Review of the Apple iPad Pro (2022): A minor improvement over the previous model, but still the greatest tablet

In 2022, Apple took the opportunity to totally redesign the iPad, but with the iPad Pro series, the firm decided not to shake things up too much and stick with what was working. Instead, Apple updated the internal specifications of both iPad Pro models, with the 11-inch iPad Pro starting at $799 and the 12.9-inch version selling for $1099. Apple also increased the prices of both models.

The new iPad Pro does not have any significant design updates (it appears to be the same as the iPad Pro from 2021) but it does feature increased processing power. Apple replaced the M1 CPU with the M2 processor, making this iPad more powerful and responsive than any other iPad in the company’s portfolio.

Apple iPad Pro (2022)

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PROS
+The M2 chip possesses exceptional levels of power
+Display that is the best in its class
+Apple Pencil, second generation, now has a Hover Mode
CONS
-Identical look, cameras, and length of battery life
-The camera facing the front is still situated in an inconvenient position
-The iPad Operating System is not yet a suitable replacement for laptops

The iPad Pro from 2022 provides users with a familiar pro-level experience along with premium capabilities. One of these features is the new Hover mode for the second generation of Apple Pencil. It might be worth it to get on for businesspeople that want the most capable iPad that Apple has produced to this point. On the other hand, if you are more of a casual user, the 2021 Pro model might be a better option for both you and your pocketbook.

Although it costs more, it is still the best option available.

The main narrative focus of the iPad Pro in 2022 is on the continuation of the same hardware. It is still offered in two screen sizes, 11 and 12.9 inches, and features a display, cameras, storage options (ranging from 128GB to 2TB), speakers, battery life, and colorways that are identical to before.

However, in spite of Apple’s decision to implement a contemporary design language for all of its iPad models—including rounded display corners, uniform borders around the screen, flat sides, and a flat back—the iPad Pro continues to stand apart due to its very thin design.

The iPad Pro’s consistent borders are thinner than those of the iPad Air and the 10th generation iPad, which contributes to the device’s more upscale appearance. The iPad model with an 11-inch display weighs only 1.03 pounds, whereas the iPad model with a 12.9-inch display weighs 1.5 pounds. This difference in weight is to be expected with such a large iPad model.

The displays of both iPad Pro models are identical to those found in the iPad Pro devices released in 2021. The 12.9-inch model still has a better screen than the 11-inch model since it has Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display that is based on Mini-LED backlighting. This results in a visual experience that is more accurate, bright, and crisp. Each variant features Apple’s 120Hz high-refresh-rate ProMotion display, which is responsible for producing fluid animations when navigating the iPad operating system.

The iPad Pro 2022 has the same camera hardware as the iPad Pro 2021 and the iPad Pro 2020. It has a wide camera with 12 megapixels and an ultra-wide camera with 10 megapixels on the back, and it has an ultra-wide camera with 12 megapixels on the front of the device that supports Face ID.

Unfortunately, the front-facing camera on the iPad Pro is still located on the top edge of the screen. This means that you will be in an awkward position during video calls if you use the tablet in landscape mode, which is highly likely given that the Pro works wonderfully with Apple’s Magic Keyboard. If you use the iPad Pro in portrait mode, you will not have this problem.

Even though the Center Stage feature, which keeps you in the center of the frame, can assist with the awkward side placement in landscape mode, we can’t wait till all iPads have a landscape-oriented camera like the one that comes with the basic iPad.

The battery life of the iPad Pro is comparable to that of other iPads; it allows for around 5.5 hours of continuous video streaming at the maximum level of brightness.

The M2 chip is the most significant advance, but the professionals will benefit the most from it.

Apple’s M2 chip is the same CPU that drives the 2022 MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. This chip is used in the 2022 iPad Pro as well. The iPad Pro, with the exception of a few minor characteristics, provides computer-grade power in a package that is both thinner and lighter.

The topic of whether or not the iPad Pro 2022 is powerful enough is not the most important one for professionals, because it is the most powerful tablet that money can buy. Instead, the question is whether the desktop versions of the apps customers use on their iPadOS devices offer the same level of functionality.

Although Apple states that upgrading from M1 to M2 results in a 15% improvement in processing speed and up to a 35% increase in graphics performance, the difference between the two is not very noticeable in casual day-to-day use. The power of the iPad Pro is unnecessary for users who only stream videos and operate fundamental apps like social media, games, and web browsing, among other activities.

The update may be justifiable for professionals, but the average person will have a difficult time making the case for it. If you want your purchase to last longer, it might be worth it to spend the extra money. The iPad Pro is expected to outlive the iPad from the 10th generation by a few years, and even the iPad Air from the first generation by a year or so.

The second generation Apple Pencil, which is even more helpful than its predecessor.

The M2 processor found in the iPad Pro does more than just supply power. It supports the new Hover feature with the second-generation Apple Pencil, making it the ideal instrument for people who need more accuracy than a finger can deliver, such as note-takers, artists, or simply those who want greater control over their work.

You may get a glimpse of exactly where the tip of the Pencil will land by using the Hover feature, which enables the iPad Pro to detect the tip of the Pencil from a distance of 12 millimeters above the screen. The preview allows you to see the size of the marker you wish to make, and it also allows you to see how the multiple colors will mix together.

The Apple Pencil is already renowned for its accuracy and precision, but this accessory improves those qualities even further. Hover is an app that will assist you in determining whether you have selected the appropriate brush size or color, if you have ever had the experience of the Apple Pencil not always landing exactly where you wanted it to on the screen of an iPad, or whether you have picked the appropriate brush size.

Hover can also be integrated into the apps that are developed by third-party developers. When you move your mouse pointer over a project thumbnail in ProCreate, for instance, a timeline of your workflow will play. You can also make adjustments to your brush by combining Hover with the use of finger motions on the screen. For example, you can change the size of your brush.

Hover is already useful in its current incarnation, and if more Hover capabilities are added over time, it has the actual potential to become absolutely indispensible for digital professionals who use the Apple Pencil. This potential will become more apparent as Hover continues to develop.

Despite its impressive features, the iPad Pro 2022 is not a suitable substitute for a laptop.

Even when paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which provides users with a trackpad in addition to a keyboard, the iPad Pro 2022 does not provide users with the advantages that are found in laptops and tablets, nor is it a suitable replacement for a laptop. There is no question that it is a tablet.

Even before comparing iPadOS to macOS, utilizing an iPad Pro as a laptop is not a financially sound option. This is true regardless of the operating system. The price difference between the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the M2 MacBook Air is barely $100; additionally, cases that include keyboards and trackpads will drive the price considerably higher.

Not to mention that the combination of Apple’s Magic Keyboard with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is significantly heavier and has a greater thickness than the 14-inch MacBook Pro or the M2 MacBook Air. On top of that, the keyboards and trackpads found on Apple’s laptops are a major step above from those found on the Magic Keyboard.

When it comes to the iPad operating system, iPadOS is still very much a mobile operating system and cannot in any way equal the functionality of a full desktop operating system such as macOS. Apple wants to be your laptop so badly that it has developed three separate features that can help you multitask more effectively. These features are called Stage Manager, Slide View, and Split View. When I’m working, I find that multitasking on an iPad is still not as seamless or natural as it is on a laptop, and as a result, I often find myself achingly longing for my laptop.

Perhaps a device that combines your camera and editing station into one unit.

The iPad Pro stands out from the rest of the iPad lineup thanks to its dual-lens camera setup, which consists of a 10-megapixel ultra-wide lens in addition to a main lens that has a resolution of 12 megapixels.

They take images and films that are superior to those taken by any other iPad, and you can edit them on the iPad Pro itself. They are also the only iPads that feature Lidar sensors, which is a scanning technique that adds depth to photographs and is helpful for applications such as 3D and augmented reality.

In spite of this, a more recent iPhone will continue to be the best choice for taking photos and videos. The iPhone 14 Pro, for example, boasts superior video recording capabilities, including support for Dolby Vision, a 3x optical zoom lens, and Apple’s Cinematic Mode for smoother focus transitions. AirDrop also makes it simple to move media captured on an iPhone to an iPad Pro. This includes both still images and videos.

With the ability to record video at 4K quality at 60 frames per second, support for the ProRes format, and video stabilization, the cameras on the iPad Pro 2022 might be sufficient for the video projects of video enthusiasts and even some pros. Even while the iPad Pro is equipped with stereo audio recording, you will most likely achieve superior results by using a wireless microphone setup.

However, video professionals and photographers are more likely to use the iPad Pro as a mobile workstation to supplement the equipment that they already have, instead of using the cameras that are incorporated into the tablet itself. Although it is not likely to be a good replacement for a laptop, the iPad Pro is an excellent choice for these professionals because it is both lightweight (because their camera equipment will already be very heavy) and powerful enough to edit photographs and videos in a reasonable amount of time.

Should you purchase the iPad Pro 2022 model?

If you appreciate working with power-hungry, professional-grade apps with the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is without a doubt the best option for you. And if you want to use the Apple Pencil on the device with the largest screen available, the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display is your best bet. It is also perfect for some professionals, such as videographers and photographers, who want a strong workstation but want to keep their equipment as light as possible.

Consider purchasing the iPad Air 2022 with an 11-inch screen if you are an Apple Pencil fan but don’t require a significant amount of processing power. Even though it is powered by Apple’s M1 CPU, its performance isn’t that far behind that of the iPad Pro’s M2 chip. Please be aware that although the 2022 iPad Air is compatible with the Apple Pencil of the second generation, it is not compatible with the new Hover feature, which is only available on devices with an M2 CPU.

Even with the addition of a keyboard case and a trackpad or mouse, the iPad Pro is not a suitable alternative for a laptop due to the limitations of the iPad OS in this regard. Purchase the M2 MacBook Air or the 14-inch MacBook Pro if you require a workstation that is both slim and lightweight but still provides a genuine computing experience.

It is difficult to say how many years the iPad Pro will outperform the entry-level 10th-generation iPad when it comes to smooth and fast performance for casual video streamers who use basic apps. However, the iPad Pro will give you a few extra years of smooth and fast performance than the 10th-generation iPad. Additionally, having the ProMotion display is a very welcome addition.

The 11-inch iPad Pro, on the other hand, is not only twice as expensive as the iPad of the 10th generation, but it is also $200 more expensive than the iPad Air. Before offering the iPad Pro to more casual users, I would suggest one of those two devices as a more suitable option.

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