IPad Pro 2022 (12.9-inch): Review, Specs & Price

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the iPad Pro 2022 (12.9-inch). This isn't just another tablet; it's a powerhouse designed for creatives, professionals, and anyone who wants the best of the best. We'll break down everything from its stunning display and blazing-fast performance to its enhanced features and whether it's truly worth the investment. Buckle up, because we're about to get geeky!

Unboxing and First Impressions

Okay, let's start with the unboxing experience. Apple always nails this, right? The minimalist packaging, the satisfying thunk when you open the box... it's all part of the appeal. Inside, you'll find the iPad Pro itself, a USB-C charging cable, and the power adapter. Nothing too fancy, but everything feels premium. Holding the iPad Pro for the first time, you immediately notice the build quality. It's solid, sleek, and feels incredibly well-made. The 12.9-inch display is massive and immersive, perfect for watching movies, editing photos, or just browsing the web. The thin bezels give it a modern look, and the overall design is classic Apple – clean and elegant. Right off the bat, the screen is vibrant and sharp. The Liquid Retina XDR display is a game-changer, especially if you're used to older iPad models or other tablets. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and the brightness is incredible. This is crucial for creative tasks like photo and video editing, where color accuracy is paramount. The size might be a bit much for some, especially if you're used to smaller tablets. It's definitely not as portable as the iPad mini, but the extra screen real estate is a huge advantage for productivity. If you plan on using it primarily for consuming content on the go, the 11-inch model might be a better fit. However, for those who need a larger canvas for creative work or multitasking, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the way to go. Initial setup is a breeze, as expected from Apple. If you have an iPhone or another iPad, you can quickly transfer your settings and data. Once you're in, you're greeted with the familiar iPadOS interface, which is intuitive and easy to navigate. The iPad Pro feels incredibly responsive right from the start, thanks to the M2 chip under the hood. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is smooth, and everything feels incredibly fluid. This is a significant upgrade over previous iPad models and makes a noticeable difference in everyday use.

Display: Liquid Retina XDR in All Its Glory

The display is arguably the star of the show. The Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is simply breathtaking. It uses mini-LED technology, which allows for incredibly precise control over brightness and contrast. This results in stunning HDR performance, with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional detail. The peak brightness of 1600 nits is insane, making it perfectly usable even in bright sunlight. Whether you're watching movies, editing photos, or playing games, the display is a treat for the eyes. One of the key features of the Liquid Retina XDR display is its ability to display true-to-life colors. It covers the P3 wide color gamut, which means it can reproduce a vast range of colors accurately. This is essential for creative professionals who need to ensure that their work looks the same on different devices. The display also supports ProMotion technology, which means it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This makes scrolling and animations incredibly smooth and responsive. It's a subtle feature, but it makes a big difference in the overall user experience. The display is also incredibly sharp, with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch, which means that text and images look incredibly crisp and clear. Even when viewing the display up close, you won't see any pixelation. Compared to the standard Liquid Retina display on the 11-inch iPad Pro, the Liquid Retina XDR display offers a significant improvement in terms of brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. If you're a creative professional or someone who values image quality, the 12.9-inch model is definitely worth the upgrade. The display is not without its drawbacks. Some users have reported a slight blooming effect around bright objects on a dark background. This is a common issue with mini-LED displays, but it's generally not noticeable in most situations. The display is also quite reflective, which can be an issue when using it in bright environments. However, this is a common issue with most tablets and smartphones. Overall, the Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is one of the best tablet displays on the market. It offers stunning image quality, exceptional brightness, and accurate colors. If you're looking for a tablet with a top-of-the-line display, the iPad Pro is hard to beat.

Performance: M2 Chip Unleashed

Under the hood, the iPad Pro 2022 is powered by Apple's M2 chip. This is the same chip that powers the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and it delivers incredible performance. Whether you're editing 4K videos, playing graphics-intensive games, or multitasking between multiple apps, the M2 chip handles everything with ease. The M2 chip features an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, which is a significant upgrade over the M1 chip in the previous iPad Pro. This results in a noticeable improvement in performance, especially in graphics-intensive tasks. The M2 chip also includes a 16-core Neural Engine, which accelerates machine learning tasks. This is used for features like image recognition, voice control, and augmented reality. The M2 chip is incredibly power-efficient, which means that the iPad Pro can last for up to 10 hours on a single charge. This is impressive considering the power of the chip and the size of the display. In terms of benchmark scores, the M2 iPad Pro blows away the competition. It scores significantly higher than other tablets and even some laptops. This makes it one of the most powerful mobile devices on the market. In real-world use, the M2 chip makes a noticeable difference. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is smooth, and everything feels incredibly responsive. Even demanding tasks like editing 4K videos are handled with ease. The iPad Pro is also great for gaming. The M2 chip can handle even the most graphics-intensive games without breaking a sweat. The ProMotion display makes gameplay incredibly smooth and responsive. The M2 chip also enables new features like ProRes video recording. This allows you to record high-quality video directly on the iPad Pro, which is great for professional videographers. Overall, the M2 chip is a game-changer for the iPad Pro. It delivers incredible performance, excellent power efficiency, and enables new features. If you're looking for a tablet that can handle anything you throw at it, the iPad Pro is the way to go.

Software and Features: iPadOS 16 and Beyond

The iPad Pro 2022 runs on iPadOS 16, which is the latest version of Apple's tablet operating system. iPadOS 16 introduces a number of new features, including Stage Manager, which is a new multitasking interface that allows you to run multiple apps in overlapping windows. Stage Manager is a welcome addition to iPadOS, but it's not without its flaws. It can be a bit confusing to use at first, and it's not as intuitive as the traditional multitasking interface. However, once you get the hang of it, it can be a powerful tool for productivity. iPadOS 16 also includes a number of other new features, such as improved collaboration tools, enhanced gaming capabilities, and new security features. The iPad Pro also supports the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), which is a must-have accessory for creative professionals. The Apple Pencil is incredibly precise and responsive, and it's great for sketching, drawing, and taking notes. The iPad Pro also supports the Magic Keyboard, which is a keyboard case that includes a trackpad. The Magic Keyboard transforms the iPad Pro into a laptop-like device, which is great for productivity. The iPad Pro also features a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port, which allows you to connect to external displays, storage devices, and other peripherals. The Thunderbolt port supports data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, which is incredibly fast. The iPad Pro also includes a number of other features, such as Face ID, which is a secure and convenient way to unlock your device. It also has a great set of cameras, including a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera. These cameras are great for taking photos and videos, and they also support features like Center Stage, which keeps you in the frame during video calls. Overall, iPadOS 16 is a solid operating system that offers a number of useful features. The Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are essential accessories for creative professionals and anyone who wants to use the iPad Pro for productivity.

Camera: Pro-Level Photography on a Tablet?

While tablets aren't typically known for their camera prowess, the iPad Pro 2022 actually holds its own surprisingly well. It boasts a dual-camera system on the rear, featuring a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera. These cameras are capable of capturing detailed photos and videos in a variety of lighting conditions. The image processing is quite impressive. The colors are vibrant, the dynamic range is wide, and the noise levels are well-controlled. The iPad Pro also supports Smart HDR 4, which helps to balance the exposure in challenging lighting situations. The Ultra Wide camera is great for capturing landscapes or group photos. It has a 125-degree field of view, which allows you to fit more into the frame. The iPad Pro also supports 4K video recording at up to 60fps. The video quality is excellent, and the image stabilization is very effective. The iPad Pro also includes a LiDAR Scanner, which is a depth-sensing sensor that can be used for augmented reality applications. The LiDAR Scanner also improves the autofocus performance in low-light conditions. On the front, the iPad Pro has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage. Center Stage is a feature that automatically keeps you in the frame during video calls. It's a useful feature for staying connected with friends and family. While the iPad Pro's camera system is not on par with the best smartphones on the market, it's still quite capable. It's great for taking photos and videos for social media, capturing memories, and scanning documents. The iPad Pro is also a great tool for creative professionals who need to take photos and videos for their work. The cameras are also great for augmented reality applications. The LiDAR Scanner is a unique feature that sets the iPad Pro apart from other tablets.

Battery Life: Power That Lasts

Battery life is always a crucial factor when considering a new device, and the iPad Pro 2022 doesn't disappoint. Apple claims that it offers up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or watching video. From my testing, that's pretty accurate. With moderate usage, I can easily get through a full day without needing to recharge. Of course, battery life will vary depending on how you use the iPad Pro. If you're constantly running demanding apps, editing videos, or playing graphics-intensive games, you'll likely see a shorter battery life. The good news is that the iPad Pro supports fast charging via USB-C. This means you can quickly top up the battery when needed. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge the iPad Pro from 0% using the included power adapter. The iPad Pro's excellent battery life is due in part to the power efficiency of the M2 chip. The M2 chip is designed to deliver high performance while consuming minimal power. The iPad Pro also has a large battery capacity, which helps it to last for a long time. Overall, the iPad Pro 2022 offers excellent battery life. You can easily get through a full day of moderate usage without needing to recharge. This makes it a great device for productivity, creativity, and entertainment. The fast charging support is also a plus, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed. One tip to extend the battery life of your iPad Pro is to adjust the screen brightness. Lowering the brightness can significantly reduce power consumption. You can also disable features that you don't need, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Another tip is to close apps that you're not using. Apps that are running in the background can consume battery power, even if you're not actively using them.

Price and Value: Is It Worth the Hype?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the price. The iPad Pro 2022 (12.9-inch) is not a cheap device. It starts at a premium price point, and the price increases as you add more storage and cellular connectivity. So, is it worth the investment? That depends on your needs and priorities. If you're a creative professional who needs a powerful and versatile tablet for tasks like photo editing, video editing, and graphic design, the iPad Pro is definitely worth considering. The stunning display, blazing-fast performance, and support for the Apple Pencil make it an ideal tool for creative work. If you're a student or professional who needs a tablet for productivity tasks like note-taking, document editing, and web browsing, the iPad Pro is also a good choice. The Magic Keyboard transforms it into a laptop-like device, and the iPadOS operating system offers a number of useful productivity features. However, if you're primarily looking for a tablet for entertainment purposes like watching movies, browsing the web, and playing casual games, the iPad Pro might be overkill. There are other tablets on the market that offer similar features at a lower price point. Before you buy the iPad Pro, it's important to consider your budget and your needs. If you can afford it and you'll make use of its advanced features, it's definitely a worthwhile investment. But if you're on a tight budget or you don't need all the bells and whistles, there are other options to consider. One thing to keep in mind is that the iPad Pro is a long-term investment. It's a powerful and versatile device that will last for years. Apple also provides excellent software updates and support, which helps to keep the iPad Pro up-to-date and secure. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy the iPad Pro is a personal one. There's no right or wrong answer. Consider your needs, your budget, and your priorities, and then make the decision that's best for you.

Final Verdict: The King of Tablets?

So, where does that leave us? The iPad Pro 2022 (12.9-inch) is undoubtedly one of the best tablets on the market. It offers a stunning display, blazing-fast performance, and a versatile operating system. It's a great tool for creative professionals, students, and anyone who needs a powerful and portable device. However, it's also expensive, and it might be overkill for some users. If you're looking for the best of the best and you're willing to pay a premium, the iPad Pro is the way to go. But if you're on a budget or you don't need all the advanced features, there are other options to consider. The iPad Pro is a powerful and versatile device that can be used for a wide range of tasks. Whether you're editing photos, creating videos, taking notes, or browsing the web, the iPad Pro can handle it all. The Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are essential accessories that enhance the iPad Pro's capabilities. The iPad Pro is also a great tool for collaboration. You can easily share files, collaborate on documents, and conduct video conferences. The iPad Pro is a great device for staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues. The iPad Pro is a long-term investment that will last for years. Apple provides excellent software updates and support, which helps to keep the iPad Pro up-to-date and secure. The iPad Pro is a great value for those who need its advanced features. However, it's important to consider your needs and your budget before making a purchase. Overall, the iPad Pro 2022 (12.9-inch) is a top-of-the-line tablet that offers a premium experience. If you're looking for the best tablet on the market, it's definitely worth considering.