Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) review

05 December 2018
The latest iPads are the best tablets Apple has ever made, of course. But now they are also highly advertised as fully-fledged computers and the maker wants you to think they can do everything. Do they really? We grabbed the latest iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) to find out just that.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • IbI
  • 06 Dec 2018

Anonymous, 06 Dec 2018Best tablet around including the 11 Pro period.I agree, I have the 11 inch

    Sorry to say this but iPad isn't as good as you might think it would be.

    Since I bought first gen I upgraded twice, but every time you fiddle with it, eventually you come to want to use it like a computer, which you can't, and get frustrated.
    My 4 year old Android tablet is still kicking and I feel much better with it thanks to its simple file system etc.

    And new model has only 11h of web browsing time? I wonder if it means the battery life is even worse than most phones out there.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • ss1
      • 06 Dec 2018

      Best tablet around including the 11 Pro period.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • q$8
        • 06 Dec 2018

        Catherine the Great, 06 Dec 2018I'm shocked you didn't mention how easy this iPad is to ben... moreI'm really surprised GSMA didn't talk about how easy it is to blend in their review.

        I'm affluent, so every morning I put an iPad Pro 12.3" 1TB LTE model into my blender and press and hold the "Ice Crush" setting. The blender makes short work of the device, thoroughly pulverizing it into a fine powder that I add into my protein shake.

        I couldn't be happier with my purchase. It allows me to ingest Steve Job's essence almost directly into my bloodstream, as every prosumer should want. The results speak for themselves. I now have a cybernetic eye and a brain that is powered by the magnificent A12X bionic chip. Half of my body is "Slate Grey", a testiment to my prowess as an iPad user, and I can play Fortnite in my sleep, literally.

        Shame it wasn't mentioned in the review. A lot of people are missing out on the bendable, blendable iPad 2018.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • SpE
          • 06 Dec 2018

          But while Apple didn't make a tablet that could replace a laptop, it might have created the best gaming console yet.

          you could possibly call it the best gaming hardware yet but consoles live and die on their games. That's why it's possible for Nintendo to come out with weaker hardware than the competition and still sell millions a time. It's why Halo alone was enough to make a huge impact on the industry and allow Microsoft to survive early, it's why Sony are currently pulling ahead of Microsoft. The problem with Ipad is that the games it can play are essentially what others can play, maybe it can do it a bit fancier but there's very few killer titles that draw people to it. It's not a true gaming device based on the support it receives in it's lineup, the input controls allowing for varied titles, exclusive titles or anything. It doesn't really succeed as a console on the merits of games and has flaws in it's approach to hardware too.

            This tablet makes me uncomfortable about planning to upgrade ipad pro 10.5
            1) No OIS- It made a lot of sense to have OIS to people to people who takes notes on tablet like me. Even if I want to share in my phone, I always takes notes photos/scan on iPad as it was very easy to get a clear images for taking a lot of photos quickly with OIS
            2) No 3.5 - An PC competing device should have the jack. I am addicted to it and is reluctant to charge a hlbluetooth headset regularly
            An regarding speed, my Ipad is really fast already and was equivalent to i7 macbook pros in benchmarks two years back. And it has 120 fps screen already and not just 120hz touch latency unlike what gsmarena claimed. There is even an option in accessibility to limit fps to 60 and difference is clearly noticeable and one will never go back to that especially while scrolling notes it makes a lot of difference in smoothness.
            So for me this looks like a dead end in buying an ipad . With Samsung tablet now supporting linux, powerusers should wait for a mightier tab S5 instead of this.

              • D
              • DQ
              • 8IN
              • 06 Dec 2018

              Nick Tagataka, 06 Dec 2018Because average consumer won't bend their tablets intention... more"Because average consumer won't bend their tablets intentionally?"

              The test performed by Zach is to demonstrate how it can happen if an accident occur. Obviously not because consumers will bend them intentionally....
              If you leave the iPad on a couch or on the bed between sheets, somebody can sit inadvertently and destroy your 1000$ toy

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 2Au
                • 06 Dec 2018

                I wish Samsung will create tablet that will beat the performance score of this iPad. I still like android. But the score of the new iPad is a big shame to any other products out there. Its so advanced.

                  • p
                  • piku
                  • DkB
                  • 06 Dec 2018

                  Gsamarena says "Long story short - the 7nm Apple A12X Bionic chip is the fastest smartphone chipset on the planet today and a benchmark for the whole chip industry"

                  But this is not a smartphone chipset If it was a smartphone chipset battery would have lasted much more

                    • A
                    • Arsani
                    • fuc
                    • 06 Dec 2018

                    Anonymous, 06 Dec 2018Did u when read the whole review before commenting?GSMArena didn’t say much about the following:

                    1) Multitasking and the app switcher
                    2) The limited file system/explorer
                    3) The amount of reliable apps for productivity

                    And they did not give examples of how it is like to work on the ipad because from what I have read on other reviews it is limited and has lots of inconveniences especially when exchanging files/data between apps.

                      • I
                      • IT crowd
                      • SH3
                      • 06 Dec 2018

                      You mentioned that mouse works via USB-C MacBook adapter, wired or wireless. Coud you please confirm and provide more details? Would BlueTooth mouse work without adapter? Only Apple mouse or any BT mouse? What about Magic Trackpad ? That would be fantastic news but I'm afraid your information is not correct. Every article I found so far says there is no mouse support in new iPads.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • PE3
                        • 06 Dec 2018

                        despite its pro label it doesnt have any pro software for it . You cant even use a mouse with it . Remember how apple mock touch screen laptop when promoting mac without touch screen ? This is a pro device that solely rely on touch screen to navigate .

                          • S
                          • Sam
                          • uvI
                          • 06 Dec 2018

                          Catherine the Great, 06 Dec 2018I'm shocked you didn't mention how easy this iPad is to ben... moreBut Smart customers do lots of research before buying anything. GSMArena have already posted in news section.
                          But they have to mention it.

                            Catherine the Great, 06 Dec 2018I'm shocked you didn't mention how easy this iPad is to ben... moreBecause average consumer won't bend their tablets intentionally? You need to consider that Zack from JerryRigEverything is so strong he can bend 3 spoons stacked together with ease. However, if the durability is really your concern, I suggest you to wait for the next year's iPad Pro to be released as Apple will definitely use thicker chassis to avoid criticism.

                              I'm shocked you didn't mention how easy this iPad is to bend in your review.

                                Did you know you can't multi task on ipad with youtube on... I think that sums up my review...
                                Jokes aside.. My ipad pro 10.5 was the best of both worlds.. Even though I'm a note user, the galaxy tab felt underpowered especially when managing those huge pdf files of my textbooks.. Whereas i had to shell out almost double for a decent specced surface pro..
                                Now I'd go with either of those.. And did you know ipad batteries swell up too.. Thankfully mine hasn't exploded.. Only pushed out the entire screen

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • sxs
                                  • 06 Dec 2018

                                  Huge tablets should just focus on providing the biggest and highest resolution screen, the highest storage options with expandable storage, the longest lasting batteries, and the best media playback software so they can excel where they are good at: Being digital photo and video albums, digital photo frames and digital newspapers and magazines that they are supposed to be--- to replace the old fashioned family photo album, the living room books, magazines, newspapers, and the coffee-table reading materials.

                                  Mobile gaming does not make sense in a huge tablet because you will always prefer to leave it at home most of the time due to bulk and would rather play on a big screened phone/phablet that is more convenient to always carry with you anywhere. The phablet has cannibalized the tablet market.

                                  For home gaming, tv's, gaming consoles and PC's rule.

                                  For productivity and gaming (work and play) on the go - laptops and convertibles rule - again, cannibalizing the tablet form factor where it doesn't stand a chance.

                                  That leaves huge tablets like the iPad PRO with no specific market segment that ONLY THEY can claim and with no serious competition from other form factors (phablets, convertible laptops)! No wonder tablets are dying.

                                  Tablets have to evolve into digital photo and video albums, digital photo frames and digital newspapers and magazines etc. to replace the old fashioned family photo album, the living room newspapers, books and magazines and the coffee-table books.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • uvU
                                    • 06 Dec 2018

                                    Arsani, 05 Dec 2018Gsmarena didn’t say much about it’s capability as a compute... moreDid u when read the whole review before commenting?

                                      Anonymous, 06 Dec 2018Pros -Great display, 120Hz is a real treat -The most powe... more"There, ed***, fixed it for you"
                                      Can you at least have some respect towards the writers working for GSMArena? Those editors aren't d*** as you say and it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable reading comments like this. You could've just pointed out how their reviews could be improved even further, you don't need to be rude in the process of doing so.

                                        6 GB ram on a tablet... and Androids still didn't get to do it on their own... O.O
                                        Excellent review guys!