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Apple announces 9.7 inch iPad Pro, targeting existing iPad and Windows users

Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 17.44.30

As part of its media event, Apple has announced a new 9.7 inch version of the iPad Pro from $599. It features much of the same internals as its 12.9 inch cousin, with A9X chip, Apple Pencil support and Smart Connector. Although in most respects, the iPad Pro is the same as its big brother it features significant upgrades in the camera department. The 9.7 inch iPad Pro has a 12 megapixel rear camera, 4K video recording and a 5 megapixel front camera. That being said, the iPad Pro now has a camera bump to support the advanced camera system.

Apple says the new iPad features a screen with a True Tone display, that automatically adjusts the color temperature of the screen based on the room environment.

Along with the smaller hardware, Apple is also releasing a new smaller Smart Keyboard to fit. Existing Apple Pencils are compatible with the new device. Apple is describing the iPad Pro as an ultimate PC replacement.

Just like with the big iPad, Apple Pencil lets users interact with the tablet screen with a stylus, for drawing and sketching. The Apple Pencil can be used to navigate around the whole UI, but it isn’t really meant for purposes beyond drawing.

Apple says it wants to provide a 9.7 inch iPad for all the customers who already have 9.7 inch tablets. In addition, iPad Pro 9.7inch is targeted at Windows desktop and notebook users.

The display is 40% less reflective than the iPad Air, the lowest reflectivity of any tablet. It is also 25% brighter than an iPad Air 2, ‘the brightest tablet available’. The screen also works with Night Shift, coming in iOS 9.3.

Like the 12.9 inch iPad, this iPad has 4 speakers for stereo audio depending on orientation. Like iPhone 6s, the new iPad Pro features always-on Hey Siri. 

Apple® today introduced the all-new 9.7-inch iPad Pro™ — at just under one pound it features a new pro Retina® display with greater brightness, wider color gamut, lower reflectivity, Night Shift™ mode and introduces new True Tone® display technology to dynamically adjust white balance. The new iPad Pro delivers incredible performance with the 64-bit A9X chip that rivals most portable PCs, along with a four-speaker audio system that is twice as powerful,1 new 12-megapixel iSight® camera for shooting Live Photos™ and 4K video, 5-megapixel FaceTime® HD camera, and faster wireless technologies. And iPad Pro includes support for the breakthrough Apple Pencil™ and a new Smart Keyboard™ cover designed to fit the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

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Comments

  1. tedouni - 8 years ago

    So smaller yet better camera than the 12.9″ iPad Pro. No biggie since I don’t take pics on my iPad

  2. patstar5 - 8 years ago

    They have to try harder than that to get me to leave my surface 3.

    • ISTi (@ISTi) - 8 years ago

      No they don’t. If you’re okay with the lackluster selection of tablet optimized apps, then you are okay.
      But hey, you can run your desktop apps, those work flawlessly with a touch interface, lawl!

      • Nathan Lanier - 8 years ago

        Yeah but at least the Surface Pro is worthy of the word Pro….. ARM architecture = definitely not pro

  3. Manuel (@JavierEspino21) - 8 years ago

    where can i get those wallpapers?

  4. Christian Hampshire - 8 years ago

    So how it this targeting Windows users??

    • iali87 - 8 years ago

      Because they mentioned the pc owners in one of their slides lol

      • patstar5 - 8 years ago

        Last time I checked I can install iTunes on my surface and plug in an iPad pro to sync.
        An iPad is still dependent on another device if something goes wrong.
        Full windows and os x devices aren’t.

    • ademerre - 8 years ago

      Exactly what I was thinking. There is so much more I can do with a Windows tablet, or better still a Windows 2-in-1, compared to what the iPad Pro has to offer.

  5. k0jeg - 8 years ago

    Probably going to upgrade from my 1st gen Air, but with a cellular modem, extra memory and Pencil the price isn’t making it a “no brainer” decision.

  6. Hax Hakeem - 8 years ago

    the apple website says the 9.7 ipad pro doesn’t support usb 3 with the lightning camera cable. if so, that’s a plus for the bigger pro, and also a little bit disappointing if it doesn’t have usb 3 support

  7. floriorules - 8 years ago

    How is it a desktop replacement? Can one do their complex taxes on it? Does it run flash?

  8. Manohar Pilankar - 8 years ago

    There are some things where nothing being offered to get greedy investors excited about……….But I really like the idea of the iPhone SE-new member to the iPhone family…..Maybe you would be also interested in taking a look at an article on the same subject on our company’s blog?

    http://www.riktamtech.com/blog/apple-launched-iphone-se-product-updates-and-highlights/

  9. Manohar Pilankar - 8 years ago

    There are some things where nothing being offered to get greedy investors excited about……….But I really like the idea of the iPhone SE-new member to the iPhone family…..Maybe you would be also interested in taking a look at an article on the same subject on our company’s blog? http://www.riktamtech.com/blog/apple-launched-iphone-se-product-updates-and-highlights/

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.