Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

10.5-Inch iPad Pro Reviews: Impressive Screen and Hardware Update That Will Improve With iOS 11

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,836
39,777


One week after Apple introduced the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro at the WWDC keynote in San Jose, California, reviews for the device have begun circulating online. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro has replaced the 9.7-inch device, offering a larger display with 40 percent smaller bezels, ProMotion display technology with refresh rates of up to 120Hz, a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, and more.

In its review, TechCrunch points out that the overall impressiveness of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is largely dependent upon the device running iOS 11 -- which includes an array of iPad-specific updates. Of course, the new software won't launch until the fall, well after the 10.5-inch iPad Pro arrives to first adopters this week, but TechCrunch called it an "amazing" iPad when it does run iOS 11, saying that, "It pays off years of setup in ways that come home when you see how well iOS 11 works."

engadget-ipad-pro-review.jpg
Image via Engadget​


Even without iOS 11 the site did enjoy the new screen size, noting that it hit the sweet spot in terms of tablet form factor, and going so far as to say that Apple may decide to drop the 12.9-inch iPad Pro at some point: "I'd expect to see all iPads at 10.5 inches at some point. It's just the right size." TechCrunch ultimately concluded that, with the debut of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, "the iPad is a full-fledged computer."
Science fiction movies and books have for decades displayed tablets as the future of mid-range computing. And it makes sense. In a world of artificial intelligence, greater mobility and voice-first systems, a keyboard feels stupid and archaic.

With the iPad Pro, especially when it’s armed with iOS 11, it’s beginning to feel possible to see Apple in this world. The combination of custom silicon, a still robust and specifically attuned software ecosystem and a focus on security, Apple has everything it needs to make a strong showing here.

Whether it leads to future growth of the category I don’t yet know – but this particular recipe is coming to maturity. The iPad is a full-fledged computer, and you can argue against it but you’re going to increasingly sound like an idiot.
Click to expand...
One of Ars Technica's favorite additions to the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is the device's screen and its refresh rate, which has been bumped up from 60Hz to 120Hz. Apple calls the technology behind the refresh rate bump "ProMotion," and it allows for overall smoother animations and motions on the iPad's display, creating a better user experience and reducing input lag. When the iPad doesn't need a full 120Hz refresh rate, it can dip to as low as 24Hz, "and pretty much anywhere in between," in order to save battery life.
As for how it is to use a 120Hz display, I can say that it’s undeniably slick and it makes animations and transitions look great; it’s also easier to read text and scroll simultaneously, since the “ghosting” effect you get at 60Hz is much-reduced. None of the display improvements that Apple has made post-Retina—an ever-longer list that now includes the DCI-P3 color gamut, True Tone, and ProMotion—have had quite as big an impact as those sharper screens did, but the 120Hz refresh rate comes close. The sooner this trickles outward to the iPhone and Apple’s various Macs, the better.
Click to expand...
Ars Technica called the new display, "The best screen Apple ships," and hopes for Apple to soon introduce the technology into iPhone and Mac sometime in the future. The site also dove deep into performance tests of the new iPad Pro, noting that single-core performance was up 25 percent with the A10X chip, while multi-core performance improved by nearly 80 percent, "If you’re using an app that can hit all three of the high-performance CPU cores at once."

The Verge got between 8 and 9 hours of battery life on the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, describing the tablet as a "stupendous device" that most people should probably not buy at launch. The site explained the expensive price point an iPad Pro becomes to turn it into a main computing device, including extra-cost accessories like Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard, and upping storage, while also continuing the theme of many reviews posted today about the new iPad: it's launching too early.

Now that we know that the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is an impressive device and that we further know that iOS 11 is going to radically change how you use it, let’s get back to that value equation I mentioned earlier. Basically, should you buy it? The iPad Pro 10.5 presents a conundrum: it is a stupendous device that I firmly believe most people shouldn’t buy just yet.

If you’re going to spend that much money on an iPad, you should know exactly what you’re going to do with it that takes advantage of all the Pro features. There are people who are already doing that, but I don’t think the majority of computer users can be comfortable using an iPad as their main device. For those who can, go out and buy the hell out of this thing (unless you already have the iPad Pro 9.7).

For the rest of us, my advice is to hold out and see whether iOS 11 changes the calculus.
Click to expand...
There are a wealth of other opinions about the 10.5-inch iPad Pro to read today, including reviews posted from the following sites: Engadget, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Business Insider, MacStories, CNET, and The Loop. For other WWDC-related review roundups, check out the first impressions of the new MacBook and iMacs, as well as opinions on HomeP... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: 10.5-Inch iPad Pro Reviews: Impressive Screen and Hardware Update That Will Improve With iOS 11
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/12/10-5-inch-ipad-pro-reviews/
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Avieshek and Michaelgtrusa
Wow, TechCrunch sounds like they are on some mighty high horse where they are lucky that THEIR personal workflows and applications are covered by iOS.

To flat-out say it's full-fledged without further specifying for which purposes is ridiculous, but I'll not step down to their level and call them idiots just because I disagree, however I do question their level of oversight what kinds of people buy computers and for which purposes.

What a joke.

Glassed Silver:mac

Edit: typos
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Cameroncafe10a, CarpalMac, gamrin and 18 others
Prices are ridiculous!!.After adding all extra-cost accessories it will cost as much as a New MacBook.

iPad 512 GB-$949
Apple Pencil-$99
Smart Keyboard-$159
Cover-$49
Total= $1256

Starting at $329 Suddenly! The New 9.7 iPad Feels more value for money.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Cameroncafe10a, gamrin, stevekr and 12 others
Having gone through several iPads (3rd, mini2, and now iPad Pro 9.7") I can honestly say it's still my preferred content consuming device, not for production and workflows. However, I just ordered a Pencil (no changes were announced for it in WWDC, I think?) so we'll wait and see if that helps a bit. I think if you're upgrading from the Air 1 or less, then great. If it's your first iPad, then the 2017 'SE' or 9.7' are definitely better for your wallet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FightTheFuture and clunkmess
Seems like Apple is really pushing for iPad to become a desktop replacement.

I wounder if the fact they want to sell you a new iPad every year has something to do with it.

After all, traditional desktops and laptops are usually replaced by a consumers after several years of use. iPhones and iPads are replaced a lot more frequently.

I know for me personally I upgrade my iPhone ever year. I have an iPad but never use it so I never bothered to buy a newer model.

It would be nice to see Apple and others to stop saying iPad is a great desktop replacement and just leave it as it own category. For example, the magic pencil is unique to iPad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Avieshek
This is just a glorified consumption device. Apple likes to add Pro to every thing out there. iPad Pro, ProMotion, MacPro, Final Cut Pro. In fact, their CEO should rename himself to Tim Cook Pro.

But if one still wants to buy it, this 10.5" model seems the right one to replace Air 1 and Air 2. Longevity model.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cameroncafe10a, Delgibbons, borntrouble and 17 others
usersince86 said:
If it's being called -- and marketed -- as a computer, then why is it OK to have a touch screen when a laptop (or iMac, for that matter) isn't?

Not trying to agitate anyone, just truly wondering.

(Yes, I know one it's a tablet... but so is a SurfacePro)
Click to expand...

That's a very strange question. Nobody says it's not OK to have a laptop with a touch screen. But the problem is, as with Windows laptops with touch, almost all apps are not optimised for multi-touch. This makes using such computers as multi-touch devices frustrating and a poor experience.

Apple's strategy and message is more clear, and makes more sense: If you wan a traditional PC-type computer, get a Mac. if you want a super portable, touch-enabled device with amazing battery, where you can also hook up a keyboard and a pencil, get an iPad Pro.

It's not that one couldn't in theory have a laptop with a touchscreen, it's just that these haven't been very good as touch-enabled tablets.
 
  • Like
Reactions: happyslayer, Faitt and Lancetx
I'm just waiting for a 3D touch version to upgrade my Air 2. It feels so disjointed trying to switch to the iPad from iPhone when I instinctively try to use 3D touch quick actions on the icons, and within apps and nothing happens.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 341328
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back