Apple has launched its next iPad Pro, which sees the tablet edging ever nearer to being a laptop as well. Alongside the upgraded iPad Pro, Apple has launched the Magic Keyboard with the first trackpad. This works with both the new models and the previous generation, through a forthcoming update to iPadOS – 13.4 – that adds cursor support to the iPad. Apple says this will be released on March 24.
Apps will also have to be updated to add cursor support – so you’ll likely not be able to make use of this feature immediately.
As before, the 2020 iPad Pro is available in two sizes – 11-inch and 12.9, and in Space Gray or Silver finishes.
Other new features include:
The A12Z Bionic chip. This combines an eight-core CPU with an eight-core GPU, while – says Apple – still allowing you to have up to 10 hours of battery life, faster Wi-Fi and cellular connections.
The new Pro camera has a 12mp wide camera and a 10mp ultra-wide camera.
The iPads also have a LiDAR Scanner that measures the distance of all objects up to five metres away. iPadOS 13.4 adds new depth frameworks so that AR and other camera-based apps can better analyse the environments they see.
Pricing begins at £769/US$799 for the Wi-Fi-only 11-inch model. The Wi-FI+cellular version starts at £919/$949. The 12.9-inch model start at £969/$999 and £1,119/$1,149 for Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi+cellular versions respectively. Each is available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.
The new iPad Pro can be purchased from Apple's website.
The Magic Keyboard costs $299 for both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. There are UK English and US English versions.
