appropriate spacing between unfocused rows and columns to prevent overlap when an item is brought into focus.

Include additional vertical spacing for titled rows. If a row has a title, provide enough spacing between the bottom of the previous unfocused row and the center of the title to avoid crowding. Also provide spacing between the bottom of the title and the top of the unfocused items in the row.

Make partially hidden content look symmetrical. To help direct attention to the fully visible content, keep partially hidden offscreen content the same width on each side of the screen.

Design your content to extend from one edge of the screen to the other. The Apple Watch bezel provides a natural visual padding around your content. To avoid wasting valuable space, consider minimizing the padding between elements.

Avoid placing more than two or three controls side by side in your interface. As a general rule, display no more than three buttons that contain glyphs — or two buttons that contain text — in a row. Although it’s usually better to let text buttons span the full width of the screen, two side-by-side buttons with short text labels can also work well, as long as the screen doesn’t scroll.

* Monthly pricing is available when you select Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI) as your payment type at checkout at Apple, and is subject to credit approval and credit limit. Financing terms vary by product. Taxes and shipping are not included in ACMI and are subject to your card’s variable APR. ACMI is not available for purchases made online at special storefronts. The last month’s payment for each product will be the product’s purchase price, less all other payments at the monthly payment amount. See the Apple Card Customer Agreement for more information.

To access and use all the features of Apple Card, you must add Apple Card to Wallet on an iPhone or iPad with the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Update to the latest version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install.

◊ Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI) is a 0% APR payment option available only in the U.S. to select at checkout for certain Apple products purchased at Apple Store locations, apple.com, the Apple Store app, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE, and is subject to credit approval and credit limit. See https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211204(Opens in a new window) for more information about eligible products. Variable APRs for Apple Card other than ACMI range from 14.74% to 25.74% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of December 1, 2022. If you choose the pay-in-full or one-time-payment option for an ACMI-eligible purchase instead of choosing ACMI as the payment option at checkout, that purchase will be subject to the variable APR assigned to your Apple Card. Taxes and shipping are not included in ACMI and are subject to your card’s variable APR. See the Apple Card Customer Agreement(Opens in a new window) for more information. ACMI is not available for purchases made online at the following special stores: Apple Employee Purchase Plan; participating corporate Employee Purchase Programs; Apple at Work for small businesses; Government, and Veterans and Military Purchase Programs, or on refurbished devices. iPhone activation required on iPhone purchases made at an Apple Store with one of these national carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile.

◊◊ Trade-in values will vary based on the condition, year, and configuration of your eligible trade-in device. Not all devices are eligible for credit. You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to trade in for credit or for an Apple Gift Card. Trade-in value may be applied toward qualifying new device purchase, or added to an Apple Gift Card. Actual value awarded is based on receipt of a qualifying device matching the description provided when estimate was made. Sales tax may be assessed on full value of a new device purchase. In-store trade-in requires presentation of a valid photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Offer may not be available in all stores, and may vary between in-store and online trade-in. Some stores may have additional requirements. Apple or its trade-in partners reserve the right to refuse or limit quantity of any trade-in transaction for any reason. More details are available from Apple’s trade-in partner for trade-in and recycling of eligible devices. Restrictions and limitations may apply.

1. Available space is less and varies due to many factors. Storage capacity subject to change based on software version, settings, and iPad model. 1GB = 1 billion bytes; 1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual formatted capacity less.

2. The displays have rounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch screen is 12.9 inches, the iPad Pro 11-inch screen is 11 inches, the iPad Air and iPad (10th generation) screens are 10.86 inches, and the iPad mini screen is 8.3 inches. Actual viewable area is less.

3. Data plan required. 5G, Gigabit LTE, LTE, and Wi‑Fi calling are available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds are based on theoretical throughput and vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G and LTE support, contact your carrier and see apple.com/ipad/cellular.

∆ AppleCare+ provides unlimited incidents of accidental damage from handling while the plan is active and in effect. Each incident is subject to a service fee. Taxes may apply. The company obligated under AppleCare+ in the United States is AppleCare Service Company, Inc., an Arizona corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Apple Inc., doing business in Texas as Apple CSC Inc.

∆∆ Service coverage is available only for iPad, its original included accessories, one compatible Apple Pencil, and one compatible Apple-branded iPad keyboard used with your iPad for protection against (i) defects in materials or workmanship, (ii) batteries that retain less than 80% of their original capacity, and (iii) unlimited incidents of accidental damage from handling, each incident being subject to a service fee of $49 for iPad and $29 for Apple Pencil or Apple-branded iPad keyboard, plus applicable tax. Replacement equipment that Apple provides as part of the repair or replacement service may contain new or previously used genuine Apple parts that have been tested and pass Apple functional requirements. AppleCare+ coverage begins on your AppleCare+ purchase date. See terms for full details.

Cupertino, California Apple today announced the most powerful and advanced iPad Pro ever, pushing the limits of what’s possible on iPad. The addition of the Apple-designed M1 chip delivers a massive leap in performance, making iPad Pro the fastest device of its kind. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro features a new Liquid Retina XDR display that brings extreme dynamic range to iPad Pro, offering a stunning visual experience with more true-to-life details to the most demanding HDR workflows. Cellular models with 5G deliver even faster wireless connectivity when on the go, and to provide users with pro-level throughput for high-speed accessories, iPad Pro now includes support for Thunderbolt. Additionally, an all-new Ultra Wide front camera enables Center Stage, a new feature that automatically keeps users perfectly framed for even more engaging video calls. The new iPad Pro is available to order beginning Friday, April 30, on apple.com, and will be available in the second half of May.

“The revolutionary M1 chip has been a breakthrough for the Mac, and we’re incredibly excited to bring it to iPad Pro,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With M1’s huge jump in performance, a groundbreaking extreme dynamic range experience on the 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, up to 2TB of high-speed storage, Thunderbolt expansion, a four-speaker audio system, pro cameras with LiDAR Scanner, blazing-fast 5G connectivity, an amazing video-calling experience with Center Stage — combined with the advanced features of iPadOS and a powerful pro app ecosystem all in a device users can hold in one hand — there’s nothing else like iPad Pro.”

The breakthrough M1 chip takes the industry-leading performance of iPad Pro to an entirely new level. The 8-core CPU design features the world’s fastest CPU cores in low-power silicon — delivering up to 50 percent faster CPU performance than A12Z Bionic. The 8-core GPU is in a class of its own, delivering up to 40 percent faster GPU performance. This combination of CPU and graphics performance on iPad Pro widens its lead as the fastest device of its kind. Powerful custom technologies, including a next-generation 16-core Apple Neural Engine, an advanced image signal processor (ISP), a unified, high-bandwidth memory architecture with up to 16GB of memory, 2x faster storage, and up to 2TB capacity, make iPad Pro more capable than ever. The industry-leading power efficiency of M1 enables all of that amazing performance along with all-day battery life in the thin and light design of iPad Pro.1 Because M1 shares the same fundamental architecture of A-series chips, iPadOS is already optimized to take full advantage of the powerful technologies in M1 to easily handle everything from simple navigation to the most demanding workflows.

The new Liquid Retina XDR display brings the stunning front-of-screen performance of the Pro Display XDR to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Engineered with a new cutting-edge mini-LED design that uses over 10,000 LEDs across the entire back of the display, the Liquid Retina XDR display features up to 1000 nits of full-screen brightness, 1600 nits of peak brightness, and a phenomenal 1 million-to-1 contrast ratio to enhance creative workflows. The result is a stunning visual experience that reflects what can be seen in the real world by capturing the brightest highlights and the most subtle details in even the darkest images. Now creative professionals, including photographers, videographers, and filmmakers, can view and edit true-to-life HDR content on a large display they can take anywhere. The new Liquid Retina XDR display includes other advanced technologies that can also be found in the 11-inch iPad Pro, including ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color support, delivering an unmatched mobile cinematic viewing experience for HDR and Dolby Vision content.

With 5G available on iPad Pro, customers on the go can do even more with better performance and access to next-generation download and upload speeds — great for higher-quality video streaming, real-time collaboration, or FaceTime in high definition. Users can stay creative and productive using a secure, fast connection, reducing the need to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots. Featuring the most 5G bands on any device of its kind, iPad Pro offers the broadest 5G coverage worldwide. iPad Pro models in the US support millimeter wave, the higher frequency version of 5G, allowing iPad Pro to reach speeds up to 4Gbps. iPad Pro also features support for eSIM, making it easy to find a network and sign up for a 5G data plan on the spot.2

Support for Thunderbolt and USB 4 makes the USB-C port on iPad Pro the fastest, most versatile port ever on an iPad, with 4x more bandwidth for wired connections than the previous iPad Pro — up to 40Gbps. Thunderbolt supports 10Gbps Ethernet and opens up a massive ecosystem of high-performance accessories, like faster external storage and even higher resolution external displays, including the Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution, all connected using high-performance cables and docks. With support for more peripherals than ever, iPad Pro now fits even more seamlessly into creative workflows.

The TrueDepth camera system on iPad Pro features an all-new 12MP Ultra Wide front camera designed specifically for iPad, enabling Center Stage, a new experience for video calls. Center Stage uses the much larger field of view on the new front camera and the machine learning capabilities of M1 to recognize and keep users centered in the frame. As users move around, Center Stage automatically pans to keep them in the shot. When others join in, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view and make sure they are part of the conversation. So whether whiteboarding with coworkers or attending a virtual family gathering, the experience of connecting is now more engaging than ever.

The ISP and Neural Engine in M1 unlock even more capability from the pro camera system, bringing support for Smart HDR 3 for the first time to iPad Pro. And in low-light conditions, the ISP and LiDAR Scanner quickly and accurately focus images and videos to capture incredible details from almost no light at all.

iPadOS 14.5, which will be available to iPad customers starting next week, comes with new additions, including expanded language support for Apple Pencil features like Scribble and Smart Selection, new emoji, support for the latest gaming controllers, and the ability to share lyrics and see top songs in cities around the world with Apple Music.

Low-light images shot with the pro camera system on iPad Pro — featuring an advanced ISP in the M1 chip and breakthrough LiDAR Scanner — look stunning and more true to life.

Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations, and by 2030, plans to have net zero climate impact across the entire business, which includes manufacturing supply chains and all product life cycles. This means that every Apple device sold, from material collection, component manufacturing, assembly, transport, customer use, charging, all the way through recycling and material recovery, will be 100 percent carbon neutral.

iPad Pro now features an enclosure made with 100 percent recycled aluminum, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the magnets of the speakers and enclosure. iPad Pro remains free of harmful substances, meeting Apple’s high standards for environmental responsibility in materials, renewable electricity, and energy efficiency, and uses wood fiber in the packaging that is recycled or comes from responsibly managed forests.

The new iPad Pro is available to order beginning Friday, April 30, on apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 31 countries and regions, including the US. iPad Pro will be available in Apple Store locations in the second half of May.

The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space gray finishes. iPad Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations3 — providing pro customers more room for their apps and content.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $999(US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $1,299 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model from apple.com.

Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $749(US), and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at$999 (US). The second-generation Apple Pencil is available for $119 (US), and the Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Pro is available for $159(US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $179(US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for college students. The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will be available for college students at $279 (US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and$329 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. For more information visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.

The second-generation Apple Pencil is available for $129(US). The Magic Keyboard for the new iPad Pro will be available in Black and White for $299(US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 (US)for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with layouts for over 30 languages. The Smart Keyboard Folio for the new iPad Pro is available for $179 (US) for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $199 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The Smart Folio for the new iPad Pro is available in five colors for $79(US)for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $99 (US) for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

For a limited time, customers in the US can get up to $200 back when they buy a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Pro model and activate it with AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint, or Verizon.

When customers buy online from Apple, they can make their iPad Pro their own with free engraving, which now supports additional text characters and emoji.

Customers can experience the new iPad Pro at an Apple Store and have their questions answered in person. Before their visit, customers are encouraged to check apple.com/retail for information on opening hours, services available, and the health and safety measures in place.

Every customer who buys iPad from Apple can enjoy free Online Personal Sessions, and receive guidance on how to customize their iPad, set up email, find apps from the App Store, and more.

For a limited time, eligible customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free and three months of Apple Arcade for free.4

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Data plan required. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, contact your carrier and see apple.com/ipad/cellular.

$4.99 per month each for Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade after free trial. Special offers are good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One Apple TV+ offer and one Apple Arcade offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until cancelled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visit apple.com/promo for more information.

Swift Playgrounds is a revolutionary app for iPad and Mac that makes it fun to learn and experiment with Swift — a powerful programming language created by Apple and used by the pros to build today’s most popular apps. Swift Playgrounds requires no coding knowledge, so it’s perfect for students just starting out.

Reviewing computers and laptops usually aren’t as fun as reviewing phones, because the former category usually sees just incremental internal upgrades (aka the “spec bump”) year on year, as opposed to smartphones, which in addition to the processor upgrade, usually sees a new design and camera tech too. So when I unboxed Apple"s new iPad Pro 2021 alongside the 2021 Magic Keyboard, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Sure, Apple gave its first-party keyboard cases new colors, but for the most part, the new iPad Pro itself looks exactly like the previous two tablets.

That was before I powered on the tablet. Once I hit that power button on the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, within 30 seconds of cycling through the setup process, I had already muttered an audible “whoa” to myself. The new iPad Pro"s screen looked noticeably brighter and sharper, with more fluid animations than the iPad Air 2020, from which I was syncing my iCloud backup.

About this review: Apple Hong Kong sent me a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 1TB storage and a Magic Keyboard to review. Apple did not have input over this article.

As has been the case with the previous two models, the new 2021 iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 11-inch and 12.9-inch. If you"ve seen an iPad Pro in the last couple of years, then you"ve already seen this new model. They look mostly the same, with slim uniform bezels housing a TrueDepth camera system for Face ID, and an aluminum body with a flat chassis that has become Apple"s new design language norm. This year, more than ever, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the more noteworthy one because that brilliant screen I teased earlier in the intro — a Mini LED display Apple"s marketing team has dubbed "Liquid Retina XDR" — is exclusive to the larger model.

Used by TCL, Samsung, and LG in their high-end televisions, Mini LED is a relatively new display technology that uses very small light-emitting diodes (LED) to power the display. The 2020 iPad Pro"s more traditional LCD panel featured 72 LEDs; the new 2021 iPad Pro"s Mini LED features over 10,000 LEDs. What this means is that the new iPad Pro can produce far greater dynamic range, contrast, and brightness compared to the 2020 model, because there are so many moreLEDs that can brighten or dim depending on what the screen is showing.

I"m no display expert, but the differences in display brilliance between the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and my 2020 iPad Air and 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro are obvious. My iPad Air can reach a peak brightness of 500 nits, and the MacBook Pro 600 nits. Both are fine indoors but are no match compared to the 1,000 nits of peak brightness on the iPad Pro 2021.

The best OLED screens on the best phones (say, the iPhone 12 series or the Galaxy S21 series) are comparable to the iPad Pro"s Mini LED screen, but the latter gets brighter, doesn"t suffer from burn-in, and is more suitable for productivity machines.

The other big upgrade to this year"s iPad Pro line is the use of Apple"s M1 silicon, the ARM-based SoC that made its debut in the MacBook Air and Mac Mini a few months ago to critical acclaim because they basically beat Intel-powered Macs in both real-world and benchmark tests.

My testing with the 2021 iPad Pro showed the same impressive results. In one test, I exported a 26 minute, 38 second long 4K/30fps video from iMovie on the new iPad Pro, a 2020 iPad Air (powered by the same 5nm SoC used in the iPhone 12 series), and a 2019 Intel i9 MacBook Pro with 32GB of RAM. The M1-powered iPad Pro finished first, rendering the video in 13 minutes and 5 seconds. The iPad Air finished second at 15 minutes and 4 seconds. The i9 MacBook Pro (which I paid $3,300 for) took 30 minutes and 18 seconds.

On GeekBench, the 2021 iPad Pro"s Multi-Core score was more than double that of the 2020 iPad Air (with its A14 Bionic) and the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra (powered by Qualcomm"s Snapdragon 888). I did not run Geekbench on my Intel i9 MacBook Pro (because the app cost $10), but other testers have, and it lost to the 2021 iPad Air too.

There are three more noteworthy hardware upgrades: Both 2021 iPad Pro tablets get more capable USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support; they both support 5G connectivity in the cellular models; and they both get front-facing camera upgrades to a 12MP ultra-wide camera, which is put to good use (I"ll explain in the next section).

Other parts of the iPad Pro 2021 remain the same as before, from the "ProMotion" refresh rate (120Hz), the display resolution, the excellent quad-speaker system, and the main camera system that includes a wide, ultra-wide, and LIDAR scanner.

My new iPad Pro came out of the box with iPadOS 14.5 preinstalled, but within two days, I got a software update to 14.5.1. As far as I know, almost all the big changes to iPadOS 14.5 are the same ones brought to iOS 14.5, such as Siri better understanding my music listening habits; new emojis and Siri voices; and the big one that"s got Mark Zuckerberg so mad — app tracking transparency.

The new iPad Pro is an excellent, best-in-class tablet, with better animations, UI, and a more developed app ecosystem than anything in the Android or Windows space.

The feature exclusive to iPadOS software is a trick called "Center Stage," which uses the new iPad Pro"s M1 chip and the ultra-wide front-facing camera to intelligently track the user"s face during video calls. This means I can move around during the call, and the video will follow my movement and keep me framed in the center as much as possible. If a second person steps into the frame, then the M1 accounts for both of our faces and adjusts the frame to keep us both in the picture. It works quite well, as the sample below shows.

Other than Center Stage, the software experience on the 2021 iPad Pro feels fundamentally the same as the 2020 or 2018 iPad Pros. This means the new iPad Pro is still an excellent, best-in-class tablet, with better animations, UI, and a more developed app ecosystem than anything in the Android or Windows space. Using the tablet with a keyboard as a computer replacement can be hit or miss since you can still open at most two apps at the same time (three if you want to be generous). I"ll explain more in the next section.

Ever since Apple debuted it in 2015, the iPad Pro has been billed as a potential computer replacement. This claim was laughable at first when the tablet could only show one app at a time and didn"t have a proper file management system. Things started to get better by 2017 or so, when Apple introduced split-screen multitasking for iPads, and then eventually a file management system in 2018.

I actually used an iPad Pro as my main work machine for most of 2018. Granted, I was entirely an independent freelance writer at the time, so the only apps I needed for work were Google Docs, Safari, and Gmail. Being limited to just two apps on-screen at once didn"t hold me back much, as I never needed more than two apps at once anyway. I didn"t have regular video calls, nor did I need to log into chat apps like Slack.

But today, my work situation is more complicated and dynamic, and even the new iPad Pro can no longer cut it as my main work machine. I work with a team at XDA, which means I need to be on Slack; there are regular video calls; and I no longer just write words — I also take product shots, edit those photos, upload to servers, add captions, among other tasks like producing videos. Being able to open just two apps at once is too limiting, as Slack itself would always need to be opened during my work hours. I can have a third app opened in "Slide Over" mode, which sees the app hanging off-screen, ready to be dragged into the screen at a moment"s notice, but it"s still not as easy as just having three resizable windows which I can do on real computers or even Samsung"s Galaxy Tab S7.

Third-party video conferencing apps such as Zoom or Google Meet can also be hit and miss on the 2021 iPad Pro, since going into split-screen view often results in the camera turning off or kicking me out of the call.

And while LumaFusion is in my opinion the best video editing app on any mobile device, it"s still no match for desktop-class video editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. Simply put, I can no longer just carry an iPad Pro on a week-long trip and expect to be able to do all my work with ease as I could back in 2018.

It"s a shame iPadOS is still a bit limiting, because the iPad Pro"s UI animations, display brilliance, and Magic Keyboard are so damn good. The latter requires a separate purchase, and it"s definitely overpriced compared to more affordable third-party keyboards, but if money is no object, it"s by far the best slim keyboard folio case I"ve ever used with any tablet. Keys are evenly spaced with excellent travel, and despite the trackpad being relatively small, it"s more accurate than most Windows laptop trackpads I"ve tested (Dell XPS 13, Huawei MateBook X Pro, etc). I also love that the keyboard elevates the iPad off the table slightly.

If there"s a silver lining, it"s that this might change in the near future. Apple made a curious decision by giving the 1TB and 2TB models of the iPad Pro 16GB of RAM, a huge jump from the maximum 6GB RAM used in the 2020 iPad Pros. Apple has never cared much about cramming more RAM into its iPhones and iPads, so this M1-powered iPad Pro suddenly having 16GB makes many industry insiders wonder if Apple is planning something big — perhaps iPadOS is getting better multi-tasking capabilities in the near future? Or maybe more Mac apps such as Final Cut Pro will make their way to the iPad?

I"ve been a fan of the Apple Pencil for years, and I"m still a fan of using it with the new 2021 iPad Pro. Whether it"s jotting down notes in Apple"s default Notes app or sketching in the highly popular Procreate app, the large 12.9-inch canvas with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate makes writing highly enjoyable. Apple doesn’t reveal the exact number of pressure sensitivity levels of the Apple Pencil, but professional artists that have tested it say it’s similar to the Surface Pen’s reported 4,096 levels of sensitivity.

I already said earlier that Apple"s iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market — an opinion shared by most reviewers — so it should come as no surprise that this new iPad Pro knocks the tablet experience out of the park. Most of this has to do with the fact that app developers are just more eager to build for iOS/iPadOS than Android or Windows because Apple users on average spend more money on apps and iPads are really abundant out in the wild. But the interest from developers is also because of the hardware: the iPad Pro"s LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner makes AR apps run far more accurately. For example, measuring the distance between walls or floor to ceiling of interior buildings is far more accurate on an iPad Pro with LIDAR than with similar apps on an Android phone. Below, you can see that the iPad Pro"s LIDAR scanner is able to accurately detect the curvy surface area of the wooden table.

There are dozens of excellent AR apps in Apple"s app store that make good use of the real-world environment, such as AR Animals and Angry Birds. In my furniture-filled co-working space, the iPad Pro had no problem displaying virtual objects on counters, next to and around chairs and sofas.

The new iPad Pro"s quad-speaker system pumps out the best sound on any tablet I"ve used, which, coupled with the gorgeous large screen, makes for a top-notch gaming or Netflix binging machine. Smooth scrolling animations also make the tablet ideal for reading in bed.

While the M1-powered MacBook Air saw drastic improvements in battery life over previous Intel versions because the ARM-based mobile SoC is much more efficient than Intel’s processors, the battery life of the new 2021 iPad Pro isn’t that much different from the 2020 models, because iPads had always run on efficient ARM-based SoCs already. Apple says this year’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro can last about 10-11 hours of use on a single charge, but my usage came up short. I haven’t fully pushed the tablet from 100 to 0% in one go yet, but on several four-hour use sessions consisting of writing on WordPress with Slack running on the side and streaming Spotify, I’d see the battery drop by close to 50%. So for me, this feels like a machine that can get to eight hours, maybe nine, but not ten.

Considering that it’s just about the general consensus in tech media that the iPad has been the best tablet in the market and the M1 SoC more than lived up to the hype, it was almost a foregone conclusion that this M1-powered iPad Pro would be an awesome machine and easily the best tablet in 2021.

But here’s the thing: I said that about the 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020 iPad Pros too. Apple’s A-series silicon and iOS apps are so well optimized that even the 2018 iPad Pro would still run flawlessly today. For most people who aren’t exporting 4K videos regularly, they’d be hard-pressed to tell where the 2021 iPad Pro improves on the 2018 iPad Pro other than the screen looking better. iOS apps still run great on the four-year-old iPhone 8, let alone the 2021 spec’ed out iPad Pro.

This is why Apple insiders are all wondering if Apple has something more planned for the iPad Pro software-wise. Because the M1 really is too powerful for just an iPad.

Apple prices this 2021 iPad Pro like it’s more than just a tablet too. Sure, the base model starts at $799, seemingly a very affordable price for a new Apple product, but this is for the 11-inch model without a Mini LED screen or cellular capabilities and a measly 128GB of storage. You also shouldn’t buy an M1-powered iPad Pro and use it just as a tablet, so you’re going to want a keyboard with it too. Throw in the Apple Pencil and this $799 price jumps to well over four digits. The priciest 2021 iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2TB storage, WiFi + cellular connectivity) costs $2,099 (add in the accessories and it’s closer to $2,400).

So yeah, Apple"s best tablet is priced firmly in flagship laptop category. If you’re looking for just a tablet to do bedtime reading or streaming Netflix, I wouldn’t recommend buying the 2021 iPad Pro. Instead, get the far better value iPad Air or even a Galaxy Tab S7 instead. But for people who actually plan to do work off this machine (digital illustrators, writers who just need to type words, etc), I’d argue the 2021 iPad Pro is worth it because they’d be getting a machine that excels at both work and play.

And if Apple actually brings over Mac apps and makes iPadOS more capable? Then I’d argue it’s a better buy than a laptop. For me, if I can run Final Cut Pro and open apps in floating resizable windows on this machine, it’d immediately replace my MacBook Pro with an iPad Pro as my main work machine.

The 11-inch model of the iPad Pro may not have that Mini LED screen, but it still has the game-changing M1 processor and comes in a highly portable size.

If you want to use the iPad Pro to its full potential you will need a keyboard, and Apple"s official Magic Keyboard has the best typing and trackpad experience on a relatively thin folio case.

According to The Elec (via AppleInsider) Apple will be using a hybrid OLED panel for the first iPad it produces with an OLED display, something that the report notes will be a few years from now. Currently, Apple uses an LCD backlit screen on its tablets which it calls a "Liquid Retina" display. The one exception is the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro which uses a mini-LED backlit screen that Apple calls the "Liquid Retina XDR" display.

So what is a hybrid OLED panel? It is a panel that uses a combination of rigid and flexible OLED technologies. For example, a hybrid OLED panel would use rigid glass as a foundation with a plastic layer of flexible thin-film OLED on top. Apple does not want to use flexible OLED panels alone because they tend to crumple. This occurs from the heat used by lasers to remove a glass substrate that starts out as part of a flexible OLED panel during its production.

Besides being less likely to crumple, Apple might also like that hybrid OLED panels are thinner than rigid panels and should also be cheaper to produce than flexible panels. Apple currently uses flexible OLED panels for the iPhone. The report notes that if the issues (including the propensity of these panels to crumple) can be resolved, Apple could choose to use flexible OLED panels for the iPad instead of hybrid panels.

The reason why Apple and other phone manufacturers can get away with using flexible OLED panels for their handsets without crumpling issues is because this flaw isn"t as noticeable on smaller screens like the ones used for smartphones. However, the crumpling is noticeable on larger displays like the ones used for the company"s iPad tablets. And that is one of the reasons why Apple would probably choose to use a hybrid OLED panel instead of a flexible one for future iPad models.

Mini-LED backlit screens deliver some of the same features that users receive from OLED displays. The mini-LED displays use smaller LEDs as a backlight. Because of their smaller size, as much as 120 times smaller than the ones employed on traditional LCD screens, these panels have a larger number of LEDs behind the scenes. As a result, instead of the 72 LEDs used on the previous 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, there are 10,000 mini-LEDs used on the current model. They are arranged in four "dimming zones," each with 2,500 mini-LEDs, to provide the super 1,000,000:1 contrast that these screens can offer.

As we just noted, the mini-LED displays offer a high contrast ratio and they are less likely to suffer burn-ins which lead to a permanent image seen on a screen. They also deliver deeper blacks and more true-to-life colors. Last year an Apple executive explained that the mini-LED panel might make the 11-inch iPad Pro too heavy which is why the technology was only used on the larger 12.9-inch variant.

Keep in mind that mini-LED panels are considered the next step in LCD display technology. So even if Apple were to use it for all of its iPad models, the company would probably continue working toward the ultimate goal of offering OLED-screened iPad models. Due to cost though, we"d expect Apple to offer such a feature first on the pricier 12.9-inch iPad Pro just like it is doing with mini-LED.

Faced with using the Apple iPad Air 5 or the iPad Pro, I choose the iPad Pro every time. The reason is not that the iPad Air 5 is a bad product, far from it. It’s that the iPad Pro has the one major feature missing from it — Apple’s ProMotion 120Hz screen. I’ve been using both the iPad Air and an iPad Pro (2020) for a few weeks now, and the smoother, flicker-free screen on the iPad Pro keeps me coming back to it.

Before we get into why it makes the iPad Pro superior, let’s talk about what the ProMotion 120Hz feature is. It’s Apple’s name for an adaptive screen refresh rate, and the feature is found on some iPad tablets, the iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It dynamically adjusts the screen refresh rate up to 120Hz and down as low as 24Hz on an iPad and 10Hz on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, resulting in less flicker and smoother animations and scrolling when using the device, along with some power efficiency benefits too.

It’s not especially new technology. Adaptive screen refresh rates have been extensively used as a feature on smartphones from other manufacturers for a while, and if you’re using a high mid-range or flagship phone from the last few years there’s a good chance you’re staring at a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate screen al