Apple hasn’t updated its iPad lineup in over a year, but the two models released last year will be followed by an all-new iPad Air 2 in September.
iPad Air 2 vs. iPad Pro: The pros and cons
The two models released last year, which are called iPad Air and iPad Pro, have some significant changes from the old iPad 4 and iPad mini 2 models.
Most notable are the changes to their design and screen, which were both smaller and thinner, as well as an increase in their speed.
Apple also added new sensors to the new devices, which allow them to run iOS 11 on the bigger iPad Pro.
The iPad Air and Pro models also each have pros and cons that are significant, so which should you get?
The new iPad Pro also features a new design with a metal back and beveled edges, which make it feel like the edge-to-edge iPad 4. The iPad Air 2 also has a slimmer design and beveled edges.
This means the iPad Pro is the thinnest iPad yet, at 8.9mm thick, as well as being slightly heavier, weighing in at over a pound. The iPad Air 2, meanwhile, is even slimmer and lighter, at 7.9mm thick and 2.0 pounds.
The biggest difference, though, is in their new display. The two models have 7.9-inch and 12.9-inch displays. While the 7.9-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro have the same resolution (2,048 x 1,536), the 12.9-inch iPad Pro also features Apple’s new retina display technology, which Apple calls TrueTone, for the first time.
The change in resolution between the two iPad models can be significant, and it’s worth noting that you need the iPad Air or Pro with the 12.9-inch display, not the 7.9-inch model. The difference in resolution between the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro is quite significant, as it’s about double. In fact, it’s almost as much as the difference in resolution between the original iPad and the iPad Mini.
Apple also uses different colors on the two models, with the Pro getting a dark gray and white color option and the Air coming in the standard silver and black colors.
Apple’s decision to remove the Home button from the iPad Pro means that it’s the first iPad model to completely remove physical buttons on its bezel.
The Pro model includes a Touch ID button in place of the home button. The new iPads also come with some updated features, including improved Wi-Fi support for 802.11ac, increased memory, and support for the Apple Pencil.
The new iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro start shipping on November 1, but the new model doesn’t go on sale until November 24 in some markets. For most U.S. customers, it will only be available in Apple Stores and online, however, Apple is sending some units to the U.K. and Germany, and it will be available in Australia and France in the coming weeks. Both the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro can be pre-ordered now for a November 24 release. The new iPads will go on sale starting at $499 for the iPad Air 2 and $799 for the iPad Pro, as well as the 32GB and 64GB versions of the new iPad Air 2.
