iPad Pro: The “What’s a Computer?” Tablet (November 2015)
The iPad Pro, launched November 11, 2015 with a massive 12.9” display, aimed to replace laptops with iOS — sparking the eternal “can iPad replace a computer?” debate that persists nearly a decade later.
Original iPad Pro (2015):
- 12.9” Display: Largest iOS device ever (laptop-sized)
- Apple Pencil: $99 stylus charged via Lightning port (awkward but revolutionary)
- Smart Keyboard: Fabric keyboard cover ($169, mediocre typing)
- A9X Chip: Desktop-class performance in tablet form
- Price: $799 base (32GB), $949 (128GB), $1,079 (128GB + cellular)
- Target: Creatives, designers, note-takers, laptop skeptics
The Evolution (2016-2024):
2017 (Gen 2):
- 10.5” model added (more portable than 12.9”)
- ProMotion 120Hz display (smoothest scrolling ever, Apple Pencil latency reduced)
- Smaller bezels, True Tone display
2018 (Gen 3 - Major Redesign):
- Face ID replaced Touch ID (iPad copied iPhone X)
- Edge-to-edge design (11” and 12.9” models)
- USB-C replaced Lightning (first iOS device with USB-C)
- Apple Pencil 2 ($129) magnetic wireless charging on side (elegant fix to awkward Lightning charging)
- New keyboard: Still bad, but improved
2020 (Gen 4):
- Magic Keyboard ($299/$349) with trackpad launched (game-changer)
- iPadOS 13.4 added cursor support (finally felt like laptop replacement possibility)
- LiDAR scanner (AR applications, photographers loved depth data)
- A12Z Bionic (basically A12X with extra GPU core unlocked)
2021 (Gen 5 - M1 Chip):
- M1 Mac chip in iPad (same as MacBook Air/Pro, desktop performance)
- 8GB/16GB RAM options (finally, though iPadOS didn’t fully utilize)
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 (pro peripherals, external displays)
- 12.9” Mini-LED display (“Liquid Retina XDR”, 1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 peak)
- Price creep: $799-$2,399 (fully loaded 12.9” 2TB cellular + Magic Keyboard = $2,700+)
2022 (Gen 6 - M2 Chip):
- M2 chip (15% faster, but who’s pushing M1 iPad limits?)
- Apple Pencil hover detection (preview 12mm above screen)
- Mostly iterative update
2024 (Gen 7 - M4 Chip + OLED):
- M4 chip (skipped M3, latest Mac chip in iPad)
- OLED “Tandem” display (dual OLED layers, 1,000 nits HDR)
- Thinnest Apple product ever (5.1mm 13”, 5.3mm 11”)
- New Magic Keyboard ($299/$349, aluminum palm rest)
- New Apple Pencil Pro ($129, haptic feedback, barrel roll, squeeze gestures)
The “What’s a Computer?” Problem:
2017 Ad Controversy:
- Apple ad showed kid using iPad Pro
- Adult: “What are you doing on your computer?”
- Kid: “What’s a computer?”
- Backlash: Condescending to desktop users, tone-deaf, insulting
Real Limitations (still true in 2024):
- iPadOS held back: Same chip as MacBook, but locked-down OS (no final Cut Pro until 2023, no Xcode ever)
- File management: Improved but still frustrating vs Finder/Explorer
- Multitasking: Stage Manager (2022) helped, but still confusing vs windows
- External display: Only mirrors until 2022, even then limited
- Pro app gaps: No Final Cut Pro (until 2023), no Logic Pro (until 2023), no Xcode
Who Actually Uses It:
- Students: Note-taking with Pencil (GoodNotes, Notability billion-dollar apps)
- Artists: Procreate ($12.99) became industry standard (replaced $1,000+ Wacom tablets)
- Designers: Affinity Photo/Designer alternatives to Adobe
- Video editors: LumaFusion mobile editing
- Doctors: Patient charts, X-ray viewing (hospitals deployed thousands)
- Pilots: Flight charts (replaced 50-pound flight bags)
- Not developers: Can’t compile code on iPad (Xcode missing)
The Accessories Problem:
- Magic Keyboard + Pencil + iPad Pro 12.9” = $2,000+ (MacBook Pro territory)
- Keyboard heavier than iPad itself (defeats portability)
- Pencil easily lost ($129 replacement painful)
- Smart Folio cheaper ($79) but no keyboard
Cultural Impact:
- Legitimized tablets as productivity devices (not just content consumption)
- Procreate democratized digital art (millions of artists emerged)
- Student adoption massive (COVID remote learning accelerated)
- “iPad as computer” debate unresolved (always will be)
The Paradox:
- Most powerful tablet hardware (M-series chips absurdly overpowered)
- Most limited by software (iPadOS conservative, doesn’t let hardware shine)
- Could run macOS (literally same chip), but Apple refuses (cannibalization fears)
- Pro users frustrated (pay laptop prices, get tablet limitations)
Legacy:
- Defined premium tablet category (no real competition, Android tablets dead)
- Apple Pencil became creative industry standard
- Proved tablets could be productivity tools (though laptop replacement debate continues)
- Created $2B+ accessory market (keyboards, cases, pencils)
2024 Status:
- Still best tablet (no competition)
- Still not laptop replacement (for many workflows)
- Still overpriced (but no alternatives)
- Still amazing hardware trapped in iPad jail (software limitations)
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