The New iPad Pro 10.5-Inch: We Expected Better Apple

How do you justify an upgrade when the device you own has already reached perfection? Why, by adding more features, of course. And if you have had the opportunity to read any of my last few articles, it isn’t hard to notice that I am obviously impressed by the company’s efforts. I praised Apple for its highly inspiring developer’s keynote, I heralded the new iMac Pro as the most powerful computing device available for end consumers. When it comes to the new iPad Pro, however, I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed.

Don’t get me wrong, the device is absolutely superb. Amazing specs, ideal performance, sleek design and an even bigger screen. What more could you possibly ask for in a tablet? Except, Apple already killed it with the device’s groundbreaking predecessor. The iPad Pro 9.7” was more than a tablet, it was a statement in power and style. It combined a sleek and magnificent design with the smooth operability that not many portable computers these days can offer. The device boasted a sufficiently powerful A9X processor, came with an excellent 9.7-inch retina display and the operating system ran smoother and faster than any Android tablet in the market.  Which is why, when it came to the iPad Pro 10.5”, we were expecting more, way more.

When a company like Apple charges you an arm and a leg for a device as beautiful as the iPad Pro, the only way to justify upgrading it next year is to augment it with something even more groundbreaking, even more futuristic. The iPad Pro 10.5 does nothing of the sort. Sure, it comes with a more powerful A 10X fusion processor, double the storage capacity topped at 512 GB and a faster refresh rate of 120 frames per second. But all that seems rather moot when you consider the fact that most video games and applications run just as fine on the older A9X processor, not to mention the fact that most of them have their refresh rate capped at 60 frames per second, making the upgraded refreshing power of 120Hz completely useless. The additional storage does seem like a good addition though, especially due to the lack of external memory options on these devices.

No, the only significant upgrade to the new iPads is the size of the screen. Without any noticeable changes in physical footprint, Apple has successfully upped the device’s screen size by an entire inch. This means a larger resolution, and more screen space to perform such tasks as typing entire documents, drawing illustrations and streaming videos and applications. While that is undoubtedly an interesting addition, it hardly justifies a $649 upgrade just a year after purchasing your old 9.7”model.

If you haven’t bought yourself a new iPad in a while, or if you are switching platforms from Android to iOS, purchasing the new iPad Pro 10.5” will be the best decision you ever make. If, however, you already call yourself the proud owner of last year’s 9.7” model, the upgrade doesn’t really make a lot of sense. This is perhaps one of those points where, and hear me carefully for I will not say this again, Apple could take a lesson or two from Samsung on how to push the boundaries of innovation to keep their line of devices fresh and exciting. Over to you.