Another impressive iPad for those with deep pockets
Bringing the features of the 12.9in iPad Pro down to a standard 9.7in size, this slim, light iPad is hard to fault. Not only does the screen have extremely high resolution and the widest colour range of any tablet or laptop, but True Tone light sensors adjust its balance according to the time of day, so colours always look as they are intended.
The LCD panel is laminated so tightly to the front glass that you really feel like you’re touching what’s on the screen, and thanks to Apple’s iOS software – which is not as good as Windows 10 for advanced business apps, but superior on tablets to Android – everything responds instantly and smoothly.
The 12-megapixel main camera, similar to the one on the iPhone 6s, actually beats the bigger iPad Pro, enabling super-sharp 4K video and spookily animated Live Photos (they move like the paintings in Harry Potter films). And the new 5-megapixel front camera can use the screen as a flashgun for slick selfies.
You wouldn’t expect all this to be cheap. At £499, the iPad Pro 9.7in is priced higher than some comparable Android tablets, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S2 9.7, but the same as Sony’s Xperia Z4, so you’re not necessarily paying extra for the Apple brand, especially when you consider the powerful hardware inside.
The catch is that this price only includes the tablet. One reason to buy an iPad Pro is that you can use Apple’s excellent Pencil stylus, which lets you sketch, paint and make fine handwritten notes – but it’s £79 extra. Another Pro feature is the clip-on Smart Keyboard, but that’s £129, and unlike the 12.9in model it does feel a little cramped when typing and it limits the screen to one fixed angle.
We’re pleased to see Apple providing 32GB of storage as a minimum, but you still can’t expand it later. Unlike most Android and Windows tablets, no iPad has a microSD slot. The biggest apps, mostly games, can take up a gigabyte each; digital magazines hundreds of megabytes per issue; and an HD film around 4GB. Your own photos and videos will also eat up a few gigabytes.
There are ways of making room: any content you buy from Apple can be deleted and downloaded again later free of charge, and your photos and videos can be transferred to your PC or Mac. But you may well feel 32GB isn’t enough, and the next model up, with 128GB, costs another £120. With the Smart Keyboard, that’s the same price as the 11.6in MacBook Air, a better choice for office tasks rather than creative or leisure apps.
Another option is mobile data. The basic iPad only connects to the internet via Wi-Fi; a cellular version that takes a SIM card is £100 more. If you already have an iPhone, you won’t need this, because you can use its Personal Hotspot feature to connect your iPad. Otherwise, consider whether you’re likely to use your iPad online when you’re not at home, or not near a free Wi-Fi hotspot.
Despite its age, the iPad Air 2 is at least as capable as most other tablets, and it remains on sale at a very reasonable £349. Unfortunately, that includes only 16GB of storage. At £429, the 64GB version is close to the price of the Pro, but if you have no plans to use the Pencil (keyboards are available from other makers) it’s a better bargain. Apple has a useful comparison guide to all the current iPads at www.snipca.com/20249.
VERDICT
The cost does add up with accessories, but this tablet is just about perfect in every way, and should stay current and usable for longer than most.
SPECIFICATIONS
Apple A9X processor • 32GB flash storage • 9.7in 2048x1536-pixel touchscreen • 12-megapixel rear camera • 5-megapixel webcam • 802.11ac Wi-Fi • Touch ID fingerprint sensor • iOS 9 • 240x170x6.1mm (HxWxD) • 437g • One-year warranty