The latest iPad Pro, already the third generation, is by far the best tablet. In fact, it's so good that you can use it as a laptop in many cases. That is also allowed given its starting price of 900-1120 euros. But the iPad Pro is not suitable as a complete laptop replacement in all cases. Just not.
iPad Pro (2018)
PriceFrom € 899 (11 inch model)
From € 1119 (12.9 inch model)
Price accessories
Smart Keyboard Folio from € 199,-
Apple Pencil € 135
Processor
A12X Bionic + M12 Coprocessor
Storage
64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Screen
12.9-inch IPS (2732 x 2048 pixels)
11-inch IPS (2388 x 1668 pixels)
Camera
12 megapixel (rear), 7 megapixel (front)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 4G (optional)
Battery
36.71Wh (12.9-inch model)
29.37Wh (11 inch model)
Dimensions
22x28x0.6cm (12.9in model)
18x25x0.6cm (11 inch model)
Weight
633 grams (12.9-inch model)
468 grams (11 inch model)
Other
Face ID, Fingerprint scanner, usb-c
Website
www.apple.com/nl 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Screen
- Fast
- Audio quality
- Nice to hold
- Weight
- Negatives
- Awkward placement of language key Smart Keyboard Folio
- Only 1 USB-C port
- Very short usb-c cable
- Soft Magnet Apple Pencil
- Price
- No headphone port
The iPad Pro 2018 is already the third generation iPad Pro. In terms of look and feel, something has changed. The Touch ID button is gone and the whole front is screen. This makes for an extremely compact tablet with a decent screen size. The typical iPad rounding of the back is no more. In terms of housing, this iPad Pro is very similar to the straight finish of the iPhone 4 to iPhone SE.
It is available with a 12.9-inch screen and an 11-inch screen. The internal specifications are almost the same for both models. This is especially impressive for the 11-inch version. The price difference with the 12.9-inch version is 220 euros for all configurations. The thicker you dress up your iPad Pro 3, the more attractive the larger version becomes. I would go for the 12.9-inch anyway.
The iPad Pro has a fantastic screen
Because, as always, the iPad Pro has a fantastic screen. And that has become even more beautiful with the 2018 version. The colors splash off the screen and do not have an ugly oversaturation as you often see with screens from mainly Asian manufacturers. You can also set the brightness quite high without color casts or other spots being visible. In addition, it fits very comfortably in the hand and is not heavy at all. Watching Netflix for hours is no problem at all. In short: the iPad Pro is your ideal portable friend to watch movies and videos on.
The iPad Pro has a super sound
We immediately come to the sound: that is unprecedentedly good for a tablet. You can listen to videos and movies and music quite nicely without headphones. Handy, because Apple, in all its 'wisdom', has not mounted a headphone jack. However, a weak adapter from USB-C to 3.5mm jack is included. It works flawlessly but looks very clunky and I fear for its longevity. A new one costs 10 euros and you prefer to have one in several places.
The first iPad with Face ID
Because the screen takes up the entire iPad, the iPad Pro is the first iPad to have Face ID. It works flawlessly. Even much better than on the iPhone. The 'viewing angle' is much larger and if the camera cannot see your face well, for example because your hand is in front of it, an arrow shows you where to look. Hopefully, that improved Face ID will also come to the new iPhones.
Tablet with usb-c
For charging and connecting accessories, the iPad Pro 2018 also has an iPad first: USB-C. Ideal to finally use universal chargers and connection cables for laptops, telephones, tablets and accessories. Usb-c on the iPad Pro works flawlessly, only it is a pity that there is only one port. It has happened to me before that a somewhat longer Netflix session via wired headphones could not be done on one battery charge. Then you're a few hours further but and I could use Airpods or other Bluetooth earbuds. But they are empty after a few hours. Now you can (correctly) say that so much binge-watching is not good for me at all, but a tablet of more than a thousand euros (or in the tested top version of 2119 euros) should not give me such restrictions.
According to Apple, you can even connect a 4K screen to the iPad Pro via USB-C. For that you must have an HDMI 2.0 adapter or the screen must support USB-C directly. All nice and nice but the support is very meager. Only certain apps that provide video output or presentation apps in the special presentation view actually use an external display. Otherwise, it's a very meager duplication of the iPad screen, especially non-4K displays. It would be more logical to be able to use an external display as a real external display. Multiple screens, multiple apps open at the same time, easy switching, etc. But unfortunately, none of that.
iPad Pro and usb-c dongles: they do work
Dongles are needed on almost every Apple device these days. I tested the iPad Pro with the Moshi Symbus usb-c dock and a few different usb-c to HDMI dongles and usb-c to usb dongles from AlixExpress and they all worked. The Symbus could simultaneously charge, display an image on an external device and read a USB stick. However, there are quite a few limitations.
Working with the Smart Keyboard Folio
An indispensable accessory for the iPad Pro is the Smart Keyboard Folio. Costs no less than 200-220 euros, but then you immediately have protection for the screen and a handy stand to use the iPad Pro as a laptop. It works well both on the desk and on your lap. Typing is also good, only I had a lot of trouble with the language selection button at the front left with which you switch keyboards. I often unintentionally pressed it, especially while typing on my lap. If you want to prevent that, you have to let your hands float above the keyboard, which is tiring.
In any case, it is better to tap it a bit more rudely to get a clearer feedback on what you are doing. Typing longer emails or other documents is easy and especially the arrow keys are a godsend when working in spreadsheets.
Working with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil
A new Apple Pencil, the 2nd generation, has been made for the Apple Pro 2018. That is of course not included and you have to buy it separately for 135 euros. The 1st generation Apple Pencil will not work on the 3rd generation iPad Pro and the earlier iPad Pros will not work with the new Apple Pencil.
The big advantage of the Apple Pencil 2nd generation is that it is charged wirelessly and it has a flat side so that it does not roll away so easily. It snaps magnetically onto the long side of the iPad Pro and charges instantly. Unfortunately, that magnet is not very strong, so it easily comes loose in a bag or backpack. There is a good chance that you will misunderstand or worse, lose it.
Like the previous Apple Pencil, it is handy to have with you, but iOS is not yet smart enough to make using it intuitive. If you're enjoying using it as a pointer and opening a document or spreadsheet, it suddenly becomes an input device. To drive you crazy. You can switch from input to pointer, but you have to do that every time. While iOS knows that I tapped the document with Pencil to open… So there is still some development work to be done.
The iPad Pro as a laptop replacement
For now, the iPad Pro is not yet a full laptop replacement. That is really due to iOS having too many limitations. Because the iPad Pro is really fast enough. All apps appear very quickly on the beautiful screen and browsing is flawless. Don't get me wrong, a lot of office work can be done just fine on the iPad Pro. But if you really want to be productive with multiple screens, file sharing and full browsing, you can't avoid a laptop or desktop computer. Until iOS is further developed, you can see the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement for most usage situations. But not for all.
The fact that the iPad Pro is not (yet) a laptop replacement is mainly due to iOS.Conclusion: buy iPad Pro 2018?
Do you mainly want to do office work and especially take little volume and weight with you? Then the iPad Pro 2018 is ideal. There is simply no better tablet. You have to reserve a budget of at least 1500 euros for the 12.9-inch version. I would not recommend the 11-inch version, which is very small for office work. You can cut back on the Apple Pencil and the keyboard if you want. That saves another 350 euros, but then you have a very expensive mobile Netflix player. By far the best out there, that is. Hopefully there will be some big updates in the coming iOS versions because it won't be long before the iPad Pro is a real replacement for your laptop.
