iPad Pro 2020 review: ahead of any Android or Windows competitor – its new software could change how you use a tablet forever

Apple’s iPhones famously follow a “tick-tock” release cycle, meaning major hardware design changes appear with every other model, with the “S” models being mostly iterative updates that focus more on refinements. It would appear the iPad Pro line is following the same mantra. Following the groundbreaking and still industry leading iPad Pro 2018, the 2020 update is relatively unassuming, with a new camera module being the only noticeable change. So much for the hardware. On the software front, Apple has introduced major additions that change how an iPad is used on a fundamental level – but don’t worry, this change is entirely optional. Design and hardware The camera system has been improved, with the addition of an ultra wide-angle camera (like the ones we’ve been seeing on phones) and a Lidar scanner (a depth-scanning system like a radar, except it uses laser instead of sound). These two accompany the same 12-megapixel camera seen in the 2018 model. There’s a new processor, the A12Z, which is a marginally superior chip to the 2018’s A12X; and RAM has been bumped up to 6GB from 4GB in years past. That’s it. Everything else, from the screen to weight and dimensions, is identical to the 2018 model. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The 2018 iPad Pro is still phenomenally powerful – I edit 4K/60FPS videos on it regularly and I’ve never experienced a hiccup – and the 120Hz OLED screen is still better than the displays on every other tablet or laptop on the market. The iPad Pro 2020 comes in the same two sizes: 11-inch and 12.9-inch. This review is of the latter. As a stand-alone tablet, the iPad Pro is far ahead of any Android or Windows competitor. But really, the iPad Pro line exists not to be used for just that. The Pro is meant to replace the computer, and to do that, you need to pair it with a keyboard. Software and features Apple has introduced advanced mouse and trackpad support to the latest version of iPadOS, the 13.4., via Bluetooth. Once paired, a mouse cursor appears on the iPad screen, following our hand movements. The cursor is not an arrow, but a semi-transparent circle that changes shape depending on what it’s doing. Hover it over a button and the cursor may wrap around and highlight the button; bring it over to a word document and it becomes a vertical line. And when not in use, the cursor disappears. If the paired trackpad is one of Apple’s – I’m reviewing this model with the company’s Magic Trackpad 2 – then users can pull off multifinger gestures that MacBook users are likely familiar with, such as swiping horizontally with three fingers to switch between apps. All of this is optional, of course, the iPad’s touch-screen-centric UI is still as intuitive as ever. But there are certain productivity tasks, such as editing spreadsheets and editing long word documents, that benefit significantly from having a mouse cursor. Performance and battery life I’ve been using the iPad Pro mostly as a work machine over the past week, pumping out articles and editing videos via LumaFusion, and the machine has not skipped a beat. The iPad Pro never heated up or made a sound as I exported a 12-minute 4K/30FPS video in under 13 minutes. This is more power than most laptops. But then again, I can say the same thing about the 2018 model. The new Lidar camera brings more accurate augmented reality capabilities. Using Apple’s “Measure” app, I was able to scan my flat and get accurate dimensions of my refrigerator, or the distance from wall to wall. Augmented reality games perform better, especially on uneven surfaces. It’s worth mentioning that this machine got upgraded microphones that are about as good as any built-in mic can get. I usually use an external mic to record voice-overs, but made a test video without it, using just the iPad’s internal mics, and the sound came out full and warm. Battery life is excellent – if you’re surfing the web and writing word documents, the iPad Pro can go close to 10 hours. If watching movies, it can last around six to seven. Editing 4K videos will push it down to about four to five hours. Charging is done via USB-C, although the cable Apple includes is frustratingly short. Conclusion Apple has made improvements to the iPad every year – adding multitasking, adding a proper file system, now cursor support – to the point that I think the iPad Pro can be a computer replacement for all but the most demanding of professionals. The iPad Pro 2020 starts at US$799 for the 11-inch model and US$999 for the 12.9-inch model. But that’s for just the iPad, and a measly 128GB of storage. Most people will need to buy at least the 256GB model, and pair it with Apple’s keyboard case. This bumps the real price closer to around the US$1,300 and US$1,500 mark for most people. For those considering an iPad for the first time or jumping from a 2017 or older model, I think the price is reasonable considering the versatility and capabilities of the machine – this is far more capable for work and play than a laptop. But those with the 2018 iPad Pro already should probably hold off, as overall performance are very similar. Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm (11-inch); 280.6mm x 214.mm x 5.9mm (12.9-inch) Weight: 468 grams (11-inch); 631 grams (12.9-inch) Display: 11-inch, 1668 X 2388 LCD; 12.9-inch, 2048 x 2732 LCD Battery: undisclosed OS version reviewed: iOS 13.4 Processor: Apple A12Z Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel main camera; 10-megapixel wide-angle camera; LIDAR sensor; 7-megapixel front facing camera Memory:128/256/512GB/1TB; 6GB RAM Colours: grey, silver

iPad Pro 2020 review: ahead of any Android or Windows competitor – its new software could change how you use a tablet forever

The latest iPad Pro has almost the same hardware as the 2018 model, but the software has major updates Advanced mouse and trackpad support, and an on-screen cursor bring the tablet even closer to a laptop

The latest iPad Pro has almost the same hardware as the 2018 model, but the software has major updates

Advanced mouse and trackpad support, and an on-screen cursor bring the tablet even closer to a laptop