MacRumors Hands-On Photos of Apple's New iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini

[MacRumors]

Following today's Apple event at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, where the company unveiled new iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models, MacRumors received some hands-on time with the products at a nearby location.

For more first impressions, check out our roundups of hands-on articles about the new iPad Pro and Macs from other publications.

iPad Pro

As the iPhone X was to the iPhone, the new iPad Pro represents the most significant redesign of the iPad in its eight-year history, complete with a nearly edge-to-edge display that eschews the home button. That also means no Touch ID, replaced by Face ID, but the TrueDepth sensors fit in the top bezel without a notch.

The new iPad Pro looks and feels incredibly sleek. The bezels have been dramatically reduced in size compared to the previous generation, although they aren't as slim as those on the iPhone X and newer. As good as Apple's palm rejection technology is, the extra space helps prevent unintended tapping and swiping.

I'm not a display expert, but the Liquid Retina display on the new iPad Pro looks crisp with vivid colors. Apple said it is using the same anti-aliasing and other technologies as the iPhone XR to stretch the LCD nearly edge to edge, which is a truly impressive engineering feat. This is the best display on an iPad yet.

The new iPad Pro feels more like a true slate, with sharper, flatter edges complemented by more traditional rounded corners. And at just 5.9mm, the tablet is remarkably thin, with the 11-inch model weighing just over a pound. Both it and the new 12.9-inch model feel about the same weight as their 2017 equivalents though.

Apple has replaced the Lightning connector with a USB-C port to provide creative professionals with a more versatile connectivity solution for pairing accessories and peripherals, such as a 5K external monitor. The USB-C port also has power-out, meaning the new iPad Pro can charge an iPhone and other devices.

On the right edge of the new iPad Pro is a new Magnetic connector. A redesigned Apple Pencil attaches magnetically and begins wirelessly charging instantly. I shook the iPad Pro slightly and the Pencil maintained a strong hold.

Magnetic connector on new iPad Pro​

The new Apple Pencil supports a double-tap gesture that can be customized to switch between drawing tools or to show the color palette.

Apple generally doesn't allow benchmarks to be run during its hands-on sessions, so we'll have to wait for that, but the new A12X Bionic chip with an eight-core CPU and seven-core Apple-designed GPU is said to provide up to 90 percent faster multi-core performance with up to twice as fast graphics.

The new iPad Pro packs smaller speakers, yet they are louder and produce stereo sound. Apple's hands-on room was not a good environment to test the speakers, so we'll have to wait until we get the tablet in our hands.

The new iPad Pro starts at $799 in the United States with 64GB of storage. It's available to order starting today ahead of its November 7 release date.

MacBook Air and Mac mini ahead...


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Article Link: MacRumors Hands-On Photos of Apple's New iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini

 

[rishic89]

I want!

 

[eddjedi]

It's interesting that the new iPad Pro looks like the iPhone 5/SE. It was a great design!

 

[elhungarian]

Sure wish the air had a quadcore. Now I may as well get a refurb TB MBP for a hair more.

 

[hobocamp456]

So are they linking the Mac mini's together to improve performance or why are they stacked?

 

[Krazy_Peanut]

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t reaaaaaly edge to edge?

 

[826317]

Some beautiful photos MR. Keep it up.
[doublepost=1540936087][/doublepost]

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t reaaaaaly edge to edge?

I've got a feeling that real edge-to-edge would mean that you'd always lose screen real estate due to covering it with your fingers when holding it.

 

[rgarjr]

So they went back to the flat edge like on the iPad 1st gen

 

[mrzz]

A person who describes this as "nearly edge-to-edge display" should buy glasses. The bezels are still quite significant

 

[Rogifan]

Kind of odd that they’d showcase the LTE versions of the iPad since they have the antenna lines that aren’t the prettiest. I’m curious how Face ID works when the iPad is laying flat not propped up by a case. I’m assuming the change in chassis design is to support the magnetic charging/holding for the Pencil.

 

[cloudyo]

the only thing that bothers me about the iPad is the camera bump. was that really necessary? I mean, who even takes photos with an iPad?

 

[Peace]

I wanna know where the "nearby location" is.

 

[goobot]

the only thing that bothers me about the iPad is the camera bump. was that really necessary? I mean, who even takes photos with an iPad?

It has had one for a while and they are pushing it for ar use too.
[doublepost=1540936492][/doublepost]I think these iPads look great but for the current price I might wait a little bit to see if any sales come up.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Apple2GS]

Does the new iPad have a camera bump wobble?

 

[Matt Leaf]

What an amazing line-up they currently have. Things were a little out of place for a while there. Damn I just wanna buy everything they make haha. My 11inch MBA is getting on the old side (6 years), oddly still runs very well - it's just the battery life that sucks. Tough call between an iPad and Macbook Air now though - I guess you'd go iPad Pro for the ultimate in portability.

But honestly congrats to Apple, it must be hard work reigning in this kind've consistency.

Next up, iMacs, Macbook and Mac Pro.

Oh, and pretty please for a small XR next year.

<3

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Most of these photos don't have any hands on.

 

[ph001bi]

the only thing that bothers me about the iPad is the camera bump. was that really necessary? I mean, who even takes photos with an iPad?

Tons of Japanese tourists.

 

[td2243]

I'm wondering how much of an upgrade the 6-core Mac Mini with 64gb RAM would be against my late 2013 quad iMac with 32gb.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

12.9" Pro with 6GB! Can't wait. Looks gorgeous.

 

[Pearple]

I will never understand why they make it thinner and have this camera protruding?

Make it thicker so it is one flat surface, fill it up with the battery and enjoy!

Oh, it doesn’t need to be when you have a case?

If you use it with the case, then it is thicker again! What nonsense... Instead of carrying stupid volume (in form of a case) around, I would prefer to carry smart volume (like battery or processor power) around...

Oh, you not want it to be scratched? Then place it in a safe and never use it!
[doublepost=1540937844][/doublepost]

It's interesting that the new iPad Pro looks like the iPhone 5/SE. It was a great design!

And it will be a great design for a new elite 4 inch phone!

 

[code-m]

Some beautiful photos MR. Keep it up.
[doublepost=1540936087][/doublepost]
I've got a feeling that real edge-to-edge would mean that you'd always lose screen real estate due to covering it with your fingers when holding it.

Nah, edge unintended input rejection software was released when the original iPad Mini was introduced and it works rather well.

If the bezels were as thick as the notch on the XR, however all around on the new iPad Pro where the physical dimensions could decrease further that would be something. Plus the screen curved corners do not seem to flow/wrap as nicely as the iPhone XS/R, shame.

 

[limo79]

Typical for Tim Cook era lack of consequence:
- iPhone XR, XS and XS Max with oval design and no USB C port
- iPad Pro: return to famous edge design from iPhone 4/4S/5S and USB C port

One big mess!!! New iPhones should have USB C port also especially that EU force one power adapter cable standard.

 

[DrumApple]

Love the Air update, but I will not buy another Mac laptop that has the newer butterfly keyboard. Have had nonstop issues with it, and I don't enjoy the feel of typing on it.

 

[nutmac]

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t reaaaaaly edge to edge?

The bezel seems to be roughly the size of Face ID sensors, so I think Apple made the right call.