The 9.7-inch iPad Pro concentrates almost everything that’s amazing about the 12.9-inch
original into a device as easy to carry around at the iPad Air 2.
That includes not only the ludicrously powerful A9X processor but the Smart Keyboard and the
Apple Pencil.
Oh, and it’s got an even *better* camera.
Let's take a look.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro packs 2732 x 2048 pixels . The 9.7-inch iPad, by contrast, packs the
same resolution as the Air — 2048 x 1536 . It has the same custom timing controller
as the bigger Pro but it also has a few surprises under the glass.
The first is a DCI-P3 color space, that's the same as digital theater projectors and
the 2015 iMac . It allows for 25% greater saturation and means colors, especially magentas,
look better than ever.
The display is also 25% brighter and a new 40% less reflective than even the iPad Air
2.
What’s especially clever, though, is the new True Tone system it uses two ambient light
sensors, with four channels each, to detect the conditions around you and change your
iPad’s display to match “white” for whatever those conditions may be.
It has the same third-generation 64-bit system-on-a-chip, combining a custom dual-core processor with
a monstrous 12-core graphics processor to very really redefine what it means to be “mobile”
silicon.
It’s paired with an integrated M9 coprocessor which handles the motion sensors, and it even
allows for “Hey Siri!”
Unplugged.
Touch ID is first generation, like every device except for the iPhones 6s.
For unlock, authorization, and in-app Apple Pay, though, it works serviceably enough.
Storage still starts at 32 GB, like the bigger Pro, and 128 GB for those who want to step
up.
If you’d rather leap up, though, there’s now a 256 GB option and that's for both sizes.
I’m not fussy about keyboards, so they’ve all been great for me.
It takes about 5 minutes for me to acclimatize and then I’m flying.
The laser ablated fabric Apple uses, which along with MacBook-style domes forms the structure
of the keys, holds up really well, even at the smaller scale.
For those who dislike the Smart Keyboard in general, there’s the exact same Smart Connector
as the bigger Pro, which means third party keyboards will be available as well.
As someone who used Wacom tablets for graphic design for decades, and stylus pens on iPhone
and iPad for almost that long, the Apple Pencil remains best in class for.
It simply over performs in every category.
That's now also available in a 9.7-inch.
Sure, the canvas isn’t as big — but that’s the point.
It does take some getting used to, but only if you’re used to the 12.9-inch version.
Responsiveness and palm-rejection remain excellent — as good to my eyes and hands the 12.9-inch
iPad Pro, and the apps all work every bit as well.
Having a 12-megapixel iSight camera in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro makes it fantastic.
There's also 1080p video at 60 frames per second and 4k at 30 frames per second.
Sure, some might still make fun of the very idea of iPad photography, but for others the
best camera they have with them will be the one on the iPad and now Apple is making sure
“the best” is also *the best*.
And for professionals, many of whom love shooting with iPhones but do want bigger viewfinders
for certain projects, Apple is making sure the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is delivering exactly
that as well.
It does come at a price, though — an iPhone 6-style camera bump on the lens.
I haven’t had any problems with it, though, even when resting it flat and drawing with
the pencil.
The other corners keep everything solidly in place.
There’s a 5 megapixel FaceTime camera replete with Retina Flash, so you can take your iPad
selfie game to the next level as well.
And yes, you can do iPhone 6s-style Live Photos, so your every moment can animate at a touch-and-hold.
The 12.9 inch iPad Pro has four big, booming speakers.to be honest — I wasn’t expecting
Apple to be able to fit the same class of audio into the 9.7-inch version, but they
totally did.
No matter which way you hold or turn it, iPad Pro delivers deep bass to all four corners
and mids and highs to the top two speakers.
Together with the display, it makes for a superlative entertainment experience even
when you don’t want or have to use earphones.
The only downside is having to choose between watching Daredevil season 2 and you know,
finishing this review…
Wi-Fi is 802.11ac with multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) that supports up to 866 Mbps.
Cellular is even more exciting, though.
Unlike the bigger iPad Pro, LTE is an option on *every* storage tier.
So, you no longer have to go big or go without.
You also get an embedded “Apple SIM”.
That way you can use your local carrier SIM if you’re on an existing plan, but when
you travel you can choose from a variety of plans in over 90 regions.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes with iOS 9.3 installed.
It's the latest update to the software Apple released last fall.
It includes Nightshift, the ability to lock notes, better personalization for news.
The 9.7-inch original iPad is once again being reinvented — this time by going Pro.
While the 12.9-inch model felt like it was filling a really important niche and growing
Apple’s addressable market, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro feels like it’s bringing everything
great about that device — the power, the connectability, the Pencil, the speakers and,
most importantly, the attitude.
Back to that original size
This can still be your everyday iPad, and better so than ever, but it can also be your
ultra-mobile productivity machine, with little in the way of compromises.
Sure, you lose some display and keyboard real estate, but you gain portability and an excellent
camera system.
I’ll be getting a 128 GB rose gold with LTE, and I think I’ll be drawing and traveling
with it for a long while to come.