The iPad Pro launched in November 2015 as Apple’s first professional-focused tablet, featuring a massive 12.9” display, desktop-class A9X processor, and two revolutionary accessories: Apple Pencil ($99) and Smart Keyboard ($169). The hashtag #iPadPro sparked debate about whether iPads could replace laptops for creative work.
Redefining Creative Workflows
Apple Pencil introduced pixel-perfect stylus input with pressure sensitivity and tilt detection, targeting artists and designers accustomed to Wacom tablets. Apps like Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Affinity Designer transformed iPad Pro into a legitimate illustration workstation. Artists shared #iPadProArt showcasing professional-quality digital paintings created entirely on the tablet.
The 120Hz ProMotion display (2017) made Pencil feel incredibly responsive—20ms latency made drawing feel like pen on paper. The 2018 iPad Pro redesign added Face ID, USB-C, and magnetic Pencil charging, while 2020’s trackpad support and Magic Keyboard ($299-$349) blurred lines between tablet and laptop.
The “What’s a Computer?” Debate
Apple’s controversial 2017 commercial showing a child asking “What’s a computer?” positioned iPad Pro as a post-PC device. Professional users split: some embraced the tablet-first workflow (especially artists, note-takers, annotators), while others criticized iPadOS limitations for development, file management, and multitasking.
By 2021, iPad Pro adopted M1 chip—the same processor as MacBook Air—giving it desktop-class performance despite iOS’s software limitations. The cognitive dissonance between hardware power and software constraints frustrated power users. Yet for specific workflows (illustration, music production with apps like GarageBand/LumaFusion, annotation, sketching), iPad Pro became the gold standard.
Education, healthcare, and creative industries adopted iPad Pro for specialized workflows. Over 500 million iPads sold since 2010, with Pro models commanding $799-$1,599+ price points.
Sources: The Verge iPad Pro review, CNET Apple Pencil analysis, TechCrunch M1 iPad Pro