The iPad Pro will run everything better, but the speed and graphics boosts just don’t make as much of a difference as they could. Despite breaking it away from the iPhone two years ago, the iPad’s operating system is still stuck in something of a rut, with no real benefit to pro users or gamers. The reasons why it’s not aren’t necessarily a failing of the iPad Pro but rather the way Apple has set up iPadOS. With benchmarks and specs that absolutely blow away the previous model, the 2021 iPad Pro should be leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. So the 2021 iPad Pro certainly is fast-but so is the 2020 model. Some people will scoff at that notion, but the fact remains that you can do as much on the iPad Air, which has lesser specs and costs hundreds less.Īpps open in an instant, scrolling is incredibly smooth, and Safari feels super snappy. And with simplified multitasking, it’s unlikely for the system to ever use anywhere near the available memory. Apps are currently limited to 5GB of RAM each, and even though iPadOS 15 will change that for some apps, it’s unlikely you’re ever going to do so much with your iPad Pro that you need 16GB of RAM.
On a Mac, more RAM is always good, but iPadOS isn’t macOS. The 2021 iPad Pro has the same rear camera array as the 2020 model.
It’s nice to have and offers a bit of future-proofing, but much like the screen, it’s not essential-or worth the $200 upgrade fee Apple is charging (versus $130 previously). But I got the results using my iPhone 12’s hotspot, so I’m not sure the extra expense and monthly fee is worth it now. I tested Verizon’s 5G network and with top speeds around 80Mbps, it was faster than last year’s LTE model. That’s nice to have but not all that necessary, especially if you have an iPhone 12 nearby. This year’s cellular model uses a 5G modem instead of an LTE one, so speeds will be quicker in areas where 5G networks are available. The only option is to mirror the iPad Pro’s display to a second monitor, which is a less-than-ideal experience that falls woefully short of a dual-screen workstation.
The only problem is Apple still hasn’t upgraded iPadOS to match, particularly when it comes to external displays. Speaking of plugging it in, you’ll get the same 18W fast charging as you did on the 2020 model-sadly there’s no wireless charging or MagSafe yet-but the port now supports Thunderbolt devices for faster data transfers and higher-resolution monitors. That’s to say you won’t need to worry about plugging it in unless you use it for hours on end or leave it unplugged for days. Apple has rated every iPad it’s ever made by the same 10 hours of battery life, give or take an hour or so, and the iPad Pro falls firmly within that range in my testing. It’s so similar to the 2020 model, in fact, that the old keyboard case folds just fine, even with 0.5mm of extra girth.ĭespite the new chip, however, you’re not getting much better battery life. It’s a touch heavier and thicker than last year’s model but not something people are likely to notice, especially when the ergonomics are so good. The design of the iPad Pro hasn’t changed much at all since the 2018 Liquid Retina redesign, and there’s a reason for that-it’s basically perfect. Move the camera and rotate the Apple logo, and the iPad Pro’s design is fantastic, if not a little stale.
It’s a fantastic feature that works smoothly and without distraction, and coupled with Attention Correction, it does nicely to hide the fact that most people will be looking the wrong way.īut if that’s the only complaint I have about the iPad Pro’s design, then Apple has gotten a lot right. When you shift out of the center of the frame, the camera will pan and zoom to keep you in the center of the frame as if someone was filming you. Since the camera is likely to be unnaturally located to the left of your gaze while making a FaceTime call, Apple has launched a new feature called Center Stage that somewhat solves that issue.