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The Apple iPad Pro is arguably one of the best ultraportables on the market, bridging the gap between tablet and laptop offering all the small, lightweight long battery life benefits a tablet has, while having the performance and productivity features of a laptop.
Apple are taking this further with the latest 2020 edition of the iPad Pro, and even though I am not an Apple user at all, I kinda want one, though technically, the best upgrade (for me) is OS based.
The 4th Generation iPad Pro introduces multiple improvements over the past generation with highlights including:
- Trackpad support and a new Magic Keyboard giving you a true ultraportable form factor.
- Improved camera with a depth sensor (LiDAR)
- New A12Z Bionic chipset
- Wi-Fi 6 2×2 MIMO
Trackpad
It is the trackpad support I am most excited about, allowing you to transform your tablet into something akin to a Microsoft Surface Pro.
The unit features backlit keys with a scissor mechanism and a 1 mm travel distance. The keyboard attaches to the tablet magnetically and can be adjusted to a comfortable viewing angle when typing. The device even has charging capabilities with USB-C port to enable a passthrough charging, which allows connecting an external display or a storage device to tablet’s USB-C interface. In addition to the latest iPad Pros, the new Magic Keyboards for 11-inch and 12.9-inch tablets are fully compatible with previous-generation iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9 devices.
New A12Z Chipset
Even though the iPhone 11 uses a new Bionic A13 chipset the new iPad is a generation behind, with the Apple A12Z SoC, this is different to the Apple A12X. Still, they have the same basic specification of:
- 4x Apple Vortex
- 4x Apple Tempest
- 8-cluster GPU
There is no specific information on how the two chipsets differ, but the A12Z has tuned performance controllers, and an enhanced thermal architecture, which might mean higher clocks for eight general-purpose CPU cores.
Camera
The new tablet adopts a similar-looking square camera housing from the iPhone 11. This includes a new 12 MP wide camera module, a 10 MP ultrawide camera module, a LED flash, and a 3D depth sensor that can measure the distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away both indoors and outdoors.
Apple claim this is a LiDAR Scanner, which if true, would be an industry first. It could also just be a normal ToF sensor like we see on many phones.
Display
Display options remain identical. You have an 11-inch display or 12.9-inch.
If you opt for the smaller display, you will get a resolution of 2388 x 1668. The larger model has 2732 x 2048, and both offer 264 pixels per inch as well as the super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Connectivity
Apple switched to a USB-C connector with the last iPad Pro, and this remains, it will be interesting to see if this gets adopted by the iPhone in the future.
What has changed is the upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 with a 2×2 MIMO which is apparently only capable of 1.2 Gbps, but depending on the channel width is should be able to do 2.4 Gbps.
There will also be a 4G/LTE modem option that now supports up to 30 bands.
Pricing
In the UK the 11-inch model starts at £769 while the 12.9-inch model is £969 both with 128GB base storage.
If you want to max everything out with the 12.9-inch model with 1TB storage and LTE then you will be forking out £1619
Unfortunately, that is just part of the cost, if you want that fancy trackpad keyboard you are on the hook for £299 or £349 depending on the size of the iPad.
Apple no longer lists the older model available to buy.
Pre-orders began March 18, with first delivery on March 24
Apple iPad Pro 2020 vs iPad Pro 2018 Comparison Table
| iPad Pro 2020 | iPad Pro 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A12Z 4x Apple Vortex 4x Apple Tempest 8-cluster GPU | Apple A12X 4x Apple Vortex 4x Apple Tempest 8-cluster A12 GPU |
| Display | 11 or 12.9-inch 2388x1668 or 2732x2048 IPS LCD DCI-P3, 120Hz | 11 or 12.9-inch 2388x1668 or 2732x2048 IPS LCD DCI-P3, 120Hz |
| RAM | Unknown | Unknown |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 64 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Battery | Unknown | 29.37 Wh /36.71 Wh |
| Front Camera | 7MP, f/2.2, Auto HDR, Wide Color Gamut, Retina Flash | 7MP, f/2.2, Smart HDR, Wide Color Gamut, Retina Flash |
| Rear Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, PDAF, wide-angle 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, ultra-wide-angle 125° FOV Depth sensor (LiDAR) Smart HDR Wide Color Gamut True Tone Quad-LED flash | 12MP, f/1.8, PDAF, Smart HDR Wide Color Gamut True Tone Quad-LED flash |
| Cellular | 2G / 3G / 4G LTE (30 bands) | 2G / 3G / 4G LTE (29 bands) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS | Wi-Fi 5 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS |
| Connectivity | USB-C Apple Smart Connector | USB-C Apple Smart Connector |
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
