Apple has launched its latest version of the iPad Pro, now with the M2 chip, and announced a redesign with new colours for the iPad.
The new iPad Pro comes equipped with the M2 chip and supports a “next-level” Apple Pencil hover experience along with fast wireless connectivity, an advanced display, pro cameras, Face ID, Thunderbolt, and four-speaker audio system.
New features in iPadOS 16 include Stage Manager, full external display support, desktop-class apps, and Reference Mode.
M2 features an 8-core CPU that is up to 15 percent faster than M1 with advancements in both performance and efficiency cores, and a 10-core GPU, delivering up to 35 percent faster graphics performance. Combined with the CPU and GPU, the 16-core Neural Engine can process 15.8 trillion operations per second — 40 percent more than M1 — making iPad Pro even more powerful when handling machine learning tasks. The M2 chip also features 100GB/s of unified memory bandwidth — 50 percent more than M1 — and supports up to 16GB of fast unified memory, making multitasking and working with large assets even more fluid.
Powered by the new iPad Pro and iPadOS 16, hover with Apple Pencil (2nd generation) provides a new way to interact with the screen. Apple Pencil is now detected up to 12 mm above the display, allowing you to see a preview of the mark before making it. This also allows you to sketch and illustrate with greater precision. For example, with Scribble, text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen, and handwriting converts to text even faster. Third-party apps can also take advantage of this new feature to enable new marking and drawing experiences.
The new iPad Pro supports the fastest Wi-Fi connections with support for Wi-Fi 6E. Downloads are up to 2.4Gb/s, 2x faster than the previous generation. Wi-Fi + Cellular models with 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave) now support more 5G networks around the world, so you can access files, communicate with colleagues, and back up data in a snap while on the go.
In addition to updates to Messages, new tools in Mail and Safari, the new Weather app, and more ways to interact with photos and video with Live Text and Visual Look Up, iPadOS 16 also introduces powerful productivity features.
The new iPad Pro is available for pre-order now and will officially begin shipping on October 26. Available in 11- and 12.9-inch versions, in silver and space grey, and in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations, pricing starts at $1,100 in Canada for the Wi-Fi model and $1,300 in Wi-Fi + Cellular. Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is available for purchase separately and is compatible with the new iPad Pro: it sells for $169.
For those looking for a standard iPad, a redesigned version with a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, A14 Bionic chip, advanced cameras, fast wireless connectivity, USB-C, support for the new Magic Keyboard Folio, and more.
The A14 Bionic chip delivers faster performance and greater power efficiency while still providing all-day battery life. Updated cameras include an ultra-wide 12MP front camera located along the landscape edge and an updated 12MP back camera. A USB-C port supports a range of accessories, while Wi-Fi 6 brings faster connections, and cellular models feature fast 5G for staying connected on the go. Touch ID moves to the top button of iPad, making it seamless to unlock, log in to apps, or use Apple Pay.
Designed specifically for the new iPad, the new Magic Keyboard Folio features a click-anywhere trackpad, and a versatile two-piece design. With iPadOS 16 and support for Apple Pencil (1st generation), it is available to order, with availability in stores beginning Wednesday, October 26. It comes in new colours as well, including blue, pink, yellow, and silver. Pricing starts at $599 for the Wi-Fi model and $799 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and it comes in 64GB and 256GB configurations.
It’s compatible with the Apple Pencil (1st-gen) but a new USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter is required, which existing Apple Pencil owners can buy for $10. The Pencil itself is $129 and the adapter now comes in the box. The new Magic Keyboard Folio, designed specifically for this new iPad, is $329 and comes in white. The 9th-gen iPad will still remain in the line-up.