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The newest M1 chip-equipped iPad Pros have arrived, and we've looked at both sizes: 12.9-inch, and 11-inch.
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Both new iPad Pros fit in Apple's Magic Keyboard cases and other accessories. But the 11-inch works with all previous iPad Pro accessories going back to 2018, while the 12.9-inch one is slightly thicker and doesn't necessarily fit in all older cases. (It did fit in the older Magic Keyboard we had, though.)
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The external design of the new iPad Pros are...the same as last year.
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By the way, don't stack iPads like this unless you want to risk getting the screens scratched.
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The 12.9-inch Pro has an extra advantage this year: a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display that's notably more vivid, like OLED.
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The rear cameras feel similar to last year's, with depth-sensing lidar sensors once again on board.
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Keep in mind, Pencil and Magic Keyboard don't come included.
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iPadOS, for now, is the same as always: not a lot of home screen customization, either.
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The footprint of the 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard, and typing feel, is more my style.
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Here's what comes in the box: USB-C charging cable, and a 20-watt charger.
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Keep in mind that the smaller iPad Pro starts at $799, while the larger one with the better screen starts at $1,099.
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The single USB-C charge and data port now allows Thunderbolt-level speeds for faster peripherals and higher-res monitors.
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You can still use the same USB-C dongles as before.
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Gaming on the iPad Pro depends on the games that are on the App Store, or via streaming. Pairing a PS5 DualSense controller and playing NBA 2K21.
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It's hard to show what the mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display looks like, but this is how black the black levels are while watching a movie at night. It feels just like OLED, and super vivid.
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Just a night shot of the new white Magic Keyboard, reflected by the iPad Pro display in my bed.
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MacBook Air models now have the same M1 chip as these iPad Pros. The differences may start narrowing, but they're both still pretty different computers.
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Also, the MacBook Air opens up to wider angles than the Magic Keyboard.
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