评测：新款iPad Pro是苹果出品最好的笔记本替代产品

一直以来，苹果都将台式与移动设备使用体验严格区分。不像微软旗下的Windows 10，从桌面电脑到二合一笔记本都能运行。

但自从2015年苹果发布巨大的12.9英寸iPad Pro，似乎显示苹果在重新思考战略方向。最新款iPad Pro推出后，苹果终于有了接近笔记本电脑的平板。新款iPad规格改进，外形也做了调整，稍后还将推出新的软件启动功能，性能比前辈们都要强大。

比起旧款，新iPad Pro配备的处理器速度更快，反应更加灵敏，屏幕更明亮色彩更鲜艳，刷频率也更高。摄像头直接用的iPhone 7同款。今年秋天将推出的iOS 11固件将加入全新的多任务处理功能，会感觉更像在“真正的”电脑上工作。

新款10.5英寸的iPad Pro上周开始发货，起价649美元，我用了几天后感觉这是苹果最适合工作的平板。之前12.9英寸型号速度当然非常快，也很强大，但想单手操作或者放进包里实在不便。我都想放弃大屏幕用9.7寸版，就为了便携。新版10.5寸大小刚好合适。

从纸面上看，9.7寸跟10.5寸差别其实不大，但实际用起来差别不小。新款iPad Pro的屏幕比之前的大20%，但整机尺寸只大了一点点。具体做法是缩小边框，之前三星、LG之类也都在新款智能手机上用这招扩大屏幕，设备也不至于变臃肿。

设计上的调整确实非常必要，不仅可以令上网和多任务处理更舒畅，也可以让iPad看起来更闪亮也更现代。在10.5寸屏幕分屏模式下看应用更舒服，单独辟出的上网冲浪空间可以方便阅读应用里的文本，因为只占半个屏幕。

新款iPad Pro配备了强大的A10 Fusion处理器，可以应付密集的多任务场景，例如编辑图片和使用Touch ID。10.5寸的iPad Pro在使用Prisma等应用给照片加特效时体验远超9.7寸款，解锁时指纹传感器反应更快。不过处理单一任务时差别总体不大，例如启动应用、做笔记和管理邮件时。

新款屏幕刷新率更高，现在已经达到120GHz，也提升了整体体验。从主页跳转至浏览我的应用只需轻扫一下，感觉更像是轻触，几乎完全没有延迟。苹果表示，新款iPad Prohi根据具体任务自动调整刷新率，以免过于耗电。

说到电池，苹果官方数据是待机10小时，我实测结果差不多。使用略超3.5小时候，剩余电量显示为75%，说明撑上个10小时应该问题不大。当然具体使用时间会根据用法不同略有差异。我主要用来写评测，玩游戏，上Netfilx看视频，偶尔编辑编辑照片。如果用来看4K清晰度的视频或者把屏幕亮度调高，电量很可能耗得更快。

当然了，虽然新款iPad Pro硬件很不错，但大部分改进都还在软件端。为最新款iPhone和iPad推出的iOS 11固件将添加多任务处理功能，固定软件图标的任务栏更大，还会增加文件管理系统。但老款还有更便宜的iPad同样可以更新至iOS 11，所以除非你真心能用上高配置，不然花那么多钱不太值。此外，比起苹果高端平板，微软稍贵一点的Surface Pro以及其他Windows 10平板还是有不少优势，例如更多外接设备接口和个性化硬件，而且都能用鼠标，感觉上跟真正的电脑更接近。

但如果你是坚定的果粉，想找个偶尔能替代MacBook的平板电脑，新款iPad Pro还是很合适的。从新款高性能平板到注重多任务处理的iOS 11，显然苹果终于认真考虑把iPad变成PC的替代产品。现在只需要实际做到就行。（财富中文网）

本文首发于Time.com

译者：冯丰

审稿：夏林

For the most part, Apple has long kept its desktop and mobile experiences distinct from one another. Contrast that with Microsoft, whose Windows 10 software now runs across all manner of devices, from desktop computers to funky 2-in-1 hybrids.

But ever since it launched the gargantuan 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2015, Apple has shown signs it's willing to somewhat rethink that strategy. With the launch of its new iPad Pro, Apple has a tablet that's more likely than ever to replace some of the functions of your laptop. Thanks to improved specs, a reworked form factor, and new software launching later this year, this is an iPad that's more capable than its predecessors.

The new iPad Pro models have a faster processor, a more responsive and brighter, more colorful screen with a higher refresh rate than their predecessors. The camera is taken straight from the iPhone 7. And the new iOS 11 software, which will be available in the fall, adds useful new multitasking features that mimic working on a "real" computer.

After spending several days using the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $649 and begins shipping this week, I'm convinced this is the best tablet for productivity Apple has made so far. I appreciated the speed and power that came in the original 12.9-inch model, but it was way too cumbersome to use with one hand or stash in my bag. For those reasons, I was willing to sacrifice that extra screen space for the portability that the 9.7-inch version offered. But the new 10.5-inch Pro provides the perfect middle ground.

The difference between 9.7 inches and 10.5 inches doesn't sound like much on paper, but it goes a long way in practice. The new iPad Pro's screen is about 20% larger than the last, while the tablet itself is only slightly bigger. Apple achieved this by reducing the size of the borders around the display, a tactic companies like Samsung and LG have used to offer more spacious screens on their latest smartphones without making their devices bulkier.

The design tweak is a much-needed change that not only makes web browsing and multitasking more enjoyable, but also gives the iPad a more sleek and modern look. Viewing apps in split-screen mode is also more comfortable on a 10.5-inch screen, as the extra surface area makes it easier to read text in apps that only occupy half of the screen.

The zippier A10X Fusion chip inside the new iPad Pro came to life during processor-intensive tasks like editing photos and using Touch ID. The 10.5-inch Pro smoked the 9.7 model when applying special effects to photos through the app Prisma, for example, and its fingerprint sensor was more responsive when unlocking the tablet. But don't expect to see dramatic changes in speed with simple tasks like launching apps, taking notes, and managing email.

The screen's higher refresh rate, which is now at 120GHz, subtly improves the overall iPad experience. Jumping between home screens to browse through my apps only required a swipe so slight it felt like little more than a tap, showing virtually no latency. Apple also says the new iPad Pro automatically adjusts its refresh rate depending on the task at hand to avoid depleting the tablet's battery too quickly.

Speaking of battery life, Apple is claiming about 10 hours here, which was about right based on my testing. After using the new Pro for a bit over three and a half hours, I had about 75% of battery remaining, which means it should be capable of breezing past 10 hours of usage. That number will vary depending on how you use the Pro. I mostly used it for writing this review, playing games, watching Netflix, and doing some light photo editing. If you're exporting 4K video or cranking up the screen brightness, you'll probably see the battery drain more quickly.

Still, as impressive as the new iPad Pro's hardware may be, many of the tablet's improvements lie on the software side. The upcoming version of Apple's iPhone and iPad software, iOS 11, adds features like multitasking improvements, a bigger dock for pinning apps, and a file management system. But iOS 11 will also be available for older and less expensive iPads, making it tough to justify the cost of the new iPad Pro unless you truly need the horsepower it provides. Additionally, Microsoft's pricier Surface Pro and other Windows 10 tablets still offer some advantages over Apple's high-end tablet, like more ports for accessories and hardware customization options — and they work with mice, making them feel even more like actual computers.

But if you're committed to Apple, and you're looking for a tablet that can replace your MacBook for certain uses, the new iPad Pro can do the job. Between its high-performance new tablets and the multitasking-focused iOS 11, it's clear that Apple is finally serious about making the iPad a viable PC alternative. Now it just has to execute on that vision.

This article was originally published at Time.com