iPad Pro review before Apple's New iPad OS

iPad Pro review before iPad OS

This device is simply amazing. The design is what takes my breath away every time I pick it up to hold. The sharp square edges, the light weight, and the professional look of the Space Grey. Just the other day I decided to bite the bullet and pick up the trio package (the iPad Pro 11 inch 256 GB space grey, keyboard type cover, and the 2nd generation Apple Pencil) and to my surprise, there are some pros and cons that I have come to realize about this product. 

Older generation iPads lacking design

I’ve always been in the market for an iPad since the first one came out, but have held out year after year because it just didn’t feel like they were “the one.” Some of you may have experienced this feeling, it’s when you pick up the old generations of iPads, you can’t help but feel it’s just a blown up iPhone with a lot of rounded bulk. Especially the entry level iPad which feels a little cheap with the outer glass instead of a laminated screen. On top of that, the first generation pencil feels too round and the method of charging by sticking it into the lightening port was awkward. Sure, the product was revolutionary at the time, but I couldn’t help to feel like there could have been more design enhancements to the iPad line up.

Fast forward to today and having and using the new iPad Pro feels more like a complete product, except for the operating system in its current form. The feel in the hand, the sharper box edges, this slate of somewhat bezel-less professional masterpiece. It checks all the boxes for me when it comes to the physical design. It’s simply the one I was waiting for. 

iPad Pro limited by software

However just a few days using this iPad Pro, a few things are apparent right off the bat. You get an overwhelming feeling that the capabilities of the iPad is limited. It’s like you want it to be a good laptop replacement when you’re travelling, but find out you can’t do simple things like file manage. One of the problems I faced while travelling with my iPad Pro around Southeast Asia is that when I wanted to copy my photos and videos from my Canon camera to my external hard drive, there was no file management system on the iPad that would allow me to do that. The files app on the iPad can not detect two devices connected to it, and you’re left with the only function it has is to import. 

There’s the argument that the iPad Pro should be your companion device instead of a full laptop replacement. Sure, I can get that, but I really dislike that idea. Why would Apple put such amazing hardware in an iPad Pro, it being a lot faster and powerful than most laptops on the market with the intention of just using it for iPad purposes such as consuming videos and photos. There is no basis for that since the cheaper older IPad would do just fine. 

The saving grace - iPad OS

If you have been paying attention to Apple’s latest announcement, they have heard their customers loud and clear and the pro users want a laptop like experience on their iPads! With the new changes, the iPad will be super charged with laptop like capabilities and it will be a total game changer on how we do work on the go. 

The new iPad operating system has some key features that we know:

• Better file management via the Files app, allowing support for external drives and SD cards (which is a huge pain point and the largest handicap currently for iPad users)

• Desktop safari browser, instead of mobile 

• Improved text editing with the use of gestures, allowing you to copy and paste a lot more efficiently

• A new home screen that allows you to pin widgets to the home page

• Dark mode

All of these new changes are expected to roll out in September 2019, when Apple launches their refreshed products every year. There are betas available to developers and soon will be released to the public for testing. Things are about to get a little more interesting in the Apple world and it’s something we needed for a while now.