M1-Powered iPad Pro Takes Tablets To The Next Level

Apple’s new M1-powered iPad Pro takes tablets to the next level

- Shawn Chung

While the new 2021 Apple iPad Pro looks almost like its 2020 predecessor, it’s the most exciting iPad since Apple first released a Pro version, as it marks the debut of Apple’s very own M1 processor for the iPad. Since Apple’s own silicon made its premiere in the MacBook Air, Mac Mini and MacBook Pro 13 in late 2020, this processor upgrade has been highly anticipated by Apple geeks, like me.

Apple Singapore sent NXT the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro, plus Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil for this review, and as someone who regularly uses a 2018 iPad Pro, the differences are startling. The first thing you’ll notice, once you’ve powered the iPad up for the first time and registered (and wait a short while your new iPad transfers all apps and data from your older iPad), is just how astounding the new Liquid Retina XDR display is, thanks to its extreme dynamic range with 1,000nit full-screen brightness and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The screen supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, as well as True Tone, P3 wide colour and ProMotion Technology, all of which make this tablet ideal for mobile video warriors, though watching episodes of Schmigadoon! On Apple TV was a real treat with Dolby Atmos on headphones.

Apple has also updated the cameras on the iPad Pro, which not only has a LiDAR scanner for accurate AR use, the front facing TrueDepth camera system has been updated with a 12MP Ultra wide camera for Full-HD FaceTime, and with 122-degree field of view, Centre Stage is really amazing, you simply press the virtual button while video conferencing to activate it, and you’re camera will keep your face smoothly ‘front and centre’ of your video calls, even when you use another app like Google Meet or Zoom.