iPad Pro FAQ: What you need to know about Apple’s epic new tablet

Bigger, better, and more touchable: We've got the details on Apple's new iPad Pro.

Apple is launching new a new iPad today, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro for the creative professional and enterprise markets. Here's everything you need to know about it.

So iPad Pro, huh?

Yes! Designed for the productivity and creative professionals alike, the iPad Pro looks to be the most powerful tablet from Apple yet. It sports a 12.9-inch screen with a Retina resolution of 2732-by-2048 pixels—5.6 million pixels total, and more than the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. It's only 6.9mm thick, and weighs 1.57 pounds.

And it has an Apple A9X processor?

Is does! Apple brags the A9X is faster than 80 percent of portable PCs shipped in the past year. It's also 1.8 times faster than the iPad Air 2's A8X. To put that in perspective, you can edit three simultaneous screens of 4K video in the iMovie app on the iPad Pro.

Any new internals?

A few! You'll get quadrophonic sound: four speakers that work together to create stereo sound—three times the volume of the Air 2—and that automatically adjust as you rotate your iPad.

In keeping with previous versions of the iPad, you'll also get an 8-megapixel rear camera, 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO, 150-mbps LTE (Cellular version only), and Touch ID.

How long will the iPad Pro last?

We're looking at 10 hours of battery life—exactly the same as previous iPad models. It's not longer, but hey, at least it's not less!

What about colors?

The iPad Pro will come in the same silver, gold, and space grey as its predecessors.

LTE options?

Only at the top end, alas. The 32 GB is Wi-Fi only but the 128 GB comes with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + LTE options.

What will the iPad Pro cost?

Here's the U.S. pricing:

• $799 for 32 GB with Wi-Fi
• $949 for 128 GB model with Wi-Fi
• $1079 for 128 GB with Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB.

I heard the iPad Pro has some accessories, too?

Yep! Two of particular note:

• Smart Keyboard Cover
• Apple Pencil

Tell me more about the Apple Smart Keyboard Cover?

If you've ever seen a Smart Cover or a Microsoft Surface Keyboard, Apple's new hardware keyboard is something of a combination of the two. It comes in Charcoal and White and connects using the iPad Pro's proprietary inductive magnetic Smart Connector port, which provides power and data to the keyboard.

The keyboard itself is full-sized, and uses the same butterfly-design keyboard as the new MacBook.

The Smart Keyboard Cover is $169.

Pencil. Does that mean... wait... a STYLUS?!

Yes, and put your pitchforks down: Styluses on a 12.9-inch device make a whole lot more sense than styluses on an iPhone. I've been waiting for Apple to do something like this for years, and I'm thrilled to see it finally make its way to reality.

The Apple Pencil uses a variety of magic internals to provide low-latency pressure, pinpoint accuracy, and tilt control for the iPad Pro. You can use it simultaneously with touch controls, and (in theory) it should have palm rejection technology built in. (We're going to test that as soon as possible.) And when the battery gets low, you can charge it using a hidden built-in Lightning connector.

The Pencil will be $99.

Will the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil work with the other iPads?

Doesn't look like it, sadly. While there is touch technology in the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro also has twice the sensors in the screen to make the best use of it possible. The Smart Keyboard, meanwhile, uses the new Smart Connector inductive port on the iPad Pro to connect—it's not Bluetooth-enabled.

What can I do with an iPad Pro that's so special?

The speed and the screen have the potential to be very exciting for the enterprise, as do the accessories: The iPad Pro is the size of a small laptop and has its horsepower, too. With a keyboard and the new iOS 9 Split Screen features, it opens up a whole new avenue for business users. The Pencil has a lot of potential in the enterprise and health arenas, but also may prove to be a huge boon to illustrators.

When does the iPad Pro ship?

iPad Pro pre-orders start Wednesday, November 11 on Apple.com, and it will ship and arrive in retail stores later the same week.

Will my country get it?

Odds are good, as Apple is including a lot of countries in the first wave:

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• China
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• El Salvador
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Russia
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkey
• UAE
• US
• UK
• Uruguay
• US Virgin Islands

Sold! But, um, which iPad Pro should I get?

Great question! Our in-depth iPad Pro buyers guide will help you figure it out!

• iPad Pro buyers guide

Other questions?

Still have a curiosity over the new iPads? Let us know in the comments.