The new iPad Pro may not look new on the surface but Apple has long been vocal about this new tablet's under-the-hood specialty: the M1 Chip, the same chip found in the 13-in MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Mini. The prospect of a tablet armed with a chip that's running MacBooks definitely piques interest to say the least, but the question is whether it's all it's made out to be.
PROS
Apple has loudly touted the M1 Chip as the main feature of the iPad Pro and once you get your hands on the device, it's easy to see why -- in just the first few seconds. There's a significant difference when you scroll through this iPad Pro -- it's much smoother than previous iPads -- and apps open much quicker. However, these just scratch the surface of what the M1 enables the iPad Pro to do. Aside from speed and ease, the new chip packs a punch and makes taxing tasks a breeze on the processor. Editing photos on Photoshop enables you to edit on the same level of intricacy as you would on a MacBook. Video-editing with apps like Procreate is much smoother. One of the best apps that shows the M1's power and finesse is Staffpad, which can transform what you play on an instrument into musical notation in real time. The iPad Pro comes with a LiDar Scanner that not only makes AR more immersive but also helps in capturing images in low light. Viewing a movie on the iPad Pro is much more enjoyable with its four speakers; the audio doesn't just come from one direction and audio input is as great as the output with five mics in the tablet. Not only will your mic sound crisp and clear in Zoom calls but the iPad Pro also has the Center Stage feature, which keeps the camera centred on you during video calls even if you move around. Face ID and 2TB storage are available on this iPad Pro model though it could be argued that these features have been added a little late in the game.
CONS
Due to the fanfare Apple has about this iPad Pro having the M1 chip, there were a few people who assumed that it is the equivalent of a MacBook Pro. While that may be true in terms of processing speed, that is certainly not true in its usage. This isn't necessarily a negative aspect of the iPad Pro but it should be made clear that it is still a tablet and not a laptop, so don't go buying this thinking that you've bought yourself a compact little MacBook. Having said that, there are only a few apps that harness the power of the M1 though that will probably change soon. This means you'll only have a handful of apps readily available for download to really play around with the iPad Pro's processing power -- and no, you can't download the MacBook equivalent of these apps on it. The Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil can also be great companions with this iPad Pro but those are sold separately and are pricey.
VERDICT
I've talked a lot about the M1 Chip and so has Apple in marketing this new iPad Pro, but it's easy to see why. The difference in speed and power is staggering, enabling its user to utilise it for more complicated tasks without any hassle. Any artist, videographer or photographer will definitely find their lives become so much easier having it around. If, however, you are somehow expecting it to be a tabletised MacBook, you will definitely be disappointed because, despite the chip, it's still not a laptop. If you're in the market for a laptop then... buy a laptop.
The iPad Pro starts at a price of B27,900. Visit Apple.co.th.