Apple iPad Pro (2022) Review: More Power, More Versatility, Same Price. Apple iPad pro 2022

Apple iPad Pro (2022) Review: Power, Versatility, Same Price

Another great Apple product made better by a new chip.

By Stefan Vazharov Published: Jan 4, 2023

Despite many competitors’ attempts at topping it, there’s no debate that the iPad is the best tablet and ultrabook alternative that money can buy, even after more than a decade since Apple first introduced it to the world, forever changing the tech landscape. Apple recently unveiled the latest iPad Pro with a subtle refresh to its previous generation, which featured major design and hardware improvements, including the revolutionary Apple M1 chip and a Liquid Retina XDR display for the 12.9-inch model. With a starting price tag of 799, the new slate is available with an 11-inch or a fancier 12.9-inch screen.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-Inch (6th Generation)

The most significant and exciting upgrade to the iPad Pro sequel is its M2 chip — the same Apple silicon that powers the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro — and delivers superior performance and excellent battery life. Aside from the chip swap that will significantly improve your everyday interactions with the device and a few additional upgrades, the new iPad Pro is no different from the one it replaces. It has the same sleek design, best-in-class display, optional 5G, and multi-camera setup, to name a few bits

I spent weeks with the sixth-generation iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display. Its upgrades make it an excellent sequel that takes the legendary “Pro” moniker to another level, even though they’re visually subtle changes that are easy to miss at first glance. Here’s why:

All About the M2 Chip

The Apple M2 chip is a follow-up to the M1 chip, a hardware component that changed my expectations about power and energy efficiency in laptops and tablets since its 2020 debut. Thanks to a new generation of the 5-nanometer process, the M2 packs billions more transistors, which significantly increases processing, graphics, and machine learning capabilities — 15, 35, and 40%, respectively — without impacting its energy efficiency. Translation? The Apple devices that have it can conquer more demanding tasks and workflows yet still deliver excellent battery life.

Compared to the M1-powered iPad Pro, the new version delivers superior performance during demanding tasks like editing large images and 4K video. Throughout my testing, I used it to alter 48MP RAW photos from an iPhone 14 Pro Max in Affinity Photo, and the responses it delivered to my inputs were instantaneous.

The iPad Pro has been a capable video recording device since 2020 when Apple made the dual rear camera standard on its range-topping tablet. The M2 chip lets the latest generation capture clips in ProRes format via third-party camera apps, and the ability to capture and edit content locally on the iPad Pro is remarkable.

When it comes to everyday interactions, the iPad Pro unsurprisingly delivers a fast and fluid experience. I used the slate as a workstation instead of a traditional laptop without sacrificing even a sliver of productivity — opening and switching between a double-digit number of active apps happened instantly. The big-screen device also easily made it through workdays between charges.

Other Noteworthy Upgrades

Apple treated the M2 iPad Pro to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity, making it more futureproof than the M1 version. The former will allow the device to utilize multi-gig Wi-Fi networks. On the other hand, Bluetooth 5.3 guarantees strong links with the latest wireless earbuds, headphones, and speakers, including the second-generation Airpods Pro.

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The 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro had the best display panel in the business, offering deep contrast, vibrant colors, and maximum brightness rivals couldn’t match. The sixth generation of the big-screen Pro has the same panel, so it’s again in a league of its own in terms of quality and brightness.

Apple Pencil hover is a new exciting touchscreen feature of the iPad Pro brought by the M2 chip. It allows you to see the exact spot where the accessory will interact with the display, making interactions more precise than ever.

About iPadOS

Apple iPadOS 16 — the latest version of the iPad-only platform — strengthens the case for picking an iPad Pro over an ultrabook. It is brimming with features to take full advantage of the device’s hardware. Plus, the App Store is full of big screen-ready apps and games.

In particular, Center Stage helped me easily toggle between several active apps while using the iPad Pro with an external monitor at the office. Setting it up was as easy as connecting it to the device’s USB-C port, then pairing a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Wrap-Up

Like the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the same chip, the M2-powered iPad Pro is subtly but convincingly better than its predecessor. This is the most powerful, most versatile, most “Pro” iPad I have experienced yet — and it’s worth its considerable price tag.

The captivating Liquid Retina XDR touchscreen with mini-LED backlighting of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro should make entry-level MacBook shoppers seriously consider it before upgrading. The iPad Pro’s display is brighter, more vibrant, and more fluid than the screen of any MacBook, except for the 14- and 16-inch Pro models.

There’s no doubt that this is the iPad to get unless you already have an iPad Pro with an M1 chip. However, switching from the M1 to the M2 version is well worth the investment if video editing and other GPU-intensive tasks are part of your daily workflow.

Dropping 799 will get you an 11-inch iPad Pro with 128GB of storage, while the 12.9-inch Pro with the same amount of memory costs 300 extra. The 11-inch iPad Pro has a Liquid Retina IPS display that’s not as fancy as the bigger 12.9-inch unit. Its smaller size and lower price make it a lighter laptop alternative that doesn’t skimp on power. It’s also important to note that versions with 5G cellular connectivity will cost you 200 more than Wi-Fi-only models.

When it comes to additional accessories, I recommend spending extra on the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard. And there are plenty of Magic Keyboard alternatives in case you don’t want to spend big to up your productivity levels. As expected from an Apple product, the iPad Pro also has a great selection of cases and covers for customizing and protecting it.

Stefan is the senior technology editor for. where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was previously the US editor for ; his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics and other Hearst publications.In the rare moments when he’s not playing with a new gadget, Stefan likes to watch live Premier League games or hang out with his cat and rabbit. He’s also an espresso snob.

Apple iPad Pro (2022) review: there’s still nothing quite like it

Apple’s iPad lineup is pretty messy and confusing these days, but one constant remains: if you want the best iPad money can buy, the iPad Pro (2022) is the way to go. The iPad Pro has been on a hot streak ever since the 2018 model, and here in 2022, it’s better than ever.

A lot about what’s made the iPad Pro so great over the years remains true on the iPad Pro (2022). It has a stunning design, incredible screen, performance that borders on overkill, great accessories, and plenty of software tricks to take advantage of the whole package. Whether or not you need the iPad Pro is still a tricky question to answer, but if your heart is set on a flagship tablet experience, nothing else does it like the iPad Pro.

Apple iPad Pro (2022) design

The 2022 version of the iPad Pro looks just like the 2021 model … which also looked identical to the 2020 version. In other words, you get your choice of an 11-inch or 12.9-inch screen, an aluminum body, USB-C charging, a quad-speaker array, and a square camera housing on the back.

There’s nothing particularly exciting about this design, but there’s also a reason why Apple’s stuck with it for the last few generations — it works very well. The aluminum body feels premium and cool to the touch, the USB-C port supports Thunderbolt/USB 4 transfer speeds, and the four speakers sound incredible. I’ve watched a lot of videos and listened to a lot of music on the iPad Pro, and it always sounds outstanding — delivering crisp audio with a surprising amount of depth. You also still have a Face ID sensor hidden in the top frame next to the front-facing camera, and it works just as reliably as it does on an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.

As mentioned above, the iPad Pro (2022) comes in two screen sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. Apple sent me the 12.9-inch version for the purpose of this review, and it’s the model you should probably splurge for if you’re in the market for an iPad Pro. The 11-inch version uses an LCD panel with a 2388 x 1668 resolution with 600 nits of max brightness. By comparison, the 12.9-inch model flaunts a mini-LED panel and 2732 x 2048 resolution, and it can reach 1000 nits of max brightness (or 1600 nits when viewing HDR content).

The mini-LED screen on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro hasn’t changed at all since it was introduced last year, and that’s not a bad thing at all. The display presents lusciously vibrant colors, deep blacks, incredible sharpness, and it gets more than bright enough for just about any setting. You’re also treated to a 120Hz refresh rate, which lets animations run smoothly and flawlessly throughout the entire UI. Coming from a 60Hz screen on an iPad or iPad Air, 120Hz remains one of the iPad Pro’s killer features.

I’ve tried thinking of ways to critique the iPad Pro’s screen, but I honestly can’t come up with any. This is the best screen you’ll find on a tablet today, and if that’s at the top of your must-have list, it’s reason enough to seriously consider the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Sure, you could watch movies on the big screen with your Apple TV 4K (2022), but when the iPad Pro’s screen looks this good, why would you?

My only issue with the display is its size. I love the expansive screen real estate for browsing the web, running two apps side by side, or watching full-screen videos. But the 12.9-inch screen can feel a bit awkward at times. It’s wonderful when the iPad Pro is docked in the Magic Keyboard or when you need a big canvas for drawing with the Apple Pencil, but if you’re holding the iPad Pro (2022) and trying to use it like a “normal” tablet, the gargantuan size takes time to get adjusted to.

On the performance front, the iPad Pro (2022) is powered by Apple’s M2 chip — the same one used in the 2022 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. It’s every bit as fast as you’d expect. The M2 is overkill for my iPad workflow of running a few Safari tabs, managing emails on Outlook, and joining Microsoft Teams video calls. Not once have I been able to slow down or trip up the iPad Pro (2022), and paired with the 120Hz ProMotion screen, everything I do always feels instantaneous.

The M2 can also handle things like photo/video editing and long gaming sessions just as well. There’s an argument that a chip like the M2 is unnecessary in an iPad, but I don’t buy it. Just like how the screen on the iPad Pro is among the best you can find, the same is true of its performance. No matter what you want to do, chances are the iPad Pro (2022) can handle it flawlessly. It’s a tablet that never makes you question its performance capabilities, and in daily use, that’s a pretty magical feeling.

iPad Pro (2022) Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard

Similar to the last few iPad Pros, the 2022 model works with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. From a hardware perspective, nothing’s changed. It still has a matte finish that feels fantastic to hold and a flat side that can be double-tapped for shortcuts in select apps, and it attaches magnetically to the right frame of the iPad Pro (2022) — where it also wirelessly charges.

Everything about this setup is great. The Apple Pencil is always within reach, it reliably and conveniently charges, and writing or drawing with the Pencil feels wonderful. While I’m not much of an artist, using the iPad Pro (2022) and Apple Pencil to take notes throughout the day is a near-perfect experience.

The new Apple Pencil trick for the iPad Pro (2022) is a feature called “Apple Pencil hover.” When you hover the Apple Pencil within at least 12mm over the screen, the iPad Pro (2022) detects the position of the Apple Pencil and knows where it is. It sounds superfluous at first, but there are actually some really genius implementations of the feature.

Let’s say you draw with a blue marker in the Notes app and change your color to yellow. You’ll see a yellow preview of your marker/brush when moving the Apple Pencil above the screen, but when you move it over the blue area, the hover preview turns to green to show what it’ll look like when you blend the two colors together. Even something as simple as seeing your brush size before putting Pencil to screen adds extra information that just wasn’t there before.

And it’s not just first-party Apple apps that benefit from this. Developers can tap into an Apple Pencil hover API to use it to their advantage. In Procreate, you can hover the Apple Pencil over the iPad’s screen and swipe anywhere else on the screen to instantly change your brush size and opacity — all while seeing a live preview of the changes you’re making. All of this works beautifully in practice, and it’s a legitimately exciting new addition for artists/creators who will benefit most from it.

Like any modern iPad available today, the iPad Pro (2022) is running iPadOS 16. Many of the hallmark features from iOS 16 carry over to iPadOS 16, creating a very familiar experience across iPhone and iPad. This includes the ability to edit/unsend messages in iMessage, log into select websites with secure passkeys, more easily manage your Smart home with the redesigned Home app, and quickly remove the background from any photos on your device.

Where iPadOS 16 really stands apart from iOS 16 is Stage Manager. On its website, Apple describes Stage Manager as “a new way to multitask and get things done with ease.” Stage Manager is enabled by opening the Control Center and tapping the new Stage Manager icon.

This enables a few things. Apps now default to opening in fully resizable Windows, you can have multiple overlapping apps/Windows on the screen at the same time, and your recently used apps appear in a shortcut menu on the left side of the screen.

It all sounds rather impressive on paper, but the few times I’ve tried using Stage Manager, something about it just doesn’t click with me. It’s neat seeing three or four overlapping Windows open simultaneously, but I haven’t found Stage Manager to make me any more productive compared to using the iPad Pro (2022) without it. If anything, it makes the UI feel too cluttered and overwhelming. Running apps side by side or in Slide Over feels more natural and has years of muscle memory built up that Stage Manager breaks. it also doesn’t mess up the UI of certain apps, something I’ve found Stage Manager to do quite frequently.

The good news is that you can easily disable Stage Manager at any time and forget it’s even there — and that’s how I’ve primarily been using my iPad Pro (2022). There’s a good idea here, and the iPad could benefit from a simpler, streamlined way of multitasking. Unfortunately, at least in its current form, I don’t think Stage Manager is that solution.

iPad Pro (2022) cameras

The camera setup on the iPad Pro (2022) is identical to its predecessor. On the back is a 12MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, joined by a 10MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.4 aperture. For your selfies and video calls, the iPad Pro (2022) features a 12MP front-facing camera with f/2.4 aperture

The iPad Pro (2022) likely won’t be your go-to photography device, but if you need to snap photos with it in a pinch, the results are fine. Photos can actually look pretty good when there’s ample lighting, but take pictures in a dark or dimly-lit room, and it’s immediately apparent that you’re not shooting with a flagship smartphone.

What’s more frustrating for me is the iPad Pro (2022)’s front camera. Apple gave the iPad (2022) a horizontally placed front camera, which provides a much more natural angle for taking video calls. The iPad Pro (2022) didn’t get this new camera placement, and as such, you’ll still find yourself off-center and with no natural way to make eye contact when in a Teams or Zoom call.

Combined with the generally mediocre camera quality from the 12MP sensor, this is an area I really want to see Apple FOCUS on in the next generation.

iPad Pro (2022) battery life

What about battery life? It’s good, but it also falls short of Apple’s 10-hour endurance claims.

On one particular day with the iPad Pro (2022), I started using it at 9:10 a.m. and ended my day at 11:15 p.m. During that time, I racked up 5 hours and 46 minutes of screen time — including 90 minutes of streaming YouTube, over an hour browsing Safari, around an hour of video calls on Microsoft Teams, and more. At the end of that day, the iPad Pro (2022) had 16% battery left in the tank.

If you’re not using the iPad Pro as intensely, it’s very possible to get through two days on a single charge. I ended another day after nearly 2 hours of screen time, and then put in another almost 2 hours of screen time the next day. I ended day two with 37% battery remaining.

I certainly wouldn’t call this “bad” endurance, but I’d also love to see more. In a world where Apple promises anywhere from 15 to 20 hours of battery on the M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, being stuck with the 10-hour claim (that ultimately falls short) feels like an area that could also use improvement next time around.

Apple iPad Pro (2022) price and availability

The iPad Pro (2022) starts at 799 for the 11-inch version, but if you want the 12.9-inch model I reviewed here, be prepared to spend at least 1099. That configuration gets you 128GB of storage with Wi-Fi only. You can upgrade to 256GB (1,199), 512GB (1,399), 1TB (1,799), or even 2TB of storage (2,199). If you want cellular/5G connectivity, add an extra 200 to any of those prices.

And that’s just the iPad itself. You’ll almost certainly want to add an Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, or both. The Apple Pencil adds another 129 to your cart, while the Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro retails for 349.

The kit Apple sent me for review — which includes a 1TB Wi-Fi cellular model, Apple Pencil, and Magic Keyboard — comes out to a hefty 2,477.

The iPad Pro is still the best tablet you can get

Calling the iPad Pro (2022) the best tablet you can buy is an easy statement to make. Apple’s iPad lineup has had a significant lead in the tablet space for years, and the Pro represents the best of what it has to offer.

Even being the incremental release that it is, the iPad Pro (2022) is incredibly good at almost everything it does. The display is superb, performance is top-notch, iPadOS 16 is robust, and its family of accessories elevates the user experience in really exciting ways. The iPad Pro (2022) is overkill, outlandish, and a device I adore using.

But is all of that worth the extraordinary price Apple demands for the iPad Pro (2022)? That’s where you’ll need to do some decision-making. Want to use your iPad as a computer, but also want a device for drawing? Another option is to buy the M1 MacBook Air and pair that with an iPad Air and the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil — that’s a grand total of a little over 1,700 for an iPad and a proper macOS computer. Apple has a lot of ways for you to spend similar or less money than the asking price of a decked-out iPad Pro for other gadgets in its growing portfolio, and they make the argument for the iPad Pro harder to justify.

Apple iPad Pro 2022 Review: M2 Heart But Hover Steals The Show

The “pro” In Apple’s iPad Pro has always been tricky to define, ever since the flagship tablet debuted all the way back in 2015. Whether designed for professionals or prosumers, the question of just what you can, cannot, and could reasonably expect to do from Apple’s tablet has left users divided, either ready to give up their laptops and desktops in favor of a more flexible slate or still bemoaning shortcomings that typically hinge more on what the software allows you to do than anything else.

Chris Davies/SlashGear

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 Review

Ask the cynic, meanwhile, and they might simply point to the fact that — like the MacBook Pro — these are the most expensive models in the line-up. With MacBook Pro-like pricing, iPad Pro ownership is no casual step. For 2022, then, Apple sweetens the deal with the same chipset as its most recent laptops, not to mention more involved and intuitive ways by which the tablet interacts with its key accessories.

Plenty of iPad Pro overlap

Some of the iPad Pro recipe has stayed the same, and I can’t really fault Apple for that. The 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display remains one of the best panels around: bright, color-rich, and generally enough to make you look at every other screen in your life with unbridled scorn. The 11-inch model sticks with the Liquid Retina display that doesn’t get the mini-LED backlight magic.

Chris Davies/SlashGear

The cameras, meanwhile, are also carried over. That means a 12-megapixel wide and 10-megapixel ultra-wide on the rear, along with the LiDAR Scanner. The front keeps the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID, but where the 2022 iPad’s selfie camera has been shifted to the landscape edge, the iPad Pro’s remains at the top of the portrait edge.

Chris Davies/SlashGear

I suspect that’s a packaging issue — TrueDepth does have a few more sensors than a regular camera — but it’s a shame, as I typically find myself using the iPad Pro in landscape orientation. That’s particularly the case with the MacBook Air-like Magic Keyboard — a still-expensive 299 option that frustratingly lacks the dedicated function key row Apple added to its new Magic Keyboard for the 2022 iPad — which more often than not I have attached. I really like Apple’s Center Stage, which keeps you in the middle of the frame during video calls, but I wish the camera itself was positioned a little more centrally to make where I’m staring look entirely natural.

Baked-in 5G is welcome

Physical connectivity remains the same as the last-gen iPad Pro, too, with a USB-C connector that supports Thunderbolt and USB 4. I can’t fault Apple’s audio, either, with the four speakers spread around the iPad Pro being more than capable when it comes to video — even if, for the most part, I used Bluetooth earbuds (sadly, no, there’s still no 3.5mm headphones port).

Apple has added Wi-Fi 6E this year — something still missing from the MacBook range — and there’s the option of integrated 5G. Like the iPhone 14, Apple is using eSIM alone for its cellular connectivity. Unlike the iPhone 14, however, it’s much easier to access roaming data plans from the iPad Pro, since you can choose them directly from the tablet. I just wish stepping up to 5G wasn’t so expensive.

Battery life is the same 10-hour promise that Apple has been making for some generations now. In practice, with 5G active, I found that was a reasonable estimate.

iPadOS 16.1 brings iPad Pro even closer to Mac

Out of the box, the iPad Pro runs iPadOS 16.1, and Apple is adding further distance between its iPhone and iPad versions of the software. Widgets and new versions of Mail, Safari, and other native apps are pretty familiar at this point. However, it’s the updates to things like multitasking that stand out.

It’s fair to say that multitasking has been a long-standing point of frustration for many iPad users, myself included. If you’re used to how the process works on a Mac — or, for that matter, on any desktop computer — then iPadOS’ combination of swipes, gestures, split-screen layouts, and the like may well have felt like a complex answer to the question of app Windows. Now, we have Stage Manager to try to tame the process.

I’ve ended up thinking about Stage Manager as a combination of macOS virtual desktops and app-switcher thumbnails. The idea is that you have your — automatically organized — recent apps and documents running along the left edge of the screen, and then tap between which gets maximized. There’s (finally) support for having several Windows visible at once, and for resizing them.

Stage Manager has promise, but still feels clunky in places

How well it works depends on, well, how you work. When I sat down to write a car review on the iPad Pro, being able to quickly jump between my copy in Pages, the photos I’d imported, a spec sheet, my notes, and the automaker’s website was neat. It felt, in fact, pretty close to how I do the same thing on Mac, and the experience got even more impressive when I plugged in an external display (the iPad Pro can drive up to a 6K monitor).

I’m not so convinced that users of some of the desktop-level (or near-desktop-level) apps for video editing, sound production, or graphic design will be so enamored. Those are apps that really make the most sense maximized in full-screen view. Anything that reduces the size of the interface feels like a non-starter. The problem here is that it’s really those sorts of prosumers that the new iPad Pro is likely to be of greatest interest with.

iPad hardware, Mac performance

It was frankly astonishing when Apple added the M1 chipset to the iPad Pro in early 2021. For the first time, the Cupertino firm’s tablets had the same processing potential as its laptops, a narrowing-of-the-field that, though predicted by many, still felt borderline magical in a device that was fanless and still capable of lengthy battery life. As we’ve seen from the Apple M2 in laptops like the 2022 MacBook Air refresh, the delta between the generations of Apple Silicon hasn’t been quite as jaw-dropping as the leap from x86 to M1 was. Nonetheless, it’s tough to understate just what the offer is here: desktop-level grunt.

Chris Davies/SlashGear

The qualifier — which also lingers from previous, potent iPad Pros — is that how well you can take advantage of the power on offer depends on the whims of developers. DaVinci Resolve, Octane X, and Affinity Publisher users will all be getting updates later in the year that unlock features and processing speed that legitimately would’ve forced them to turn to the Mac version before now. That’s huge.

There’s a sense nonetheless that there’s more here from the M2 than is really necessary for most iPadOS apps and iPad users. My typical workflow of email, messaging, browsing, writing, and watching the occasional video barely touches the sides, when you’re talking about a CPU that’s up to 15% faster than last year’s, and a GPU that’s up to 35% faster. Never has the fact that this is a pro machine, and not designed for everyone, been more stark.

Apple Pencil gets an intuitive upgrade

The other big change with the iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) and the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) is Apple Pencil hover. Until now, Apple’s rechargeable second-generation stylus could track touch, pressure, and tilt when its nib was in contact with the display. With this update, the nib can be tracked up to 12 millimeters from the glass.

Having a tablet recognize a stylus before it actually comes in contact with the screen isn’t new, of course. The trusty old HP tc1100 (running Windows XP Tablet Edition) I had in the mid-2000s could do that too, its Wacom digitizer allowing the pen to move the on-screen cursor from a short distance away. It always — as with most Windows-based tablets — felt like it was trying to emulate a mouse, though.

Chris Davies/SlashGear

That’s not how hover on the new iPad Pro feels. Instead, it’s more akin to having a shadow cast by the nib of the Apple Pencil onto the screen, and in whatever form of tool that nib is currently set to represent, whether brush, eraser, or anything else. As a result, you have a better understanding of how the pen and app will interact before that actually happens.

App icons swell preemptively before you tap them; Scribble fields enlarge on the assumption you’re about to use handwriting to text. It takes away a little of the guesstimate process as to what you’re going to get, especially in apps that have explicit hover support. For casual — and not especially talented — artists like myself, seeing exactly where my digital ink or paint will land, and how thick and transparent it will be before I’ve actually applied it, makes for hitting the undo button far fewer times.

Hover is just getting started

You get the feeling, though, that hover is just getting started. As long as developers have already added support for Apple Pencil, they’ll get all the new, standard hover features by default. However, the API opens the door to more tightly integrating the Apple Pencil as a UI tool.

The developers behind Pixelmator Photo, for example, are combining hover with the Apple Pencil’s double-tap, essentially drawing out a new level of interface from the on-screen icons. Other apps will allow you to adjust brush size — complete with a hover preview of the result — by pinch-zooming with one hand while the nib is poised above the display. It should mean, generally, less tapping and more time to get on with creating.

I’m curious to see how this pans out as more developers — beyond those Apple reached out to ahead of time — get to grips with the API. It’s worth noting that hover only tracks Apple Pencil position, and the stylus only starts reporting tilt (and of course pressure) when it’s in contact with the display. Nonetheless, it feels like it could potentially become a bigger deal than simply for artists.

iPad Pro M2 verdict

In fact, that sense pretty much describes how I feel about the iPad Pro in general. There is so much clear potential here, whether it’s with the Pencil’s new talents, the steps iPadOS is taking toward making the iPad a laptop replacement like Apple always claimed it was, or the raw performance of the M2 chip. It feels like we’re scratching the surface, still.

I also feel like I’ve been saying that about iPad — and iPad Pro specifically — for some generations now. What’s changed is the alignment of iPadOS and macOS on Apple Silicon, an awakening of pro-level app makers to the experience parity across both platforms, and the fact that in some ways the iPad Pro now feels like the place Apple debuts some of its most compelling hardware.

Does that mean you should spend the 1,099 that the 2022 iPad Pro M2 will cost? That, mind, gets you the 128GB version — you’re looking at 1,799 for 1TB or 2,199 for 2TB, plus a 200 premium for 5G. Then there’s 129 for an Apple Pencil, and 349 for a Magic Keyboard. In short, MacBook Pro-level processing and MacBook Pro-level pricing too.

If the apps you use professionally are supported, though, I can’t help but feel like it’s probably worth it. The convenience of detaching the keyboard and kicking back with Apple Pencil makes a laptop feel staid. For the rest of us, just like with a MacBook Pro, the iPad Pro may well be overkill, and an iPad Air a far better — and more affordable — fit. I can’t blame you if you still go for the Pro upgrade, though.

Great tablet that doesn’t do much different than last year; however, Apple Pencil Hover is a neat little trick

i Verdict

This year’s iPad Pro packs more power, thanks to the M2 chip inside, and offers the same fantastic tablet experience you’ve come to know. The speakers are great, the 12.9-inch screen is awesome, and it’s the best drawing experience you’ll get on an iPad. And Apple Pencil Hover is a delight. and surprisingly more useful than you might think.

Pros

• Gorgeous display with the 12.9-inch model
• Super powerful M2 processor
• Apple Pencil Hover is a delight
• High storage options available

Cons

• – – No closer to being an actual laptop
• – – 11-inch model doesn’t have as nice of a screen
• – – Inevitably Pricey

You can always trust i.

Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.

I can’t say I was excited when Apple announced the iPad Pro (M2, 2022). After all, there didn’t seem to be much that was new. Same sizes (and the differences that come with them), the same cameras, same displays; the only difference was the M2 chip powering the whole thing.

In many ways, the iPad Pro was outshined by the introduction of the 10th-gen iPad 2022, not because it’s an inferior tablet but because nothing of significant importance changed — for most people, anyways. The standard iPad had intriguing changes to its design at least.

The good news is all the changes that have been made to the iPad Pro, few as they are, make it a better tablet. And if you’re the type of person who wants or needs the performance it offers, you’ll be very pleased.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Price and availability

The iPad Pro doesn’t rock the boat at all regarding your options. The sizes are still the 11-inch or 12.9-inch options that we’ve seen for a few iterations now, and you can still only get the two color options — Space Gray and Silver.

The storage options (on both sizes) start at 128GB and go up to 2TB if you’re willing to spend more money. Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi Cellular models are available, and the of the iPad Pro (2022, M2) have stayed the same (in the U.S.) as last year. That means the cheapest iPad Pro you can snag is 799, which would be the Wi-Fi-only 11-inch model with 128GB of storage. The 12.9-inch tablet starts at 1,099 in its cheapest configuration.

You can order the iPad Pro now from most retailers where you like to get your tech — Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, etc. The official launch date is October 26th, 2022.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Hardware and design

Same as the iPad Pro (2021). Next.

Although I’m being facetious, I’m not wrong regarding the actual device itself. Ignore the M2 chip powering the whole thing, and you have the same tablet you did in 2021 with all the same pros and cons as before.

Apple iPad Pro with M2 review (2022): An impressive, expensive stopgap

The annoying differences in the display between the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch version still exist, meaning you only get the absolutely stunning mini-LED display if you opt for the larger tablet. I can attest that the screen on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is very good. With a far better dynamic range, thanks to the 1600 nits at peak brightness, it makes viewing HDR content an absolute pleasure. Of course, remember that when you are just milling about on your iPad, you’ll get the same 600 nits that you can expect all the time on the 11-inch model. Add in ProMotion for a viable refresh rate of up to 120Hz and the wide color gamut (p3) on board, and you have yourself a fantastic display for whatever you’re trying to accomplish.

You’re looking at the same camera array on the rear of the iPad Pro that we have had on the last two generations of the device. A 12MP wide and 10MP Ultra-wide with a LiDAR scanner is what you’ll find on the camera bump, and all of them live up to their reputations. Even with a flash on board, low-light photos are just not the strong suit of any iPad, but for family photos, filming 4K videos, or anything else you’d want the camera to do, it will perform solidly. Plus, the LiDAR scanner works great for scanning in 3D models using apps like Polycam, which is necessary for some pros workflows.

What’s more surprising than the rear camera staying the same is that the front-facing system didn’t change. On the iPad (2022), Apple made the Smart decision to move the front-facing camera to the landscape edge of the device, meaning when you turn your iPad into landscape orientation for a FaceTime call, the camera is at the top. Weird that Apple didn’t take the opportunity to do the same on the iPad Pro this year, instead opting to keep it at the top of the device in portrait landscape. Maybe Apple figures the iPad Pro is more of a work device, and fewer people use the front-facing camera on it? In any case, the camera isn’t bad at all. It still has the same 12MP ultra-wide lens with the ability to use Center Stage to keep you in the center of the frame as best as it can. Plus, Face ID is here again and works just as well and the same as ever.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Connectivity

Lastly, when it comes to the iPad Pro (2022), don’t expect any changes in connectivity either, but that isn’t bad. The 5G options support both sub-6 and mmWave technology, meaning it outperforms the 5G on the lower-end iPads in the lineup and provides a ton of speed if you have a 5G network. Plus, the iPad now supports Wi-Fi 6E with speeds up to 2.4Gbps, meaning if you have a great internet connection at home, the iPad Pro will be able to take full advantage of that speed.

The Thunderbolt/USB 4 port is still here in all its glory, making it easier to attach and take advantage of powerful peripherals like USB-C hubs, external displays, the best external hard drives for iPad Pro, and more.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Software and performance

This is where the iPad Pro starts to differ from the last generation of the device, albeit in some pretty minor ways.

First off, let’s talk iPadOS 16. In many ways, the iPad Pro (2022) is the ultimate way to experience iPadOS 16. The premiere feature of Apple’s newest tablet software has mostly been kept to the iPad Pro due to the fact that the new multitasking feature, Stage Manager, needs a lot of power. Apple stated it would only be available on iPads with an M-series chip, but it later brought a slightly less powered version of the feature to earlier iPad Pro models.

Apple has been having problems with Stage Manager since it was in beta earlier this year, so much so that they even took it out of one of the beta releases to work on it more. And now that I have had a chance to test it out on the newest iPad Pro, I finally understand why it’s so controversial.

It gives us a glimpse of what the iPad Pro could do with proper bespoke software support — a true multitasking experience that rivals any laptop out there. When it works, it feels great. Having a few Windows open on my iPad Pro open as I’m working throughout the day has helped me maximize my time and productivity; however, I’ve still run into bugs along the way, even with the M2 chip powering this thing. Of course, even with Stage Manager being a little lackluster, you have to remember that’s a specific software problem and not actually a problem of the iPad Pro itself.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Let’s talk about power

I won’t bury the lede here; the M2 chip is impressive, super responsive, can handle anything you want to throw at it, and basically, none of that matters.

When announcing this year’s iPad Pro, Apple was quick to throw out just how much better the M2 is over the previous M1 chip. Apple claims its 8-core CPU is up to 15% faster, and the graphics performance should be about 35% quicker. To top that all off, Apple states that the 16-core Neural Engine can process 15.8 trillion operations per second, which is about 40% more than the M1. That’s all great, but what does it mean for you? Not much.

The M1iPad Pro wasn’t suffering from a power problem, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when I say that the M2 iPad Pro makes doing anything feel super smooth. Want to edit some 4K videos? No problem. Transferring large files to an external device? Done in an instant. Producing music with as many tracks as you can think to throw into a project? Easy as pie. This isn’t new.

The iPad Pro (2021) is the biggest competition to the newest generation because I suspect people will be looking at the M2 iPad Pro, and wondering if it’s a worthy upgrade. Frankly, if you have last year’s iPad Pro, I see no reason to update to the new one unless you really think the M2 chip will help with your workflow. Otherwise, the iPad Pro (2021) has the same design, cameras, and connectivity as the iPad Pro (2022).

With the holiday season coming up, and the fact that the 2022 model will be replacing it, now would be a good time to hunt for some of the best iPad deals on last year’s iPad Pro to save yourself some money.

The iPad Pro hasn’t really become the “laptop killer” everyone expected it to be by now, and if that’s what you’re looking for, you’re likely better off just getting the MacBook Air (M2, 2022).

It’s got the same M2 processor, so you aren’t going to be missing any power, and you don’t have to buy a bunch of extra expensive accessories to get that laptop experience you crave. Add in the fact that you have access to the full desktop version of all your favorite apps and programs, and it’s arguably way more “pro” than the iPad Pro anyways.

You should buy the iPad Pro (M2, 2022) if.

You need the power the M2 chip provides in a tablet

If you’re in the part of the pack that loves the iPad Pro in your workflow, but the M1 chip doesn’t have enough power, this is the tablet you should get. No other iPad has an M2. You want the absolute best drawing experience on an iPad

Digital artists who love the iPad as a medium to create are likely best off with the iPad Pro (2022). It has the best screen (if you get the 12.9-inch model), compatibility with the best stylus for iPad, and Apple Pencil Hover, which enables more precision when making marks on your canvas. You’re upgrading from the iPad Pro (2020) or earlier

If you have been planning to upgrade from your iPad Pro (2020) or earlier and want the absolute best machine you can get right now, this is it. Of course, looking into sales on the M1 iPad Pro from last here is also a good idea.

You shouldn’t buy the iPad Pro (M2, 2022) if.

You have the M1 iPad Pro already

I can’t see the need for someone with an iPad Pro (2021) to upgrade to the 2022 version. You’re likely getting plenty of power from the M1 already; wait until Apple comes out with a vastly better performance. You don’t need a pro-level tablet

The best way to save money when buying new products is to make sure you purchase the best product that suits your needs. Many people don’t need an iPad Pro; if that sounds like you, save some cash, and go with something else. You don’t have at least 800 to spend

Speaking of saving cash, the iPad Pro (2022) is expensive; the cheapest one is 800. once you upgrade the storage and add in an Apple Pencil, maybe a keyboard case, you’re looking at close to, if not over, 1,000.

iPad Pro (M2, 2022): Verdict

For all the grief I have given the iPad Pro (2022) in this review, I can’t sit here and say it’s not a superb tablet.

The screen on the 12.9-inch is absolutely stunning for watching content and both iPad Pro sizes are amazing for creating artwork or just even browsing the web thanks to the Pro Motion display and Apple Pencil 2 support. Throw in the fact that the Apple Pencil Hover lets you interact with your iPad’s screen without even touching it, and you have one heck of a tablet. It is the best Apple has to offer.

With all that said, I have to take some points off for lack of any major updates. Even as fast and powerful as the M2 is, it’s just not the shining star Apple wants you to think it is. I suspect it won’t be noticeable or necessary for 99% of users. If a significant upgrade has such a limited audience, is it really a big upgrade?

Nevertheless, the iPad Pro (2022) is the best iPad that money can buy. Whether you want to spend at least 800 (or potentially much more) is a question you really need to ask yourself.

iPad Pro 2022 Review: For Apple Pencil Power Users

The latest iPad Pro doubles down on being a tablet for artists, with a basic spec bump.

I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.

• Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

Yes, the iPad is a computer. No, it’s not a perfect laptop replacement yet. But even as the paths of the iPad and Mac are converging ever closer, the latest 2022 iPad Pro doesn’t really try to be more laptop-like. Instead, the Pro, released alongside the new 10th-gen iPad, angles to be a better tool for artists who power-use the Apple Pencil stylus.

I’m not one of those artists, but I appreciate the proposition. The newest iPad Pro isn’t much more than a spec bump, adding a new M2 processor to replace the previous M1, along with faster connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G now supporting faster mmWave bands compared to last year. I’ve just started testing the new iPad Pro, so consider this a review in progress, and I’ll update it as testing continues.

The previous iPad Pro refresh came in spring 2021, so it’s been a while. That model added the M1 chip, 5G and a Mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch version, and even that felt mostly like a spec bump after the 2020 version that added the new Magic Keyboard case and its lidar-enabled rear cameras.

The iPad Pro lineup remains the same price as before, but it’s expensive: The 12.9-inch model I reviewed starts at 1,099 (£1,249, AU1,899) with only 128GB of storage, ramping up to a whopping 2,199 (£2,499, AU3,829) for 2TB of storage. Getting the 5G-capable version costs an extra 200, and accessories like the Pencil 2 and keyboard cases will shoot the price up even further. The cheapest 12.9-inch iPad Pro costs more than two 10th-gen iPads.

Display and design: Still beautiful, but less distinctive

To be clear, the iPad Pro is a lovely, lovely machine. It’s extremely fast, has a bevy of cameras, and its front and rear cameras have depth sensors that could be used for AR or 3D scanning. if you’re interested in playing with that tech. Its speakers and display are great, especially on the 12.9-inch model.

The larger 12.9-inch iPad is still the only new Pro that has that nice Mini-LED display tech that’s also in Apple’s latest MacBook Pros. meaning the 11-inch version may not be worth considering (the iPad Air. after all, also has an M1 processor). The iPad Pros have 120Hz displays using Apple‘s ProMotion variable refresh rate tech, just like the iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro, which does feel really nice to scroll through and use.- it’s just so smooth.

However, Apple’s iPad lineup has all moved to this type of iPad-Pro-like design now, while dropping off features further down the line based on price. The Air doesn’t have Face ID or lidar/dual rear cameras, or a larger display with Mini-LED (or 120Hz displays, or the faster Wi-Fi and 5G mmWave connectivity), but it’s got Pencil 2 support and a fast M1 chip. The brand-new, 10th-gen, 10.2-inch iPad reduces screen quality a tiny bit further and doesn’t have Pencil 2 support (or Magic Keyboard case support), but adds a better-centered front camera.

5G speeds, at my home, were about 569Mbps over Verizon. Your mileage may vary, especially considering how fluky my local cellular networks are.

M2 chip: Definitely faster, but for what?

The M2 upgrade on the new iPad Pro is better to have than not, if you were already planning on making a purchase (pricing tiers remain the same as they were for the last model), but speed gains remain steadily incremental. The M1’s arrival on the iPad Pro felt more dramatic a year ago.

In Geekbench 5, for example, the single-core gains are so modest that they’re not much better than the M1 iPad Air. On multicore benchmarks, however, there’s a more noticeable bump up, yet still not massive. In comparison, however, it’s more than twice the multitasking speed of the 10th-gen iPad’s A14 processor. (My review model also came with 16GB of RAM.)

For anyone wanting to use an iPad for heavy graphics work or photo or video editing, the M2 could be a welcome uptick. For me, iPads have long exceeded the speed threshold I need for what I do with them.

And, keep in mind, Apple hasn’t made any headway in changing the equation on the iPad feeling closer to a Mac. iPadOS 16.1 will allow true second-display support with monitors through Stage Manager. running four apps on a connected monitor in addition to the ones on the iPad Pro screen. I’ve wanted that for a while, but Stage Manager is still a really uneven experience that feels like a living beta. You’re probably better off waiting until next year, unless you’re hungering for that extra monitor support now. (Also, any M1-equipped iPad, including the Air, will work this way.)

Pencil hover: What will you use it for?

The most showy feature on these new Pros is a “hovering Pencil” feature that recognizes the tip of the Pencil at close range to the screen, making some icons and tools wiggle or animate before tapping them, or even potentially previewing graphic effects before selecting them. Other tablets, laptops and phones have enabled their styluses to have some hovering indicator before this, so the idea’s not new.

Apple says that the M2 chip is what helps enable the experience with the Pencil 2; this feature won’t work on other iPads. There are also very few apps that use the feature right now. It’s potentially interesting, but when I hover my Pencil above the iPad screen and see a highlight of its cursor before I tap down, it’s not really changing the equation yet.

Design: Missing the 10th-gen iPad’s best new feature

My concern is how much Apple flexes the iPad Pro down the road. This form has stayed the same for three years, while Apple keeps upgrading the chips inside. Having M1 processors and full keyboards and trackpads, and now monitor support, suggests that these iPads may eventually fuse with the Mac lineup after all. Apple keeps denying this, but what if they do? Will these expensive iPad Pros be the ones you want, or should you wait for the ones that come next?

The thing I’m missing the most is the 10th-gen iPad’s new FaceTime front camera, which is now on the horizontal edge and makes Zooms and video chats finally look properly positioned, like they do on laptops. That’s a pretty pro feature to me, and until the iPad Pro fixes its camera alignment, I’m going to stay away from it as my Zoom device of choice.

Does that even matter to you? Or do you want a versatile tablet with Pencil benefits more than a laptop stand-in? If it’s the latter, the new Pro may be worth the investment for artists power-using the graphics potential for their workflow. Otherwise, I’d say skip this iPad Pro gen, wait a bit, and see what Apple has cooking next.