Source: Apple
Apple is also introducing a refresh for its professional line of tablets. The iPad Pro gets the M2 processor the company introduced earlier this year in the MacBook Air. It's expected to be 15% faster than the M1 processor used in last year's iPad Pro. Apple's also bringing a new "hover" feature that detects when the Apple Pencil is slightly above the screen. If you've used a stylus-compatible Samsung, you'll be familiar with this feature. When you hover over an item, you can "see a preview of their mark before they make it."
According to the company, this should also make it easier to sketch and illustrate with improved precision. Like with Scribble, the text fields will automatically expand when your Apple Pencil is near. It should convert handwriting to text faster, too. Apple says third-party apps could take advantage of the feature.
There will be two screen sizes: a 12.9-inch and an 11-inch model. The larger display gets Mini LED tech with better black levels, contrast, and improved HDR, while the smaller has a more basic screen. Both get Apple's ProMotion for refresh rates up to 120Hz. It doesn't get the landscape orientation the new base iPad model gets, though.
The iPad Pro also now supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and "more 5G networks around the world." You can still get it in silver and space gray. The 8GB version pairs with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB storage options, while the 16GB can be paired with the 1TB and 2TB models. There aren't new accessories, but we're expecting iPadOS 16 to finally arrive on October 24. The Apple iPad 11-inch model starts at $1,099, while the 12.9-inch variant starts at $1,499. Both are now available for pre-order and coming to stores on October 26.