Apple Launches iPad Pro With 3D-Scanning Camera, Backlit Keyboard With Trackpad
Image via Apple Newsroom
Apple has long touted its iPad Pro as an answer to laptops. With a new equivalent keyboard and a processor it says is better than “most Windows PC laptops,” its goal is just about there.
On Wednesday, the tech giant rolled out the new iPad Pro in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes with an A12Z Bionic chip, which it claims to make the device “faster and more powerful than most Windows PC laptops.”
It also has a dual camera system on the rear, including an Ultra Wide camera, and a ‘LiDAR Scanner’ promising to bring “a whole new class” of augmented reality experiences. The latter measures the distance to surrounding objects as far as five meters (16.4 feet) away.
Finally propelling the iPad Pro to the tier of laptops is its updated Magic Keyboard, which has a trackpad for the first time ever. The Magic Keyboard will be priced at US$299 for the 11-inch model and US$349 for the 12.9-inch model. Trackpad support will be available in the new iPadOS 13.4.
The new iPad Pro starts from US$799, and is available for purchase now.
The announcement comes hours after Apple accidentally let slip about four new iPad Pro models on its website. True enough, there are four new variations—11-inch with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular, and 12.9-inch with Wi-Fi and WiFi + Cellular.
A12Z Bionic Chip promises “pro performance”
Image via Apple Newsroom
With an eight-core GPU in the A12Z Bionic chip, the new iPad Pro is designed to tackle creative professionals’ “most demanding tasks,” such as editing 4K videos and designing 3D models, and its battery runs for a commendable 10 hours. Your work process should be streamlined with faster Wi-Fi connectivity, and gigabit-class LTE that performs 60-percent faster.
World’s “most advanced” mobile display
Image via Apple Newsroom
The new iPad Pro has “the world’s most advanced mobile display,” Apple describes, boasting an anti-reflective, end-to-end Liquid Retina screen with vivid, true-to-life P3 wide color support. The display features a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Imagine what that would look like when you’re working on Photoshop on iPad.
Dual rear cameras
Image via Apple Newsroom
The 2020 iPad Pro’s camera system sports a 12MP Wide camera that shoots 4K video, along with a 10MP Ultra Wide camera with the ability to zoom out two times for an expansive field of view. In addition, the tablet includes five “studio-quality microphones” for high-quality filmmaking.
Advanced AR scanner
Image via Apple Newsroom
Apple has introduced a LiDAR Scanner in the iPad Pro, which allows for augmented reality capabilities “never before possible” in mobile technology. The scanner is able to measure objects up to five meters (16.4 feet) afar “at the photon level at nano-second speeds.”
The LiDAR Scanner brings more accuracy and depth to Apple’s Measure app, letting you automatically and effectively calculate someone’s height and measure objects.
Image via Apple Newsroom
Trackpad support in iPadOS
Image via Apple Newsroom
The iPad Pro finally gets trackpad and mouse support with iPadOS 13.4, letting you type and select text much more easily. Instead of an arrow, the cursor appears as an arrow.
iPadOS 13.4 is compatible with the new Magic Keyboard (it has a backlight!), Apple Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party Bluetooth or USB mice.
Specs at a glance (11-inch models)
Specs at a glance (12.9-inch models)
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[via Apple]
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