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In October 2018, I was invited to the launch of the new iPad Pros in New York, when the Apple device got the biggest makeover it had ever seen. The iPad Pro got a complete redesign: the home button was gone, and Face ID was introduced. It received a USB-C port capable of driving 5K displays, the screen was expansive, a new Apple Pencil was introduced, and the eight-core A12X processor powered the world’s most powerful tablet. Things were looking up for the iPad, however, the iPad Pro was overshadowed by the resurgence of the Mac. Now, with Apple holding an event on May 7, I think we will get to see the new iPad Pros. And here are five features I would like to see in the next generation of iPads.
When it was first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro (review) and Pro Max last year, I thought a small hardware button (this button replaces the mute switch that has been on the iPhone since its debut in 2007) would not have much impact on the user experience. I was wrong. Instead, the Action Button was the most significant hardware change in the history of the iPhone, as it was a big step towards personalising your device. The good thing about the Action Button is that it is reconfigurable, and I use it in different ways. Now, I would like to have the Action Button on the iPad Pro as well. Just like on the iPhone 15 Pro, I would like to customise it to do almost anything I want on the iPad Pro, from recording a Voice Memo and firing up ChatGPT to using Apple’s Translate app to immediately translate spoken words into another language. I’m already thinking of additional functionality that the Action Button could have on the iPad Pro in a whole new way.
For years, Apple has promised a 10-hour battery life on the iPad. But that number applies to the iPad Pro as well, despite users spending a lot more on the high-end iPad Pro. I don’t get that. As a hardcore iPad user, it irks me because the 10-hour battery life claim on the iPad Pro feels more unjustifiable than ever. The thing is, as my usage has changed and I use more power-hungry apps as well as 5G, I expect the iPad Pro to last as long as my M3 MacBook Air (review). Look, the more I use the iPad Pro, the screen stays on longer, Wi-Fi and cellular radios stay lit up, and more power gets consumed. This is a genuine feature I am asking for. Apple needs to increase the battery life or optimise the system so that the next iPad Pro lasts longer than the previous model.
When a friend recently asked me if he should get the base model of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, I instantly told him not to. It’s silly to recommend the iPad Pro with 128 GB storage to a user heavily involved in creative work. I have no issues with the 128 GB storage on the iPad Pro in particular. But if a user is seeking a “pro” tablet, and it’s critical for his work, and the person is already spending a premium for the device, doubling that storage to 256 GB wouldn’t be hard for Apple. Apple made a deliberate choice – for whatever reason – to offer 128 GB as baseline storage. This should go away, and I hope with the upcoming iPad Pro.
I want to see OLED displays on the next iPad Pro, no matter what. And I bet you, too, are going to care. This is not a question of whether a mini LED display (the one found on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro) is better. When I held the Nintendo Switch OLED at a gaming store in Bangkok and compared it to that of my non-OLED Switch, the more vibrant OLED display was obviously better. Everybody knows the advantages of an OLED panel; the screen can produce perfect blacks while generating higher contrast and more vivid colours than the older LCD screen. Your iPhone 15 already has a crisper OLED screen. So if the iPhone can have an OLED screen, I guess it’s time for the iPad Pro to get the best screen. However, at the same time, I would like to see improved brightness. A matte display is also something I have been yearning for on the iPad Pro for a very long time. That display reduces glare and reflections, and it’s going to be perfect for reading or working at an outdoor cafe.
Haters say whatever, but I am in awe of the Magic Keyboard. If you have ever used the Magic Keyboard with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you know what I am talking about. I liked typing on the Magic Keyboard — the keys are comfortable to type on, it comes with a built-in trackpad, and the folding design makes the iPad Pro feel like a sort of MacBook. But I have some issues with the Magic Keyboard. I wish I could tilt it back further for more viewing angles or for drawing with the Apple Pencil. Limited angles were my biggest issue with the original Magic Keyboard, something I want Apple to fix in the next version. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the weight of the keyboard case. See, I love the Magic Keyboard, but the case makes the iPad Pro a comparatively heavy device. Also, you don’t get function keys. I miss them, and if Apple figures out a way to add a row of function keys on the updated Magic Keyboard, no one would be happier than me.
