Apple iPad Pro 9.7 inch

amazon Apple iPad Pro 9.7 inch reviews

Introduction

The Apple iPad Pro 9.7-inch, released in March 2016, is a significant iteration in Apple’s line of tablet devices, aimed at bridging the gap between the convenience of a tablet and the functionality of a laptop. Building on the success of its larger sibling, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch model offers a more portable form factor while maintaining impressive performance and a plethora of features that appeal to both casual users and professionals. This review delves into various aspects of the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, including its design, display, performance, software, accessories, and overall value proposition.

Design and Build Quality

Apple has long been renowned for its impeccable design standards, and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is no exception. It features a sleek and slim aluminum body that is both lightweight and robust. Weighing just under one pound (437 grams for the Wi-Fi model and 444 grams for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model), it is highly portable and easy to handle, making it ideal for on-the-go use. The device’s dimensions, 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm, ensure it is compact enough to fit comfortably in a backpack or a medium-sized handbag.

The build quality is exceptional, with a premium feel that is characteristic of Apple products. The edges are rounded, and the device’s thin profile gives it a modern and sophisticated look. The back is adorned with the iconic Apple logo, and the antenna lines (on the cellular model) are subtly integrated, maintaining the device’s aesthetic appeal.

Display

One of the standout features of the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is its display. The 9.7-inch Retina display boasts a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch (ppi). This ensures crisp and clear visuals, making it ideal for watching videos, editing photos, or reading documents.

Apple has incorporated several advanced display technologies into this device. The True Tone display, a first for Apple devices at the time of its release, automatically adjusts the white balance of the screen based on the ambient lighting conditions. This results in a more natural and comfortable viewing experience, particularly in varying lighting environments.

The display also supports a wide color gamut (P3), which offers richer and more vibrant colors compared to the standard sRGB color space. This makes the iPad Pro 9.7-inch particularly appealing to creative professionals, such as photographers and graphic designers, who require accurate color representation.

Moreover, the display features an anti-reflective coating, reducing glare and making it easier to use in bright environments. The combination of these display technologies ensures that the iPad Pro 9.7-inch delivers a superior visual experience, setting it apart from many of its competitors.

Performance

Under the hood, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is powered by the Apple A9X chip, paired with the M9 motion coprocessor. This combination delivers exceptional performance, enabling smooth multitasking and efficient handling of resource-intensive applications. The A9X chip is a 64-bit architecture and features a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2.16 GHz. It also includes a 12-core PowerVR Series 7XT graphics processor, which provides robust graphical performance for gaming and creative tasks.

In benchmark tests, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch performs admirably, often surpassing many laptops and tablets in its category. Whether you are editing 4K videos, playing graphically demanding games, or running complex applications, the device handles it all with ease. The 2 GB of RAM, while not as high as some other high-end devices, is optimized well within the iOS environment, ensuring smooth performance without significant slowdowns.

Software and iOS Integration

The iPad Pro 9.7-inch originally shipped with iOS 9.3, and it has since received updates to newer versions of iOS, benefiting from Apple’s commitment to long-term software support. The integration of iOS with the hardware is seamless, offering a fluid and responsive user experience.

iOS is known for its intuitive interface, and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch leverages this to provide a user-friendly experience. Features such as Split View and Slide Over enhance multitasking capabilities, allowing users to run and interact with multiple applications simultaneously. This is particularly useful for professionals who need to reference documents while taking notes or for users who enjoy browsing the web while watching videos.

Apple’s ecosystem also plays a crucial role in the overall experience. The iPad Pro 9.7-inch works harmoniously with other Apple devices and services, such as iCloud, Handoff, and Continuity, ensuring a cohesive experience across devices. Whether you are working on a document on your Mac and want to continue on your iPad, or you need to answer a phone call on your iPad, the integration is seamless and adds significant value to the device.

Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard

To enhance productivity, Apple introduced two key accessories for the iPad Pro line: the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. These accessories transform the iPad Pro 9.7-inch into a versatile tool for various tasks.

The Apple Pencil is a precision stylus that offers a natural and fluid writing and drawing experience. It features pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, making it an excellent tool for artists, designers, and note-takers. The latency is minimal, ensuring that the digital ink flows smoothly as you write or draw. Whether you are sketching, annotating documents, or simply jotting down notes, the Apple Pencil provides an unparalleled experience that feels close to using a traditional pen or pencil.

The Smart Keyboard, on the other hand, adds physical keys to the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, making it easier to type long documents or emails. The keyboard connects via the Smart Connector, a set of three small circles on the side of the iPad, which provide both power and data transfer. This eliminates the need for Bluetooth pairing and ensures a reliable connection. The keys have a decent amount of travel, providing a tactile and comfortable typing experience. When not in use, the Smart Keyboard doubles as a protective cover for the device, adding to its utility.

Camera and Photography

The iPad Pro 9.7-inch boasts impressive camera capabilities, particularly for a tablet. It features a 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture, capable of capturing detailed and vibrant photos. The camera supports Live Photos, which captures a few seconds of motion and sound along with the still image, adding a dynamic element to photography.

For video recording, the rear camera can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second (fps), as well as 1080p HD video at 30 or 60 fps. The quality of the video is excellent, with sharp details and vibrant colors. The addition of optical image stabilization (OIS) ensures that videos are smooth and free from significant shakes, even when recording handheld.

The front-facing camera, a 5-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, supports 1080p HD video recording and is suitable for video calls and selfies. The Retina Flash feature, which uses the display to illuminate your face in low-light conditions, ensures that selfies are well-lit and clear.

While the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is not primarily a photography device, its camera capabilities are more than adequate for everyday use, and it can even serve as a secondary camera for capturing high-quality images and videos.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical aspect of any portable device, and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch performs well in this regard. Apple claims a battery life of up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos, or listening to music, and up to 9 hours of surfing the web using a cellular data network. In real-world usage, the device generally meets or exceeds these expectations, offering all-day battery life for most users.

The iPad Pro 9.7-inch is equipped with a 27.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. Charging is done via the included Lightning to USB cable and power adapter. While the device does not support fast charging, the battery life is sufficient enough that most users will only need to charge it overnight.

Connectivity

The iPad Pro 9.7-inch offers robust connectivity options, including Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) with MIMO, which provides fast and reliable internet access. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model includes support for a wide range of LTE bands, ensuring compatibility with various carriers around the world.

Bluetooth 4.2 is also supported, allowing users to connect wireless headphones, speakers, and other accessories. The Smart Connector, as mentioned earlier, provides a convenient way to connect the Smart Keyboard without the need for Bluetooth pairing.

Additionally, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch features a Lightning connector, which is used for charging and connecting various accessories. While the lack of a USB-C port may be seen as a downside, especially considering the move towards USB-C in many modern devices, the Lightning connector remains functional and widely supported.

Storage Options

The iPad Pro 9.7-inch is available in several storage configurations: 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. The choice of storage capacity will depend on your usage patterns and needs. For users who primarily use the device for web browsing, streaming, and light productivity tasks, the 32 GB model may suffice. However, for those who plan to store a significant amount of media, apps, and documents, the 128 GB or 256 GB models offer more flexibility and future-proofing.

Audio

The audio experience on the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is impressive, thanks to its four-speaker audio system. The speakers are located at each corner of the device, providing a rich and immersive audio experience. This setup dynamically adjusts the orientation of the audio based on how you are holding the iPad, ensuring balanced sound regardless of whether the device is in portrait or landscape mode. The speakers deliver clear highs, detailed mids, and surprisingly robust bass for a tablet, making the iPad Pro 9.7-inch an excellent device for watching movies, listening to music, or playing games.

Additionally, the device includes dual microphones for calls, video recording, and audio recording. These microphones are strategically placed to minimize background noise and enhance voice clarity, which is particularly useful for video conferencing and recording notes or lectures.

Security and Privacy

Apple has always placed a strong emphasis on security and privacy, and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is no different. The device features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the Home button. Touch ID provides a convenient and secure way to unlock the device, authenticate purchases, and access sensitive information. It is fast and reliable, ensuring that your data remains secure while offering quick access when needed.

iOS also includes several built-in security features, such as encryption for data stored on the device, secure boot process, and app sandboxing. These measures work together to protect your information from unauthorized access and ensure that the operating system remains secure against various threats.

Furthermore, Apple’s commitment to user privacy means that your data is not used for advertising purposes, and many privacy controls are available within iOS to manage app permissions and data sharing.

User Experience and Ecosystem

The overall user experience of the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is greatly enhanced by Apple’s ecosystem. iCloud provides seamless synchronization of data across all your Apple devices, making it easy to access your files, photos, and documents from anywhere. Continuity features, such as Handoff and Universal Clipboard, allow you to start a task on one device and continue it on another without interruption.

The App Store offers a vast selection of apps optimized for the iPad, ranging from productivity tools and creative software to games and educational apps. This extensive app ecosystem ensures that you can find applications tailored to your specific needs, enhancing the versatility of the iPad Pro 9.7-inch.

Pricing and Value

At the time of its release, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch was positioned as a premium tablet, with prices starting at $599 for the 32 GB Wi-Fi model and increasing with higher storage capacities and cellular connectivity. While this price point is higher than that of standard tablets, it reflects the advanced features and capabilities that the iPad Pro 9.7-inch offers.

When considering the value proposition, it is essential to evaluate the device’s performance, build quality, display technology, and the overall user experience. For professionals and creative users, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch offers a compelling alternative to traditional laptops, especially when paired with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. Its portability, combined with powerful hardware and a robust app ecosystem, makes it a versatile tool for work and play.

Comparisons with Other Devices

To better understand the iPad Pro 9.7-inch’s position in the market, it is helpful to compare it with other devices, both within and outside the Apple ecosystem.

iPad Air 2

The iPad Air 2, which precedes the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, is a more affordable option but lacks many of the Pro model’s advanced features. The iPad Pro 9.7-inch offers a superior display with True Tone and wide color support, a more powerful A9X chip, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. For users who need these additional features and enhanced performance, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch is the better choice.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch

The larger iPad Pro 12.9-inch provides a more expansive display, which can be advantageous for tasks requiring more screen real estate, such as multitasking with Split View or working on detailed design projects. However, the 9.7-inch model is more portable and easier to handle, making it a better option for users who prioritize mobility. Both devices share similar internal hardware, so the choice ultimately comes down to size preference and use case.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a direct competitor to the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, offering a full Windows 10 experience in a tablet form factor. The Surface Pro 4 is known for its versatility, with a built-in kickstand and a detachable keyboard. It also supports a stylus (Surface Pen) for note-taking and drawing.

While the Surface Pro 4 runs a desktop operating system, providing access to a broader range of software, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch benefits from the optimized performance and security of iOS, as well as a more extensive selection of tablet-specific apps. The choice between these devices depends on the user’s preference for operating systems and specific workflow requirements.

Conclusion

The Apple iPad Pro 9.7-inch is a remarkable device that successfully combines the portability and convenience of a tablet with the power and functionality of a laptop. Its standout features, such as the True Tone display, A9X chip, Apple Pencil compatibility, and Smart Keyboard support, make it a versatile tool for both casual and professional use.

The design and build quality are quintessentially Apple, offering a premium look and feel, while the advanced display technologies ensure an exceptional visual experience. The device’s performance is impressive, handling demanding tasks with ease, and the integration of iOS with Apple’s ecosystem enhances the overall user experience.

While the iPad Pro 9.7-inch comes at a premium price, it offers significant value for users who require a powerful, portable device for productivity, creativity, and entertainment. Its comprehensive feature set and robust performance make it a worthy investment for those looking to elevate their tablet experience.

In summary, the iPad Pro 9.7-inch stands out as a versatile and powerful tablet that caters to a wide range of users, from creative professionals to casual consumers. Its combination of design, performance, and ecosystem integration makes it one of the best tablets available, setting a high standard for future devices in the market.

where can you get a Apple iPad Pro 9.7 inch online

iPad Pro 9.7-inch (32GB, Wi-Fi, Space Gray) 2016 Model: Buy it now

iPad Pro 9.7-inch (128GB, Wi-Fi, Space Gray) 2016 Model: Buy it now

iPad Pro 9.7-inch (32GB, Wi-Fi, Rose Gold) 2016 Model: Buy it now

iPad Pro 9.7-inch (128GB, Wi-Fi, Rose Gold) 2016 Model: Buy it now