.png?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
The new iPad Pro brings several upgrades over its predecessor, but one of its defining features is the Apple Pencil Hover experience. The new iPad Pro comes in two sizes, 11-inch and 12.9-inch. In terms of dimensions and looks, it is identical to the M1 iPad Pro that was released in 2021.
Under the hood, Apple's latest iPad Pro tablet features the M2 chipset, which makes it the most powerful iPad yet. This makes the iPad Pro as capable as a MacBook, which means it can easily handle intensive tasks such as editing videos, illustrations, and multi-tasking. Its price begins from $799 for the 11-inch Wi-Fi model, while the 12.9-inch Wi-Fi version starts at $1,099.
In its official press release, Apple says that the new iPad Pro "features a next-level Apple Pencil hover experience." Apple Pencil Hover is a new feature that enables the new iPad Pro's screen to detect the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) at a height of up to 12mm from the display. Through software and hardware optimization, the M2 iPad Pro can now generate a preview of the Apple Pencil's position on the screen, marking it with a small dot that keeps moving as users move the stylus.
Apple Pencil Hover Shows Additional Options
Typically, a touchscreen stylus can only provide inputs in two dimensions, along the x-axis and y-axis, allowing users to draw, sketch, write or simply navigate around a user interface. In this case, the screen and pencil must be in physical contact. However, Apple Pencil Hover adds another dimension, i.e., the z-axis, which means that the Apple Pencil and the iPad Pro's screen can exchange information via electromagnetic signals, without being in contact.
Apple Pencil Hover will be particularly beneficial for creative professionals and artists who sketch, draw, or create graphics using their iPad. Looking at the position of the marker on the screen (without touching it), users can illustrate with more precision in apps like Procreate. However, it is not exactly new technology, as Samsung has offered a similar feature called Air Actions for years on its Galaxy Note and Galaxy S Ultra devices with the S Pen stylus. In the case of the iPad Pro, however, third-party drawing and illustrating apps can also take advantage of the new functionality. For instance, in Scribble, text fields will expand when the user takes the Pencil near the screen, and handwriting converts to text even faster. Apps like Pixelmator have also introduced support for Hover.
Apart from third-party apps, Hover also works while navigating iPadOS. This means the feature can be used on the home screen, and in apps like Notes and Safari. iPad Pro M2 users can hover the Apple Pencil above links, buttons, and icons to see them display additional options. In drawing and sketching apps, Hover will display a preview of the brush of the screen. The Hover feature is enabled by default on the M2 iPad Pro but can be turned off in Settings by going to 'Apple Pencil' and turning off 'Show Effects.' Additionally, users can select 'Allow Double Tap only with Pencil Hover' in Settings which will only enable double tap when the Apple Pencil is in the Hover position.