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Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 isn’t just a fantastic tablet; it’s probably the best tablet we’ve ever used – which isn’t really a surprise given that the iPad Pro 11 (2018) tops our best tablets list, and the iPad Pro 12.9 is basically the same device but bigger.
With its huge screen, fast processor and useful peripherals, the tablet is fantastic at a range of tasks and functions.
The main thing counting against the iPad Pro 12.9 – and this also isn’t a surprise – is its price, as spending upwards of $2,167 / £2,127 / AU$3,317 on a piece of tech isn’t something many people can justify. Even at $999 / £969 / AU$1529 for the most affordable model you’re still paying triple the price of something like the iPad 9.7 (2018), which is only $329 / £319 / AU$469.
But the high price pays for some cutting-edge features, and even though the battery is on the small side and the Face ID could do with better range, we wholeheartedly recommend the iPad Pro 12.9 as the best tablet available in 2019.
But the high price pays for some cutting-edge features, and even though the battery is on the small side and the Face ID could do with better range, we recommend the iPad Pro 12.9 as the best tablet available in 2019.
Who's it for?
The iPad Pro 12.9’s massive display, powerful processor, snappy user interface and unrivalled speakers make it brilliant for a whole range of applications, and for a variety of users. It’s an amazing device for everything from consuming media and creating art, to business tasks such as editing spreadsheets and creating presentations.
Whether you’re looking for a digital canvas for your sketches, a touch-screen timeline for editing videos or a slick and responsive desktop for working on documents, the iPad Pro 12.9 provides it.
Should I buy it?
Because of the price we’d have a hard time recommending the iPad Pro 12.9 as a personal tablet for casual use, despite the fact that it’s a fantastic personal cinema, speaker and games device, among other things.
However, if you work in the creative industries, or need the big-screen real estate to juggle lots of documents, this tablet could be a valuable tool. If you can get your employer to pay for one even better, but even if not the lowest-end iPad Pro 12.9 is more versatile, and in some areas more powerful, than many laptops.
Competition
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
If instead of the best of Apple you want Samsung’s finest, the Galaxy Tab S4 is your tablet. It’s much cheaper than the iPad Pro at $730 / £559 / AU$1,179 for its LTE version, but it’s quite a bit smaller, and doesn’t have as advanced specs.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 review
iPad Pro 11
You can tell the main difference between the iPad Pro 12.9 and the iPad Pro 11 from their names – the latter’s screen is slightly smaller at 11 inches, so if a 12.9-inch screen sounds like more than you need, you can drop down a size without sacrificing much in terms of specs and features – and you’ll save yourself the cost of this extra real estate.
Read our full iPad Pro 11 review
