Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2018, LTE, 256 GB) Tablet Review

The third generation of the iPad Pro has had a makeover. The thick bezels and the home button that adorned all previous models have gone and have been replaced by a rounded display that has a much higher screen-to-body ratio than all previous iPads. Inside, Apple has equipped the iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) with its new A12X Bionic SoC, which the company promises will provide unprecedented performance for a tablet and one which will put most notebooks to shame.
The storage options have been improved too. The new iPad Pro 12.9 now has up to 1 TB of storage, while maintaining the 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB options with which Apple equipped its predecessor. The new 1 TB version also comes with 6 GB RAM, which is 2 GB more than the other versions.
Apple has significantly increased the price of its new iPad Pro 12.9. The second generation started at $799 (£769) for the 64 GB Wi-Fi version, which rose to a maximum of $1,279 (£1,249) for the 512 GB LTE model. By contrast, the new iPad Pro 12.9 starts at $999 (£969), which rises to $1,899 (£1,869) for the 1 TB LTE version. That is a $200 mark-up for the base model. Apple charges $1,149 (£1,119) for the 256 GB model, $1,349 (£1,319) for the 512 GB version and US$1,749 (£1,719) for the 1 TB variant. Adding LTE costs an additional $150 (£150) for each storage option. Our test device is the 256 GB model with LTE.
Apple has a huge competitive advantage over its rivals; few other tablets exist that can challenge the iPad for the tablet experience that it offers. The most comparable tablets to the iPad Pro 12.9 are those that run Windows 10 on an x86 architecture, but Tablet mode on Windows 10 still feels unfinished compared to iOS. Hence, we have included convertibles like the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 in our comparison tables as all comparable ARM-powered Android tablets have smaller displays than Apple’s largest iPad. We have also chosen to compare Apple’s latest 12.9-inch tablet against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 and the Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro because they both have an optional keyboard and pen.
Changelog:
- 11.07.2018: First impressions and Display values added.
- 11.09.2018: Communication, Performance and Speakers sections added, first battery life tests too, Display section expanded.
- 11.14.2018: Connectivity, Software and Games sections added. Battery life table updated.
- 11.15.2018: Display section finished. GPS, Cameras, Accessories and Input Devices sections added.
- 11.15.2018 - II: Review completed.
- 11.16.2018: Temperature section updated.
Case
The first-generation iPad Pro 12.9 was already a comparatively slim device. However, Apple has somehow managed to shave another millimetre off and has made the new iPad Pro 12.9 only 5.9 mm thick. Our test device measures 5.95 mm thick, but the 0.5 mm difference is marginal. It is worth noting that the device will not lay flat though as its rear-facing camera housing protrudes by 2.45 mm from the case like a little volcano. The third-generation iPad Pro 12.9 also has strikingly more rounded and smaller bezels than its predecessors, the result of which means that it is more compact too.
In our opinion, the new iPad Pro 12.9 looks like a huge iPhone 5S or SE with a higher screen-to-body ratio. The recycled aluminium unibody not only looks great but also feels premium in the hand. We generally have no complaints about the craftsmanship of our test device either. The gaps between materials are consistently even and precise while the hardware buttons feel well made and sit firmly within the frame. The nano-SIM slot is made of the same aluminium as the frame too.
Applying firm pressure to the display makes the LCD distort slightly though, and the case is generally not as stiff as we would have liked. We can easily make the device creak by trying to twist it with our hands, which is not what we would have expected from such an expensive tablet.
Moreover, the iPad Pro 12.9 has no IP certification against dust and water, which is a shame as all new iPhones are at least IP67-resistant against dust and water. Apple currently sells the device in either silver or space grey.
Connectivity
The third generation of the iPad Pro is a paradigm shift for Apple. The new models are the first mobile devices that Apple has not equipped with a proprietary port. The company has moved to a USB Type-C port that according to our tests is a USB 3.1 Gen. 1 port. The device can output video to external monitors with the correct cable. We say correct as not all USB Type-C to video output cables work with our test device. Our first attempt with a no-name cable failed miserably. The video output mirrored 1:1 but had a striking pink tint to it. We would recommend using an HDMI 2.0 cable that supports UHD at 60 Hz with HDR.
Our test device recognised external storage devices too, but not by using the USB On-The-Go (OTG) standard that Android devices typically utilise. The iPad Pro 12.9 recognises a USB stick, for example, but it cannot access its file structure. An automatic photo import starts instead, which then searches for media files. Worse still, the import process would not recognise RAW files or subdirectories. Our test device would not recognise any peripherals that were connected to USB hubs either.
Apple has released an Apple Pencil 2 for the new generation of iPad Pros and has also changed how the former charges. The new Pencil now sticks magnetically to the top edge of the iPad Pro when holding the device in landscape mode, during which it charges inductively.
It is a shame that Apple has removed the headphone jack though, which seems unnecessary given how large the device is and an odd decision since Apple markets the device as a laptop replacement. All laptops have headphone jacks. Users must settle for using an adapter or Bluetooth if they want to connect headphones. If you prefer listening over wired headphones, you will need an adapter that has an integrated DA converter.
Software
All third-generation iPad Pros ship with iOS 12.1 at the time of writing. The differences between iOS on an iPad and an iPhone are minimal. Please see our iPhone XS and XS Max reviews for more details on changes and improvements Apple has made with iOS 12.
Apple continues to call the iPad Pro a laptop replacement. The biggest drawback of the new iPad Pro 12.9 is software, which is the same gripe that we have had with the iPad Pro since its initial release. The frustrations start with the scary UI scaling of iOS 12 and in many apps. Moreover, the OS lacks basic file management, which puts iOS 12 at a disadvantage to desktop operating systems like Linux, Mac OS or Windows. Importing data is only possible through photo imports, iTunes or iCloud. Users will struggle to import a text document, video or any other file unless they are willing to adapt to iOS’ limitations. In short, iOS 12 lacks basic functionality that prevents it from rivalling a desktop OS concerning productivity.
The iPad Pro 12.9 can easily handle Office applications and writing emails though, but we would expect that from a device that starts at $799. Apple also demoed a fully fledged version of Adobe Photoshop for iOS during its recent keynote, but this is due for release sometime in 2019, so we could not test it at the time of writing.
Communication & GPS
Our test device has Gigabit LTE and supports enough LTE frequencies for worldwide use. The new iPad Pro 12.9 even offers wider LTE coverage than the iPhone XS Max. 3G and GSM networks are equally well supported too. It is still not possible to make traditional calls on the new iPad Pro though, but you could make VoIP calls using Facebook and other comparable apps.
The LTE version continues to have a dedicated nano-SIM slot and an eSIM that is soldered to the Logic Board. More carriers sell tablet SIMs than those that support eSIMs, although the latter is activated with a QR code, so it easier and faster to switch to better providers should you wish to.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 supports all modern Wi-Fi standards up to IEEE 802.11 ac and can connect to 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. The Wi-Fi modem also uses a MIMO antenna for improved performance. Our test device achieved strong transmission speeds when tested with our Linksys EA8500 reference router and generally had good network range in daily use. We occasionally found that we had to change access points when connecting to mesh networks, but this is a minor gripe.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 uses GPS, including A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS for location services. Apple continues to not support BeiDou though. Our test device found a satellite fix quickly, irrespective of where we tested it.
We also took our test device on a bike ride to compare its navigation accuracy against a professional navigation device, the Garmin Edge 500. The iPad Pro 12.9 calculated a 120-metre (65.6 feet) longer route than the Garmin, which represents around a 99% accuracy overall. Our test device sometimes lacked the accuracy of the Garmin, but it is better than many other smartphones or tablets. The new iPad Pro 12.9 takes GPS readings comparatively often, as demonstrated by the pictures below. The iPad generally plotted more natural looking corners than the Garmin, which is impressive. Overall, the third-generation iPad Pro 12.9 would be accurate enough for most navigation tasks if it were not so unwieldy.
Cameras
The third-generation iPad Pro 12.9 has almost identical cameras on paper to those of its predecessor. We cannot confirm this for the rear-facing camera, whereas we can for the front-facing camera. The latter is a 7 MP sensor that supports Apple’s latest camera features like Smart HDR and Portrait mode. Equally, the front-facing camera can shoot 1080p videos at up to 60 FPS. Overall, the front-facing camera does its job well and takes first-class selfies.
Unfortunately, the rear-facing camera cannot meet our expectations, especially as Apple has not used the same optics that it uses in its latest iPhones. The rear-facing camera takes detailed pictures in good light, while Smart HDR gives the pictures taken a high dynamic range. However, colours look dull in HDR shots compared to photos taken by the iPhone X, XR or XS.
Our third scene, which we took at 0.5 lux, reveals the limitations of the new iPad Pro 12.9’s rear-facing camera though. The resulting photo has noticeably more image noise and weaker colours than the equivalent shot taken with an iPhone X or an XS. The photo looks worse than those taken by the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 in our opinion too. We suspect that Apple is reusing a camera from an older iPhone, perhaps the iPhone 7.
We also subjected the new iPad Pro 12.9 to further camera tests under controlled lighting conditions with ColorChecker Passport. Photos taken in these conditions look too pale for our liking, while the white balance is quite warm. Overall, the camera reproduces colours accurately, although it captures green, dark brown and blue too lightly.
Our test device captured our test chart well though. The resulting photo is detailed, although the edges of the image lack the same clarity as at the centre. Fonts against dark backgrounds fray slightly too. However, the photo turned out better than expected.
Accessories & Warranty
Apple includes a 1 metre (~ 3.3 feet) USB Type-C to Type-C cable and an 18 W charger (5 V/3 A, 9 V/2 A) in the box. Our test device also came with a warranty card, a SIM tool, a quick-start guide, and two Apple stickers.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 comes with a derisory 12 months manufacturer’s warranty, which is separate from any third-party supplier warranty. Apple continues to sell its AppleCare+, which extends the warranty coverage to two years. The warranty extension now costs $129 (£129) and provides two total loss repairs for a $49 (£39) excess fee. Users must pay a $29 (£25) fee if they break their Apple Pencil too. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Apple sells numerous accessories for the third-generation iPad Pro 12.9, including the Apple Pencil 2 ($129/£119) and the Smart Keyboard Folio ($199/£199). Even the accessories have become more expensive. Unfortunately, earlier versions of the keyboard and the Pencil will not work with the third-generation iPad Pros, nor will the new accessories work with previous generations. Users upgrading from a first- or second-generation iPad Pro cannot reuse their existing keyboard or pencil.
Input Devices & Operation
Our test device’s touchscreen reliably reproduced our inputs throughout testing, while the smooth glass makes it easy for us to slide our fingers across the display. We have seen people complain that some popular apps have not been optimised for the new display as they have a black border around them. Generally, these apps are those that are designed to be used with the iPad, so we suspect that this is by design. With that said, we would not be surprised if future updates address this issue.
The Apple Pencil 2 functions just as well as its predecessor. Notably, the Pencil 2 supports the same number of pressure levels as the first-generation Pencil. The pen works well in daily use and is accurate enough not only for writing but also for drawing or painting.
Apple has overhauled the Pencil’s ergonomics and design though. The Pencil 2 is shorter than its predecessor and now attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad Pro where it charges wirelessly. The Pencil 2 can also switch between functions if you double-tap it.
The default iOS 12 keyboard is largely unchanged from previous versions, but Apple has updated the Smart Folio Keyboard. The keyboard now magnetically attaches to the iPad and communicates with the device via its Pogo pins. The keyboard case is also thick enough to allow the new iPad Pro 12.9 to lie flat on a table. The cover has a rubberised texture that feels good to the touch. Most keys measure 1.5 cm², while they all have a slightly concave design and emit a faint click when pressed. In short, the keyboard is easy to type on. Moreover, we found the automatic spelling corrections and suggestions useful, although these can be disabled if you prefer. The iPad Pro 12.9 could also be used easily as a multimedia tablet without the physical keyboard.
Face ID, which we have known of since the release of the iPhone X, has replaced Touch ID on all models of the third-generation iPad Pro. Face ID can register up to two faces, which is handy if more than one person plans to use the device.
Display
The one thing that has not changed much from last year’s iPad Pro 12.9 is the display. It still measures 12.9-inches, has a 4:3 aspect ratio, and it has a 2732x2048 resolution. Consequently, the display has a pixel density of 265 PPI, which should be sharp enough for most people and is something that the iPad Pro 12.9 has in common with many equivalently sized tablets. The IPS panel supports HDR10 and DolbyVision too, albeit the display does not get bright enough to take full advantage of the latter feature. The display also has a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 gets just as bright as its predecessor and achieves an average maximum brightness of 605 cd/m² with the ambient light sensor switched on. Turning off the sensor reduces the panel’s maximum luminosity by a few nits, but the difference is nothing drastic. The more realistic APL50 test produced similar results too. Our test device has a slightly lower black value than its predecessor, which results in a stronger contrast ratio that we measure at 1,975:1.
We have not noticed any backlight bleeding so far during our time with the device. Apple has included its True Tone feature too, which automatically adjusts the colour temperature of the display when the device senses a change in ambient lighting. The new iPad Pro 12.9 also supports Night Shift, a feature that filters out blue light to make the display easier to read at night. Night Shift can be set to turn on between certain hours or enabled manually.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 does not use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate display brightness, just like its predecessor. However, we did notice that the display flickers between 53 and 75 Hz at 3% brightness and below.
|
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 632 cd/m²
Contrast: 1975:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.9
ΔE Greyscale 1.7 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.21
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 IPS, 2732x2048, 12.9" | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 IPS, 2732x2048, 12.9" | Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Super AMOLED, 2560x1600, 10.5" | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro IPS, 2560x1600, 10.8" | Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB IPS, 2736x1834, 12.3" | Apple iPad 6 2018 IPS, 2048x1536, 9.7" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | -1% | -57% | -201% | -78% | -22% | |
Brightness middle | 632 | 650 3% | 474 -25% | 384 -39% | 463 -27% | 530 -16% |
Brightness | 605 | 614 1% | 477 -21% | 360 -40% | 450 -26% | 513 -15% |
Brightness Distribution | 91 | 90 -1% | 91 0% | 84 -8% | 83 -9% | 92 1% |
Black Level * | 0.32 | 0.42 -31% | 0.8 -150% | 0.32 -0% | 0.61 -91% | |
Contrast | 1975 | 1548 -22% | 480 -76% | 1447 -27% | 869 -56% | |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.1 | 1 9% | 2.5 -127% | 6.83 -521% | 3.76 -242% | 1.2 -9% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.4 | 1.9 21% | 5.8 -142% | 12.7 -429% | 7.35 -206% | 3.2 -33% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.7 | 1.5 12% | 2.1 -24% | 7.5 -341% | 3.18 -87% | 1 41% |
Gamma | 2.21 100% | 2.25 98% | 2.08 106% | 2.199 100% | 2.53 87% | 2.28 96% |
CCT | 6794 96% | 6734 97% | 6281 103% | 8544 76% | 6994 93% | 6588 99% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 2.68 | |||||
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 59 | |||||
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 90 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
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 8627 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
We investigated the colour accuracy of our test device’s display with a photo spectrometer and CalMAN analysis software. The display should cover the DCI-P3 colour space, but we cannot currently verify this as the app that we use cannot measure the colour space for some reason. Even our partner SectraCal has no solution at present.
However, we can confirm that the new iPad Pro 12.9 has impressive sRGB colour-space coverage. Our test device is so colour accurate that the human eye cannot notice its DeltaE mixed colour deviations. Our tests show that grey tones have a slight blue tint to them though when the True Tone feature is disabled, but we have not noticed this when just using the device.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
23.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 7.6 ms rise | |
↘ 15.6 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. » 49 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
49.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18.8 ms rise | |
↘ 30.8 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.7 ms). |
Users should have no problems with using the new Apple iPad Pro 12.9 outside. The device gets bright enough for use in direct sunlight, while the 1.8% reflectance coefficient reduces the number of reflections that deflect off the display. Hence, the new iPad Pro 12.9 is a great device to get work done on the move should you need to.
Performance
Apple has touted the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement since its first release in 2015. Particular attention was paid to the A9X outscoring an ultra-low voltage (ULV) Intel Core i5 in Geekbench. However, Geekbench used different instruction sets on different architectures, as it still does now, so the scores that ARM and x86 systems achieve are not comparable. Hence, Apple’s claim that the third-generation iPad Pro is faster than 92% of all laptops sold in 2018 is somewhat disingenuous; the scores may verify that claim, but the tests are different, so the results are incomparable.
Let us start by looking at the statistics. The Apple A12X Bionic SoC powers the new iPad Pro 12.9. The SoC is the first octa-core processor to come from Cupertino, which has four Vortex power cores and four Tempest energy-saving cores. Meanwhile, the GPU has seven processing units and an octa-core neural processing unit (NPU) that Apple also uses in the iPhone XS and XS Max. The CPU also has 10 billion transistors, which is 3.1 billion more than the A12 Bionic SoC has. We currently have no reliable data on clock speeds, but the additional two vortex cores should ensure that the A12X Bionic is noticeably more powerful than its predecessor.
We checked pure CPU performance with Geekbench, in which the A12X Bionic easily beats all our ARM-powered comparison devices. Interestingly, the A9X in the first iPad Pro 12.9 still outscores the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC in single-core benchmarks. The Physics values in the 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited provide a good comparison across devices too. The A12X Bionic scores just below the Intel Core i5-7200U in this regard, but these scores are not directly comparable as mentioned at the top of this section. Unfortunately, not all 3DMark benchmarks worked on the new iPad Pro 12.9 at the time of writing.
The A12X Bionic has fantastic graphics performance and outperforms all our ARM-powered comparison devices in GPU benchmarks. We cannot verify whether the A12X Bionic GPU is as powerful as the AMD Radeon GCN in the Xbox One S as Apple claims. However, the A9X GPU in the first-generation iPad Pro outperforms the Adreno 630 in the Snapdragon 845, so it is possible that graphics performance would have improved just as significantly as CPU performance has in two-and-a-half years.
The new iPad Pro is currently the fastest ARM-powered device that consumers can buy. It does not have a faster CPU than 92% of all laptops released in 2018 though. Otherwise, we would have expected Apple to ship the device with MacOS since the A12X Bionic would be powerful enough to rival x86 competitors like the Surface Pro 6.
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (552676 - 566378, n=2) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 |
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (5216 - 5300, n=2) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 | |
Average of class Tablet (255 - 4107, n=12, last 2 years) |
Subjectively, web-browsing on the third-generation iPad Pro 12.9 feels snappy and smooth. Benchmark results confirm our impression too, particularly as the iPad Pro 12.9 beats all our comparison devices in browser benchmarks.
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (278 - 279, n=2) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 (Safari Mobile 10) | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 (Safari Mobile 11.3) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Safari Mobile 9.0) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Samsung Browser 8.0) | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (44425 - 45734, n=2) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 (Safari Mobile 10) | |
Average of class Tablet (763 - 105178, n=87, last 2 years) | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 (Safari Mobile 11.3) | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Safari Mobile 9.0) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Samsung Browser 8.0) | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Average of class Tablet (319 - 34733, n=74, last 2 years) | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Samsung Browser 8.0) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Safari Mobile 9.0) | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 (Safari Mobile 11.3) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 (Safari Mobile 10) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (603 - 614, n=2) |
WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB (Edge 18) | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (172 - 182, n=2) | |
Average of class Tablet (36 - 435, n=39, last 2 years) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 (Safari Mobile 10) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Samsung Browser 8.0) | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) |
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall | |
Average Apple A12X Bionic (380 - 386, n=2) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 (Safari Mobile 12) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 (Safari Mobile 10) | |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Safari Mobile 9.0) | |
Apple iPad 6 2018 (Safari Mobile 11.3) | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Samsung Browser 8.0) | |
Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro (Chrome 68.0.3440.91) |
* ... smaller is better
Games
Apple boasts that the A12X Bionic GPU is as powerful as the GPU inside an Xbox One S, which is a dedicated games console. Apple has set our expectations exceedingly high. We would not recommend holding the iPad Pro 12.9 for extended gaming sessions as we found it too big for our hands. Some games do not have iPad Pro 12.9-friendly onscreen buttons either, so users may have to stretch their thumbs to reach buttons on either side of the display.
We checked gaming performance with GameBench, the results of which are impressive. However, the system often limits refresh rates to 30 FPS and we could not find a game that could take advantage of the iPad Pro 12.9’s 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. World of Tanks Blitz has a 120 Hz mode, but this would not play any higher than 60 FPS. PUBG Mobile is limited to 30 FPS in balanced or HD modes. Moreover, other supposedly 120 Hz games like Phoenix 2 or Vainglory would only reach a maximum of 60 FPS. The games run smoothly on our test device, but weaker Android tablets can produce better results than the iPad Pro 12.9. The third generation of the iPad Pro currently does not get anywhere close to matching Apple’s ambitious claims.
Battle Bay
PUBG Mobile
Arena of Valor
Asphalt 9: Legends
World of Tanks Blitz
Emissions
Temperature
Surface temperatures never get unpleasantly hot, but most of our test device gets hotter than 30 °C at idle, while one area reaches a maximum of 36.8 °C. These are comparatively hot idle surface temperatures, but surprisingly our test device does not get much hotter when operating under sustained load. Surface temperatures reach a maximum of 38.8 °C at the centre of the rear case and average 36 °C, which is less than 5 °C hotter than average surface temperatures at idle. Overall, the new iPad Pro 12.9 gets hotter to the touch than other tablets and large smartphones that we tested, although not dangerously so.
We also checked how the SoC performs under sustained load by running GFXBench battery tests on a loop for 30 times, during which we record battery percentage and benchmark framerates. Our test device handles the simpler T-Rex benchmark with ease and is on par with Snapdragon 845-powered devices.
Update 11.16.2018: Initially, we could not run the more complex Manhattan benchmark on our test device, but we have now added our results. Our test device starts by achieving higher frame rates in Manhattan than it does in T-Rex, but the SoC eventually thermal throttles to slightly below what it achieved in the T-Rex benchmark. This equates to around a 20% performance drop, which is acceptable and is better than some Snapdragon 845-powered devices.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.3 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.7 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.8 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 33.2 °C / 92 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.3 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 29.9 °C / 86 F.
Speakers
The new iPad Pro 12.9 has four speakers like its predecessors. The speakers should continue to provide balanced stereo sound too even if one is accidentally covered when holding the device. The difference is noticeable though. The sound quality is practically identical when using the device in either landscape or portrait mode too.
Generally, Apple appears to have changed little with the speakers in the new iPad Pro 12.9. Our Pink Noise speaker test demonstrates that the speakers in our test device have a balanced sound, so this consistency is not a backwards step. The speakers struggle to reproduce low or bass tones, but this is synonymous with all thin devices, including most laptops. Overall, the new iPad Pro 12.9 has comparatively listenable speakers that are good enough for occasional music or video playback.
However, audiophiles are likely to resort to using external solutions in either scenario. Unfortunately, Apple has removed the headphone jack and does not include a USB Type-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box. Moreover, the tablet only works with adapters that have integrated DA converters, which is a requirement that we have also seen from HTC devices too. By contrast, Huawei and Samsung devices will work with cheaper adapters. Audio output over Bluetooth 5.0 also worked well during our testing.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 7.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (9.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (18.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (1.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 47% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 43% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Power Management
Power Consumption
The new iPad Pro 12.9 consumes slightly more power on average than its predecessor. While our test device consumes a minimum of 1.42 W at idle, which is 0.13 W less than that which its predecessor consumes, the new iPad Pro 12.9 consumes an average of 2 W more under sustained load and 0.77 W at idle. Our test device consumes an average of 40% more than the Galaxy Tab S4 in our tests too.
Apple includes an 18 W charger in the box, which sounds large enough. However, it takes around seven hours to recharge our test device fully, which is absurd. Apple sells a 30 W charger should you wish to charge your device quicker than in a night’s sleep, but this will cost you $49 (£49). Unfortunately, it is common practice for Apple to include weak chargers with its devices, as we detailed in our iPhone XR, XS and XS Max reviews.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 10875 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 7300 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro 7500 mAh | Apple iPad 6 2018 mAh | Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | 11% | 40% | -5% | -1% | -86% | |
Idle Minimum * | 1.42 | 1.55 -9% | 1.76 -24% | 3.3 -132% | 2.2 -55% | 4.3 -203% |
Idle Average * | 9.35 | 8.58 8% | 4.22 55% | 4.2 55% | 7.8 17% | 8.7 7% |
Idle Maximum * | 9.38 | 8.59 8% | 4.25 55% | 7 25% | 7.9 16% | 9.4 -0% |
Load Average * | 12.75 | 10.09 21% | 4.52 65% | 10.4 18% | 12.6 1% | 24.5 -92% |
Load Maximum * | 14.96 | 10.61 29% | 7.35 51% | 13.8 8% | 12.8 14% | 36 -141% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
We cannot currently determine the new iPad Pro 12.9’s battery capacity. However, our test device outlasted most of our comparison devices, although it is beaten by last year’s model in some battery tests. The new iPad Pro 12.9 cannot compete with its predecessor in either our idle or under load battery life tests, but these are not entirely fair comparisons.
Our most comparable battery life tests are the H.264 and Wi-Fi tests because we set all devices to approximately 150 cd/m² display brightness. Our test device comfortably outlasts all our comparison devices, including its predecessor, in these tests. In short, the new iPad Pro 12.9 should easily last most users a full workday’s use.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2017 10875 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 7300 mAh | Huawei MediaPad M5 10.8 Pro 7500 mAh | Apple iPad 6 2018 mAh | Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i5, 128 GB mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 16% | -15% | -15% | -5% | -37% | |
Reader / Idle | 1888 | 2919 55% | 1227 -35% | 1254 -34% | 1066 -44% | |
H.264 | 899 | 676 -25% | 735 -18% | 629 -30% | ||
WiFi v1.3 | 796 | 736 -8% | 495 -38% | 670 -16% | 714 -10% | 545 -32% |
Load | 184 | 257 40% | 245 33% | 220 20% | 185 1% | 118 -36% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) not only impressed us during Apple’s keynote but also when we first received our test device. Yes, it is still a huge tablet, but it is slimmer and lighter than its predecessors. The new Apple Pencil feels great in the hand too.
A huge appeal of the new iPad Pro 12.9 will be its alleged performance, which Apple claims will outperform 92% of all notebooks that are released in 2018. Notably, this even includes some Core i7 models. The company also boasts that the performance of the A12X GPU should rival the Xbox One S. Apple has truly stuck its neck out with these huge claims, and the new iPad Pro 12.9 cannot quite live up to expectations. The A12X Bionic is currently the fastest ARM-based SoC that has been brought to market, but there is no accurate way to compare its performance against x86 processors.
The third-generation iPad Pro 12.9 is a fantastic tablet and is currently the best ARM-based tablet that money can buy. However, iOS continues to hold the iPad Pro back from being a genuine laptop replacement, which is unfortunate as it is powerful enough to be one.
The iPad Pro 12.9’s biggest shortcoming is iOS. The OS has no usable file system, nor can the device currently read USB flash drives to name but a few issues we have with iOS. The Galaxy Tab S4 is infinitely more flexible in this respect. Users who just need a lightweight device for emails, media consumption and office applications will be satisfied with the new iPad Pro 12.9, although it is exceedingly expensive. However, after three generations Apple has not delivered on its promise of creating a tablet that can replace a laptop.
The new iPad Pro 12.9 is great for those who value the Apple Pencil and who know how to use it. We would recommend picking up the smaller model if you plan to use the device on the go though. Moreover, the 64 GB version should have enough storage for most users who just want a large tablet for media consumption.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2018
- 09/16/2019 v7 (old)
Daniel Schmidt