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iPad Pro (3rd generation)

Back of an 11-inch iPad Pro
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn (on contract)
Product family	iPad Pro
Type	Tablet computer
Generation	3rd
Release date	November 7, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-11-07)
Introductory price	11": $799 12.9": $999
Discontinued	March 18, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03-18)
Operating system	Original: iOS 12.1 Current: iPadOS 18.2, released December 11, 2024
System on a chip	Apple A12X Bionic with 64-bit architecture and Apple M12 motion co-processor
Memory	4 GB, 6 GB
Storage	64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Display	11 inch: (28 cm) (2,388 x 1,668) px (264 ppi), 600-nits Max Brightness, Wide-Color Display (P3), True Tone Display, 1.8% reflectivity, and Fully Laminated Display 12.9 inch: (33 cm) (2,732 x 2,048) px (264 ppi), 600-nits Max Brightness, Wide-Color Display (P3), True Tone Display, 1.8% reflectivity, and Fully Laminated Display
Sound	Four speakers, adjusting sound to device orientation
Predecessor	iPad Pro (2nd generation)
Successor	iPad Pro (4th generation)
Website	https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/ (archived)

The third generation of iPad Pro is a line of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc. Two models, with a 12.9 inch or 11 inch screen, were both announced on October 30, 2018, and were available to purchase on November 7. This generation of iPad Pro was the first iPad compatible with the new (second generation) Apple Pencil stylus. Like the second generation, a larger size and stylus compatibility were a point of difference from the rest of Apple's available iPads, but the third generation iPad Pro was also the first iPad to use facial recognition (Face ID) to unlock the device.

Upgrades from the second generation iPad Pro include the more powerful A12X Bionic processor, storage capacity up to 1 terabyte and the larger display of the 11 inch model (upgraded from a 10.5 inch model). The third generation iPad Pro also premiered a new design, with a screen that covers more of the front face, and has rounded corners. The 11 inch model is the first generation of that size, and describes itself as such.

Features

The redesigned iPad Pro was announced on October 30, 2018, during an Apple Special Event at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. The 2018 models feature new edge-to-edge Liquid Retina displays, Face ID, improved 12-megapixel and 7-megapixel cameras, USB-C connector, and Apple A12X Bionic processors. The tablets are offered in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, and are the first iPad models to offer tap-to-wake LCD displays (following the iPhone X), and up to 1 TB of internal storage. The 1 TB models featured more RAM than the smaller storage sizes with an increase to 6 GB, up from 4 GB. These devices are the first iPads to feature a USB Type-C connector, replacing Apple's proprietary Lightning connector, and both devices gained eSIM for the first time (which replaced the proprietary embedded Apple SIM in the previous generation). The third-generation iPad Pro lacked a home button and a headphone jack, a first for the iPad lineup. Additionally, the tablets lack Touch ID, which has been superseded by Face ID using a sensor array on the top bezel. Unlike iPhone models featuring Face ID until iOS 16, the third-generation iPad Pro can unlock in any orientation. The tablets were released on November 7, 2018, only available in Silver and Space Gray as the Gold and Rose Gold finishes from the previous generation have been removed. The 3rd-generation iPad Pro was the thinnest iPad at 5.9 mm thick, until being surpassed by the 13 inch iPad Pro 7th generation.

Reception

The 2018 iPad Pro models were praised for their improved displays, slimmer bezels, the addition of Face ID and general speed improvements. Ben Sin from Forbes noted that although the screen is still an LCD screen, the 120 Hz refresh rate makes it feel more responsive. The switch to a USB-C connector received a mixed response; easier external monitor support and more universal device charging were added at the cost of extra dongles to use older cables and headphones. Some reviewers noted that although the hardware updates are great steps forward, iOS's limitations, including the lack of external storage capabilities, which was addressed with the iPadOS 13 update, prevents the iPad Pro from competing against traditional computers. The increased prices across the lineup were also criticized.

iPadOS addresses the lack of external storage on supported iPads by adding support for external storage.

The chassis has been criticized for bending and breaking easily. Users on forum boards have reported the iPad bending after a few days of use, such as after carrying it around in a backpack. YouTuber Zack Nelson then published a video on his channel JerryRigEverything showing the device cracking and snapping in half after applying just a small amount of pressure with his hands in the center of the device. Nelson concluded that the "two weakest points right dead center on either side of the iPad Pro, the crack happened at the very poorly placed microphone hole and the new Apple Pencil 2 charging duct". Users reported devices already bent right out of the box, mostly cellular models. Apple responded to these reports quickly, asserting that this is normal and a non-issue, a response which has been criticized by many. According to Apple, the bending is a byproduct of its new manufacturing process and within their tolerances. Apple has added a support page relating to these issues.

Timeline

Timeline of iPad models v t e
See also: Timeline of Apple Inc. products

Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.

See also

• Pen computing
• Graphics tablet

Notes

1. Apple markets iPad Pro models by specific screen size. Because the 12.9 inch model has the same screen size as the generations before, but the 11 inch model's screen is larger, the two models are designated "iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation)" and "iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st generation)".

References

1. "About iPadOS 18 Updates". Apple Support. iPadOS 18.2.
2. Price, David. "Why is an iPhone or iPad's true storage capacity less than its advertised capacity?". Macworld UK. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
3. "Highlights from Apple's keynote event". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
4. "New iPad Pro with all-screen design Is most advanced, powerful iPad ever". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
5. Smith, Chris (November 3, 2017). "Every new iPhone X gesture you need to learn". BGR. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
6. Broussard, Mitchel (October 30, 2018). "2018 iPad Pro With 1TB Storage Has 6GB RAM, Lower Capacities Have 4GB". MacRumors. MacRumors.com. Retrieved April 11, 2021. Using Xcode, developer Steve Troughton-Smith has discovered that the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with 1TB of storage have 6GB of RAM, compared to 4GB for previous generation iPad Pros.
7. Welch, Chris (September 11, 2019). "Apple's 1TB iPad Pro just got $200 cheaper". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved April 11, 2021. The 1TB iPad Pro is the only iPad with 6GB of RAM; other 2018 iPad Pros have 4GB.
8. "Apple iPad eSIM: Device Guide and Other FAQ". July 9, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
9. "iPad Pro - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
10. Brownlee, Marques (October 30, 2018), 2019 iPad Pro Impressions: Incredibly Thin!, retrieved October 31, 2018
11. Snell, Jason (November 13, 2018). "iPad Pro 2018 review: A computer, not a PC". Sixcolors.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
12. Parsons, Jeff (May 7, 2024). "Apple 'Let Loose' event announcements — new iPad Pro M4, iPad Air, Apple Pencil Pro and latest news". Tom's Guide. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
13. Sin, Ben. "iPad Pro (2018) Review: The Computer Of Tomorrow, With Compromises From Today". Forbes. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
14. "iPad Pro is nipping at the MacBook's tail: Review in progress". CNET. November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
15. "How to use external storage on iPad and iPhone with iOS 13". Retrieved August 1, 2019.
16. "The 5-Point 2018 iPad Pro review: Awesome hardware held back by software and pricing". VentureBeat. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
17. "Apple iPad Pro review 2018: the fastest iPad is still an iPad". The Verge. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
18. Welch, Chris (November 16, 2018). "Apple's new iPad Pro seems to bend pretty easily". The Verge. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
19. Mamiit, Aaron (November 17, 2018). "New iPad Pro's durability in question after it fails YouTuber's bend test". Digital Trends. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
20. JerryRigEverything (November 16, 2018), iPad Pro Bend Test! - Be gentle with Apples new iPad..., retrieved March 14, 2019
21. Cao, Peter (December 21, 2018). "Apple responding to 'bent' iPad Pro controversy, insists flatness 'tighter than previous generations'". 9to5Mac. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
22. Simon, Michael (December 27, 2018). "Apple's gaslighting over bent iPads is a stunning response to a serious problem". Macworld.
23. Wuerthele, Mike (December 20, 2018). "No, Apple, a slightly bent iPad Pro straight out of the box isn't acceptable". AppleInsider. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
24. Welch, Chris (January 5, 2019). "Apple seeks to end bent iPad Pro controversy with new support page". The Verge. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
25. Apple Inc. (2010–2011). iPad News – Newsroom Archive. Retrieved June 7, 2018.

External links

• Official website

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