Earlier today, Apple announced two new devices (no mystery here as tons of leaks had already surfaced prior to this launch), a new software framework, and an update to an existing framework at its ‘Let us loop you in’ event. The highlights as usual were on the devices and this time around, Apple has decided to add another tablet to its Pro lineup.
The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro
Apple’s latest comes with the goodness of the Pro line but in size that’s more convenient than its older sibling, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The 9.7” model offers a new Retina display, a new Night Shift mode, and a new True Tone display technology. Performance has also been bumped up with the same A9X chip and M9 coprocessor, adapted from the older iPad Pro.
True Tone on the new iPad Pro is a technology that uses four-channel sensors to dynamically adjust the white balance of the display to match its surrounding. This is to emulate the natural viewing experience of a piece of white paper in different lighting conditions; in other words, it will be similar to how a piece of paper reflects light off it when viewed in different conditions, as opposed to how electronic displays generate their own back-light that adjusts only the brightness but not the tone. The display will change to a warmer tone when in brightly lit spaces and cooler under fluorescent lights. Apple has also made the display 25% brighter and 40% less reflective than iPad Air 2, while allowing it to display a wide colour gamut and greater colour saturation, similar to that of the iMac with Retina 5K display. Armed with a custom variable refresh technology (timing controller), photo alignment, and oxide TFT (similar to the 12.9” model), the display is said to deliver exceptional colours, contrast, and clarity. Another new addition is the Night Shift mode (courtesy of the updated iOS 9.3) that uses the tablet’s clock and geolocation to automatically adjust the colours on the display to a warmer tone. This happens after the sun is out and is said to help users eliminate disruptions in their sleep patterns; users have been discovered to be affected by the brightness of their device’s displays when they view it before going off to sleep.
The new iPad Pro has the same thickness as the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 (at 6.1 mm), and weighs the same as iPad Air 2. Even then, this latest tablet has a much more powerful third-generation A9X chip and a newer M9 coprocessor. Its 64-bit architecture boasts performance that may rival many laptops and gaming consoles, but also delivers an all-day battery life. Wireless and Bluetooth performance however are the same as before, with 802.11ac Wi-Fi with support for dual band and MIMO. What stands out on this device though is its LTE Advanced connection (on the cellular models), which is not found even on the larger iPad Pro. This 9.7” tablet also comes, for the first time, embedded Apple SIM technology that will allow the device to be connected to wireless data plans without the need to swap SIMs when travelling in more than 100 supported territories and countries. Do note though that the embedded Apple SIM may be disabled by some carriers, if the tablets were purchased from them, and is definitely not available in China.
Cameras get an upgrade too and the tablet has the best camera to date, compared to all of Apple’s tablet range. There’s a new 12 MP iSight camera at the back (others in the tier have 8 MP) with an f/2.2 aperture (f/2.4 on others), and a 5 MP FaceTime camera at the front (others get 1.2 MP). There’s also the True Tone flash at the back, and the Retina Flash (using the display as the flash) on the front; both of which are not available in any of the other Apple tablets. The iSight camera also features Focus Pixels (phase detection autofocus), an Apple-designed image signal processor, advanced noise reduction, third-generation local tone mapping, and better face detection. Customers will be able to try out the new 63-megapixel panoramas, and Live Photos features with the tablet. On the video side, the iSight is capable of shooting in 4K, with options for slow-motion 1080p videos at 120 fps and 720p videos at 240 fps.
Moving on to the iPad Pro’s audio, the 9.7” model has the same four-speaker configuration as its other Pro brethren, with built-in sensors that will automatically adjust and optimise the output no matter which way the tablet is placed. The tablet will be able play videos with Dolby Digital Plus audio streams and will support multi-channel output using the Apple Lightning Digital AV adapter.
With the new iPad Pro, Apple has introduced new accessories too that will provide more customisations as well as to further enhance the usability of the device. The tablet’s new custom-designed Smart Keyboard draws power directly from the tablet, which removes the necessity for it to be charged or paired via Bluetooth, and it acts as a smart cover too. Additionally, the tablet supports the new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader and the current Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, for fast photo and video transfers, as well as the new Lightning to USB-C Cable and Apple’s 29W USB-C Power Adapter, for faster charging. Naturally, being a Pro device, the tablet supports Apple Pencil as well.
Pricing and availability
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in Silver, Space Grey, Gold, and for the first time, a Rose Gold metallic finish. Prices for the Wi-Fi variants in the US ranges from $ 599 (~RM 2,419) for 32 GB, $ 749 (~RM 3,025 ) for 128 GB, and $ 899 (~RM 3,631) for 256 GB. For the WiFi+Cellular variants, the prices start from US$ 729 (~RM 2,944) for 32 GB, which then goes up to US$ 879 (~RM 3,550) for 128 GB, and all the way up to US$ 1,029 (~RM 4,156) for 256 GB. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro also marks the first time that an iOS device with a 256 GB capacity has been made available by Apple. The new iPad Pro will be available for ordering online and in Apple’s retail stores this Thursday, March 24th.
The tablet will be generally available on March 31, and it will be made available through select carriers and Apple Authorized Resellers in Australia, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands, and the US.
In April, the availability will be further expanded to Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Macau (Wi-Fi models only), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand (Wi-Fi models only), Turkey, and UAE.
As usual, Malaysia does not seem to show up in any of those groups and so, it’s suffice to say that the wait could be much longer than April 2016.
Customers who purchase an iPad Pro from Apple will also receive a free Personal Setup (both in-store and online) to configure email as well as to guide them through new apps from the App Store, among others. Customers will be able to learn more about their new iPad Pro and iOS 9 by registering for the free workshops offered at every Apple Store, where available.
Taking a look now at the accessories, Apple Pencil remains the same at RM 469 ($ 99 in the US), while the Smart Keyboard (in charcoal gray), Polyurethane iPad Pro Smart Cover, and Silicone Cases go for US$ 149 (~RM 602), US$ 49 (~RM 198), and US$ 69 (~RM 279) respectively. The last two will come in a range of new colours.
Also to be made available in the US are the SD Card Camera Reader at $ 29 (~RM 117), Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter at $ 39 (~RM 158), Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter at $ 49 (~RM 198), 1-metre Lightning to USB-C Cable at $ 25 (~RM 101), and finally, the 2-metre Lightning to USB-C Cable at $ 35 (~RM 141).
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