IPad Pro (3rd generation)
The third generation of iPad Pro is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. Two models, with a 12.9 inch or 11 inch screen, were both announced on October 30, 2018, and were available to purchase on November 7. This generation of iPad Pro was the first iPad compatible with the new (second generation) Apple Pencil stylus. Like the second generation, a larger size and stylus compatibility were a point of difference from the rest of Apple's available iPads, but the third generation iPad Pro was also the first iPad  to use facial recognition (Face ID) to unlock the device. Upgrades from the second generation iPad Pro include the more powerful A12X Bionic processor, storage capacity up to 1 terabyte and the larger display of the 11 inch model (upgraded from a 10.5 inch model). The third generation iPad Pro also premiered a new design, with a screen that covers more of the front face, and has rounded corners. Features. The redesigned iPad Pro was announced on October 30, 2018, during an Apple Special Event at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. The 2018 models feature new  edge-to-edge Liquid Retina displays, Face ID, improved 12 megapixel and 7 megapixel cameras, USB-C connector, and Apple A12X Bionic processors. The tablets are offered in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, and are the first iPad models to offer tap-to-wake LCD displays (following the iPhone X), and up to 1 TB of internal storage (1 TB = 1 trillion bytes). The 1 TB models were also unique as they increased the RAM from 4 GB to 6 GB. These devices are the first iPads to feature a USB Type-C connector, replacing Apple's proprietary  Lightning connector, and also the first iPads lacking a physical button on the front. Additionally, the tablets lack both Touch ID and a headphone jack, the former having been superseded by Face ID using a sensor array on the top bezel. Unlike iPhone models featuring Face ID, the iPad Pro can unlock in any orientation. The tablets were released on November 7, 2018 and are only available in silver and space gray. It is notably the thinnest iPad ever with a thickness of 5.9 mm. Reception. The 2018 iPad Pro models were praised for their better displays, slimmed bezels, the  addition of Face ID and general speed as well as CPU improvements. Ben Sin from "Forbes" noted that although the screen is still an LCD screen, the 120 Hz refresh rate makes it feel more smooth. The switch to USB-C connectors received mixed reviews; external monitor support and device charging were added at the cost of extra dongles to use older cables and headphones. Some reviewers noted that although the hardware updates are great steps forward, iOS's limitations, including the lack of external storage capabilities, prevents the iPad Pro from competing against computers. Its high prices were also  criticized. iPadOS addresses the lack of external storage on supported iPads by adding support for external storage. The body has been criticized for bending and breaking easily. Users on forum boards have reported the iPad bending after a few days of use, or after carrying it around in a backpack. YouTuber Zack Nelson then published a video on his channel "JerryRigEverything" showing the device cracking and snapping in half after applying just a small amount of pressure with his hands in the center of the device. Nelson concluded that the "two weakest points [were] right dead center on either side  of the iPad Pro, [and] the crack happened at the very poorly placed microphone hole and the new Apple Pencil 2 charging duct". Users reported devices already bent right out of the box, mostly cellular models. Apple responded to these reports quickly, asserting that this is normal and a non-issue, a response that has been criticized. According to Apple, the bending is a byproduct of its new manufacturing process. Apple has added a support page relating to these issues.