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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Padding their lead


Hot on the heels of the announcement of the 4-inch iPhone SE, Apple is also padding their lead in the tablet market by shrinking it down to size.

Building on the underlying theme of “smaller is better,” Apple introduced the iPad Pro 9.7, a new update of one of their legacy products. With its 9.7-inch screen, the new iPad Pro is slightly smaller than its predecessors, but it compensates for its smaller size with a litany of new features.

“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative,” said Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for Apple during a launch event held at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters.

“It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes.”

Weighing in at just under one pound, the iPad Pro 9.7 is equipped with a Retina display that allows for increased brightness and better colour variety, and is powered by a 64-bit A9X chip. New features include a 12-megapixel iSight camera, enhanced wireless technology, a four-speaker audio system, and 4K video capability. The device is also compatible with the Apple Pencil, which was introduced in November 2015.

The launch of this product represents an ambitious move for Apple. During his presentation, Schiller indicated that the iPad Pro 9.7 “is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users, and replacement for PC users.” 


Available in four different colours, the iPad Pro 9.7 will hit the shelves in Canada and the U.S. on March 31, but pre-ordering will open on March 24. Worldwide release is scheduled for early April. Retailing for $599 (32GB model with Wi-Fi) and $799 (32GB Wi-Fi and Cellular model), the iPad Pro 9.7 is also available with capacities of 64, 128 and 256 GB.

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