Apple today introduced the all-new 9.7-inch iPad Pro — at just under one pound it features a new pro Retina display with greater brightness, wider color gamut, lower reflectivity, Night Shift™ mode and introduces new True Tone display technology to dynamically adjust white balance. The new iPad Pro delivers incredible performance with the 64-bit A9X chip that rivals most portable PCs, along with a four-speaker audio system that is twice as powerful, new 12-megapixel iSight camera for shooting Live Photos and 4K video, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, and faster wireless technologies. And iPad Pro includes support for the breakthrough Apple Pencil and a new Smart Keyboard cover designed to fit the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a statement. “The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users.”
Designers, illustrators and businesses have quickly adopted iPad Pro and it’s changing the way they work:
“People don’t realize how much hand drawing is needed to produce computer animation,” said John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, in a statement. “iPad Pro and Apple Pencil are the closest we’ve ever been able to get in the digital world to actually drawing on paper.”
“I’ve done everything including designing the latest cycling collection on iPad Pro,” said Alex Valdman, Head of Design for Rapha, in a statement. “It goes with me everywhere, and has not only replaced my laptop, but my paper notebook as well. For the Rapha design team, iPad Pro will become standard issue.”
“At Citi, iPad Pro is truly transforming how we work,” said Stephen Gates, U.S. Head of Design for Citi Global Consumer Banking, in a statement. “iPad Pro and Apple Pencil have played a huge part in the new Citi Design team’s work to create new innovative customer experiences. We use iPad Pro for sketching out new design concepts, presenting our work, answering our emails, working with our design files on Adobe Creative Cloud and participating in FaceTime meetings with our other design teams all over the world.”
Pro display
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro features advanced display technologies, including a True Tone display, which uses new four-channel sensors to dynamically adjust the white balance of the display to match the light around you for a more natural and accurate, paper-white viewing experience. The advanced Retina display is 25 percent brighter and 40 percent less reflective than iPad Air 2, making content even easier to see indoors and out. It uses the same wider color gamut as the iMac with Retina 5K display, delivering 25 percent greater color saturation1 for more vivid colors. A custom timing controller, photo alignment and oxide TFT deliver incredible color, contrast and clarity. Night Shift in iOS 9.3 uses iPad Pro’s clock and geolocation to automatically adjust the colors in the display to the warmer end of the spectrum after dark and may even help you get a better night’s sleep.
Pro performance
The new iPad Pro is just 6.1mm thin and weighs just under one pound, yet delivers groundbreaking performance, connectivity and versatility so you can tackle the most demanding tasks wherever you go. The powerful A9X chip with third-generation 64-bit architecture provides performance that rivals many laptops and console-class graphics, while also delivering all-day battery life. Ultrafast wireless connectivity keeps you connected wherever you go with 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO technology, support for even faster LTE Advanced with up to 50 percent faster cellular connectivity and the most LTE bands supported by any tablet. Now with Apple SIM embedded directly in the new iPad Pro, it’s even easier to connect to wireless data plans right from your device when traveling in more than 100 countries and territories.
iPad Pro has an advanced 12-megapixel iSight camera sensor featuring Focus Pixels for fast focusing, an Apple-designed image signal processor, advanced noise reduction, third-generation local tone mapping and better face detection, all resulting in sharp, detailed images, 63-megapixel panoramas and Live Photos. A True Tone flash improves low light shots and document scanning. The new iSight camera shoots 4K video, making the new iPad Pro the perfect device to shoot, edit and share pro-quality video. The improved 5-megapixel, front-facing FaceTime HD camera makes the new iPad Pro perfect for videoconferencing or connecting with loved ones.
Pro audio
The four-speaker audio system provides powerful, clear and rich stereo sound for more than twice the audio output.1 Built-in sensors automatically adjust and optimize the audio no matter which way you’re using it. iOS 9.3 also adds support for playing video encoded with Dolby Digital Plus audio streams with support for multichannel output using the Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter.
Pro accessories
Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, available for purchase separately, bring breakthrough levels of precision and utility to iPad Pro. Advanced sensors in Apple Pencil measure both pressure and tilt for a natural drawing, annotating and note-taking experience. A new Smart Keyboard is custom-designed for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, offering a thin yet durable keyboard that never needs to be charged or paired over Bluetooth and is easily foldable into a protective Smart Cover. The new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader and Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter make it easy to download photos and videos from a digital camera to iPad Pro, while a new Lightning to USB-C Cable and Apple’s 29W USB-C Power Adapter enable faster charging.
Pricing & Availability
– The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, space gray, gold and a new rose gold metallic finish, and starts at $599 (US) for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $729 (US) for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Both iPad Pro sizes are available in offerings of 32GB, 128GB and a new 256GB capacity, the highest of any iOS device. For more information, visit www.apple.com/ipad.
– The 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be available to order beginning Thursday, March 24, from Apple.com, and in Apple’s retail stores, through select carriers and Apple Authorized Resellers on Thursday, March 31, in Australia, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
– The 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be available in early April in Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Macau (Wi-Fi models only), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand (Wi-Fi models only), Turkey and UAE.
– Apple Pencil is available for $99 (US) and Smart Keyboard in charcoal gray for $149 (US). The Polyurethane iPad Pro Smart Cover and Silicone Cases for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro are available for $49 (US) and $69 (US), respectively, in a range of new vibrant colors.
– The Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is available for $29 (US), Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter for $39 (US), Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter for $49 (US), Lightning to USB-C Cable (1 m.) for $25 (US) and Lightning to USB-C Cable (2 m.) for $35 (US).
– Every customer who buys an iPad Pro from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online, to help them customize their iPad Pro by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more.
– Anyone who wants to learn more about the new iPad Pro or iOS 9 can register for the free workshops offered at every Apple Store.
Source: Apple Inc.
Cook Fails:
* No 3D Touch… ANYWHERE!
* SE starting at 16G, using old 5 and 5S parts?
* $100 price bump for what, “amibient light sensing”, lmfao?
My wife and I are upgrading our mini 2s to minis 3 & 4 respectively.
My Air 2 is remaining in the house, safe and sound… nothing to see here!
>$100 price bump for what, “amibient light sensing”, lmfao?
If you’re comparing it to the iPad Air 2, the upgrades are: Ambient light sensor that senses the color of the ambient light and adjusts the display accordingly, A9X processor, more RAM, 4 speakers instead of 1, screen now has Apple Pencil support, screen is now a 40% less reflective, camera now has the ability to shoot 4K video. Seems like a solid and worthwhile upgrade over the iPad Air 2 to me.
iPad 9.7 pro is (by my count) 7th generation of iPad, since the introduction (not counting the large iPad pro from last fall). Each had significant feature and performance improvements over the prior generation, but each started at $500. Until today. Is the performance and feature difference between the iPad Air 2 and this model that much greater than was between iPad Air and Air2, or between iPad 4th gen (the old retina with lightning connector) and Air? I’m not so sure.
“Is the performance and feature difference between the iPad Air 2 and this model that much greater than was between iPad Air and Air2 …?
Not trying to be insulting, but from where I sit, the addition of Pencil support ALONE is worth the price increase.
As you didn’t even mention the Pencil in your description, I can only surmise that this really is not going to be a device for you.
I have been waiting for this device with bated breath since they announced the larger Pro device, and can hardly wait to get mine.
You probably shouldn’t get one.
I totally understand the significance of the pencil support for people who need it. I’m asking from the technological aspect; the dramatic changes between versions of before, in terms of technology (stuff like retina display, touch ID, massive reduction in weight, etc) don’t seem to be much lesser than the change from Air 2 to this. Other changes incurred no price change, and this is the first time we’re seeing a price increase. I’m just surprised.
I wouldn’t be surprised if, by September, the retail price settles down to the original $500.
Well, going by the previous iPad Pro since it has the same A9X chip as the new 9.7. The following was said back then. “Apple states the newest A9X chipset is 1.8 times faster than the iPad Air 2’s A8X chip.”
So, yes in a way. The iPad Pro 9.7 really should be significantly faster than the iPad Air 2.
I wish I could give a better opinion since in my family we have two iPad Air 2’s and my daughter has an iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. Sad part is that all of them get used for a few games, reading books, watching movies, surfing, and my daughter is a pretty good artist so she uses the pencil. None of those tasks tax the Air 2 or the Pro, and if I’m honest I can’t tell a difference between the two speed wise. We just do not do tasks that show it. I will say that the four speaker audio of the Pro is amazingly better than the sound of the Air 2 though.
not sure if this guy has checked out the iPad Pro bigger brother – if so he would be whistling a different tune!
Sound system would be enough for me – but I own the big pro and love it!
It didn’t get more RAM, still 2GB. Also got a throttled down version of A9x. Some will find this troublesome when expecting to have the same performance of the larger Pro, especially when your an artist trying run more RAM intensive apps.
Don’t you think these design decisions were made by Jonny Ive? Why don’t you go after him?
Some readers have no qualms about going after TC, but people have been laying off Jonny Ive lately.
If you don’t like this generation of “iPad Pro” then don’t buy it.
12 months from now you can look at the next gen. iPad Pro.
If you don’t like that, then buy MS or whatever.
Geesh!
The camera bulge on the iPhone 6 is unsightly.
Will this camera bulge on the iPad Pro 9.7″ cause the iPad to wobble? Seems like an especially bad design decision for a device where drawing is touted as a feature.
That’s probably s good point. It’s definitely a high spot that you’d notice on a flat surface.
Have you ever seen anyone using an iPad without a case? I haven’t.
Not many, but I’ve used my iPads (including my iPad Air 2) on a wooden table surface (which is why I mentioned that). I could imagine a bit of a high spot from the new camera but, generally, you’re correct. Not many folks will use the Pro without a case of some kind.
I have never used a case, and I take my iPad Air everywhere. Just shove it in my rucksack and off I go. Dropped it several times too – not a scratch. The build quality is insane. I would still be on my iPad 2 if my father-in-law didn’t want an iPad …
The Apple case will eliminate the bulge in addition to protecting and slip proofing the iPad.
Anyone who uses the iPad flat on its back would be a fool not to get a case.
I put small circular felt pads from the hardware store on the bottom of my iPad, one in each corner. They come in different sizes and prevent wobbling and protect the back. No case.
You should go with Samsung…
And change your wife! Sell your house!
You’re a disgraceful Apple customer.
Nothing to see here!
Practically no reason whatsoever to stage this event. Just walk into the store and get a smaller phone and iPad if you want. Or maybe a pastel nylon watch band.
This should really send AAPL soaring! Lame. Lame. Lame.
At the next one of these Tim is probably going to declare that nobody needs a computer anymore so Apple won’t be making any more of them. The Dick Tracy clunky watch is all the computer you will get.
What a colossal disappointment this company has become. Maybe Hollywood will make a movie about how Tim Cook ruined all that Steve Jobs created.
Back in your mother’s basement to play with your Samsung devices!
You act like it was Apple that made a huge deal about this event and not the press.
This event was staged on Apple Campus, which is how they handle smaller, less important, announcements. The ones they made I am sure are welcome, if not good news to some. You act like Apple owes you an event with “Wow” factor. Get off your entitled ass and come up with your own world-changing products if you’re going to be a whiney child.
Ohhhhhh, gawwwwd, it’s Jay. I wonder if his post will be positive or negative or somewhere between. Let me read it now.
Ah well – negative. Who would have guessed?
If only Apple could produce wonderful products like Samcopy and Microsloth!
“Just walk into the store and get a smaller phone and iPad if you want.”
Talk about someone who really doesn’t get it.
Whatever.
Dang jay, that’s not even a good attempt at trolling.
My only concern is what color do i order!
Glad I bought my Air 2 last year.
This new Pro looks good, but too expensive. Good to see 256 GB, though.
Also, the use of “Pro” for Apple products has become tiresome. Unless it is now short for provolone or probiotic.
I was hoping for new Macbook Pro announcements, as many new features such as Skylake processors, Thunderbolt 3, etc., are on the way . . . their absence confirms that these products are not ready to ship (this is noteworthy– in past years Macbook upgrades come in the February-March timeframe).
Ditto…
Put me down for the iPad Pro 256gb space grey….thanks….!!
i guess air 2 goes to pops
I wish they kept the 499 starting price point. I also wish they would stop making a wifi version and a lte version. Just include the dam lte chip already.
I have absolutely no use for the LTE chip. I’d hate to have to pay for it (the expense, the weight, the battery drain, the space needed for the chip and SIM card slot) if I’m never going to use it. Especially if its retail value is over $100 (as it is today).
“breakthrough 9.7-inch iPad Pro” – I threw up in my mouth a little
How much is the lTE version?
LTE version adds a $130 premium.
I’m sure it has more RAM, since the 12.9″ model went to 4GB, but has anyone seen anything about how much?
This is from MacRumors: “RAM
Apple does not unveil the RAM in its devices, as unveiled in a device teardown and in Xcode image assets, the iPad Pro has 4GB RAM, double the amount in the iPad Air 2.”
And I was just about to shell out for a 12.9 inch iPad Pro and now I have to wait until they upgrade the 12.9 inch to the level of the 9.7 inch. How infuriating! You think they would have upgraded them both to the same level of technology.
You’re thinking of samdung again.
If you look carefully at the 9.7″ iPad Pro specs, it leapfrogs the 12.9″ iPad Pro specs in a number of significant ways.😍 This a major upgrade from the iPad Air 2. 😀
This is not a breakthrough device. MDN hyperbole machine kicks into high gear to announce iterative product from Apple
Stupid, really stupid.
No, correct, really correct. He’s right. Every iPad version comes with significant upgrades, no difference here except they are finding excuses to increase the price. It looks like a great iPad, but the Pro moniker and hike are nonsense on this iPad Air 3.
But wanna remark that you have a very nice web site , I the style and design it actually stands out.