11 inch iPad Pro 2020 Review - UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN! By ThisIsE

This is the 2020 11 inch iPad Pro, the most powerful NOT a computer as I'd like to call it, the tablet in its own league, the second most looked after device after my smartphone and the perfectly proportioned tablet that fits in any backpack, satchel and sling bag... yet the item that I am saying goodbye to and for few good reasons, which I'll explain later on. Hey, Iskren here but you can call me E! Before I say goodbye to this 11 inch iPad Pro or, the Mini Pro as I like to call it, it is only fair to share with you why I think this tablet in its 11-inch variant is special and why I plan to come back to that form factor in the future. Let's start with my very first observation from when I switched from the 12.9" to the 11 inches last year realizing that was the most powerful device of this size. At the time, I said that before the M1 MacBooks were released at the moment when the A12Z Bionic chip that was integrated into the iPad Pro was working smoother than any other not just a tablet, but COMPUTER on the market. To understand what I mean, you can check YouTube or Google on how many people built their own setups around the iPad Pro, because of the app visibility and most of all because this tiny thing was able to outperform pretty much anything else that comes close to this size.

Towards the end of last year, two events cast a shadow over the iPad Pro, however. One was the release of the iPad Air with its new 5-nanometer chip and second, it was the bomb that apple dropped with the M1 Chip. At that point, the iPad Air was really the tablet to recommend being so close to the Pro when it comes to smaller variant, performance, form factor and functionality, yet the Pro would still stand out when we talk storage above 256GB. From the two events, the M1 was really the one that personally confused me, because after I got rid of my bulky 16 inch MacBook Pro, I sort of stopped using the iPad Pro for a good month and I even considered selling it, because I was that much bedazzled by the M1 MacBook Pro. After the honeymoon period, however, I came back to the iPad Pro and I reminded myself why I love it so much.

First off, the size. The 11” iPad Pro has a smaller footprint than any other iPad there is. It has a more petite footprint than any other Apple laptop for that matter. It is perfect for almost everyone and it fits any occasion and needs. It is not too heavy and not too cumbersome and can rest in most bags unobtrusively, especially if you don't carry the magic keyboard.

Paired with the Paperlike screen protector, I love using the 11 inch iPad Pro to jot down notes and journal my days when I unwind at night. In case you are interested, you can check out 10 of my iPad Pro use cases to really grasp the versatility of the device and BTW, if you end up enjoying this video, subscribe, because... why not. The iPad Pro is an industry-standard when it comes to displaying quality and refresh rate. Even the 16” MacBook Pro’s can’t offer such a combo - with almost 90 per cent screen to body ratio and the new standard when it comes to even bezels, this design approach is evergreen and recognizable.

Throw in the 120hz refresh rate and there are almost no real competitors out there. Up to a month ago, the 11” iPad Pro was the most powerful tablet that comes in such a small package - benchmarking it, it performs better than i5 and i7 machines and the majority of the mainstream laptops out there. Benchmarking it however doesn’t give this little guy justice. It’s the fluidity and butter-like experience that makes this device feel magical. You can't really call an iPad Pro... an iPad Pro without talking about the Apple Pencil, however.

After all this, the pencil is what turns the iPad into the best drawing tablet there is. To this day, the Apple pencil is the most desirable and accurate accessory that can be used for sketching, drawing and all sorts of professional work. With the addition of magnetic attachment and charging, this almost realistic digital pencil is always 100% available to be unleashed. Notice that most people who sell their iPads don't sell their pencils... The battery life of the 11 inch iPad Pro is as good as your smartphone battery.

Sure you won't be using it for that many carrier calls throughout the day but even if you rely heavily on the tablet to do your work it will easily last you the entire day with the need of plugging it in the evening. The rated 7 to 8 hours of usage is as expected and thanks to the 18-watt charger and the smaller form factor it tops up rather quickly. Just a side note - I still haven't found any real use of the lidar sensor and the back camera setup for that matter. I am sure that there are professionals out there who rely heavily on AR and camera capabilities, but I am not one of them and to me, the front-facing camera is more important because it is used a lot for meetings and Facetime calls. To this day, that camera remains my favourite and for that reason, I prefer to use the iPad for any sort of digital get together.

I only wish it was placed in landscape instead of portrait since in many of the use cases and considering most iPad accessories, when in meetings the tablet is almost always horizontally positioned, which doesn't really represent you in a good way at the moment. So being undermined by the iPad Air, and the M1 MacBooks breathing down its neck, both the 11 inch and 12.9 inch iPad Pros were destined for a meaningful upgrade because this sort of cannibalism couldn't continue further. This is where my decision of selling my 11 inch iPad Pro comes into play. I am sure with the release of the new M1 iPads this wouldn't come as a surprise to you but what may be a bit different this time around is that I am going back again to the 12.9 inch version. I know, I know I've praised how much I adore the 11 inch iPad pro because of the form factor, but since that last video, the M1 MacBook Pro came along and it became my other portable powerhouse.

This movie made me use my iPad less as a laptop replacement (you know, using the magic keyboard or having it docked in a setup) and more like an iPad on its own. I began carrying the iPad as it is, with maybe a nice case/stand accessory and the pencil. No keyboards this time around because for that I could always grab my laptop. Having that in mind, I thought I might take the plunge again and get the larger iPad and use it as a tablet only. That reason was firmly backed by the fact that the new 2021 12.9 iPads (unlike the smaller variants) come with the first-ever introduction of a mini LED display in Apple’s tablet segment which on its own is like having a miniaturized Apple XDR display in my bag. Also, to tell you the truth, I have really high hopes for WWDC and the introduction of iPadOS 15 which might bring an even deeper integration of iPad and macOS, like proper external display support and Sidecar features on steroids.

WHY AM I SAYING ALL THAT? Unlike the iPhone 11, which is an older model that can live side by side with the latest 12, the 2020 iPad Pro is already discontinued and will no longer be available for purchase through the standard channels. However, this is the perfect opportunity to get one second-hand, new through side channels or refurbished where available because, as awesome as the new M1 iPads will be, this 2020 A12Z compact monster will serve you well for years to come. So, I am saying goodbye to my 11-inch fella here but I am not saying goodbye to the form factor for sure. I am fairly confident that I will come back to the smaller iPad at some point. Until then, the iPad Air 4 is always easy to recommend.

If you enjoyed this video, feel free to check out my iPad playlist here and if you have any questions, you can list them in the comments and below or ping me on Twitter. As always, it’s been an absolute pleasure, This is E Over and Out!.

Source : ThisIsE