The iPad Pro is officially in the desktop class

The biggest surprise in Apple’s Spring Loaded event was the iPad Pro having the M1 chip. It was previously using processors based on the ones inside iPhones and so far, it was doing pretty well. With the integration of the M1 chip, the iPad Pro officially enters the star section of mobile computing.

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The M1 inside the new iPad Pro is up to 50% faster than previous generation, while also delivering 40% more graphics performance. It can also be configured to have up to 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage, making it a powerhouse in anyone’s hands. 

Apple also focused a bit on the 12.9-inch model and decided the screen isn’t pro enough. They took the XDR technology from the Apple Pro Display XDR (which starts at P300,000) and put it in the iPad Pro, calling it Liquid Retina XDR. It has 10,000 mini-LED capable of 1000 nits of brightness and an absurd 1-million:1 contrast ratio. It means blacks are black, colors are very vivid but accurate, and dynamic range for professional use isn’t compromised. 

At the top portion of this screen is a new 12mp ultrawide camera with Center Stage for video calls. What it does is once enabled, it zooms into the frame instead of showing a really wide view. It then tracks the main person on the call and follows them by moving the frame being shown, making it seem like the camera makes a panning movement when it didn’t move at all. It also detects when others join in and would zoom out more, if possible, so as to include others in the shot. 

Other new features of the iPad Pro is 5G capability on the cellular models and the USB port below is now Thunderbolt and USB-4 capable. This allows transfer speed of up to 40Gbps while Thunderbolt supports up to 10Gbps ethernet. It also lets the new iPad Pro connect to high-resolution displays, even to the Apple Pro Display XDR.

The new iPad Pro starts with 128GB priced at P45,990 for the 11-inch model while the 12.9-inch with Liquid Retina XDR screen begins at P62,990. They’ll be available in the US by the second half of May so you’re gonna have to wait a few more months before you can get your hands on this.