Tablets may not be as popular as mobiles and laptops. However, when it comes to brands in the game, Apple reigns supreme. The Pro 12.9 2020 is arguably the best. There are some great competitors around, though. We took a look at them, to find out how much of a Pro the ‘Pro’ really is.
Portability & Viewing
The bigger the display, the more immersive a viewing experience you’ll have. Apple has a reputation for making large tabs. The Pro 11 which was released in 2018 is 11 inches and the Air, released in 2019, is also around the same size. The 12.9’s name gives it away.
Not only is it big, but it’s thin too. You’ll be able to carry it around without any problem. Its dimensions are 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm.
The Galaxy Tab S7+ is probably its biggest competitor. It’s large, however, its front falls a bit short at 12.5 inches.
Not only does size and thickness affect portability, but so does weight. You’re looking at a 641-gram unit. Its Samsung counterpart is 575 grams. The heavier a tab is, the more premium it feels. That being said, heavier weight can make the devices feel like bricks. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a fabulous standalone tab. It’s hefty at almost 800 grams, though.
Design
Everyone knows iPads are expensive. You’d expect the iPad Pro to feel great in your hands, and Apple didn’t disappoint. Its sides are curved, so you can hold it comfortably. It is also made from premium aluminum, so it’s easy to grip. As it’s thin, it feels high-quality too.
Display
We mentioned size earlier, however, the display size isn’t the only thing that affects how immersive it is. The panel your handset rocks does too. The Tab S7+ is Super AMOLED, while its counterpart has a regular IPS LCD screen.
How does it fare against the Pro? It is more vibrant. This is something to consider if you’re going to be streaming content regularly. Meanwhile, the iPad Air (2020) offers a liquid retina display and gives the Super AMOLED the biggest run for its money as it’s sharper. But it’s not as vibrant.
The Pro 12.9 is very bright. Its screen is 600 max nits. 500 is the gold standard, which it exceeds. The S7+ is only 474 max nits, and the Air is 500.
The Air is sharp, as mentioned above. Its resolution is 1640 x 2360 pixels. The Pro is 2048 x 2732 and the S7+ is 1752 x 2800. You might think that the 12.9 is sharper, just by looking at it. However, the Air is an inch lesser.
Whatever Apple device you look at, you’ll see an oleophobic layer. They give the most comfortable experience, and things like oil won’t stick to their screens. The Galaxy S7+ doesn’t offer this. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7, which we mentioned earlier, sadly doesn’t either.
Speaking of displays, we have to talk about screen-to-body ratios. For an immersive experience, look for a ratio close to 100%. The S7+ and iPad Pro have the same ratios. What’s strange is that the 12.9 Pro (2018) has the same one as the newer model. Apple didn’t make any improvements to it in 2 years. They’re both 85.4%.
Stylus
It shouldn’t surprise you that the iPad Pro and Air are popular with students. They make note-taking easy, as the Apple pencil is ultra-sensitive and pen-like. Along with the comfortable stylus, they come with the expert design software, Procreate.
The large screen coupled with stylus and software is why Converged devices rank the Pro as one of the best tabs for artists. However, the S7+ has a great stylus too. It’s just that the former is more popular with students and graphic designers.
Battery
You should be able to use a tab without worrying about its battery dying. As the devices have large screens, they need large batteries too.
Compared to its Samsung counterpart, the Pro 12.9 doesn’t stand a chance. It has a 9720 mAh unit, while its alternative has a 10090 mAh one. Sadly, Apple hasn’t made it public as to how much mAh the battery on the Air is. If we had to guess, we’d say it’s around the Pro’s size. The Surface Pro 7 especially has a small unit. It is 5702 mAh.
Of course, we have to talk about charging. Who wants to sit around for hours while their tablet charges? The 12.9 goes from 0-100% in around 3 hours. The Air takes around 2 while the Tab S7+ takes 3 hours as well.
When it comes to charging, the Microsoft unit is the best. It fully charges in around an hour and a half.
Whichever one you choose, they all come with expert power-saving modes. You can easily make them last longer than specified.
Processor
The amount of power a handset has depends on its chipset. The Air wins beats its sibling and the S7+ as it hosts the A14 bionic chip. It’s one of the most powerful types around. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you could pick the Surface with the Intel Core i7-1065G7. It’s beastly, leaving the A14 in the dust.
The 12.9 Pro doesn’t come with expandable storage. Samsung’s S7+ can be picked up with 128, 256, and 512 GB ROM, yet you can still expand it. A MicroSD slot is present for the Microsoft device as well.
In the RAM department, the two iPads offer 6 gigs of memory. The Samsung tab offers 8 while the Surface Pro comes with just 4. The more RAM present, the snappier they would be. Coupled with a powerful processor, they would be silky smooth to use.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to deciding whether the iPad is the best in the game, there is no clear-cut answer. It holds its own against alternatives in several categories. If you’re thinking of picking it up, don’t hesitate. Along with the Air, the iPad would be a great purchase for students and artists.
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