We deliberately did not prepare a review of the new iPad Pro before the presentation of WWDC 2022. There was a hope that Apple would be able to explain why such a powerful M1 chip is installed there, show a revolutionary system with support for applications for macOS, and many would actually be able to abandon a computer in favor of a tablet. But this did not happen and the presentation was in a minor key.
Therefore, it’s time to figure out who needs a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, whether it can replace a computer, and how cool the mini-LED display turns out to be.
The new iPad Pro 11 packs the power of Apple's M1 processor into a portable form.
OUR VERDICT
The iPad Pro has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to hardware performance, and the new M1-based 11-inch iPad Pro takes that even further, bringing PC-level performance to a tablet. However, it seems like the iPad is at the point where Apple really needs to up its software game to match the hardware, and even the upcoming iPadOS 15 isn't really making use of the available power.
Audio
Speakers sound good but get harsh at high volumes Headphone jack allows you to connect high-quality headphones
The speakers along the bottom edge of the iPad 2022 sound good enough, and I didn't mind watching movies or playing games without good headphones. They also get surprisingly loud, although I find the sound quality to be very harsh as you turn up the volume.
However, you can definitely enjoy a better listening experience if you plug in a good pair of headphones via the headphone jack, a simple pleasure that seems like a luxury now that Apple has removed the headphone jack from all other iPad models.
Two Minute Review
Along with the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Apple has also updated the 11-inch iPad to match its larger sibling, including most of that tablet's features but in a more manageable size.
However, the smaller iPad lacks the Liquid Retina XDR Mini LED display, which we think is the defining feature of this year's top model.
- Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) (128 GB, silver) on Yandex.Market for 69,990 rubles
This is not to say that the screen of the new 11-inch iPad Pro is bad - far from it. It's the same stellar IPS panel found on the previous generation iPad, with a 120Hz Pro Motion display and paired with Apple's new-to-iPad M1 chipset that makes apps fly.
The iPad has never been slow, but the latest generation's specs give it plenty of staying power for years to come. You can outfit the new iPad Pro with 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage - specs that match those of the top-end M1-based MacBook Pro.
There's also support for 5G connectivity via physical or eSIM for accessing your data on the go, while the USB port has also been updated with Thunderbolt support.
Last but not least is the new ultra-wide-angle front camera. It includes Apple's new Center Stage feature, which tracks objects or zooms in on a scene based on what's in the frame—the way it works is pure Apple magic.
However, the question remains as to why Apple gave the iPad Pro line what appears to be an overabundance of power.
Apple will say this is to make the iPad the best it can be, but the limited iPadOS doesn't really allow you to take full advantage of all the available power - multitasking is still not very intuitive, display support is visually weak, file management is... - is still very simple, and the ability to expand the functionality of the iPad with accessories is still limited.
Note: This review is specifically for the 11-inch iPad Pro. Want to know about the 12.9-inch model? Read our iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review.
Ease of use
Many Apple and third-party apps place key controls and menus at the bottom of the Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) display.
For example, if you accidentally make a typo, you can instantly select the correct word from the hint that pops up below. Perhaps Apple expects you to sometimes use the iPad for many hours as a laptop.
But most users charge their devices only when necessary, and they want to do it as quickly as possible. So charging speed plays a major role.
iPad Pro 11 inches 2022: release date and price
The new iPad Pro is now available from Apple and other retailers in 11- and 12.9-inch sizes. However, at the time of writing, supplies are still limited and you may have to wait a couple of weeks to get your hands on them. Apple says it is working to resolve the supply shortage.
Prices for the new 11-inch iPad Pro start at $799, which gives you 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in a Wi-Fi-only configuration. You can increase the storage and also add 5G connectivity, which will raise the price significantly: a fully loaded 11-inch iPad Pro with 2TB of storage and 5G connectivity will set you back a mind-boggling $2,099.
If you don't want to use the iPad for professional work, the iPad Air is still a great option and looks almost identical to the new iPad Pro. It's powered by Apple's latest iPhone chip, prices start at ???, and supports all the latest accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. It also comes in five beautiful colors.
Working with documents is a Google Docs standard, but I have a different path
For those who work in media, it will not be a revelation that the Google Docs suite of office applications has become an industry standard. This service contains the bulk of the collaborative work of several authors. It's all about simplicity - it's much more convenient to send a link to a document that is located in the cloud. Against this background, sending text files seems somewhat archaic.
I repeat once again that one of the advantages of Google Docs is the ability to seamlessly work on files for several users, regardless of the platform. You can use native applications or a browser to edit and access files.
However, there are many alternatives on iPadOS, such as the familiar Microsoft Office and Apple iWork suites. Since I work with text most of the time, I once closed the need for a text editor that was as comfortable as possible for myself. The main requirements are simplicity and minimalism. My choice for Mac and iPad fell on iA Writer. I type all my text in it, and then transfer it from there to Google Docs in case I need to work with someone else.
Design
The iPad Pro is available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, and if you want to use it primarily as a tablet rather than a laptop replacement, you should definitely go for the smaller version. The new 11-inch iPad Pro is identical in size and design to last year's model. It measures 178.5 x 247.6 mm with a thickness of just 5.9 mm and is slightly lighter than its predecessor at 466 grams.
This makes the 11-inch iPad Pro comfortable and easy to use, and with its aluminum frame, back panel and rounded corners, iPad continues to feel like a premium device. It's only available in two colors: space gray and silver, which is a shame because we'd really like to see the new iPad Pro available in more colors, like the new iMac and even the iPad Air.
The layout of the buttons and ports is similar to older iPad Pro models, with the volume keys on the right when you hold the tablet in portrait orientation, with the power button at the top and a zippered USB-C port at the bottom. There are four speakers, located on the top and bottom if you're holding the iPad in portrait orientation, or on the sides in landscape orientation—the preferred orientation for watching videos.
Unfortunately, the camera remains on top of the iPad in portrait orientation, which isn't ideal for video calls if you're talking to a group of people and using the tablet in landscape mode since it's on the side. On the right edge there is a SIM card slot, and on the back there is a pin connector for connecting the Magic Keyboard. Like the previous iPad, the Apple Pencil attaches magnetically to the right edge, where it also charges.
iPad Magic Keyboard
If the iPad is purchased with the expectation of working with text, especially if it is large volumes of text, the keyboard will become an indispensable addition. It will be inconvenient to type a lot on the screen. In addition, it serves as a very good case, which, as mentioned above, will not be superfluous.
Magic Keyboard is sold in colors that match both iPad case shades. It is made of a pleasant soft-touch coating. In our case, it is white and there is a feeling that it will get dirty quite easily. But it looks very cool.
In the form of a stand, it offers a completely original solution. The iPad is attached to it with powerful magnets and “hangs” above the keyboard. It looks unusual and interesting. The angle of inclination is adjustable and well fixed. An additional bonus is the built-in USB-C port, through which you can charge the tablet, thereby freeing up the main port for other accessories.
The size of the keyboard itself is slightly smaller than that installed in laptops; this does not affect printing. This review was prepared specifically on the Magic Keyboard, and it took almost no getting used to. In addition, it has a backlight. It is activated automatically and its intensity can only be adjusted from the settings in the system.
It also has a trackpad. It is just a little longer than a credit card. And just in time for its size, after the large trackpads in laptops, it took a little getting used to. But even with standard sensitivity settings, you can comfortably control the cursor in the system. It also supports gestures that macOS users will find intuitive.
The only drawback of the keyboard (not considering the price tag) is its weight. It's about 680 grams, which doubles the tablet's weight and makes it larger than many Ultrabooks. Of course, if she weighed less, it would be more difficult for her to hold the iPad so well, but I still want less weight from the tablet.
Display
Up until last year, the display specs on the larger 12.9-inch model and the 11-inch model were identical. However, in 2021, Apple introduced a new XDR display on a larger 12.9-inch model that uses mini-LED technology, something the 11-inch version lacks.
This is not to say that the 11-inch iPad Pro has a bad display - far from it. You still get Apple's IPS display with superior color reproduction and ProMotion technology that delivers a 120Hz refresh rate for fast, smooth scrolling. A higher refresh rate also improves the Apple Pencil experience with less latency.
However, given how important the display is to the tablet experience, if you don't mind the larger size of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro—and you can afford the extra expense—we recommend you opt for the larger model. The much higher peak brightness and contrast on the larger iPad make the screen simply stunning.
Photo is the mighty Lightroom, but it's one of the forced compromises
At work, I often have to deal with editing quite a lot of photos, since 90 percent of the time I am preparing images for our reviews. On the iPad I had to use Lightroom. From the outside it may seem that I am finding the problem out of the blue, so I will try to explain.
On Mac, to work with RAW photos, I use Capture One, which I’ve already become quite fond of. Among other things, one of its advantages is the possibility of a one-time purchase. In the case of Lightroom, as with all other Adobe products, you must use a CC subscription to fully use them.
We'll have to wait a little longer as Capture One developers Phase One have announced the release of their app for the iPad with the M1. The program is expected to launch in early 2022. The wait is not long, the main intrigue lies in the C1 monetization model for iPadOS.
I use a small USB-C cable to transfer photos from the Sony A7 II. The camera storage and flash drive are displayed in “Files”.
Specifications, performance and cameras
This year, iPad Pro makes the leap from iPhone processor to Mac processor, giving it plenty of future-proofing and the ability to comfortably run next-generation apps. With the M1 processor, this generation iPad Pro achieves the same level of performance as the latest M1 Macs, and with up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, it's essentially a high-performance computer in a tablet form factor.
The table below compares the benchmark results of the latest 2022 iPad Pro with last year's mode.
| iPad Pro 2022 | iPad Pro 2022 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1706 | 1126 |
| Geekbench Multi | 7229 | 4700 |
| 3D Mark Wildfire Rating | 16972 | 9984 |
| 3D Mark Wildfire FPS | 101,1 | 59 |
Looking at this table above, you can clearly see how ridiculously fast the new iPad Pro is. The M1 processor paired with 16GB of RAM lets you open and switch between apps faster than any other tablet, as well as most PCs.
That said, when it comes to real-world use, the new iPad Pro performs only slightly better than last year's model, and the new iPad Pros are the only tablets that were better than last year's.
If you just want to do the things you'd normally do on a tablet, like surf the web, use media, and write emails and documents, the power inside the new iPad Pro feels like overkill.
It would also be nice if Apple released its own professional-grade apps like Final Cut Pro or Motion for iPad. Given that the iPad Pro now has the same hardware as the Mac, we really don't see any reason why Apple can't achieve this.
What's new and very nice about the new iPad Pro is Center Stage - it's pure Apple magic. When you use the ultra-wide camera on the front of iPad, the frame automatically adjusts to keep you or a group of people in the center of the image. Watch the video below, keeping in mind that the camera doesn't move at all - it's just software framing.
The new iPad Pro has two rear cameras: 12 MP and an ultra-wide 10 MP. We're not big fans of using rear cameras on a tablet, but they're there if you need them and provide decent image quality. The lidar sensor is also returning for use with AR apps, although we haven't found many use cases for this since Apple added it to the iPad last year.
IPAD PRO 11-inch 2022 SPECIFICATIONS
Weight : 466g Dimensions : 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm Display Size : 11 inches Display Type: Liquid Retina Display Resolution : 1668 x 2388 Refresh Rate : 120Hz Chipset : Apple M1 RAM : 8GB/ 16 GB Storage : 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB OS: iPadOS 14.5 Rear camera : 12 MP + 10 MP + ToF Front camera : 12 MP Battery : 28.65 Wh Li-polymer battery
The front camera can now do even more!
It's nice that Apple doesn't forget about budget gadgets and adds some features from flagship ones to them.
Previously, budget tablets were equipped with a modest 1.2 MP FaceTime HD module, but now it is an ultra-wide-angle matrix with a resolution of 12 megapixels.
Thanks to this, we were able to bring the Spotlight feature from the iPad Pro with M1.
The camera focuses on the person during the conversation and " keeps its gaze on him ." I walked back and forth in the frame, and the front camera watched me and moved after me.
Accessories
The iPad ecosystem has grown over the past couple of years, with several manufacturers offering a variety of protective cases, keyboard covers, and stylus options.
The 2022 11-inch iPad Pro works with Apple Pencil as well as last year's Magic Keyboard. Apple has released a new white model of the Magic Keyboard, but the color is the only thing that has changed.
If you're looking for alternatives to Apple's offerings, Logitech makes a beautiful iPad keyboard that's more affordable than Apple's offering.
Battery life
There are no changes to the new iPad Pro's battery capacity or claimed battery life compared to last year's model. The new iPad Pro has a 28.65 Wh battery that Apple claims gives you 10 hours of use on the Wi-Fi model and 9 hours on the 5G model using cellular data.
Obviously, the mileage depends on what tasks you use the iPad for. For example, rendering 4K videos or 3D models will definitely take a bigger toll on your battery than watching a movie on Netflix or browsing the web. With mixed use, we were able to get eight hours from a full charge.
We noticed that the battery drained a little faster, especially in standby mode with the Magic Keyboard connected, which makes sense since the accessory is powered by the iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro's charging speed is 18W, which is slower than many other competing tablets on the market; however, the long battery life and excellent standby time mean you don't have to worry too much about charging. Luckily, Apple provides a charger in the box with the iPad, something iPhone newbies can't say.
Entertainment
Sometimes you need to rest and switch. I wouldn’t want to thicken my impressions of working on the iPad with professional capabilities. Therefore, I decided to add a mention of the entertainment capabilities of the firmware on the M1:
- Apple TV+
: Apple includes a three-month subscription with all new devices. Series I'm watching: See and Ted Lasso. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Banker, The Beastie Boys Story, and the documentary series Land at Night. Up next is Tiny World, 1971 and Tiny World. I’m looking forward to the launch of “Invasion” and “Foundation” based on the series of novels by Isaac Asimov. - Apple Arcade
: I recommend using the trial period of this service to at least play through Yaga, The Pathless and Sayonara Wild Hearts.
Buy if...
You want an iPad that will last five years The new iPad Pro 11 has a lot of capabilities when it comes to hardware and will last you for many years. The M1 processor will undoubtedly take the iPad into new territories.
You need a companion device to your main computer The iPad makes a great companion to your laptop or desktop with a large screen, allowing you to complete a range of everyday tasks quickly and easily, and its 11-inch screen means it's easier to carry around than the larger 12. 9-inch iPad Pro.
Your workload is simple If your work routine is fairly simple—writing emails, creating documents, and surfing the web—then an iPad with Apple Pencil can serve as your primary computing device.
Memory
If there are almost no external changes, then the filling has been refreshed. The tablet received not the newest, but quite vigorous Apple A13 Bionic chipset from 2019, just like in the iPhone 11. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but in practice you can easily play games, edit videos in Luma Fusion or process photos in Darkroom .
Finally, Apple took pity on customers and offered 64 GB of memory in the basic version. Previously, the base iPad only received 32GB. Considering that part of the space was spent on system needs, there was very little left. Now it will be more comfortable to use the tablet; you don’t have to pay extra for a more expensive version. By the way, it also now comes with double the volume: we get not 128 GB, but 256 GB.
