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Apple iPad Pro 10.5 Tablet Review

A great tablet, but not a pro. The iPad Pro 10.5 is Apple's second generation of the Pro-series. The screen is definitely the star of the show. It has not only grown in size, but it also offers 120 Hz, HDR and claims coverage of the P3 color space. The tablet is on its way to the top with the A10X SoC, but it will still not be a satisfying notebook replacement.

For the original German review, please click here.

The launch of the new Apple iPad Pro 10.5 has coincided with the manufacturer taking its predecessor, the iPad Pro 9.7, out of their portfolio. The new model is powered by the Apple A10X Fusion SoC and has a whole 4 GB of RAM. The display has grown slightly, supports HDR and it has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is also supposed to have P3 color-space coverage.

The iPad Pro 10.5 has gone up to $649 (starting price; iPad Pro 9.7 available from $605), but it has also doubled its storage capacity. There are three storage configurations available: 64, 256 and 512 GB. The 9.7 iPad went up to 256 GB only and that model was more expensive than the current equivalent. The 256 GB of storage bumps up the price of the iPad Pro 10.5 by $100, the 512 GB version costs another $200 more. If you want to use LTE as well, that will cost you another $130. This option was a little cheaper for the iPad Pro 9.7. The model with the highest configuration is available for a total of $1079. 

Once again, Apple would like to claim that their iPad Pro can be used as a fully functioning notebook replacement. iOS 11, which will not be available until fall, is supposed to offer many new software features and better multitasking, which will bring the iPad closer to laptop-like performance. It also supports Apple Pencil. 

High-end tablets are rare and are often based on an x86 architecture with Windows 10. For our comparison with the iPad Pro 10.5, however, we have chosen to only include tablets that are also based on an ARM operating system. These include the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Lenovo Yoga Book and the Google Pixel C. We have also included some cheaper devices such as the Huawei MediaPad T2 10.0 Pro and the Asus ZenPad 3s 10 LTE.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017 (iPad Pro Series)
Processor
Apple A10X Fusion 6 x 2.4 GHz, Cyclone 4?
Memory
4 GB 
, LPDDR4, 1.600 MHz
Display
10.50 inch 4:3, 2224 x 1668 pixel 265 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, native pen support, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND , 64 GB 
, 51.32 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio combo, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Touch ID, 3 axis gyro and acceleration sensor, barometer, digital compass, Smart Connector
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1.800, 1.900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1.700/2.100, 1.900, 2.100 MHz), CDMA EV-DO Rev. A+B (800, 1.900 MHz), LTE Cat. 9 (Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41), LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 6.1 x 250.6 x 174.1 ( = 0.24 x 9.87 x 6.85 in)
Battery
30.8 Wh, 8134 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 3,77 V, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 10 h
Operating System
Apple iOS 10
Camera
Primary Camera: 12 MPix (f/1.8, 5x digital zoom, OIS, auto HDR, UHD-video)
Secondary Camera: 7 MPix (f/2.2, auto HDR, 1080p-video)
Additional features
Speakers: four speakers, Keyboard: virtual, lightning cable, modular power adapter, Quick-Start Guide, security warnings and warranty information, 12 Months Warranty, lightning port, fanless
Weight
469 g ( = 16.54 oz / 1.03 pounds), Power Supply: 99 g ( = 3.49 oz / 0.22 pounds)
Price
889 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The Apple iPad 10.5 is available in Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, and Space Gray.
Range of colors

From the outside, the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 does not seem to have changed a lot since its predecessor. The design is identical and impresses with its simple elegance and good workmanship. Due to the larger display, the tablet is a little bigger, but it is just as slim as the iPad Pro 9.7 (6.1 mm/~0.24 inches). Our measurements confirm this. Only the camera on the back stands out another 1.5 millimeters (~0.06 inches). If you already own the previous model, you will notice that the bezels around the display are clearly narrower.

The workmanship is of very high quality. The gaps are small and even, the unibody aluminum case is only interrupted on the LTE model, where it has gaps for the antennas on the back. The nano-SIM slot is flush with the case and, at least on our Rose Gold case, it has the exact same color as the rest of the tablet. The tray is also made completely of aluminum.

The iPad Pro 10.5 silently accepted attempts to warp the case but did twist rather easily, probably because of its flat design. Hard pressure on the back can cause waves on the display. The power and volume buttons have short travel and clear pressure points, so they react well to inputs. The iPad's battery is not removable and storage cannot be extended.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 (front) and Apple iPad 12.9 (2017)
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 (front) and Apple iPad 12.9 (2017)
Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 - Touch ID
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 - SIM tool
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 - Nano-SIM slot
Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 - camera
Apple iPad Pro 10.5

Size Comparison

305.7 mm / 12 inch 220.6 mm / 8.69 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 677 g1.493 lbs259.1 mm / 10.2 inch 156.4 mm / 6.16 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 461 g1.016 lbs256.6 mm / 10.1 inch 170.8 mm / 6.72 inch 9.6 mm / 0.378 inch 690 g1.521 lbs250.6 mm / 9.87 inch 174.1 mm / 6.85 inch 6.1 mm / 0.2402 inch 469 g1.034 lbs242 mm / 9.53 inch 164 mm / 6.46 inch 7 mm / 0.2756 inch 490 g1.08 lbs242 mm / 9.53 inch 179 mm / 7.05 inch 7 mm / 0.2756 inch 517 g1.14 lbs240 mm / 9.45 inch 169.5 mm / 6.67 inch 6.1 mm / 0.2402 inch 444 g0.979 lbs237.3 mm / 9.34 inch 169 mm / 6.65 inch 6 mm / 0.2362 inch 434 g0.957 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5's connectivity is very similar to that of the iPad Pro 9.7. It still has a lightning port that supports HDMI and card readers via a USB adapter. The Apple Pencil can be used for input but has to be purchased separately. The three-pin Smart Connector is included and can be used for communication and power supply of peripheral devices - for example the optional Smart Keyboard. 

NFC continues to be available for Apple Pay only, but this restriction should be loosened soon and the APIs will be made available to developers. The iPad Pro also has Bluetooth 4.2 and - unlike the iPhone 7 (Plus) still has a 3.5 mm audio jack to connect your headphones to.

Top: audio jack, speakers, microphone, speaker, power
Top: audio jack, speakers, microphone, speaker, power
Left: Smart Connector
Left: Smart Connector
Right: volume, SIM slot
Right: volume, SIM slot
Bottom: speaker, lightning connector, speaker
Bottom: speaker, lightning connector, speaker

Software

At the time of testing, the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 is running on the current iOS 10.3. We already gave a detailed review of this operating system in our review of the iPhone 7.

The future update to iOS 11 in fall 2017 is supposed to bring many improvements, such as better multitasking, a completely revised file manager and more possibilities for the Apple Pencil. It will then be possible to make notes directly onto the lock screen, like you can already on the Galaxy Tab S3. Augmented Reality will apparently also play a big part of the new OS.

Communication and GPS

Our test unit is equipped with an LTE module. It supports the Cat. 9 standard and has a maximum download speed of 450 MBit/s (upload: max. 50 MBit/s). The range of frequencies means that the device should be able to find a connection anywhere in the world. There is no dual-SIM version available, but similar to its predecessor, the Apple SIM can be used optionally. This way, an optional rate can be added in every country that Apple has cooperation partners in.

The tablet also has an included WLAN module that supports all usual IEEE 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac) and can use both the 2.4 and the 5.0 GHz networks. The transfer rates to our reference router Linksys EA8500 are very good and the iPad Pro 10.5 has fast and consistent data transfer rates both when sending and receiving data, although it cannot quite compete with the Galaxy Tab S3. It has a very good range and even at 10 meters (~11 yards) distance to the router, the latencies while loading a page are only marginally lower. HD content can still be streamed without any problems.

Apple SIM in the iPad Pro 10.5
Apple SIM in the iPad Pro 10.5: Conditions
Apple SIM in the iPad Pro 10.5: Conditions
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
569 MBit/s +14%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
497 MBit/s
Huawei MediaPad T3 10
Adreno 308, 425, 16 GB eMMC Flash
112 MBit/s -77%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
37.6 MBit/s -92%
iperf3 receive AX12
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
615 MBit/s +16%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
528 MBit/s
Huawei MediaPad T3 10
Adreno 308, 425, 16 GB eMMC Flash
122 MBit/s -77%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
33.4 MBit/s -94%

The GPS module supports the satellite navigation systems GPS and Glonass for positioning, but unfortunately not the European Galileo. Satfix is very quick outdoors and even in buildings the Maps application found our position quickly, even in flight mode.

We will update with a comparison to the Garmin Edge 500 shortly. 

Cameras

picture taken with the front camera in the Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Picture taken with the front camera

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 has identical cameras to the iPhone 7, so we will not go into too much detail about the camera specifications. Please go to the iPhone review for more information about the camera.

The front camera of the iPad has a resolution of 7 MP (3088x2320 pixels) and offers facial and body recognition as well as Auto HDR and Full HD (1920x1080 pixels) video-recording. In good lighting the camera takes decent pictures, but the quality decreases in bad lighting. 

The main, back camera has 12 MP (f/1.8) and an optical image stabilizer. It records videos in Ultra HD (max. 30 fps), Full HD (max. 60 fps) or 720p (max. 240 fps). This camera has identical features to the one on the iPhone. The recordings are very good, sharp and they have a comparatively high dynamic range. Sensors in current high-end smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8+ or the HTC U11 are even better, but currently you will not find a better camera in a tablet.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images
ColorChecker Passport: The reference color is in the bottom field.
ColorChecker Passport: The reference color is in the bottom field.

We took a closer look at the Apple iPad Pro 10.5's camera in controlled lighting conditions. There was no post-processing of the pictures. We used the ColorChecker Passport to compare the colors and the test confirmed the identical performance of both the iPad's and the iPhone 7's cameras. The colors appear natural, but they all have slightly increased saturation. The white balance is rather warm. Apple has corrected the only criticism we had, which was that yellows appeared too pale.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also does well in the test chart, with identical results to the iPhone 7.

Accessories and warranty

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 comes with a cable for charging and transferring data (lightning USB Type-A; 100 cm/39 inches long), a modular power supply with a rated output of 12.48 Watts (5.2 Volt, 2.4 Ampere) as well as a small tool to open the SIM-card slot. The device also comes with the usual information regarding warranty, a description of button and connector functions and two Apple stickers.

It only has 12 months warranty, but you can buy an Apple Care+ package for an additional $99. This gives you telephone support for two years and warranty for unintentional damages. You can have your device repaired twice in those two years but have to pay an additional service fee of $ 49 plus applicable tax for each repair. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Apple has a lot of accessories available in its store. The Pencil comes at the price of $99, the Smart Keyboard costs $159 - again slightly more than the predecessor's.

Input Devices and Handling

As usual, inputs are given via the capacitive touchscreen, which is very nice to use. Fingers glide well and it registers touch quickly and precisely. Despite a fat-resistant coating, fingerprints are very visible, but cleaning the screen should be easier.

The enlarged display is better suited to using the Apple Pencil and reacts precisely to its inputs. If you want to work with the tablet a lot, particularly for creative use, we would suggest you take a look at the larger iPad Pro 12.9 (2017).

The keyboard layout allows for fast and reliable typing. The fingerprint scanner is integrated into the Home button and unlocks the device quickly and reliably. The device still uses a mechanical button rather than the touch-sensitive surface of the iPhone 7.

Display

Subpixel array of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Subpixel array

Apple has stayed true to its display philosophy and has kept the 4:3 format and a pixel density of 265 PPI. The increased size of 10.5-inches also means an increased resolution. For the iPad Pro 10.5 this converts into 1114x1668 pixels. The display also supports HDR content and has a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. This means smoother display of video games as well as movies.

The display's brightness level is a little higher than that of its predecessor and reaches up to 665 cd/m² when the ambient light sensor is on. If the sensor is turned off, the tablet reaches 536 cd/m² in the center of the display. That is around 100 cd/m² less. In a more realistic measurement test with even distribution of light and dark areas (APL50), the iPad Pro 10.5 shows the same results. The black value has been improved and the display has a contrast of 1626:1.

We noticed no clouding on the IPS screen and Apple still manages without PWM for brightness regulation. The display is equipped with the True Tone feature which regulates color temperature depending on ambient light. This means colors are usually displayed a little warmer than usual and is particularly pleasant in dark surroundings. You can also filter blue light with the Night Shift function. This can be done either manually or by setting a time.

The iPad Pro 10.5 without (left) and with (right) the True Tone function activated.
The iPad Pro 10.5 without (left) and with (right) the True Tone function activated.
634
cd/m²
627
cd/m²
617
cd/m²
665
cd/m²
634
cd/m²
610
cd/m²
651
cd/m²
610
cd/m²
580
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 665 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 625.3 cd/m² Minimum: 2.81 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 634 cd/m²
Contrast: 1626:1 (Black: 0.39 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.26
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
IPS, 2224x1668, 10.50
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
IPS, 2048x1536, 9.70
Apple iPad (2017)
IPS, 2048x1536, 9.70
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Super AMOLED, 2048x1526, 9.70
Huawei MediaPad T3 10
IPS, 1280x800, 9.60
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
IPS, 2048x1536, 9.70
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
IPS, 1920x1080, 10.10
Screen
5%
-2%
-0%
-55%
-43%
-57%
Brightness middle
634
523
-18%
514
-19%
452
-29%
410
-35%
486
-23%
449
-29%
Brightness
625
500
-20%
485
-22%
468
-25%
409
-35%
457
-27%
421
-33%
Brightness Distribution
87
93
7%
88
1%
82
-6%
92
6%
88
1%
86
-1%
Black Level *
0.39
0.52
-33%
0.46
-18%
0.32
18%
0.25
36%
0.32
18%
Contrast
1626
1006
-38%
1117
-31%
1281
-21%
1944
20%
1403
-14%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.9
1.1
42%
1.4
26%
1.8
5%
4.5
-137%
5.2
-174%
4.7
-147%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.9
1.9
51%
2.9
26%
4
-3%
14.2
-264%
9
-131%
11.1
-185%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.8
1.4
50%
2.1
25%
1.2
57%
2
29%
4.1
-46%
4.5
-61%
Gamma
2.26 97%
2.11 104%
2.22 99%
2.11 104%
2.17 101%
2.73 81%
2.22 99%
CCT
7027 93%
6662 98%
6647 98%
6500 100%
6930 94%
6579 99%
7122 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62.97
82.32
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.55
99.06

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

We analyzed the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 display with a spectrophotometer and the software CalMAN. Apple claims that the tablet covers the larger P3 color space rather than sRGB, which was used up until now. We cannot confirm this. The display seems to fit the smaller color space exactly. It is possible that P3 is only activated in certain apps.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also does not display colors as precisely as its predecessor but still does a good job. The quality of the larger iPad Pro 12.9, however, is more like what we expected. Competitors such as the Galaxy Tab S3 also offer better color rendering. Particularly the grayscales are a little too cool on our test unit- although this should not be noticeable in day-to-day use.

Grayscale (target: sRGB)
Grayscale (target: sRGB)
Grayscale (target: P3)
Grayscale (target: P3)
Color space (target: sRGB)
Color space (target: sRGB)
Color space (target: P3)
Color space (target: P3)
ColorChecker (target: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target: P3)
ColorChecker (target: P3)
Saturation (target: sRGB)
Saturation (target: sRGB)
Saturation (target: P3)
Saturation (target: P3)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
17.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 11.6 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
39.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19.2 ms rise
↘ 20.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 does very well outdoors. This is due to high brightness levels and particularly to its anti-reflective coating (reflection level 1.8%). Even in full sunlight, the display remains legible. If you sit in the shade, the tablet functions fully even on very sunny days.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 outdoors
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 in the full sun

The IPS display of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 has stable viewing angles and is perfect for day-to-day use. Even looking at the screen from a very wide angle, the brightness is hardly diminished and reflections keep to a minimum despite its glossy surface. There is no ghosting thanks to the fully laminated display and we did not register IPS light in dark areas.

Viewing angles of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Viewing angles of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5

Performance

So far, the Apple A10X Fusion is the most powerful SoC from Cupertino. The 6-core CPU consists of three clusters of which one is a power-saving cluster and another is a performance cluster. They cannot run at the same time, so a maximum of three cores can be used simultaneously. The maximum clock rate is at 2.37 GHz. The device also has a co-processor M10 and 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM running at 1600 MHz. The graphics unit probably comes from Imagination again and offers 12 cores - Apple will not give any more information on the matter.

The iPad Pro 10.5 gets good results in the benchmarks. It beats all competitors in the AnTuTu and Geekbench tests. For a better comparison, we included a smartphone with Snapdragon 835, but even this is slower in the AnTuTu (20%) and the Geekbench MultiCore (31%) tests. Looking at the Physics values from the 3DMark test gives a slightly different impression. Here, the Snapdragon is about 40 - 52% faster, probably because it can use all of its cores rather than being limited to three. The iPad's GPU performance is untouchable. It is 127% faster than the Galaxy Tab S3 (currently the fastest Android tablet) in the GFXBench 3.0. While the high resolution of the iPad shrinks this lead again if you take a look at the actual frame rates, it is still 71% faster than the Tab S3.

The performance of the Safari Mobile browser is equally excellent and makes first place in all tests. Subjectively there is nothing to criticize regarding surfing speeds or system performance. If you want to use complex content management systems in the browser, you will notice that the iPad Pro does have its limits. The pages are not displayed fully and you cannot scroll properly. If Apple really wants the iPad to become a full laptop replacement, they will need to deal with this issue.

The iPad Pro 10.5 has lost some of its memory speed. In the PassMark Mobile our 64-GB model reaches only 699 MB/s. Even the slower version of the predecessor managed 1165 MB/s with 32 GB.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
217439 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
175032 Points -20%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
168840 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
144426 Points -34%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
128706 Points -41%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
88989 Points -59%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
77540 Points -64%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
3933 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
1906 Points -52%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1745 Points -56%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1458 Points -63%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
9358 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
6443 Points -31%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4187 Points -55%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2869 Points -69%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
54237 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
40014 Points -26%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
34015 Points -37%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
30277 Points -44%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
29326 Points -46%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
18320 Points -66%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
16773 Points -69%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
110148 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
55725 Points -49%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
50084 Points -55%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
44645 Points -59%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
34002 Points -69%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
22041 Points -80%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
18258 Points -83%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
21886 Points +12%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
20140 Points +3%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
19534 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
16023 Points -18%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
13324 Points -32%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
13056 Points -33%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
11515 Points -41%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
4744 Points +5%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
4521 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
4002 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3438 Points -24%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
2584 Points -43%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1473 Points -67%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1350 Points -70%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
7212 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
6127 Points -15%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
5877 Points -19%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4626 Points -36%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
4320 Points -40%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1431 Points -80%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1304 Points -82%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
2832 Points +44%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
1960 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1811 Points -8%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
1807 Points -8%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1643 Points -16%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1539 Points -21%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
1074 Points -45%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1)
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
3590 Points +1%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
3558 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
3346 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2578 Points -28%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
1957 Points -45%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1050 Points -70%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
878 Points -75%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
4537 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
4107 Points -9%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
3883 Points -14%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2943 Points -35%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
2519 Points -44%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
967 Points -79%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
782 Points -83%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
2841 Points +40%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
2030 Points 0%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
2027 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1798 Points -11%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1532 Points -24%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1499 Points -26%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
1098 Points -46%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
3975 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
3268 Points -18%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2702 Points -32%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
2015 Points -49%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1180 Points -70%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
5459 Points
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
3324 Points -39%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3196 Points -41%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
2651 Points -51%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
977 Points -82%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
3085 Points +52%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
2036 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1754 Points -14%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1520 Points -25%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
1094 Points -46%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
59.4 fps +1%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
59 fps 0%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
59 fps
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
58 fps -2%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
56 fps -5%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
31 fps -47%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
25 fps -58%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
225 fps
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
117.1 fps -48%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
92 fps -59%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
91 fps -60%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
80.8 fps -64%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
32 fps -86%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
31 fps -86%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
58 fps
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
35.1 fps -39%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
34 fps -41%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
29 fps -50%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
28.7 fps -51%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
15 fps -74%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
9.6 fps -83%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
109 fps
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
51 fps -53%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
51 fps -53%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
48 fps -56%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
40.6 fps -63%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
14 fps -87%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
14 fps -87%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
43 fps
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
26.9 fps -37%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
19 fps -56%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
18.5 fps -57%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
15 fps -65%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
7 fps -84%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
5.6 fps -87%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
63 fps
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
39.5 fps -37%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
33 fps -48%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
32 fps -49%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
28.5 fps -55%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
9.5 fps -85%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
7.2 fps -89%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
30333 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
19621 Points -35%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
18148 Points -40%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
11781 Points -61%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
9531 Points -69%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8167 Points -73%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
8060 Points -73%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
257 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
225 Points -12%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
205 Points -20%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
162 Points -37%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
132 Points -49%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
115 Points -55%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4419 ms * -354%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3324 ms * -242%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
2760 ms * -184%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2244 ms * -131%
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
1546 ms * -59%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
1458 ms * -50%
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
973 ms *
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
A10X Fusion GPU, A10X Fusion, Toshiba THGBX669D4LLDXG 64 GB NAND
200.6 Points
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
A9X / PowerVR GT7xxx, A9X, Apple 256 GB (iPad Pro 9.7 NVMe)
143 Points -29%
Apple iPad (2017)
A9 / PowerVR GT7600, A9, 128 GB NVMe
128.6 Points -36%
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
69.5 Points -65%
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Adreno 510, 650 MSM8956, 32 GB eMMC Flash
51.7 Points -74%
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), Z8550, 64 GB eMMC Flash
44.84 Points -78%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 32 GB eMMC Flash
42.73 Points -79%

* ... smaller is better

Gaming

The Apple A10X Fusion GPU is extremely powerful and offers enough performance for games. There is no game in the app store that the Graphics Unit cannot display smoothly even with the highest details. The 120-Hz display and four speakers are great additional features for happy gaming. Playing a game is really enjoyable on the iPad Pro 10.5; particularly GPU-demanding titles such as Iron Blade come into their own here.

Asphalt 8: Airborne on the Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Iron Blade on the Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Iron Blade

Emissions

Temperature

The surface temperature of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 reaches a maximum of 37.2 °C (~98.96 °F) while idling with maximum brightness level. Under steady load the device only reaches a maximum of 40.8 °C (~105.44 °F). This is noticeable but never uncomfortable. The included power adapter, however, reaches 44.4 °C (~111.92 °F) even while idling. This temperature rises up to 51.4 °C (~126.32 °F) under load, which is quite warm.

We did the GFXBench battery test to find out how the SoC deals with the heat development under steady load. This means running each benchmark 30 times in a row and taking note of the battery level and frame rate for every run. In the easier OpenGL ES 2.0 test the iPad Pro 10.5 remains stable and at full performance. The more challenging Manhattan test (Metal-API) is a different matter. Here, the performance sunk a little more in every run and was 30% lower at the end. But even then the tablet performed 50% better than the Galaxy S8 had at the beginning of the test.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5: GFXBench battery test Manhattan (Metal-API)
Metal-API
Apple iPad Pro 10.5: GFXBench battery test T-Rex (OpenGL ES 2.0)
OpenGL ES 2.0
Max. Load
 34.5 °C
94 F
35.5 °C
96 F
40.8 °C
105 F
 
 34.2 °C
94 F
36.4 °C
98 F
40.6 °C
105 F
 
 33.4 °C
92 F
35.3 °C
96 F
40.3 °C
105 F
 
Maximum: 40.8 °C = 105 F
Average: 36.8 °C = 98 F
35.2 °C
95 F
35.3 °C
96 F
34 °C
93 F
35 °C
95 F
35.8 °C
96 F
34.3 °C
94 F
34.7 °C
94 F
34.9 °C
95 F
33.2 °C
92 F
Maximum: 35.8 °C = 96 F
Average: 34.7 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  51.4 °C = 125 F | Room Temperature 21.6 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.8 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.8 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.8 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.9 °C / 91 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
Apple iPad Pro 10.5: heat image
Apple iPad Pro 10.5: heat image

Speakers

Pink Noise: Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Pink Noise

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 has four speakers. They should ensure that users always get the same sound quality, no matter how the tablet is held. Apple has not made any big changes to this concept since the predecessor. The speakers can be very loud, although the Pink Noise measurement shows that highs are too strong while lower mid-range frequencies are a little too weak. This leads to the sound not being fully balanced, although the speakers do a good job and can fill a small room with sound. Another possibility is always to connect external speakers or headphones via Bluetooth or the audio jack, which, subjectively, worked nicely.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.641.12525.436.93125.335.84032.934.55033.630.76331.632.18028.429.91002742.512520.850.11602253.220021.357.525020.863.931521.265.240019.465.850019.567.263017.769.180017.967.3100017.872.6125017.375.7160017.477.9200016.777.7250017.274.4315018.275.1400017.970.7500017.667.9630017.763.9800017.855.91000017.956.41250018.158.81600018.260.9SPL3084.6N1.359.1median 17.9median 65.8Delta1.47.531.639.825.430.725.330.632.933.533.632.231.630.328.425.92726.620.826.82236.221.346.320.861.321.27219.475.319.573.817.780.817.980.517.879.217.373.417.474.116.77217.268.518.267.717.970.717.672.817.76917.873.517.970.318.167.718.264.43086.51.371median 17.9median 711.47.331.637.525.435.825.330.832.927.833.632.531.630.428.429.52726.220.833.32243.521.352.920.856.521.263.919.468.119.570.317.772.817.976.517.876.917.374.817.473.916.772.417.272.618.275.517.97717.675.417.768.717.863.917.960.518.158.418.257.13085.91.365.9median 17.9median 68.71.48.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseApple iPad Pro 10.5 2017Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 27% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 21% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 36% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 9% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above can be turned on/off)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Despite the more powerful SoC and brighter display, Apple has managed to improve power consumption rates. Although Samsung has proven that tablets can be even more economical with the Galaxy Tab S3, the iPad needs not be criticized. Even under full load, we measured a maximum power consumption of 10.68 watt.

Unfortunately, the iPad Pro 10.5 needs a long time to charge. The tablet needs over six hours to reach 100% after having discharged completely.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.02 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.44 / 6.12 / 6.14 Watt
Load midlight 8.55 / 10.62 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
8134 mAh
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
7306 mAh
Google Pixel C
 mAh
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
8500 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
6000 mAh
Huawei MediaPad T2 10.0 Pro
6600 mAh
Power Consumption
-16%
-3%
0%
18%
19%
Idle Minimum *
1.44
1.71
-19%
1.82
-26%
2.19
-52%
2.08
-44%
1.58
-10%
Idle Average *
6.12
7.55
-23%
4.26
30%
4.3
30%
3.5
43%
4.12
33%
Idle Maximum *
6.14
7.62
-24%
4.33
29%
4.37
29%
3.58
42%
4.15
32%
Load Average *
8.55
8.39
2%
9.82
-15%
8.62
-1%
6.97
18%
6.2
27%
Load Maximum *
10.62
12.08
-14%
13.99
-32%
11.26
-6%
7.4
30%
9.27
13%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The battery capacity of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 has increased again and this, in combination with the better power consumption, should mean longer battery runtimes. But this is not entirely true. The maximum and minimum runtimes are better than those of its predecessor, but the Wi-Fi and loop video tests (both at 150 cd/m²) both had slightly worse results, although they are still above the manufacturer's specifications. The test unit is at about the same level as its competitors. Only the MediaPad T2 and the ZenPad 3s 10 LTE have worse battery runtimes.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
33h 56min
WiFi Websurfing
11h 33min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
10h 29min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 19min
Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017
8134 mAh
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
7306 mAh
Apple iPad (2017)
8.827 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825
6000 mAh
Lenovo Yoga Book Android YB1-X90F
8500 mAh
Google Pixel C
 mAh
Huawei MediaPad T2 10.0 Pro
6600 mAh
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 Z500KL
7800 mAh
Battery Runtime
2%
8%
20%
2%
15%
-15%
-16%
Reader / Idle
2036
1850
-9%
1496
-27%
1903
-7%
1985
-3%
2090
3%
1230
-40%
H.264
629
708
13%
845
34%
551
-12%
702
12%
740
18%
593
-6%
WiFi v1.3
693
779
12%
764
10%
760
10%
602
-13%
638
-8%
416
-40%
579
-16%
Load
199
186
-7%
225
13%
375
88%
222
12%
294
48%
248
25%

Pros

+ very good display
+ fast Wi-Fi
+ additional Apple SIM (LTE-versions only)
+ speedy SoC
+ decent speakers
+ good battery runtimes

Cons

- no support for Galileo GNSS
- pressure-sensitive case
- one-year warranty only
- display does not support P3 despite claims
- slower memory than predecessor
- long charging times

Verdict

Review: Apple iPad Pro 10.5
Review: Apple iPad Pro 10.5

Apple has decided not to give the iPad Pro 10.5 a full makeover and instead made real improvements where it matters most. Particularly the new display is impressive - its great reflective properties and HDR capabilities will be particularly interesting for fans of movies, TV series and gaming. Unfortunately, we could not measure the promised P3 color-space coverage, but only the smaller sRGB color space.

The tablet has high-quality communication modules but still does not support European Galileo GNSS-positioning. Apple has also tried to save on the memory, which is slower than that of its predecessor, but this is not noticeable in day-to-day use.

Many small details of the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 have been improved, and it is definitely one of the best tablets currently available.

Overall, Apple has managed to create an excellent product and set the bar for tablets very high. Its only real competitor is Samsung's Galaxy Tab S3, which, however, has an older SoC and less storage. The storage capacity has been increased, but so has the starting price: $649. The smallest model (64 GB) will be fully sufficient for most users, especially as video and audio content is often streamed nowadays. We feel that the second model with 256 GB is the best deal and is even a little cheaper than its predecessor with the same storage capacity. The 512-GB model can be recommended for users who want to have their own multimedia collection available offline or who want to use their tablet for editing videos or processing images.

The iPad Pro 10.5 has such a great performance that you might even think about using it as a complete notebook replacement. Whether it is for video-editing of UHD material or image-processing with Adobe Lightroom, the iPad Pro 10.5 works quickly and efficiently, although we feel that the Smart Keyboard is not flexible enough and only works well on hard surfaces. The Safari browser's problems with CMSs and other complex web-based applications are annoying and file management is too inflexible. Therefore, we consider the iPad Pro to be a great tablet but no replacement for a laptop.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017 - 06/26/2017 v6(old)
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
88%
Keyboard
77 / 80 → 96%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
49 / 65 → 76%
Weight
84 / 40-88 → 91%
Battery
93%
Display
91%
Games Performance
71 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
80 / 76 → 100%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
73 / 91 → 80%
Camera
81 / 85 → 95%
Average
82%
92%
Tablet - Weighted Average

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Daniel Schmidt, 2017-06-19 (Update: 2020-05-19)