iPad Pro (1st generation)

iPad Pro (1st generation)
Name	iPad Pro (1st generation)
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Family	iPad
Type	Tablet computer
Released	November 2015
Discontinued	2017 (10.5-inch), 2018 (12.9-inch)

iPad Pro (1st generation) The iPad Pro (1st generation) is a tablet computer designed by Apple Inc. and released in 2015, positioned between the iPad Air and the MacBook Air as a productivity-focused device. Announced at an Apple Special Event in September 2015 and launched in November 2015, it sought to compete with devices such as the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 by emphasizing a larger display, accessory ecosystem, and stylus support. It was succeeded by later iPad Pro models and influenced tablet and convertible markets led by companies like Microsoft and Samsung Electronics.

History and development

Apple unveiled the device at a Bill Graham Civic Auditorium event alongside updates to Apple TV and MacBook, reflecting strategies discussed at Apple Special Event (September 2015), with development teams in Cupertino collaborating with supply partners including Foxconn, Pegatron, and component suppliers like LG Display and Samsung Display. Engineering efforts drew on work from Apple's Human Interface Guidelines teams and chip design groups that previously developed the A8X and later the A9X processors, aligning industrial design with lessons from the iPhone 6s development cycle. Market positioning referenced competitive analyses of Microsoft Surface adoption and enterprise interest documented in discussions involving firms such as IBM and Accenture about mobile deployments. Public demonstrations and reviews invoked major technology outlets including The Verge, Wired, and The New York Times, shaping early adoption in creative industries exemplified by studios like IDEO and media companies such as Condé Nast.

Design and specifications

The device used an aluminum unibody chassiś developed under Apple's design leadership, echoing aesthetic principles from the iPhone lineup and design practices championed by figures like Jony Ive during his tenure. Two display sizes were offered: a 12.9-inch model leveraging a high-resolution Retina display with a 2732×2048 pixel count and, for a later refresh, a 9.7-inch variant with a 2048×1536 panel; both used IPS technology supplied by LG Display and AU Optronics. Internally it featured the Apple A9X system-on-chip, paired with Apple-designed GPUs and RAM amounts suited to multitasking demands, reflecting semiconductor partnerships with TSMC and architectural precedents from the A-series roadmap. Connectivity options included Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11ac Wi‑Fi, and LTE models with modem components from Qualcomm or Intel, while input and output supported the Lightning connector and a camera module with optical components comparable to those used in the iPhone 6s series. Weight, battery life, and thermal considerations were balanced against industrial constraints faced by suppliers like Foxconn and design firms influenced by modernist industrial practices originating in firms such as Sony.

Accessories and Apple Pencil integration

Apple introduced a dedicated stylus, the Apple Pencil, alongside a magnetic Smart Connector keyboard accessory similar in intent to peripherals used with the Microsoft Surface Type Cover. The Apple Pencil integrated pressure sensitivity and tilt detection via firmware and sensor collaborations informed by third-party stylus ecosystems such as Wacom; it paired via proprietary protocols and charged through the Lightning port or a magnetic interface depending on model. Official keyboard accessories included the Smart Keyboard, developed using materials and keyboard mechanisms influenced by manufacturers that supply laptop keyboards to Apple Inc. and others. Third-party accessory ecosystems grew rapidly, with firms like Logitech, Belkin, and Griffin Technology producing cases, docks, and stylus alternatives compatible with the Pro's feature set.

Software and performance

The iPad Pro shipped with iOS 9 and later supported updates up to versions of iOS and iPadOS during its service life, enabling multitasking features such as Split View and Slide Over introduced in major updates overseen by Apple's software engineering teams. Performance benchmarks run by outlets such as AnandTech and Geekbench compared the A9X favorably to contemporaneous laptop processors from Intel and to SoCs used in devices by Samsung Electronics, highlighting single-threaded and graphics performance gains relevant to workflows used in applications from Adobe Systems (for example Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom), Autodesk (for example Autodesk SketchBook), and music production suites from Avid Technology. Storage options ranged across flash configurations provided by suppliers such as SanDisk and Toshiba, and power management drew on battery cell technologies sourced from vendors including LG Chem.

Reception and impact

Critical reception combined praise for display quality, stylus responsiveness, and accessory integration from publications including The Verge, Engadget, TechCrunch, and The Wall Street Journal, along with criticism of pricing relative to ultraportables from Dell and HP. Professional artists and designers at agencies like Pentagram and studios such as IDEO highlighted new workflows enabled by Apple Pencil and iPad-optimized apps from Adobe Systems and Procreate developer Savage Interactive. In enterprise contexts, firms such as IBM and SAP SE evaluated the device for field deployments, while educational institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University piloted tablets in curricula, influencing debates about tablet adoption seen in reports by Gartner and IDC. The model influenced competitors' product planning at Microsoft and Samsung Electronics, accelerating development of pen-enabled convertibles and large-format tablets.

Variants and discontinuation

The first-generation lineup comprised a 12.9-inch model released in November 2015 and a 9.7-inch refresh introduced in March 2016 at an Apple Special Event held in San Francisco. Configuration options included Wi‑Fi only and Wi‑Fi + Cellular variants with differing storage tiers, reflecting market segmentation strategies similar to those used by Samsung Electronics and Microsoft. Apple discontinued the 10.5-inch and refreshed 12.9-inch successor timelines as newer iPad Pro generations arrived, with formal phase-out occurring between 2017 and 2018 as Apple shifted to newer designs driven by A10X and later A12X chips and display technologies such as ProMotion and P3 color gamut support. The product's lifecycle informed Apple’s subsequent industrial and software decisions, contributing to the roadmap unveiled at later WWDC events.

Category:Apple hardware