Apple iPad Pro 12.9

The 2018 edition of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro comes in a significantly reduced form factor when compared to its predecessor. To implement such thin bezels, Apple has removed the fingerprint scanner-embedded home button. Unlocking the device will now have to rely on Apple’s Face Unlock mechanism. The device itself is only 5.9mm thick with its sides measuring up to 214.9mm and 180.6mm respectively. The device weighs in at 633 grams for its Wi-Fi + Cellular models, and 631 grams for its Wi-Fi only models. A total of four speakers are found on the new iPad Pro, two at the top and two at the bottom. These are noticeably louder and clearer than the ones found on last year’s iPad Pro models. The power button is at the top right corner with the volume rockers placed on the adjacent edge. Just below the volume buttons is a magnetic connector. Underneath is a nano-SIM tray. A USB Type-C port is provided at the bottom for charging. The Apple Smart Connector just above the charging port. As we had previously predicted, Apple has excluded the 3.5mm headphone jack from the new iPad.

To further expand the usability of the iPad Pro 12.9 (2018), Apple is providing two new accessories. The first is the Apple Pencil 2 that has been improved upon to fix quite a lot of issues found on its predecessor. The Apple Pencil 2 attaches to the iPad Pro magnetically and will automatically be paired. Instead of charging using a Lightning connector, the stylus now charges wirelessly when it is docked to the iPad Pro. Furthermore, the stylus now has flat edges so that it doesn’t roll off the table.  The functionalities of Apple Pencil 2 are said to have been improved upon with features such as pressure sensitivity and angle detection. New gesture controls are found on the stylus where something like a double tap will switch from pencil to eraser in the Notes app. These controls are customizable to let you create your own shortcuts for various tasks. Considering this Apple Pencil 2 is only compatible with 2018 versions of iPad, Apple will continue to sell the older Apple Pencil. The second accessory is the new Apple Smart Keyboard Folio which also doubles as a stand/protective case. It connects to the tablet via the Smart Connector which is placed just behind the USB Type-C port. Both these accessories are sold separately.