As predicted by many, Apple has announced the Apple iPad Pro at its event today. Featuring the largest screen on an iPad that Apple has even produced, the iPad Pro features a 12.9” screen. With the new A9X chip, the iPad Pro can perform 1.8 times faster than the A8 it replaces and offers twice the graphics performance. The iPad pro stays thin and relatively light, at 6.9 mm and weighing 1.57 lb while still maintaining a rather impressive 10 hour battery life.
Apple also announced new accessories for the iPad Pro. The Smart Keyboard seems to be something that Apple may have taken from Microsoft’s playbook, as the keyboard is made of a woven fabric that acts as a cover, much like the one on the Surface.
The more exciting accessory is the Apple Pencil, the highly anticipated stylus for the iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil promises to offer more precision and creative freedom, making it easier to draw on the iPad Pro. Native iOS 9 apps like Notes and Mail take full advantage of the Apple Pencil, allowing users to annotate their notes and e-mails.
The new iPad Pro will start at $799, while the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard are set to be $99 and $169 respectively when they launch sometime in November.