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INSIDE: ALL THE NEWS FROM APPLE’S OCTOBER EVENT
NOVEMBER 2020
iPAD
(2020)
UP CLOSE
WITH
APPLE’S
LATEST
TABLET
APPLE
WATCH
SERIES 6
SIMPLY
THE BEST
CONTENTS
4
APPLE EVENT NEWS
4 iPhone 12 Pro: The six most 20 Serious vulnerability found in
important things you need Mac T2 chip
to know 22 First Apple Silicon Mac
9 iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12: chip about to enter mass
Six ways they’re more ‘Pro’ production
than you think 24 Apple submits Face ID on the
13 MagSafe enables a whole Mac patent
new charging and accessory
ecosystem iPAD
16 HomePod mini: Six things 26 Review: iPad (2020)
to know about Apple’s new 37 iPad Air (2020) versus iPad
smart speaker (2020)
44 Why the new iPad Air is great
news for the iPad Pro
2 Macworld • November 2020
26 48
80 90
Credit: Getty Images/Thitichaya Yajampa
APPLE WATCH BUYING GUIDE
48 Review: Apple Watch Series 6 80 Best VPN for Mac
56 Review: Apple Watch SE
63 Apple Watch Series 3 versus FEATURES
SE versus Series 6 87 What is Nano-texture glass
69 Where does the Apple Watch and do I need it?
go from here? 90 How Apple could improve its
Services experience
REVIEWS 93 How Apple can power up
73 ExpressVPN automation on its platforms
77 iClock
November 2020 • Macworld 3
APPLE EVENT
iPhone 12 Pro: The six
most important things
you need to know
Apple’s new high-end iPhones have a refreshed design, faster
processor, 5G, and a much better camera. Jason Cross reports
A
pple has just taken the that set them apart and help justify
wraps off the iPhone 12 their higher price tag.
and iPhone 12 Pro. Each
are available in two sizes 1. A NEW, SLIGHTLY
(the regular iPhone 12 now comes in a LARGER DESIGN
6.1in model and a 5.4in ‘mini’), but as As with the iPhone 11 Pro, the iPhone
was the case with the iPhone 11, the 12 Pro comes in two sizes. This
‘Pro’ models have some differences year, the display on the two models
4 Macworld • November 2020
measure 6.1 inches
and 6.7 inches, up
from 5.8 inches and
6.5 inches. (Bear
in mind that a 6.1in
display is the same
size as the regular,
non-Pro iPhone 11.)
This means
the phone bodies
themselves are a
bit larger as well,
though there’s less
bezel area around the
display, so it’s not as The new design features flat edges, a bright new gold
much larger as you colour and a Pacific Blue variant.
might think, just a
millimetre or two taller and wider. With now (but still not on the telephoto
a thickness of only 7.4mm, the iPhone camera). And Deep Fusion now
12 Pro is even thinner than the iPhone works on all four cameras. There’s
11 Pro’s 8.1mm body. a new improved 7-element lens on
The sides of all the iPhone 12 the main wide camera and a wider
models are now flat, mimicking f/1.6 aperture to let in more light,
the design of the iPad Pro. They’re improving low light performance.
available in four colours: silver The larger iPhone 12 Pro Max
(white), graphite, gold, and Pacific variant has a 47 per cent larger
Blue (replacing Midnight Green on sensor on the main wide camera,
the iPhone 11 Pro). which means bigger 1.7-micron
pixels. Combined with the larger
2. THE CAMERAS aperture, Apple says it produces 87
GET A BIG UPGRADE per cent better low-light photos. The
The iPhone 12 Pro can shoot night telephoto lens on the Max is longer,
mode photos on the wide, ultra- too – 65mm, or about 2.5x, instead of
wide, and even the front camera 52mm or 2x on the regular Pro.
November 2020 • Macworld 5
APPLE EVENT
Vision format. While
the iPhone 12 can
do this up to 4K at
30fps, the 12 Pro can
go all the way up to
60fps when shooting
Dolby Vision.
3. THE iPHONE
12 SUPPORTS
5G NETWORKS
While Android phones
The main Wide camera has been improved with a wider have supported 5G
aperture, and on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, a larger sensor wireless networks
with sensor-shift stabilization. for over a year, Apple
hasn’t jumped on
The Pro Max uses sensor-shift the bandwagon yet. The iPhone 12
stabilization, which should produce changes all that. All models, from the
clearer and more detailed shots, iPhone 12 mini to the iPhone 12 Pro,
especially in low light. now support 5G networks. 5G comes
Thanks to the
new LiDAR sensor,
the iPhone 12 Pro
can focus better in
dark environments,
and can shoot
night mode
portrait shots.
Both the
regular and Pro
models now shoot
10-bit HDR video,
including support Apple made a big deal about 5G at its event, and name-
in the Dolby dropped Verizon about a thousand times.
6 Macworld • November 2020
in two flavours:
there’s sub-6GHz
5G (the same
frequencies as 4G
LTE) and mmWave
5G (very high
frequencies
with super fast
speeds and very
short range).
The new iPhone
12 models, Pro and The A14 brings a host of performance improvements,
regular, support especially to machine learning and AI tasks.
both sub-6GHz and
mmWave networks. GPU and much faster Neural Engine.
Sadly for those us here in the Apple says both the CPU and GPU
UK, he also focused on the cities are 50 per cent faster than any
and areas that will be covered in the competing smartphone chip.
US (60 cities by year end, he said) The iPhone 12 also uses the
rather than elsewhere. new A14 chip, so it’s not as if the
The general benefits of 5G are iPhone 12 Pro faster than the non-
obvious: you get faster internet Pro model. It does come with more
access when away from home Wi-Fi, storage, though: 128GB to start,
perhaps as much as 4Gbps under with options for 256GB or 512GB.
absolutely optimal conditions, Verizon The iPhone 12 has half as much
reckons. But the actual specific storage at every level.
speeds will vary hugely depending on
time and (above all) location. 5. NO POWER ADAPTER
OR EARBUDS IN THE BOX
4. FASTER CHIP, MORE We’ve always had a new power
STARTING STORAGE adapter along with our iPhones. It
Apple has the first mobile chip to comes in the box. The regular iPhones
be made with a 5nm manufacturing and iPhone SE have a 5-watt USB-A
process. It’s got a faster CPU, faster power adapter, and the iPhone 11 Pro
November 2020 • Macworld 7
APPLE EVENT
came with an 18-watt USB-C power 6. STARTING PRICE IS
adapter. Those are no longer in the THE SAME, AND MORE
box. Not just on the iPhone 12, but STORAGE IS CHEAPER
from all iPhone models (as soon as The iPhone 11 Pro started at £1,049,
current stock runs out). with storage upgrades costing £1,199
Apple also used to include (256GB) or £1,399 (512GB). The
earbuds with a Lightning connector. iPhone 11 Pro Max cost £100 more.
Those, too, are no longer included. The iPhone 12 Pro still starts at
All you get in the box with your £999, the storage upgraded versions
iPhone 12 Pro is the phone itself are now £1,099 and £1,299, reducing
and a USB-C to Lightning cable. the cost by £50. The iPhone 12 Pro
This sounds like a cheap move Max still costs £100 more.
for the world’s most valuable Though Apple no longer gives you
tech company, and it is. But it’s also a power adapter nor earbuds in the
very good for the environment, box, it’s not necessarily a worse value.
which is why Apple says it’s doing The starting models have 128GB
this. At this point, we all have a of storage rather than 64GB in the
drawer full of power adaptors (you iPhone 11 Pro, and you don’t pay more
don’t need to use an Apple brand for 5G, which usually carries a higher
one after all) and earbuds, or price tag on other phones.
Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack The iPhone 12 Pro are available for
adaptors, or we use AirPods or other pre-order and will ship on 23 October.
wireless headphones. The iPhone 12 Pro Max will be
For most consumers, this stuff sits available for pre-order on 6 November
in a drawer or never comes out of the and will ship on 13 November.
box. Making and shipping it to every
user is a big waste, both economically
and ecologically. If you need a power
adaptor, there are tons of them
from every brand, or you can get a
wireless charger. Apple’s got new,
faster MagSafe wireless charging
(see page 13) while maintaining
compatibility with Qi chargers.
8 Macworld • November 2020
iPhone 12 mini and iPhone
12: Six ways they’re more
‘Pro’ than you think
You’ll be getting a lot of iPhone for a much nicer price. Michael
Simon reports
I
t took a little longer than usual, but an extra option, the choice of which
the iPhone 12 is finally here. And one to buy might not be so difficult
just like we expected, there are this year.
four phones this year, with Apple That’s because the iPhone 12 and
adding a new ‘mini’ model to the iPhone 12 mini are closer than ever
lower-end of the line-up. But even with to the higher-priced Pro models that
November 2020 • Macworld 9
APPLE EVENT
cost hundreds more. The iPhone 12 stainless steel on the Pro. Otherwise,
and iPhone 12 mini might not have you’re getting the same design as
all the same features, but when the Pro with smooth, flat edges
you break down the differences and uniform construction. And now
between the standard and Pro lines, that the bezels have been reduced
they’re a lot closer than you’d think. compared to the iPhone 11, the new
Here are the surprising iPhone 12 12 is as thin and small as the Pro
features that make the baseline version. So, unless you really, really
iPhones a lot more pro. want that gold colour, the regular 12
is just as gorgeous.
1. THEY LOOK JUST
AS GOOD AND WON’T 2. THEY HAVE THE SAME
SCRATCH AS EASILY OLED SCREENS
The new Pro models might look Apple previously differentiated its
stunning, but don’t sleep on the Pro and non-Pro iPhone lines with the
iPhone 12. Not only do they have type of display they had: LCD in the
more colour options – black, white, entry-level model and OLED in the
red, green, and blue – they also use pro models. That’s no longer the case.
aluminium on the edges versus the With both the 6.1in iPhone 12 and
fingerprint- and scratch-attracting 5.4in iPhone 12 mini, you get the same
Super Retina XDR
that was previously
reserved for the Pro
models, with rich
colours, deep blacks,
incredible contrast,
and super-sharp text
and images. And with
Ceramic Shield, it
won’t shatter as easily
when you drop it. Add
it all up and you’ve got
a Pro-level display for
The iPhone 12 comes in five stunning colours. a whole lot less.
10 Macworld • November 20203. THEY’RE JUST AS FAST models, something you won’t find on
This one isn’t a surprise. Apple always the Galaxy S20 FE or the Pixel 4a
puts the latest processor in the 5G without paying a premium. You
latest iPhones, Pro or not, and this could argue that it’s not necessary
year that’s the A14 Bionic. And boy and Apple could have reduced costs
is it fast. The A14 Bionic chip packs even further by dropping mmWave
11.8 billion transistors onto its 5nm support, but in a few years when
frame f04 greater performance and those incredible speeds are a bit more
efficiency over the already fast A13 widespread, your iPhone 12 feels just
Bionic. You’re also getting a 16-core as fast as an iPhone 14 Pro.
neural engine capable of handling 22
trillion operations per second and a 5. THEY SUPPORT
machine learning accelerator that’s THE NEW MAGSAFE
70 per cent faster than before. We might not have gotten the
AirPower charger, but Apple did
4. THEY HAVE THE bring an old tech back from the dead:
SPEEDIEST 5G MagSafe. It’s not quite what it was
While it’s still going to be a while before, but it’s just as cool and way
before most people can take more versatile. A new magnetic ring
advantage of
the new 5G
modem in the
iPhone 12, when
it arrives they’ll
be getting the
fastest possible
connection.
That’s because
Apple has
supported both
slower sub-6Ghz
and speedy
millimetre wave
5G in all iPhone The new MagSafe opens the iPhone up a world of accessories.
November 2020 • Macworld 11APPLE EVENT
built into the back of the iPhone lets a exposure under control while the new
variety of accessories snap into place, night mode works on all three lenses,
including 15-watt wireless chargers, so you won’t be limited when snapping
wallets, and cases, and likely many, night-time shots. And video recording
many more. is massively improved as well, with the
ability to shoot HDR video with Dolby
6. THE CAMERA IS Vision as well as stunning night-mode
VERY, VERY GOOD time-lapse videos with a tripod. And,
Okay, the new Pro zoom lens and really, who needs the LiDAR Scanner
video editing might be must-have on the Pro anyway?
features for smartphone shutterbugs, The iPhone 12 are available for
but for the rest of us, the ‘baseline’ pre-order and will ship on 23 October,
iPhone 12’s camera is still among the while the iPhone 12 mini will be
best you can buy, even with just two available for pre-order on 6 November
lenses. You get a 12Mp wide ultra-wide and ship a week later on 13 November.
lens paired with a new 12Mp wide lens
with an f/1.6 aperture and a 7-element
lens for better low light images. Smart
HDR3 keeps colour balanced and
The iPhone 12 only has two cameras, but it does a lot with them.
12 Macworld • November 2020MagSafe enables a
whole new charging and
accessory ecosystem
With new magnets and coils, Apple is making all sorts of new things
possible. Jason Cross reports
R
emember MagSafe? The With a ring of magnets around a
beloved charging plug for new charging coil design, along with
MacBooks was given the improved shielding and NFC, you can
boot when Apple moved sort of ‘snap’ the iPhone 12 or iPhone
to USB-C charging, but the company 12 Pro to a new MagSafe wireless
just brought it back as a new standard charger, just like you do with the
for iPhone charging and accessories. Apple Watch.
November 2020 • Macworld 13APPLE EVENT
The more precise alignment and recognize and react to accessories.
improved internal components allow The magnets enable all sorts of snap-
for faster charging – up to 15 watts on accessories and cases. MagSafe
instead of 7.5 on earlier iPhones. cases will snap on securely, but will
That’s about as fast as charging still allow the chargers and other
previous iPhones plugged in! accessories to snap on to the back
This doesn’t make existing Qi at the same time. Apple is making
chargers are useless. The new new silicone, clear, and leather cases
iPhones still support existing Qi- that securely snap on to the MagSafe
enabled wireless charging at rates magnets, and allow MagSafe snap-on
up to 7.5 watts, just as previous charging right through them.
iPhones have. Apple has even got a slim snap-
on MagSafe wallet, for example.
MORE THAN CHARGING There are third-party chargers and
The new MagSafe standard is about accessories coming, too.
more than just charging. Apple has Apple’s got a new MagSafe Duo
added a single-turn coil NFC antenna charger that will charge your iPhone
and a magnetometer to the MagSafe 12 and Apple Watch at the same time,
components, so the phone can and folds up for travel. There’s no
word yet on when it
will be available or how
much it will cost.
Apple’s official
MagSafe charger is
a reasonable £39,
though it does not come
with a power adapter.
The leather wallet
is £59 and comes in
four colours, and the
silicone and clear cases
are £49 no matter
Apple has added better shielding and new sensors to which size of iPhone
allow for faster charging and new types of accessories. 12 it’s for. The official
14 Macworld • November 2020Apple’s MagSafe Duo doesn’t yet have a release date or price.
Apple leather cases do not yet have a
price or release date.
Third-party developers are already
at work making MagSafe compatible
products. Apple called out a car
mount and a multi-device charging
dock from Belkin, for example, but
you can probably expect the array
of snap-on magnetically attached
devices for iPhones to expand rapidly
over the coming months.
November 2020 • Macworld 15APPLE EVENT
HomePod mini: Six things
to know about Apple’s
new smart speaker
The HomePod mini is a smaller version of the HomePod speaker.
But does it all end there? Roman Loyola reports
A
pple has added a new takes off, it will help Apple grab a
member to its smart bigger piece of the burgeoning smart
speaker line-up. The speaker market.
HomePod mini is a smaller The HomePod still has the mesh
version of the HomePod speaker grill exterior available in Space Grey
Apple released in 2018, and if it or white, but it has an entirely different
16 Macworld • November 2020shape. It’s round, not a cylinder like playing music. Apple uses its S5 chip
the full-sized HomePod. It reminds to process the sound.
us of the mesh-protected apples you
might find at the supermarket. While 2. INTERCOM: BROADCAST
we haven’t seen it in person, the YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
screen at the top of the HomePod mini A new Intercom feature lets you say
seems more prominent, even brighter. a message to the HomePod mini,
Here are the top six things you need to and that message will be played on
know about the HomePod mini. other connected minis, HomePods
and even AirPods. Intercom displays
1. SIZE, SPEAKERS an alert on your iPhone, iPad, Mac,
AND MICROPHONES Apple Watch and on CarPlay, and you
The HomePod mini measures 3.3 can stream the audio.
inches tall, less than half the height
of the HomePod. And since it’s 3. ULTRA-WIDEBAND
smaller, it has fewer speakers and SUPPORT
microphones, though Apple promises The HomePod mini has Apple’s
that the listening experience hasn’t U1 chip, which provides the device
diminished at all.
The HomePod mini
has a “full-range
driver, powered
by a neodymium
magnet and a pair
of force-cancelling
passive radiators,”
as well as three
mics that listen
for voice prompts,
and an internal mic
to help isolate the
speaker’s sound to
hear a “Hey Siri”
command while The HomePod mini plays 360-degree audio.
November 2020 • Macworld 17APPLE EVENT
With its U1 support, you can hand off audio from your iPhone to the HomePod mini.
with ultra-wideband, a radio with the U1, according to Apple’s
communication technology that uses HomePod mini website. That means
very little power, works in a short you need an iPhone 11 or later. Older
range, and has a high bandwidth. iPhones won’t be able to perform
The U1 allows for some cool these features.
iPhone tricks as well. You can ‘hand
off’ music playback from your 4. SUPPORTED MUSIC
iPhone to the new HomePod, as SERVICES
well as use an iPhone to control The HomePod mini works with Apple
the music playing. You can also get Music, the Apple Podcasts app, and
personalized listening suggestions, radio stations from iHeartRadio, radio.
and Apple says that later this year, com, and TuneIn. Apple said during
you’ll get visual, audible, and haptic the event that Pandora and Amazon
effects when transferring sound Music support will be coming soon.
between devices. Could that mean that other music
However, to use these features, services are coming, such as Spotify?
you’ll need devices that are equipped We’ll have to wait and see.
18 Macworld • November 20205. HEY SIRI • iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or
Like the full-sized HomePod, the later)
HomePod mini relies on Siri as its • iPad Air 2 or later
interface, using Siri commands to • iPad mini 4 or later running
play music and podcasts. Siri can iPadOS 14
recognize who is speaking and make
music suggestions based on the Features on the HomePod mini that
user’s preferences. rely on its U1 processor will not work
You can also use Siri for personal on devices that are not equipped with
updates, such as asking about your a U1. You need an iPhone 11 or later.
schedule, the weather and reminders.
Any Siri Shortcuts made on your
iPhone or iPad are also available.
Apple continues to protect your
privacy while using Siri. Siri requests
are sent to Apple’s servers only when
Siri is activated, and those requests
are not associated with your Apple ID.
Apple also says it does not sell your
personal information to third parties.
6. PRICE AND DEVICE
COMPATIBILITY
The HomePod mini will set you back
£99. It will be available for pre-order
on 6 November, with shipments
starting on 16 November.
Apple says it is compatible with the
following devices:
• iPhone 6s or later
• iPhone SE
• iPod touch (7th generation) running
iOS 14
November 2020 • Macworld 19NEWS
Serious vulnerability
found in Mac T2 chip
Hackers could exploit the vulnerability to get around passwords
and encryption. Stephan Wiesend and Mikael Markander report
A
little over two years have found a serious vulnerability in
ago, Apple launched the the T2 chip which, in the worst case
T2, a chip designed to scenario, could be used by hackers
improve the security of to bypass passwords and encryption.
the company’s Mac computers. If an attacker has physical access to
Now, however, Belgian security the Mac, he can install a keylogger,
researcher Niels Hofmans claims to change installations or install his own
20 Macworld • November 2020kernel extensions. The process is Mac using the Apple Configurator
based on the same Checkm8 exploit utility (fave.co/2GByRTp), and to
that makes it possible to jailbreak reset the SMC. To do this, you’ll first
certain iOS devices – which isn’t as need to shut down your Mac. Next,
odd as it sounds, given that the T2 is press and hold the power button
based on the A10 chip found in some for 10 seconds, then release it.
older iPhones and iPads. Finally, wait a few seconds before
switching your back Mac on.
AFFECTED MACS
All Intel Macs whose T2 chip is based RESPONSE FROM APPLE
on the old A10 chip from Apple are Niels Hofmans has shared his
affected, including models from 2020. discoveries with Apple, but remains
Only upcoming Macs with newer unsatisfied with the reaction. He
chips will (probably) no longer be says he reported the flaw on 18
susceptible to attacks. August 2020, but even after several
inquiries there has been no response
HOW GREAT so far. Hopefully, the vulnerability
IS THE DANGER? will be cleared up eventually. Until
“Be aware that this is a perfectly then, the recommendation is not
possible attack scenario for state to connect unsafe accessories or
actors,” says Hofmans. “I have allow unauthorized persons physical
sources that say more news is on the access to any T2-based Macs.
way in the upcoming weeks. I quote:
be afraid, be very afraid.”
So yes, the flaw has the potential
to cause serious problems. But it is
relatively easy to protect yourself.
Physical proximity to the Mac is
necessary for the attack, so Hofmans
recommends that unauthorized
persons not be allowed access to
any T2-based Macs. If you suspect
you have been affected, it would be
wise to reinstall bridgeOS on your
November 2020 • Macworld 21NEWS
First Apple Silicon Mac
chip about to enter
mass production
A14X processor is expected to appear in the next-gen MacBook and
iPad Pro. Viktor Eriksson and Halyna Kubiv report
A
t the start of the fourth company’s very first publicly available
quarter of 2020, Apple Apple Silicon Mac.
will start mass production DigiTimes claims the Apple
of its A14X processor, supplier TSMC is currently preparing
DigiTimes reports. This is significant to mass-produce the A14X chips.
because the A14X will be used in the According to industry insiders, the
22 Macworld • November 2020manufacturer plans to manufacture offer its own System in a Package
up to 6,000 wafers using the (SIP) or System on a Chip (SOC)
new 5nm (nanometre) process; a solutions to other manufacturers of
wafer can contain several hundred electronic devices.
individual chips. We already know that Apple’s first
With the new process, TSMC Apple Silicon Mac will be released
expects more energy-efficient and towards the end of the year in the
faster processors than with the 7nm form of a lightweight 12in MacBook
process used for the A13 in the iPhone with a battery life of between 15
11. According to the manufacturer, and 20 hours.
the new generation of chips will use
almost 30 per cent less energy than
its predecessor for the same tasks.
The performance should increase
by almost 15 per cent compared
to the 7nm process. TSMC is also
using the second generation of its
EUV (extreme ultraviolet radiation)
lithography, which results in fewer
defective wafers per batch.
The new chip is expected to appear
in both the next-generation MacBook
and iPad Pro, both of which will use
the company’s proprietary ARM
processors. According to previous
information from Bloomberg, the
Mac processor will have 12 cores, of
which eight are high-performance
and four are energy-efficient.
According to DigiTimes, more and
more manufacturers are adopting
Apple’s strategy of packing the
entire system of necessary elements
on one chip. TSMC now wants to
November 2020 • Macworld 23NEWS
Apple submits Face ID on
the Mac patent
Evidence that Face ID is coming to the Mac. Kris Wallburg reports
I
t is only a matter of time before That could change soon, as there
Face ID will also arrive on the Mac. are repeated indications that Apple is
Further indications have emerged working on a corresponding solution.
that suggest Apple is actively A new patent application that Apple
working on an implementation. submitted to the American patent
It’s a feature that Apple fans office refers to the technology.
have been wanting for since the The application with the
introduction of facial recognition on title ‘USER DETECTION BY
the iPhone X. A few years have passed A COMPUTING DEVICE’ was
since Touch ID has found its way onto submitted on 22 May 2020 and
the MacBook, but Mac owners are still approved on 10 September. In the
waiting in vain for Face ID. summary, Apple explains that in
24 Macworld • November 2020some application areas a computer
analyses and identifies the face of
the user using an “electronic device”.
The term Face-ID does not appear in
the application, but it is still very clear
that the subject of the application is
precisely this type of technology.
The application also deals with
the possibility of unlocking a device
(for example a computer) via another
device (for example a smartphone).
This works in a similar way to the
way the Apple Watch can be used to
unlock newer Macs: If the user has
adjusted his computer accordingly, it
can be unlocked with an Apple Watch
when the smartwatch is nearby.
The 97-page application is
publicly available and can be
found at fave.co/3dbwClr.
Many experts suspect that Apple
could introduce Face ID with the
arrival of the first Apple Silicon Macs.
At WWDC 2020 Tim Cook stated that
the first Mac with Apple Silicon should
come to the market by the end of the
year. It remains to be seen whether
Apple will equip the first Apple Silicon
Mac with Face ID.
November 2020 • Macworld 25iPAD
Review: iPad (2020)
Price: £329 (inc VAT) from fave.co/3jBr5Y3
T
he new iPad was Apple launched in 2019. It differs
comprehensively outshone only in having a processor that’s
by the new iPad Air at two generations newer – thereby
Apple’s Time Flies event promising a handy boost in speed
on 15 September, offering only a dull – and being very slightly heavier. Is
(albeit significant) spec bump while its that enough to justify the cost?
costlier sibling got a redesign and raft Almost certainly not if you’re
of new features. But the Air isn’t ready thinking of upgrading from the 2019
to buy yet, so while we wait for the to 2020 models. But it’s important to
big show, here’s the warm-up act. note that the things tech journalists
What Apple is calling the eighth- find appealing (such as differences
generation iPad is in almost every from the last generation) are not
respect the same as the 10.2in iPad always the things that make a useful,
26 Macworld • November 2020value-for-money product for the a display comfortably big enough
average consumer – especially if (10.2in, corner to corner) for gaming
they haven’t bought a new iPad in and watching films and TV. It’s 490g
years, if at all. (or 495g, if you go for the cellular
So I’m going to do my best to model) and just 7.5mm thick.
review this tablet as a thing in its own Apple’s engineers love to find
right, with only occasional mentions contrast between gloss and matte
of the similar model released last year. surfaces, like the precise, angled
Our review of the iPad (2020) tests its brushed-metal chamfer around the
speed and battery life, evaluates the edge of the glossy screen, or the shiny
design and feature set, and helps you Apple logo in the middle of the matte
decide if this is right for you. back. You keep finding these kinds of
small, thoughtful touches – details
PRICE that are pleasing to the eye or finger.
32GB: £329 These elements have been around
128GB: £429 a long time, but it’s an elegant, one
32GB, cellular: £459 might say classic, design. The screen-
128GB, cellular: £559 to-body ratio, however, is starting
to look a little dated: the inclusion
If the above prices leave room in of a Home button on the front, and
your budget, you can supplement your comparatively thick bezels – about
purchase with an accessory or two. 8mm at left and right, and a positively
The new iPad is compatible with the chunky 20mm at the top and bottom
first-gen Apple Pencil stylus (which – means you’re not getting as much
adds £89 to the cost), and the Smart screen ‘real estate’ for the size of
Keyboard (£159). the chassis as you would with an
all-screen design like on the last two
DESIGN generations of iPad Pro and the most
The eighth-gen iPad has the same recent iPad Air.
design as last year’s model. But to The back edges of the iPad are
most people that doesn’t matter: curved whereas the front ones are
instead, we’ll simply say that this sharp; this has the same ‘pick me up’
is a slim, attractive tablet that’s effect, when the device is laid down
lightweight to pick up while offering with screen facing up, that Apple used
November 2020 • Macworld 27iPAD
of it. Is it any
good?
You get a
10.2in display
with a resolution
of 2,160x1,620
at 264ppi (pixels
per inch). That’s
absolutely
standard for
Apple, roughly
matching the
iPad Air 1 from
The rear-facing camera doesn’t stick out from the main body. 2013 on the
one hand,
on the iPad 2 back in 2011. Again, it’s and the iPad Pro 11in (2020) on the
a well-worn design language, but I other. But again, the lack of progress
personally find it more welcoming, not doesn’t matter if it gets the job done,
to mention easier to pick up, than the and it does.
uniformly squared-off edges of the It’s a decent-quality screen,
newfangled Pro line. certainly good enough for most uses
We’ll finish with two old-fashioned even if hardly envelope-pushing in
elements of the design that we think terms of specs. It’s sharp, bright
almost everyone will applaud. The and colourful, and while there are
eighth-gen iPad has a headphone better tablets out there in those
port, and its rear-facing camera departments (the Pros offer 600
doesn’t stick out from the main body nits brightness to this device’s 500,
at all: it’s totally flush. for instance, and a superior colour
gamut), the iPad doesn’t suffer much
SCREEN in comparison.
We’ve established that the iPad does The size is in my opinion a good
not have an all-screen design. But the compromise point. iPad mini screens
screen still dominates the front of the can be a touch cramped for movies
device, and will monopolize your use and working on the go, while the
28 Macworld • November 2020elements around
on the screen with
your finger.
The last thing
to say about the
screen is that
it’s unlaminated.
What does that
mean? There’s a
tiny gap between
the glass and
The iPad (2020) has a decent screen, though it’s hardly the display tech
envelope-pushing in terms of specifications. underneath, and
this means that
largest Pro falls down on portability; when you press down with a finger
this is the best of both worlds... or stylus it ‘gives’ very slightly: it
although it would be better still if flexes downwards a microscopic
Apple could trim back those bezels. amount. On a laminated screen (which
The touchscreen function is slick you’ll find on any iPad Pro, the iPad
and seamless. You don’t get the mini 4 and later, and all Airs except
higher refresh rate and ProMotion the first one) there’s no gap, and
dynamic switching of the iPad Pro consequently no give.
line, but in most
situations you won’t
be conscious that
you’re getting a
‘lesser’ experience.
The combination
of the screen tech
and iPadOS 14 are
enough to preserve the
fundamental illusion
behind all tablets: that
you’re literally moving Apple has opted to use an unlaminated display here.
November 2020 • Macworld 29iPAD
It’s a subtle effect, so please don’t can. If you’ve ever used a laminated
imagine any kind of visible bending. iPad, which means most of them and
Rather, the effect manifests itself certainly all the expensive ones, then
in a slight sense of cheapness, of this one will feel strange and a little
‘plastickyness’. It’s not reassuring, cheap. If you haven’t, then you
when most iPad usage involves probably won’t know what you’re
touching the screen, to have this missing.
sense, but it certainly isn’t intolerable.
Indeed, we could go further and CAMERAS
ask whether the average consumer The iPad has an 8Mp camera on the
will notice the effect at all. rear and 1.2Mp on the front, with just
I use and review iPads all the time; a single lens in each case. Neither
my most commonly used tablet is of these will challenge a good phone
a 2018 Pro. I’m used to laminated camera for quality, but photography
screens. So when I pick up the iPad tends not to be a priority for tablets.
10.2in, it feels weird. But will it feel Rear-facing camera performance
weird to you? That depends on what was solid, with good colour
you’re used to. reproduction and detail. I was
My sense is that one laminated particularly impressed by its ability
screen will ruin unlaminated ones for to handle mixed-lighting conditions,
you, forever, and that you will always with bright sun at the top of the shot
remember the way screens should (not overexposed) but more shady
feel. But I may be wrong about that, undergrowth at the bottom (crisp
because I was wrong once before. and colourful).
A few years back I reviewed the In the official specs list Apple says
iPad 9.7in (2017) and criticised its use this model offers HDR rather than the
of an unlaminated screen, which I saw exposure-blending Smart HDR of the
as a throwback to the iPad Air 1 from iPad Pro or Next-Generation Smart
2013 and called “an economy too far”. HDR of current iPhones, but a glance
And then everyone in the universe in Settings shows that Smart HDR
bought one, and I felt like a fool. is enabled by default; regardless of
So you’ll have to go your own way the terminology, the A12 processor
on this one, but try to get your hands seems to be helping out behind the
on the new iPad before buying if you scenes in some capacity.
30 Macworld • November 2020Rear-facing
camera
performance
is solid, with
good colour
reproduction
and detail.
Selfies come
out with
slightly soft
edges and
noticeable
pixellation
when looked
at closely.
November 2020 • Macworld 31iPAD
The front camera is more basic. A The headline spec is the A12
selfie in good lighting came out with Bionic processor, a big update on last
slightly soft edges and noticeable year’s A10. It won’t surprise you to
pixellation when looked at closely. hear that the A12 is two generations
I suspect that the front camera newer than the A10; more specifically,
will primarily be used for FaceTime Apple claims it’s 40 per cent faster
and other video calls, particularly for CPU performance and twice the
given the state of the world as I speed for graphics. We’ll test those
write this. Your face would certainly claims in a moment.
be rendered more accurately by a Note that the A12, while new for the
higher-specced camera, but I (and standard iPad line, is by no means the
the caller at the other end) actually latest thing in Apple processor world.
found it fine for FaceTime. The 2020 iPad Pros, for instance,
There’s no flash on the rear camera, have the A12Z, a souped-up version
and only Retina Flash (a rudimentary of the A12, while the new iPad Air for
and unflattering flash performed by 2020 gets the A14.
lighting up the screen) on the front; You also get 3GB of RAM – that’s
you don’t get Night Mode, either. It’s the same allocation as last year, and
therefore no use at all in very low light. at the low end of what you’d expect
There’s also no Portrait Mode. from even a budget tablet. Apple
tends to achieve better performance
PERFORMANCE than its devices’ specs would lead
Subjectively, the new iPad performed you to expect, however, thanks to
every task we threw at it with aplomb. clever optimization with iPadOS.
It’s easily fast enough for gaming, Sure enough, performance in our
image editing and everyday tasks, and speed benchmarks was impressive.
in real-world use we never managed to The new iPad scored 2,588 in the
find a ceiling to its processing power. multi-core segment of Geekbench
But that’s true of almost all 5, up 82 per cent from last year’s
brand-new iPads, and a more relevant 1,424. Single-core performance
question is this: how future-proof was up a more modest 44 per cent,
is it? Will it be able to run the most from 771 to 1,114, suggesting that
demanding apps of 2021, and 2022? the biggest gains will be seen in the
To gauge that we need to look deeper. most demanding tasks.
32 Macworld • November 2020The iPad (2020) performed every task we threw at it with aplomb.
Note too that the standard iPad Our US colleagues set the 2020
still isn’t close to rivalling the Pro iPad against the 2019 iPad Air (which
models in multi-core; even the 2018 is also based on the A12) and found
Pro was able to score 4,521 in the that as far as CPU performance goes
same test. the two are essentially identical. They
recorded scores of 1,109 and 2,634
Geekbench 5 (single-core) (single and multi) with the 2020 iPad,
iPad (2020): 1,114 and 1,110 and 2,673 with the 2019 Air.
iPad (2019): 771 Gains in graphical performance
iPad Air (2019): 1,110 were similarly pleasing. The iPad
11in iPad Pro (2018): 1,125 managed a playable 25fps in even
the most taxing of GFXBench’s on-
Geekbench 5 (multi-core) screen tests (‘Aztec Open High’), a
iPad (2020): 2,588 test where many tablets languish in
iPad (2019): 1,424 the single digits. Our US colleagues
iPad Air (2019): 2,673 found year-on-year improvements of
11in iPad Pro (2018): 4,521 between 60 per cent and 85 per cent
November 2020 • Macworld 33iPAD
in 3DMark’s Sling
Shot Extreme test.
We list the iPad’s
specifications in
full on page 36.
Aside from the
performance-
related specs
discussed
above, it’s worth
highlighting the
storage options: Performance in our speed benchmarks was impressive.
32GB remains the
baseline, and that really isn’t very usage – and it died after 7 hours and
much. If you take lots of photos, for 45 minutes. Our US colleagues, under
instance, consider plumping for the similarly taxing conditions, managed
costlier 128GB model (or paying for just over 8 hours.
more iCloud storage). These numbers might sound
disappointing, given the published
BATTERY LIFE claims. But bear in mind a) that this is
The iPad 2020 has the same battery an improvement of around a fifth on
capacity as last year’s model, the 2019 model and b) the average
at 32.4Wh, but improvements consumer, mixing video, email and
in other areas – presumably the web surfing with the occasional break,
processor’s greater efficiency – will get far longer life than this.
enable it to noticeably outperform its Indeed, in the Geekbench 4 battery
predecessor. This is despite Apple test, which we’d still rate as a more
making the same claims for both taxing assignment than everyday
devices: up to 10 hours of surfing the tablet life, the iPad managed 10
web on Wi-Fi. hours and 34 minutes.
We put the Air through a punishing
day of Netflix, gaming, speed AUDIO
benchmarks and photography – far If you’re looking for the consummate
more demanding than a typical day’s surround-sound multimedia
34 Macworld • November 2020experience, this is not the tablet for well-vetted apps tailored to the
you. It has twin speakers but they are iPad screen size(s) from the App
close together on the Home button Store, one of the biggest software
edge so you don’t get a stereo effect. ecosystems on the planet.
For that you should be looking at The rival Android OS has even
quad-speaker iPads, such as the Pro. more apps available, granted, as
Sound is fairly warm and detailed well as offering more customization
at lower volumes but can get a little options. But the apps are less well
tinny as you push close to maximum vetted and the overall experience
– which isn’t massively powerful in weaker: indeed there are no Android
any case. tablets on the market right now that
come close to the quality of an iPad.
SOFTWARE
The iPad (2020) comes with iPadOS VERDICT
14 pre-installed (it will also be able If you’ve never owned an iPad before,
to install future iPadOS updates for or you own an iPad from a few years
free for around five or six years). You back – the iPad Air 2, say, or the fifth-
can read about the new features and gen iPad from 2017 – then this is a
interface tweaks in our iPadOS 14 great tablet to pick up for general use.
guide; suffice it to say here that we’re It’s light, portable, comfortably quick
still finding it a touch buggy in its enough for any app you throw at it
present iteration but we expect it to right now and affordably priced. And
settle down once Apple has a chance you still get a headphone port, which
to roll out a few point updates. is a dying luxury these days. Just
As a brand-new device the eighth- bear in mind that this is very much at
gen iPad gets access to pretty much the bargain-basement end of what
all of the upgrades in iPadOS 14. Apple’s iPads have to offer, and there
It doesn’t have a LiDAR scanner, are inevitably compromises.
however, so misses out on some Storage, for a start: it’s
augmented-reality features. disappointing that Apple continues
iPadOS is in general a very slick, to offer just 32GB at the entry level,
secure and easy-to-use operating which will prove restrictive for those
system, and you can download who want to store lots of music,
a huge number of reasonably photos and videos on their device, or
November 2020 • Macworld 35iPAD
intend to run a large library of games • Hexa-core (2x 2.5GHz Vortex, 4
and other bulky apps. Cloud-based x1.6GHz Tempest) CPU
services such as Apple Music and • Apple (4-core graphics) GPU
iCloud Drive may help in some of • 3GB RAM
these areas. • 32GB/128GB storage
In terms of performance, if you can • Rear-facing camera: 8Mp, f/2.4,
stretch to the new Air or one of the 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF
Pros then you’ll have a device that’s • Selfie camera: 1.2Mp, f/2.2, 31mm
faster still – which might not matter (standard)
much right now but will ensure it’s • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band,
able to tackle the most demanding hotspot
apps years into the future. • Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
The design too, while a classic for • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS (Wi-Fi
a reason – it’s attractive and feels + Cellular model only)
good in the hand – is starting to look • USB Type-C; magnetic connector
dated in comparison with the models • Fingerprint scanner (front mounted)
Apple sells without a Home button. By • Non-removable 32.4Wh lithium-
removing that detail those devices are polymer battery
able to offer more screen space for • 250.6x174.1x7.5mm
the chassis size and a generally more • Wi-Fi, 490g; cellular, 495g
modern-looking appearance.
Finally, do try to get your hands on
the screen before making a decision.
The unlaminated screen may not
bother you at all, but if you’ve tried
a laminated version in the past it’s
likely to feel plasticky and cheap.
David Price
SPECIFICATIONS
• 10.2in (2,160x1,620; 264ppi) Retina
IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• iPadOS 14
• Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) processor
36 Macworld • November 2020iPad Air (2020)
versus iPad (2020)
How do the new models compare? Martyn Casserly reports
A
pple has revealed the just Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and cellular
newest iterations of configurations. Here are the prices:
its iPad line-up, with a
significant performance 32GB: £329
boost for the standard 10.2in version 128GB: £429
and a new design for the iPad Air. We 32GB, cellular: £459
see how the two compare and offer 128GB, cellular: £559
advice on which one you should buy.
This is good news for UK
PRICE consumers as it means the entry-
The iPad (2020) comes in two level model is now £20 cheaper
storage variants, each with either than the previous version, although
November 2020 • Macworld 37iPAD
sticking with 32GB of
storage does seem
a particularly mean
move.
Prices see a sharp
increase with the
new iPad Air models,
presumably due to the
major redesign that
the platform has been
given this year. Here’s
a breakdown of the
range:
The iPad (2020) has 10.2in Retina display, with thin
64GB: £579 bezels on the top and bottom of the panel.
256GB: £729
64GB, cellular: £709 The casing also hosts twin
256GB, cellular: £859 speakers, a Lightning connector,
a Smart Connector for the Smart
This means that the base Air model Keyboard, volume and power
is now £100 more than last year, albeit buttons, plus a 3.5mm headphone
with some significant improvements. jack. Apple offers the iPad 10.2in
in its three traditional colours of
DESIGN Space Grey, silver and gold, with the
While the internals of the iPad (2020) last two sporting white surrounds
have seen some upgrades, all of for the front panel.
the external factors remain pretty It’s all change with the iPad Air,
much as they were with the previous as Apple moves it closer to the iPad
model. This means you get a 10.2in Pro range in features and price. The
Retina display, with thin bezels on 10.9in Liquid Retina display is now
the top and bottom of the panel so unencumbered by a Home button,
that the Touch ID-enabled Home as the fingerprint sensor has been
button and front-facing cameras incorporated into the power button
have somewhere to live. on the top edge. The result is an
38 Macworld • November 2020all-display front panel that
looks just the same as on the
11in iPad Pro. You’ll be able to
show off your new purchase,
though, due to some rather
lovely liveries, including Rose
Gold, green and Sky Blue.
Stereo speaker grills adorn
the bottom edge, either side
of the new USB-C connector
that replaces the Lightning
port in the old Air. There are
also volume buttons and a
magnetic connector that
works with Apple’s Magic
Keyboard case, but sadly this
iteration bids farewell to the
3.5mm headphone jack.
Apple Pencil 2 The iPad Air is available in Sky Blue, green, Rose
compatibility is also now on Gold, silver and Space Grey.
the Air, with the iPad (2020)
having to make do with the first-gen easily slip into a backpack without
stylus. Here’s how the dimensions of giving your shoulders anything to
the two models compare: worry about.
iPad (2020): 250.6x174.1x7.5mm; DISPLAY
490g (495g for cellular model) While the iPad (2020)’s Retina display
iPad Air (2020): 247.6x178.5x6.1mm; can match the 10.9in Liquid Retina
458g (460g for cellular model) one of the Air in terms of pixels per
inch (264) and brightness (500
As you can see, the iPad Air (2020) nits), it’s bested by some additional
offers a lighter and more compact features that make the Air’s superior.
frame, even though it has a larger The most obvious one is that the
display, but both are devices that can Air display is fully laminated, meaning
November 2020 • Macworld 39iPAD
The Air’s screen comes with Wide Colour (P3) and True Tone technology.
there’s no air-gap between the glass might not sound like much, but it
and the digitizer, so it feels like you’re can help prevent your eyes getting
touching the pixels themselves. It’s tired during long sessions with the
not a deal-breaker, as it only takes device. This can also be helped
a few minutes to get used to the with the anti-reflective coating that
unlaminated display and then you’ll appears on the Air.
probably never notice it again. But Whichever device you choose,
if you intend to make heavy use of we’re sure you’ll be very pleased with
the Apple Pencil then it could be a its display, but there’s no doubt that
deciding factor. the one on the Air is not only bigger,
Also, the Air’s display comes it’s also better.
with Wide Colour (P3) and True
Tone technology that matches CAMERAS
the whiteness of the screen to the Cameras are an area that’s becoming
colour temperature of the room. This increasingly important on iPads, and
40 Macworld • November 2020Apple definitely seems to be favouring the 10.2in relies on the user due to its
the Air in this department. On the tap-to-focus capabilities.
front of both you’ll find a FaceTime HD So the Air definitely wins in this
camera, but where the iPad (2020) department, but bear in mind that
maxes out at 1.2Mp for photos and these features only matter if you
720p for video, the Air goes to 7Mp intend to use them. Should you just
and 1080p respectively. want to take quick snaps with your
Both offer Live Photos, Burst device, record family videos or chat
Mode and Retina Flash, but the on FaceTime, then the iPad (2020) will
Air comes equipped with Wide do the job very nicely.
colour capture and Smart HDR for
photos and videos as opposed to FEATURES
only HDR on photos that the iPad One of our main bugbears with the
10.2in can muster. previous iPad (2020) was the ageing
Move to the single rear shooters A10 processor that Apple used.
and the gulf becomes more Thankfully, this has been addressed,
pronounced. Where the 10.2in’s main with the inclusion of the much more
camera features an 8MP sensor and powerful A12 Bionic chip that made
f/2.4 aperture, the Air offers 12Mp and its debut with the iPhone XS, XS Max
f/1.8. Live Photos are stabilized on and XR. This bump in performance
the Air but not the iPad (2020), plus means that not only is the iPad (2020)
there’s wide colour for photos and (2020) now a very capable device,
Live Photos, autofocus with Focus but it should also be future-proof for a
Pixels, Smart HDR for photos, and a good few years to come.
larger capacity for Panorama shots. We’re not quite so impressed by
It’s the same with video, as the the storage options, as Apple has
Air can go up to 4K at 60fps while decided to keep the baseline offering
the 10.2in offers 1080p at 30fps. down to 32GB. This means the 8th-
Slo-mo on the Air can reach 1080p at generation iPad now has the same
240fps, while the iPad (2020) tries baseline storage capacity as the 5th-
its best but lags behind with 720p at generation model released back in
120fps. Stabilization is better on the March 2017.
Air and perhaps most importantly it It’s all well and good touting the
features continuous autofocus while capabilities of a device, but if you keep
November 2020 • Macworld 41iPAD
having to manage the
paltry storage then it
quickly begins to lose
its lustre. Upgrading to
the 128GB model is the
sensible option, but
it’s disappointing that
Apple would cripple
its entry-level model
just so it can slap a low
price on its adverts.
The iPad Air also
gets an upgrade in the
processor department, The iPad Air (2020)’s A14 CPU is 40 per cent faster than
with the brand-new the A12 in the iPad (2020).
A14 Bionic chip making
its first appearance. This features VERDICT
the latest 5-nanometre process that The lines have been drawn a little
allows Apple to fit incredible levels of clearer this year, with Apple clearly
power into a smaller construction. separating the iPad and iPad Air
For a comparison, the company stables. If you want a straightforward
states that the A14 is 40 per cent device for watching Netflix, playing
faster than the A12 in the iPad (2020), games, surfing the web, converting
with up to 30 per cent faster graphics. into a makeshift laptop or using as a
Apple also states that the processor notepad and sketchbook, then the
can outperform most laptops, so the iPad (2020) is a great option. The new
iPad Air (2020) will be no slouch. processor can handle plenty of work,
Storage is more generous than on and the price makes it affordable even
the iPad (2020), with 64GB or 256GB when you consider that you really do
options available. The Air also has need to go for the £429 128GB model.
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, while those The Air (2020) is basically the iPad
on the cheaper model will find the Wi- Pro junior now, thanks to the Pro-style
Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 technologies design, latest A14 Bionic processor,
still have plenty to offer. plus Magic Keyboard and Apple
42 Macworld • November 2020Pencil 2nd generation support. Sure, polymer battery
you don’t get LiDAR scanners and • 247.6x178.5x6.1mm
Face ID, but it does all the important • Wi-Fi, 458g; cellular, 460g
things that a Pro offers, and you get
some rather attractive colours into the iPad (2020)
bargain. Both iPads are very capable • 10.2in (2,160x1,620; 264ppi) Retina
machines, so this year it really does IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
come down to what features are the • iPadOS 14
most important to you and how much • Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) processor
you’re willing to spend. • Hexa-core (2x 2.5GHz Vortex, 4
x1.6GHz Tempest) CPU
SPECIFICATIONS • Apple (4-core graphics) GPU
iPad Air (2020) • 3GB RAM
• 10.9in (2,360x1,640; 264ppi) • 32GB/128GB storage
Liquid Retina IPS LCD capacitive • Rear-facing camera: 8Mp, f/2.4,
touchscreen 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF
• iPadOS 14 • Selfie camera: 1.2Mp, f/2.2, 31mm
• Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) processor (standard)
• Hexa-core CPU • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band,
• Apple (4-core graphics) GPU hotspot
• 64GB/256GB storage • Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
• Rear-facing camera: 12Mp, f/1.8, • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS (Wi-Fi
(wide), 1/3in, 1.22µm, dual pixel + Cellular model only)
PDAF • USB Type-C; magnetic connector
• Selfie camera: 7Mp, f/2.0, 31mm • Fingerprint scanner (front mounted)
(standard) • Non-removable 32.4Wh lithium-
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual- polymer battery
band, hotspot • 250.6x174.1x7.5mm
• Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, EDR • Wi-Fi, 490g; cellular, 495g
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
(cellular model only)
• USB Type-C; magnetic connector
• Fingerprint scanner (top mounted)
• Non-removable 28.6Wh lithium-
November 2020 • Macworld 43iPAD
The new iPad Air is great
news for the iPad Pro
Pro features in a non-Pro iPad means new iPad Pro features are on
the way. Jason Snell reports
i
Pad Pro, you’re on the clock. Last the £769 iPad Pro in numerous ways
month’s announcement of the – perhaps too close for comfort.
new iPad Air continues Apple’s That’s why the announcements
aggressive importation of iPad Pro are great for the iPad product line in
features into the lower ends of the two ways. Not only is there a cheaper,
iPad product line. But it also brings more powerful iPad with a bunch of
the £579 iPad Air surprisingly close to features that were previously limited
44 Macworld • November 2020to the highest-end models, but it’s It would have been easy for Apple
now clear that Apple will need to to withhold all the features that make
supply new high-end features to the the iPad Pro special from the rest of
iPad Pro in short order. the iPad line, but Apple hasn’t done
that. The real moment of truth for this
PRO FEATURES strategy was in March 2018, when
MIGRATE FAST Apple unveiled the sixth-generation
There was a time when Apple had a iPad, which added support for the
real iPad problem. Sales were lagging Apple Pencil. The third-generation
from their initial highs, and the general iPad Air, when it appeared, supported
perception was that Apple was being the Apple Pencil as well as Apple’s
undercut on tablet sales by a plethora Smart Keyboard accessory.
of cheap media-consumption tablets. Not only does adding those
But over a few years, Apple put features to the rest of the line
the iPad’s house in order. The iPad strengthen the iPad as a whole, but it
Pro took over the top of the line, shows Apple’s remarkable confidence
allowing Apple to continue showing in the features it continued to add to
off its technological prowess and the top of the line. Apple didn’t need
giving the hardest of hard-core iPad to withhold the Apple Pencil from the
users the tools they
wanted to do the job.
But with that job done,
Apple could roll out
cheaper iPads with
older technology –
and it did. First the
adjectiveless iPad
returned in 2017
at £339. Then the
iPad Air returned
in 2019, providing a
mid-range model in
between the iPad Adding Apple Pencil support to the non-pro iPad was a
Pro and the iPad. turning point for the tablet.
November 2020 • Macworld 45You can also read
