I’ve been using an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil for almost 3 years now for my design work. It has become such an integral part of my daily design workflow to the point where I don’t really remember what I did before I had it. I first started using a 9.7 inch 1st gen iPad Pro and 1st gen Apple Pencil back in the spring of 2016.

This was when I first started with Procreate as well. Then this year I swapped with iPads with my husband because some of my more complex design projects were getting too difficult to do on the small 9.7 inch screen. So he gave me his 12.9 inch 1st gen iPad. And I was fine with that. It fulfilled all of my needs and then some. The bigger screen was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

But then I started hearing a buzz around the graphic design community that a new iPad Pro and Apple Pencil were going to be announced in Fall 2018. And they were right. I sat there watching the entire Keynote live from my living room and I couldn’t believe how many amazing new features they packed into the new iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.

Here are some of the biggest reasons I decided to purchase the 12.9 inch iPad Pro (Space Grey) & Apple Pencil.

Let’s dive right in.

IT’S WAY LIGHTER

As a designer I pretty much work from anywhere and am always on the go. Portability is really important to me and I can barely feel this thing in my bag at all which is amazing! I try to carry the least amount of stuff possible and the new lighter model is helping me accomplish that.

THE DEVICE ITSELF IS SMALLER

I don’t mean the screen is smaller. The screen is exactly the same size. But, they cleverly took away the border and the home button so it’s actually a full inch smaller than my old iPad (you can really tell in the video below).

IT’S THINNER

I didn’t think this was going to matter that much but when I hold the iPad in my hands it feels like a very thin stack of paper. I can actually design better with a thinner interface because I can really sit anywhere and crank out my work with no issues. Instead of having to sit at a table with my older clunkier version.

MORE MEMORY

I got the 256 GB model but this baby goes all the way up to 1TB of storage which is a GAME CHANGER for graphic designers, web designers, architects etc. because you can store your big projects on here with absolutely no lag. Which brings me to my next point…

WAY FASTER RESPONSIVENESS

The iPad as a whole is lightning fast compared to the older models. The operating system is so quick. Even when having multiple projects and apps open this puppy doesn’t miss a beat. It really is helpful when technology doesn’t slow you down and you can just get your stuff done. And done fast.

ADOBE COMPATIBILITY

This is probably the biggest reason why I bought this. Adobe is working really hard to make their desktop apps compatible with the iPad Pro. As of right now, Adobe Photoshop is set to release on the iPad Pro in 2019 and more apps are to follow soon. Imagine if as a designer you didn’t even need a Macbook Pro anymore because you had everything you needed on your iPad Pro. That’s where the future is headed!

AUTOMATIC PENCIL CHARGING

I’m so guilty of never charging my Apple Pencil. I would just always forget to. My pencil’s battery life consistently hovered around 5% on a good day. But, the new Apple Pencil auto charges when it’s snapped to the iPad Pro (jaw drop). So I will never have to worry about if the pencil is charged and ready to go.

PENCIL GESTURE TAPS

The new Apple Pencil has this cool feature where you can tap the tip and select an action. Depending on the app you are using there are an infinite amount of ways this can be helpful. For example, you can set your pencil tap in Procreate up to a very specific action that you use all the time. This custom feature is sure to speed up so many designers workflows!

There you have it!

VIDEO: 2018 IPAD PRO + APPLE PENCIL UNBOXING

iPad Pro (2018) Unboxing Review

lettering

Dec 3, 2018

2018 ipad pro unboxing

Blogger, designer, lettering artist, mexican food lover, clean living obsessed, and overall life enthusiast. 

CATE SHANER

CSD+L founder + designer

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