Apple recently announced its latest version of the iPad Pro and the new device comes with a number of upgrades. Arguably, one of the most important is the new camera system that’s employed. However, this will only be of extra value if you already see the worth in using an Apple tablet’s cameras to begin with.
The new iPad Pro is a fourth-generation tablet and builds directly off the previous model. Of course, it comes with improvements in the CPU department, but otherwise it paints a very similar specs picture to the previous model with the same display and upper storage limit. In fact, its dimensions and weight are largely the same too, although the newer version is slightly heavier. One of the reasons for this extra weight is the cameras with that being one of the main differences, considering the new iPad Pro comes with cameras, plural.
In Apple’s announcement, the company confirmed that the new iPad Pro boasts more than one camera. There's a 12 megapixel sensor and that's accompanied by a secondary 10 megapixel sensor. While both are wide sensors, the major difference is that the lower MP sensor is an ultra-wide solution which will make a big difference to some buyers. Technically, there’s a third sensor due to the addition of LiDAR scanner, although that's primarily there to add depth data, providing the tablet with a richer experience when using augmented reality apps.
Should You Upgrade To The iPad Pro 2020 For The Cameras
Excluding the AR benefits, while more doesn’t automatically mean a better camera experience, it usually does when all other things are equal. Adding sensors has become a major trend in mobile with many racing to see who can add the most. With each new sensor, devices tend to get richer and this is also going to be true when comparing the 2020 iPad Pro to the 2018 version. First off, the main 12 megapixel sensor on the new iPad Pro is the same sensor included in the previous model, with the same ƒ/1.8 aperture. In this sense, there are no differences, and on its own offers no tangible improvements.
However, the second sensor is a big deal as it is an ultra-wide solution (with an ƒ/2.4 aperture), and this means users will be able to take wider shots using their iPad. For example, when looking to include more family members in a shot, the 10 megapixel sensor is going to do it better than the 12 megapixel camera can. The same is true for those using an iPad for work with the wider capturing field resulting in more of the room, office or product included in the frame. Essentially, the second camera will let the iPad Pro capture twice as much horizontal information as it did before. There are some additional differences that specifically relate to video capturing that are worth knowing. For example, the new setup can capture 4K video at either 24, 30, and 60 fps. The previous iPad Pro limits 4K video recordings to either 30 or 60 fps. In addition, slo-mo video support now extends to 1080p at 120 or 240 fps, instead of just the 240 fps with the older iPad Pro.
The 2020 iPad Pro does offer a significantly improved camera experience compared to the 2018 model. However, that’s not necessarily to say that the benefits warrant an immediate upgrade. Instead, this all comes down to how useful you find cameras on a tablet to begin with. While you are getting more cameras, if they go unused then the upgrade is unlikely to be worthwhile. Although the iPad Pro now includes two primary cameras, so does the iPhone 11 series and if you already happen to own one of these phones then you already have access to a wide and ultra-wide camera - you'll end up taking better shots using your phone as well. What the new iPad Pro does offer that the iPhone 11 doesn’t is a larger viewing window. If that’s not particularly important, or you don't plan on using the LiDAR sensor, then you probably don't need to upgrade to Apple’s new iPad Pro for the cameras alone.