As expected, Apple has announced the new iPad Pro with the M1 chip. Yup, the same M1 chip powering the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Just like previous iterations, the 2021 iPad Pro comes in two sizes — 11-inch and 12.9-inch. The 11-inch model has a regular LCD panel, while the 12.9-inch model has a mini-LED panel. Apple calls it the Liquid Retina XDR display, similar to the Pro Display XDR desktop monitor. It supports all the high-quality imaging formats (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG). Both models also feature ProMotion, which is basically an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.
Even though it has the same processing power as the MacBooks, the iPad Pro is still a mobile product and it comes with an optional 5G connectivity. The cellular model has an eSIM, something that Apple has been doing for a while.
It has an updated TrueDepth camera with a 12MP sensor and a 10MP ultrawide-angle lens, together with the LiDAR scanner. The new M1 chip enables Smart HDR 3 and in low-light, the LiDAR helps with autofocus. The tablet can also insert digital imagery and keep it as background to create impressive virtual environments.
According to Apple Malaysia, both iPad Pro sizes come in five storage configurations — 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The 11-inch model retails from RM3,499, while the 12.9-inch model retails from RM4,799. If you opt for the 5G model, you’ll need to pay an extra RM650. The top configuration 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 2TB storage and 5G connectivity will cost you RM10,399!