一直以來，蘋果都將臺式與移動設備使用體驗嚴格區分。不像微軟旗下的Windows 10，從桌面電腦到二合一筆記本都能運行。

但自從2015年蘋果發布巨大的12.9英寸iPad Pro，似乎顯示蘋果在重新思考戰略方向。最新款iPad Pro推出后，蘋果終于有了接近筆記本電腦的平板。新款iPad規格改進，外形也做了調整，稍后還將推出新的軟件啟動功能，性能比前輩們都要強大。

比起舊款，新iPad Pro配備的處理器速度更快，反應更加靈敏，屏幕更明亮色彩更鮮艷，刷頻率也更高。攝像頭直接用的iPhone 7同款。今年秋天將推出的iOS 11固件將加入全新的多任務處理功能，會感覺更像在“真正的”電腦上工作。

新款10.5英寸的iPad Pro上周開始發貨，起價649美元，我用了幾天后感覺這是蘋果最適合工作的平板。之前12.9英寸型號速度當然非常快，也很強大，但想單手操作或者放進包里實在不便。我都想放棄大屏幕用9.7寸版，就為了便攜。新版10.5寸大小剛好合適。

從紙面上看，9.7寸跟10.5寸差別其實不大，但實際用起來差別不小。新款iPad Pro的屏幕比之前的大20%，但整機尺寸只大了一點點。具體做法是縮小邊框，之前三星、LG之類也都在新款智能手機上用這招擴大屏幕，設備也不至于變臃腫。

設計上的調整確實非常必要，不僅可以令上網和多任務處理更舒暢，也可以讓iPad看起來更閃亮也更現代。在10.5寸屏幕分屏模式下看應用更舒服，單獨辟出的上網沖浪空間可以方便閱讀應用里的文本，因為只占半個屏幕。

新款iPad Pro配備了強大的A10 Fusion處理器，可以應付密集的多任務場景，例如編輯圖片和使用Touch ID。10.5寸的iPad Pro在使用Prisma等應用給照片加特效時體驗遠超9.7寸款，解鎖時指紋傳感器反應更快。不過處理單一任務時差別總體不大，例如啟動應用、做筆記和管理郵件時。

新款屏幕刷新率更高，現在已經達到120GHz，也提升了整體體驗。從主頁跳轉至瀏覽我的應用只需輕掃一下，感覺更像是輕觸，幾乎完全沒有延遲。蘋果表示，新款iPad Prohi根據具體任務自動調整刷新率，以免過于耗電。

說到電池，蘋果官方數據是待機10小時，我實測結果差不多。使用略超3.5小時候，剩余電量顯示為75%，說明撐上個10小時應該問題不大。當然具體使用時間會根據用法不同略有差異。我主要用來寫評測，玩游戲，上Netfilx看視頻，偶爾編輯編輯照片。如果用來看4K清晰度的視頻或者把屏幕亮度調高，電量很可能耗得更快。

當然了，雖然新款iPad Pro硬件很不錯，但大部分改進都還在軟件端。為最新款iPhone和iPad推出的iOS 11固件將添加多任務處理功能，固定軟件圖標的任務欄更大，還會增加文件管理系統。但老款還有更便宜的iPad同樣可以更新至iOS 11，所以除非你真心能用上高配置，不然花那么多錢不太值。此外，比起蘋果高端平板，微軟稍貴一點的Surface Pro以及其他Windows 10平板還是有不少優勢，例如更多外接設備接口和個性化硬件，而且都能用鼠標，感覺上跟真正的電腦更接近。

但如果你是堅定的果粉，想找個偶爾能替代MacBook的平板電腦，新款iPad Pro還是很合適的。從新款高性能平板到注重多任務處理的iOS 11，顯然蘋果終于認真考慮把iPad變成PC的替代產品。現在只需要實際做到就行。（財富中文網）

本文首發于Time.com

譯者：馮豐

審稿：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