

Apple iPad Pro (12.9-Inch, 2018)


Apple iPad Pro

Apple's 2018 iPad Pro makes a terrific drawing tablet, but its power is limited by the applications available for iOS.

With Keyboard

This isn't really a tablet, to us. It's more of a 2-in-1, with Apple's $199 Smart Keyboard considered a mandatory part of the setup.

Word Processing

Word processing works well here, but it also works well on the $329 base model iPad. You can have split-screen multitasking, but there's a lot of work it's difficult to do without windows.

Tablet Alone

As a tablet, the Pro is gorgeous. The 12.9-inch model this year is significantly smaller than last year's, and no longer feels like a serving tray.

iPad Pro Back

There's a 12-megapixel camera on the back, which is basically as good as the iPhone X camera.

Keyboard Angle

The smart keyboard case supports two angles, and the water-resistant keys are nice and clicky.

USB-C Port

Apple stepped up to a USB-C port, which supports many peripherals, but not all of the ones you'd think, because it's held back by iOS.

SIM Card Slot

The LTE model of the iPad Pro (a $150 premium) supports both an embedded, electronic SIM that you can configure through software, and a more traditional SIM.


The iPad Pro has powerful quad speakers, two on each side in landscape mode.


The camera juts out from the body of the tablet a bit, and it includes a flash.

New Pencil

The new Apple Pencil is a significant step up from the previous model. It has a flat edge and a matte finish, so it's easier to grip and doesn't roll away, and it attaches to the tablet and charges magnetically.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is one of the major potential applications for the iPad Pro, and AR apps work very smoothly.

About Sascha Segan