Apple has definitely looped everyone in, launching the company's latest iPhone, the mid-range iPhone SE, and the company's latest 9.7-inch tablet, the newly-christened 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Yes, you read that right. It seems like the tech giant has finally, definitively killed off the Air branding for its full-sized iPads, instead branding the new device with the much more formidable Pro title. Considering what the device has to offer, naming the new tablet the 9.7-inch iPad Pro definitely seems like the appropriate thing to do.
Apple's devices that were unveiled on Monday were smaller than the company's flagships, but inside the devices' compact frame lies the power of flagships. Indeed, while the iPhone SE is portable, it contains many elements of the iPhone 6S. As for the new tablet, it also carries just as much power as its larger sibling, Apple's premier tablet, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Basically, those who would wish to get Apple's latest full-sized iPad would not just be receiving a device with minute improvements from last year's iPad Air 2. This year's 9.7-inch iPad is a completely different beast inside, far more powerful than any iPad in its size before it.
In some ways, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro even outdoes its bigger sibling, as the new device features a True Tone display, as well as upgraded front and rear-facing cameras. The device's 12MP camera is even equipped with flash, the first ever for an iPad.
Just like the original iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch tablet is designed to be a machine far beyond a basic media consumption device. Rather, it is a tablet designed for both consumption and productivity. Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, stated that the new full-sized iPad is also designed to be a replacement for full-fledged computers.
"The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users," he said.
The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is fully compatible with the Apple Pencil. A Smart Keyboard designed for the new tablet is also available.
Apple is finally dropping the 16GB entry-level configuration for the full-sized iPad, as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro's base model starts at $599 for 32GB of storage. The highest configuration is a 256GB model, which would be offered for $1,099.
Orders for the new device would be accepted starting March 24 from Apple's retail stores, as well as the tech giant's online store.
