Whilst I didn’t spend a lot of time with the last model, I know that does not a great deal is different with regards to form-factor. The iPad Pro (2023) continues to have an attractive 12.9″ Liquid Retina XDR display (around the model I’m using) that's powered by over 10,000 Mini-LEDs and is able to 120Hz refresh rates and 1,000 nits of brightness (1,600 peak). It goes without saying that this continues to be among the best screens that you’ll find on any device. Any content or photos looks absolutely gorgeous and it’s just a genuine joy to use. You have to four speakers on the device, where even if you’re not using AirPods or other headphones, you’re still going to possess a fantastic listening experience.
Not much has changed with the cameras either, using the 2023 model using a 12MP front facing TrueDepth camera you can use for Centre Stage with FaceTime, and it is used for FaceID unlocking. Around the back, there’s a 12MP wide camera along with a 10MP ultra wide camera on the back. Something that is totally new towards the 2023 model is ProRes video capture, and the power supplied by the M2 chip is sufficient to edit it as well.
Speaking of this M2 chip, it’s crazy to consider the chip that's within this device is technically stronger than it's in my 14″ MacBook Pro. I’m not the largest user of labour-intensive programs of DaVinci Resolve or Ocane X, but everything from exporting photos or videos to zipping around apps was just incredibly smooth. Obviously, if you’re not by using this device for labour-intensive tasks, then it might be a little bit overkill, but it’s to not be impressed by what else can there be.
THE MAGIC KEYBOARD + APPLE PENCIL (2ND GEN)
The iPad Pro (2023) continues to be suitable for the same 2nd Gen Apple Pencil, but it’s an even better experience now. Thanks to that M2 Chip, the iPad Pro are now able to detect when the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) is 12mm (or less) from the screen. This allows you to see wherever your stroke or cursor will tap on prior to you making the connection using the screen.
For instance, in drawing apps, you’ll have the ability to see wherever you’ll help make your mark. When just zipping round the regular Apple UI, your app icons will wiggle while you move around the screen. It’s not something most people will need to run out to upgrade for, but it does make that Apple Pencil experience better still.
This was also my first knowledge about the special moment Keyboard, and despite it’s hefty cost, it really takes the iPad Pro from being only a powerful table to a 2-in-1 computing experience. The way that it seamlessly connects to your iPad Pro magnetically and pops the screen up to and including viewable level, just causes it to be a joy to make use of the iPad more productively. The truth that it’s charged by the iPad Pro is obviously still genius as well.
The keyboard is excellent to type on, and also the trackpad, whilst on the smaller side, is a great experience and reflected really well on-screen after some cursor. I always dreamed of having a MacBook with a touchscreen, but I seem like this mostly delivers about this dream, and genuinely does supply the best of both worlds. The one thing worth mentioning is that obviously, unlike a laptop, because all the internals are in the iPad, it will result in the experience top-heavy, meaning it’s a great deal harder to use in bed or on your lap.
All-in-all, though, the Magic Keyboard is a really fantastic accessory and of such a high-quality. Apple really considered everything, even allowing you to charge your iPad (and keyboard) through a secondary USB-C port that is in the actual keyboard itself.
IPADOS 16
The iPad has always been a phenomenal experience because the first iteration, but it’s no secret that it’s really been held back on the software side, but that’s finally been turning in the last few years, and iPadOS 16 really pushes this forward even more.
There’s many of the same improvements that are featured both in iOS16 and MacOS Ventura, for example a better photo experience, improvements to iMessage such as un-sending and editing messages and also improvements to Mail for example undoing a send and scheduling emails, however the real hero is Stage Manager.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Stage Manager in MacOS Ventura as I believe that the Mac multitasking experience is fine, but on iPad, having a screen this big, I actually feel like it does boost the experience. basically, Stage Manager allows you to have multiple workspaces on the go at once, that are reflected around the left side of the screen, after that, you can have multiple apps in each stage and simply re-size them as well as overlap them, which to my knowledge may be the first time you’ve been able to do this on iPad.
You can even connect your iPad Pro to an external display to permit much more stages that may display independently on your external monitor, which adds even more towards the productivity piece, and that M2 chip really enables you to do all of this without a huge fuss. I wouldn’t state that Stage Manager is a perfect experience, and i believe we’ll see changes and enhancements over the coming years, but I do think such as the multi-tasking, computing experience is actually getting better on iPad.
GAMING ON IPAD PRO
Obviously, thanks to that gorgeous display and great speakers that I touched on earlier, gaming around the iPad Pro is an excellent experience, particularly when paired with a controller (which may be any of the PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo variety).
Playing games using the touch screen can be a little bit awkward given the size of the screen, but it’s not a heavy tool and obviously you’ll feel extremely immersed given how large and vibrant the screen is.
Surprisingly, Stage Manager also works together with most games, so that you can quickly flick to another app to reply to an email or a message, then flip straight back with no issue.
As I’ve discussed so many times before Apple Arcade is well worth the cost of omission with a wealth of fantastic indie games or even more well-known franchises such as the NBA 2K franchise or even the several household names such as Sonic or Pac-Man in Apple Arcade exclusive adventures.
All-in-all, picking an iPad has not been a harder decision, because they all sense like they’ve been moved into the following generation of iPad, in which many of these products are ideal for productivity and leisure. What I can say for sure though is when you’re someone who does lots of 3D modelling, or dealing with ProRes video, then your iPad Pro (2023) is going to be a lot more than capable.
