Apple iPad Pro 12.9 5th Generation Review: Say Hello to the Laptop Killer
Up close with Apple’s ultimate M1-based tablet
As Apple’s homegrown M1 CPU slowly subsumes iOS, iPadOS, and macOS products, the hard line that once separated iPhone from iPad and desktop from tablet is slowly crumbling, and I’m here for it.
The introduction of the original iPad Pro was the first tear in that thick fabric separating platforms and product lines. Built around the A9X, Apple’s then most powerful mobile processor (one built for it by another company), the first iPad Pro (circa 2015) was the slab that left playtime behind. Okay, not behind, but real work and creativity shifted to the driver’s seat.
Floating over the optional ($349) Magic Keyboard and topped with also optional ($129) second-generation Apple Pencil, Apple’s new iPad Pro 12.9 5th generation completes the journey. This powerful tablet is ready to handle any tough job (like writing this review), while still leaving room for eye- (and ear-) popping entertainment.
Same yet different
From a design perspective, this new iPad Pro is virtually indistinguishable from the last model. It has the same aluminum chassis and sharp lines. The rear camera array, which includes the impressive LiDAR scanner, looks…
