An ever-popular choice among consumers, iPad is now also rapidly becoming a mainstay of the creative sector. With the launch of iPad Pro in November, Apple completed an impressive lineup of three tablet devices all designed to cater for different users and purposes.
Each version comes with your classic iPad essentials – Retina display, a FaceTime HD camera on the front, an iSight camera on the other, a huge database of must-have apps, and a stylish design. When it comes to their creative application, the iPad family are capable of delivering high-quality design-oriented apps, support an array of picture editing apps, and, in the case of iPad Pro, allow for 4K video editing.
With each iPad packing a different set of specs, it's important to consider which one is right for you and your work. Screen size, processing power, storage and overall performance all differ slightly between models, so take a look below to help you make the right decision.
iPad Pro
The 12.9" iPad Pro delivers Apple's largest-ever Retina display, providing wide, open workspaces on any design app. Working in conjunction with the Apple Pencil (which iPad Pro scans 240 times a second to provide a seamless, lag-free experience), iPad Pro allows its users to scribble, sketch and draw to their hearts' content using popular Adobe mobile apps like Sketch, Draw and Comp. Similarly, iPad Pro makes an ideal partner for other Adobe favourites on iPad – Photoshop Express and Lightroom among others.
Its expansive display acts as an excellent creative space, displaying every detail and colour in crystal clear high-definition – perfect for editing 4K video. iPad Pro's screen not only provides vibrant colour and exquisite detail, it's big, meaning extra keyboard space (great for avoiding those pesky typos and bumbling autocorrect errors) and a cleaner, clearer looking UI. If you'd prefer to work with a physical keyboard, take a look at the Smart Keyboard. Designed specifically for iPad Pro, this unique keyboard-case is both durable and lightweight.
iPad Pro is designed with quick, on-the-go creativity in mind, providing strong graphics performance and rapid functionality thanks to its A9X processor. It gives you a creative experience on a larger scale than its iPad siblings, one that many creatives won't want to miss.
The specs:
– 32GB or 128GB capacity (WiFi only), 128GB (WiFi and cellular).
– 12.9? 2732×2048 resolution display.
– A9X chip with 64-bit architecture (2.5x faster than A7 chip with 5x faster graphics).
– 8MP iSight camera and 1.2MP FaceTime camera with 720p HD video.
– Touch ID.
– Apple Pay.
– Available in silver, gold and space grey.
– Prices start from £497 ex VAT.
iPad Air
With a slimmer, sleeker, more compact build, the iPad Air gives greater portability, making it perfectly suited to viewing content on the move and using your favourite apps to design and create. iPad Air shines when used for presentations, streaming and administration, which is an essential part of almost any work in the creative sector. The lightweight aluminium body weighs in at just 444 grams and packs a 9.7" display, matching that of the original iPad. Despite its slender design, iPad Air is incredibly durable, exactly what you want for a device that's constantly on the move.
If you're after the hottest, most up-to-date tech, it's worth considering an investment in iPad Air 2 as opposed to the original. iPad Air 2 comes with a number of improvements over its predecessor – a faster processing chip, the A8X as opposed to the A7 (which would improve editing and design performance), Touch ID security technology, and larger storage capabilities (up to 32GB in the original model, and up to 128GB in the iPad Air 2), preferable if you’re storing a large amount of work on the device.
The specs:
iPad Air 2
– 16GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities (WiFi only or WiFi and cellular).
– 9.7? 2048×1536 resolution display.
– A8X chip with 64-bit architecture (1.4x faster than A7 chip with 2.5x faster graphics).
– 8MP iSight camera and 1.2MP FaceTime camera with 720p HD video.
– Touch ID.
– Available in silver, gold and space grey.
– Prices start from £269 ex VAT.
iPad Air
– 16GB or 32GB capacity in WiFi or WiFi and cellular.
– 9.7? 2048×1536 resolution display.
– A7 chip with 64-bit architecture.
– 8MP iSight camera and 1.2MP FaceTime camera with 720p HD video.
– Available in silver and space grey.
– Now discontinued
iPad mini
iPad mini offers a smaller, more portable form than its counterparts, but retains many of their core features, meaning you'll get a familiar and reliable Apple iPad experience. While it does lack the content creation capabilities of the other two iPad, it's important to remember the benefits of a small, portable, yet technologically sound tablet device. The mini works great as a digital notebook, ideal for sketches, document management, quick photo and video capturing (thanks to two high-quality cameras), and notes. Think of iPad mini as a handy little companion to your desktop machine back at the studio.
At 6.1mm thick and equipped with a 7.9" screen, iPad mini is possibly a little smaller than some users may like. Despite this, the lower asking price of iPad mini is worth a thought if you're looking for a more cost- effective way to view, share and store your creative content on the go.
The specs:
iPad mini 4
– 16GB, 64GB or 128GB capacity (WiFi only or WiFi and cellular).
– 7.9? 2048×1536 resolution display.
– A8 chip.
– 8MP iSight camera and 1.2MP FaceTime camera with 720p HD video.
– Apple Pay.
– Touch ID.
– Available in silver, gold and space grey.
– Now discontinued - try iPad mini 5.
iPad mini 2
– 16GB or 32GB capacity (WiFi only or WiFi and cellular).
– 7.9? 2048×1536 resolution display.
– A7 processor.
– 8MP iSight camera and 1.2MP FaceTime camera with 720p HD video.
– Available in silver and space grey.
– Now discontinued - try iPad mini 5.
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