iPad Pro: Features We Want to See in a Top-of-the-Line Apple Tablet

By Don Reisinger

If all the rumors are true, Apple is planning to unveil an iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display, making it bigger than the low-end MacBook Air and about the same size as the larger version of Apple’s lightweight notebook. That would put the iPad Pro in competition with lightweight notebooks, which could be part of Apple’s strategy.

Assuming Apple will pitch the iPad Pro as a product to compete against lightweight notebooks, it would only make sense that the company would ditch the idea of its iPad stand with a keyboard and just find a way to attach a keyboard to the device. It’s possible that Apple could devise a cover and keyboard combination similar to that in the Surface Pro 3 that would protect the device’s screen and provide a keyboard experience. After all, those who want a “Pro” device would want a “pro” experience, right?

Since the iPad Air 2 comes with the A8X processor, it would only make sense for Apple to unveil the A9 in the iPad Pro. The A9 would likely be a quad-core (if not octa-core) processor that would be capable of handling a wide range of power-intensive applications and maybe even a more powerful operating system (more on that in a moment). The A9 would be the logical follow-up to the A8X and differentiate the iPad Air 2 from the iPad Pro.

Let’s face it: The very fact that Apple has stuck with the 16GB version of the iPad Air 2 is somewhat disappointing. That’s just not enough storage. Apple should consider unveiling an iPad Pro that starts at 64GB of onboard storage and goes up to 256GB or even 512GB. The more storage there is in the iPad Pro, the better.

Although there isn’t necessarily much that Apple or any company can do to greatly modify a tablet’s design, the iPad maker should unveil something new in its bigger and better slate. Whether that’s a new face, a modified back plate design or a true end-to-end screen, it would be nice if Apple shows off a totally new design in the iPad Pro.

This may be a little controversial, but would it be feasible for Apple to offer an OS X version of the iPad Pro? Sure, the company hasn’t strayed from iOS all these years, but if the iPad Pro is truly a high-end computing experience, the best way to deliver that would be through OS X. Apple is slowly combining the two operating systems’ features, so it might make sense for the company to show off a touch-friendly OS X Yosemite in the iPad Pro. Just a thought.

It’s understandable that Apple built the iPad Air to work with Apple Pay outside the store, but perhaps it should change course in the iPad Pro. While it might not matter to many that Apple Pay won’t work with the iPad in-store, it would be a logical addition to the iPad Pro as a feature Apple could promote, and it could persuade people to choose the higher-end model. It might not be crucial, but it would be nice to see.

There’s no doubt that if the iPad Pro eventually makes its way to store shelves, it will be more expensive than the iPad Air 2. But Apple can’t go overboard with the iPad Pro’s pricing. If the device starts at around $599 or $699—$100 to $200 more than the iPad Air 2—that would make sense. Anything beyond that might not attract enough customers.

Apple has invested heavily in sapphire over the last couple of years and announced that the Apple Watch’s screen will be completely sapphire-based. Sapphire is stronger than Gorilla Glass and is the second-hardest material behind a diamond. If Apple really wants to go “pro” with the iPad Pro, adding sapphire to the device’s screen seems like a good idea.

There has been a nagging rumor going around that Apple is working on eye-tracking technology for its iPad Pro. Exactly what the feature would do and how it would work are unknown, but it keeps popping up and sounds cool enough. It’s a long shot, but the rumor won’t go away, which would make one wonder if it might just be an add-on that will be coming to the iPad Pro.