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Engadget readers love the iPad Pro 12.9
The word that Senior Editor Chris Velazco used to sum up his experience reviewing the iPad Pro 12.9 was "wow." While the ever popular tablet offers sleek hardware, an "absurdly fast" A12X Bionic chipset and a significantly improved Apple Pencil, it still lacks features on the software side that would have made it a realistic laptop replacement. Despite its speedy performance, Chris felt limited by iOS 12's abilities and continually needed work arounds to accomplish tasks that would have been simple on a laptop. While the iPad Pro 12.9 is an "impressive technical achievement," Chris ultimately wanted more from the software side and gave the tablet a solid, but not spectacular, score of 84. Users were actually more disappointed by iOS 12, awarding the device an average score of 78.
The best 2-in-1 tablets for 2019
Two-in-1 tablets are far from perfect. But just because there isn't a flawless laptop replacement today doesn't mean you can't get a tablet that's good enough to get some work done on the road. Tech's biggest players are falling over themselves to push out these devices, giving the premium-tablet category new life. It's easy to see why people would want these hybrids: They offer the power and productivity of a notebook in the thin and light body of a tablet. But there isn't an operating system yet that's versatile enough to work as well as a tablet as it does as a desktop (or vice versa). So as you approach this decision, it's worth thinking about which mode is more important to you.
iPadOS won’t change your mind on the iPad
Apple's announcement of iPadOS yesterday wasn't a huge surprise, outside of the name. Rumors have suggested that iOS 13 would be a major step forward for the iPad, bringing multitasking improvements that would make using an iPad more like a "real computer." It's something the iPad definitely needs, particularly the $800-plus iPad Pro. If you're shelling out that kind of cash, it should be capable enough to be your main computer. The laundry list of improvements coming to the iPad this fall will undoubtedly make Apple's tablets more capable than ever before. But let's be clear: if you found the iPad and iOS too limiting before, these updates will likely not change your mind. At first glance, iPadOS seems like a major refinement to the existing iPad user experience -- but if you prefer using Windows or macOS, an iPad still might be more of a frustration than a revelation.
The best stylus for your iPad or other touchscreen device
By Serenity Caldwell This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After testing 18 styluses in five categories for over 20 hours to find the best touchscreen stylus for sketching, writing, and navigation, we think the Adonit Mark is the one most people should buy, thanks to its unmatched combination of accuracy, comfort, and price.
Bloomberg claims a 12.9-inch iPad is coming next year
The rumor mill surrounding Apple is at full force right now. But while people are still waiting for the supposed bigger-screen iPhone (or iPhones) and a smartwatch to show up, we can now add one more device to the list. According to Bloomberg, Apple's set to introduce a 12.9-inch iPad in 2015. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report claims that production on said iPad, which would be Apple's biggest yet, is scheduled to begin as early as Q1 of next year, noting that it's all part of Tim Cook's plan to "shake up the iPad line." Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard whispers on a 12.9-inch tablet from the iPhone maker, as some outlets have previously reported on leaked parts from a device being known as "iPad Pro." Now whether or not Apple is actually working on one, that's yet to be determined -- but even if it was, let's not forget that companies tend to have a change of heart from time to time.
This is not the iPad Pro [Video]
A few weeks ago, folks were all too quick to claim that the photo above, found on Apple's website, accidentally revealed a heretofore unannounced larger screened iPad Pro. In truth, the photo is nothing more than a MacBook Pro shot at just the right angle. That said, it's only fair that we warn you that this video depicting a larger sized iPad Pro is also not authentic.
Why the iPad Air makes rumors of a 13-inch iPad a bit more believable
Apple rumors are a dime a dozen, and an overwhelming majority never materialize. So, when the rumors of an almost-13-inch iPad made the rounds earlier this year, it was easy to dismiss it as just another whisper in the endless hum of Apple conjecture. But then Phil Schiller took the stage in San Francisco and showed off the iPad Air for the first time... and the mega-iPad rumors suddenly make a bit more sense. An odd lineup Right now, Apple is selling four tablets: iPad 2, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina, and iPad Air. The iPad 2 and standard iPad mini are arguably the "budget" options, while the Retina iPad mini and iPad Air are the top-of-the-line models -- at least for now. The new iPad mini and the iPad Air are so remarkably close in terms of specs, the only important distinction between them is the screen size (9.7 inches vs. 7.9 inches) and even that isn't really all that big of a choice. They're both powered by the A7 chip, the camera capabilities are identical, they are both shockingly lightweight, etc. At just $100 USD difference between the two base models, it all comes down to how big you want your display to be. It's not out of the ordinary for Apple to occasionally allow two of its products to come dangerously close to each other in terms of specs, but the company uses these moments as an opportunity to once again widen the gap with a ridiculously desirable new device. You need only look at Apple's notebooks for proof of this: For a time, the MacBook Air was encroaching on the MacBook Pro's turf, and some questioned the feasibility of both products existing side by side. That is, until Apple showed us the MacBook Pro with Retina, and the tech world collectively nodded its head in understanding. Room for more While the iPad Air is currently being billed as the big dog in the iPad cage, it doesn't set itself apart from the rest of the company's tablet offerings -- especially the Retina iPad mini -- in any truly meaningful way. But why not? Why doesn't the top-of-the-line iPad offer some of the company's newest toys like Touch ID and slow-motion video capture? Why does the bigger and heavier of the two newly-minted tablets carry the "Air" label? Maybe it's because the iPad Air isn't meant to be Apple's most feature-filled tablet. Maybe there's an iPad Pro on the horizon. If it exists -- and that's a remarkably huge "if" -- it follows that the device may be bigger (13 inches, for example), faster, heavier, and more pricey. It would also probably include Touch ID, slow-motion video, and some other bells and whistles, and its existence would put the iPad Air in a place it would make sense: A lighter, smaller, less feature-packed alternative to the top-of-the-line Apple tablet. So, does an iPad Pro really exist? As easy as it is to pretend that these factors point to a new, larger iPad, reality has a way of reminding me that I've never wished a 13-inch iPad exists. The biggest argument against the iPad as it stands now is that it's significantly more expensive than its modern competitors, and introducing an even more expensive version of the device wouldn't exactly help the brand to appear more consumer friendly. Of course, neither does a $2,999 über-powerful desktop computer, but Apple's got one of those, too. If there is a market for larger tablets -- and I imagine there is, especially among creative types -- a super-iPad would probably do quite well in that space. But will Apple tempt fate and look to capitalize on a new, possibly mythical class of consumer? The iPad itself is proof that they've had the guts to do it in the past, but the untold number of failed prototypes in Apple's basement suggests that they could just as easily ignore it altogether. In short, I have no idea, and neither does anyone else (save a few Apple folks, of course). But if it does come to fruition, it would be a fantastic way for the company to once again set a new standard in tablets, and we could probably hold our breath for as long as it takes Apple's competitors to introduce their own mega-tablets as well.
