Apple in
March 2020 refreshed its iPad Pro lineup, introducing a faster A12Z Bionic
processor, dual rear cameras, a new LiDAR scanner for improved augmented
reality capabilities, improved audio, and an optional Magic Keyboard accessory
that adds a trackpad to the iPad for the first time.
According
to Apple, the 2020 iPad Pro is its most advanced iPad Pro to date, with a
number of "pro" improvements for those who want an iPad that's able
to replace a computer.
When it
comes to design, the iPad Pro is unchanged, available in 11
and 12.9-inch sizes with
an all-screen design and an edge-to-edge
display that
does not include a Home button. Like the 2018 iPad Pro models, the 2020 iPad
Pro features a TrueDepth camera system with Face
ID that
uses facial recognition for biometric authentication and a 7-megapixel
camera for
selfies.
Both of
the iPad Pro models feature an aluminum chassis in Silver
or Space Gray with flat,
rounded edges that
wrap around the Liquid Retina display. The Liquid Retina display is
unchanged from the 2018 model, featuring wide color support, True
Tone for
adjusting to ambient light, an anti-reflective
coating,
and ProMotion 120Hz refresh capabilities.
While the
general design of the iPad Pro has remained the same, there's a new
rear camera system. There
are two cameras, including a 12-megapixel
wide-angle camera and
a 10-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera that can zoom out two
times for
a wider field of view.
Features
like Smart HDR, Quad-LED True Tone Flash, wide color, and 4K video recording at
up to 60fps are included.
Accompanying
the two-camera setup is a new LiDAR Scanner that uses
reflected light to
measure the distance of objects up to five meters away in nano-second
speeds. Apple
says that new depth frameworks in iPadOS combine depth points from the LiDAR
scanner with data from cameras and motion sensors for a whole
new class of AR experiences on the iPad Pro.
Existing
ARKit apps will benefit from instant AR placement, improved motion capture, and
people occlusion. With new ARKit capabilities, developers can access a newScene Geometry API that
will result in new scenarios not possible without the LiDAR Scanner.
Apple
has improved the Measure app using the LiDAR Scanner,
and it can now automatically calculate a person's height. Object measurements
are faster and more accurate thanks to automatic vertical and edge guides, plus
there's a new Ruler View for more granular measurements.
Inside,
the 2020 iPad Pro is equipped with an A12Z Bionic Chip that features an 8-core
GPU, 8-core
CPU, and
enhanced thermal architecture and tuned performance controllers for faster than
ever performance. The Neural Engine handles Core ML tasks and
augmented reality features, and processes data from the LiDAR Scanner.
Like the
2018 iPad Pro models, the 2020 iPad Pro features a USB-C
port for
charging purposes and connecting to USB-C accessories including 4K and 5K
displays. The USB-C port on the iPad can also be used to charge accessories
like the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple has
added five studio-quality microphones to the iPad Pro for
capturing "super clean audio." There are four
speakers included
for an immersive sound experience in any orientation.
With the
A12Z processor, the 2020 iPad Pro models feature up to 10
hours of battery life on
a single charge. Other iPad Pro features include WiFi
6 support, gigabit-class
LTE for
cellular models, and storage options ranging from 128GB
to 1TB.
The 2020
iPad Pro works with the second-generation
Apple Pencil that
attaches to the iPad magnetically and charges from a direct physical
connection.
Apple has
designed a new Magic Keyboard for the 2020 iPad Pro, which is essentially a
new version of the Smart Keyboard that's equipped with a
trackpad, backlit
keys, and
a scissor switch mechanism with 1mm of key travel.
The
full-sized Magic Keyboard attaches
magnetically to
the iPad Pro and features cantilevered hinges for smooth viewing angle
adjustments up to 130 degrees. It features USB-C passthrough charging and
features a folio-like design that folds and protects the iPad when it's not in
use.
The new
Magic Keyboard is accompanied by trackpad and mouse
support for iPad in iPadOS 13.4. Trackpad support on iPad is designed as a
touch-first experience, with the cursor appearing as a circle but shifting to
highlight user interface elements like text fields, apps on the Home screen and
Dock, and other items that can be tapped.
Gesture support lets the trackpad be used
to swap between apps, edit text, access the app switcher, activate the Dock and
Control Center, and more. Trackpad support works in both first and third-party
iOS apps.
While the
trackpad experience was designed primarily for the Magic Keyboard, othermice and trackpads connect to the iPad Pro, such as the Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2.
Mouse and trackpad support is available for all modern iPads, and the new Magic
Keyboard even works with 2018 iPad Pro models. Scrolling and gesture support
requires a Magic Trackpad 2 or a Magic Mouse 2 and does not work with
first-generation models.