iPad Pro

The best cases for Apple’s new 10.5-inch iPad Pro

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

If you're in the market for Apple's 10.5-inch iPad Pro, you should know that any previous cases made for the 9.7-inch model will not fit the new tablet. It's slightly wider than its predecessor (6.8" vs 6.67"), significantly longer (9.8" vs 9.45"), and it has a larger rear camera.

Never fear, there are already several cases available for the new iPad, and we've taken it upon ourselves to track down the best options. Below is our list of the best cases for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, selected based on manufacturers' reputation, user reviews, and case features.

Apple Smart Cover

If you want the best fitting/functioning cover for your new iPad, and money isn't really a factor, you're probably going to want to check out Apple's Smart Cover. It only covers one side of your iPad (display by default, rear if you fold it over), but it snaps on and peels off easily using magnets, and it folds up to act as a stand with multiple viewing angles. I also like that it's ultra-thin and comes in several colors.

Buy for $49.

Apple also has a more expensive and luxurious cover for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro called the Leather Smart Cover for $69.

JETech Case Cover

JETech is a popular accessory-maker on Amazon known for offering OEM-style products at cheap prices. Their products typically get high ratings from customers, and we've had good experiences specifically with their iPad cases. This is their Apple Smart Case-esque Case Cover. The synthetic case slips on the rear of the iPad and then the front is covered by a Smart Cover-like flap—includes magnets that activate the iPad's Sleep/Wake function. If you like this style of case and don't want to pay Apple's prices, check this one out.

Buy for $15.

I-Blason Slim Halo Case

The Halo case from i-Blason is a clear protective cover for your 10.5 inch iPad Pro. It has a completely transparent back, which also features a convenient stand that makes it easy to watch shows and videos hands-free. Other features include a slim design and full shock, drop and scratch protection. This is a heavier duty case than those mentioned above, but not so much so that it makes the iPad a nuisance to travel with.

Buy for $15.

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Case

The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro offers dual layer protection and convenience without compromising sensitivity. Thermoplastic polyurethane and polycarbonate provide cushion during accidental drops. All phone ports are covered to block dust and debris. Built-in screen protector protects the screen from scratches. This case is designed to withstand heavy use and demanding conditions. This is a little more rugged than the i-Blason Halo, but note that it is not waterproof.

Buy for $25.

Moko Slim Stand Cover

This one is similar to the aforementioned JETech Case cover, which again is a lot like Apple's Smart Case. It has a synthetic back cover and a folding, magnetic front cover that can automatically wake the iPad up and put it to sleep. It has a premium PU leather on the outside, microfiber on the inside to protect your iPad from scratches, and no bulky bezels around the display to allow for unobstructed swiping. Comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy for $9.

Moko Clear Grip TPU Case

For those looking for a more minimal case, check out the Clear Grip from Moko. It's a soft TPU case that snaps on the back of your iPad Pro and it has a unique ruffled design for a grippier feel. Other features include raised edges at the 4 corners for added screen protection, cutouts for all of the ports, buttons and speakers, and it even comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Buy for $8.

Belk Vintage Leather Folio

If you're looking for something a little more professional, check out this Vintage Leather Folio from Belk. It's not real leather, but Belk says they used premium PU leather here with a special texture to give it that vintage look and feel. Like most folios, this case has a book-like design with a snap-in cradle for your iPad—giving it full protection. Other features include built-in magnets that activate your iPad's auto-sleep/wake functions and built-in slots for an ID, credit cards and cash.

Buy for $16 (sale price).

Logitech Slim Combo Keyboard Case

And for those of you in the market for a keyboard case, there's the Logitech Slim Combo. This case was designed specifically for the new 10.5-inch iPad (there is also a 12.9-inch model). It has no charging cable or batteries—it gets all its power through the iPad via its Smart Connector. This allows it to sip power—0.3% - 2.3% of battery per hour of typing—and makes pairing instant. Other features include full-size, backlit keys, with 3 levels of brightness and an Apple Pencil holder.

Buy for $130.

Did we miss a great 10.5-inch iPad Pro case? Let us know in the comments below!

New Apple ads highlight 10.5″ iPad Pro’s powerful A10X Fusion chip, improved Apple Pencil

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 9, 2017

Apple on Friday released new ads via its official channel on YouTube, a continuation of its ongoing “Real problems…answered” campaign that positions its tablet as a powerful computer.

Titled “A new kind of power” and “The amazing Apple Pencil”, the new videos run sixteen seconds long each and highlight the features of the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro with the thinner side bezels, upgraded display and CPU, Apple Pencil and more.

A new kind of power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPnooxO6V6k

“You could feel the power of the A10x Fusion chip, if your computer was the new iPad Pro.”

The amazing Apple Pencil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvr3p2_MiNY

“You could write with basically no lag, if your computer was the new iPad Pro.”

The very first ad featuring the 10.5-inch iPad Pro was released on Monday. Like prior “Real problems…answered” ads, the latest ones are based on real tweets from real people.

Yesterday, Apple released a new “Shot on iPhone” commercial, titled “Earth”, based on some powerful narration by the late cosmologist and science popularizer Carl Sagan.

Video: Top 6 WWDC 2017 announcements

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 6, 2017

Apple had a pretty big day at yesterday's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, revealing a bunch of new or updated products and technologies that have set the stage for other important hardware announcements this fall.

If you didn't have the time to sit through the entire keynote talk and are wondering about the big takeaways, our video editor Andrew O'Hara has put together a short five-minute video highlighting the top six announcements Apple made during the WWDC 2017 keynote.

Andrew's main topics of interest include:

tvOS 11 with Amazon's Prime video-streaming app coming to Apple TV watchOS 11 with all the major improvements for workouts, notifications and more macOS High Sierra and core technologies aimed at AR/VR content creation iOS 11 with all of the improvements for your iPhone and iPad iPad Pro and iMac Pro changes and enhancements HomePod, Apple's high-end Siri-enabled speaker with hi-fi sound

And here's the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQBulSRR9Fc

Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTube

What's your favorite WWDC 2017 announcement so far?

Roundup: first impression of Apple’s new 10.5-inch iPad Pro

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 14, 2017

One of the few new hardware announcements Apple made on stage during its WWDC keynote is the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model. It's essentially a refreshed version of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, with a slightly larger display panel sitting between thinner bezels.

As usual, Apple allowed members of the press to go hands-on with the new tablet after its keynote event. And as usual, we've put together a roundup of some of their videos to give you a good idea of what to expect before deciding whether or not to purchase it.

The Verge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-L7Eu89r34

CNET

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDmONcSS83k

SlashGear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qgECMZ2ZPE

TechCrunch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJyjFmV4bSU

The 10.5-inch iPad Pro (and updated 12.9-inch model) goes on sale next week, starting at $650. Unfortunately, a lot of the new iOS 11 features you see demoed in the above videos will not be available until iOS 11 launches to the public sometime later this year.

New 2017 iPad Pro tech specs

Anthony Bouchard ∙ June 5, 2017

Among all the new gadgets and accessories Apple unveiled at WWDC 2017, a revamped iPad Pro was one of the lead attention-grabbers. In this piece, we'll go over the tech specs of both the new 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Here come the first ads for Apple’s new iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 19, 2018

With the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro now official, Apple posted a pair of brand new ads on its official YouTube channel as part of its ongoing “Real problems…answered” campaign. Titled “So many things to love” and “A whole new kind of computer,” the videos are running 16 seconds long each and position the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro as a viable alternative to your computer.

With drag-and-drop, a new Files app, an enhanced Dock and other productivity-centric iPad features on iOS 11, plus an improved Apple Pencil hardware and stylus support, your iPad will indeed become more powerful than ever before.

Like before, the new videos are based on real tweets from real people.

“So many things to love”

“You could do everything you love, if your computer was the new iPad Pro.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKk4BUfrYp8

The video is based on this tweet by user @yagirlgeorgie.

“A whole new kind of computer”

“ You could work in a whole new way, if your computer was the new iPad Pro.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wENU092DDc

The clip is based on this tweet by user @ryandrake.

Don't forget to watch other WWDC videos Apple posted today, highlighting its all-new iMac Pro model, a Siri-driven smart speaker, called HomePod, and iOS 11's upcoming productivit-enahncing features on the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model.

Now watch Apple’s WWDC videos promoting HomePod speaker, 10.5″ iPad Pro & iMac Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2017

With the WWDC keynote wrapped up, Apple has now posted latest product introduction videos to its official YouTube channel, including one aptly titled “Apocalypse” that highlights the importance of mobile apps (it was played as an opening intro for WWDC attendees).

Some of the hardware products and updates announced today are available immediately, like the refreshed Mac desktops and notebooks, while others will arrive later in the year, like the firm's Siri-powered smart speaker, called HomePod, and the new iMac Pro.

Apocalypse

“Ever wonder what life would be like if all our apps suddenly disappeared? Enter the Apocalypse,” reads the videos description.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC0pT9xg1oI

Song: “All Right” by Christopher Cross

Introducing HomePod

“Immersive hi-fi audio. All the music you love. And the intelligence of Siri. Welcome HomePod.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hw9skL-IXc

As we told you, HomePod will be available beginning this December. To learn more about Apple's Siri-enabled smart speaker with HomeKit support and more, visit apple.com/homepod.

The New iPad Pro—On Any Given Wednesday

“With the world's most advanced display, the powerful A10X Fusion chip, and a new 10.5-inch model, the new iPad Pro is everything you want modern computing to be.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR5ODc5Wbbo

Productivity-enhancing OS 11 features shown in the video will be available this fall.

To learn more about what the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro has to offer check out my colleague Cody's write-up, then visit apple.com/ipad-pro.

iMac Pro—Power to the Pro

“Packed with powerful technologies for the creative professional. The new iMac Pro. Power to the pro.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPIrnAcmCSk

To learn more about the upcoming iMac Pro, visit apple.com/imac-pro.

Apple announces new 10.5-inch iPad Pro

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2017

As rumored, Apple today announced a new 10.5-inch version of its iPad Pro. It features a larger display, in a body that's essentially the same size of the 9.7-inch iPad. You can see in the above image that this is possible thanks to slimmer bezels—Apple says they've been reduced by 40% in size.

The tablet weighs 1 pound and is extremely powerful. It features a new ProMotion Retina display that can refresh at a rate of 120Hz. That's double the refresh rate of previous iPads, making things smoother, crisper and more responsive. This is powered by an A10X Fusion chip processor, which has a 6-core CPU and 12-core GPU.

Other features include a 12MP iSight camera with optical image stabilization (same as iPhone 7) and a 7MP FaceTime camera. It has the same 10-hour battery life, supports USB3 fast-charging, and entry-level storage now starts at 64GB. The new iPad Pro starts shipping next week, with prices starting at $649.

Here's a note from Apple's press release on the new tablets:

“These are by far the most powerful iPads we’ve ever created with the world’s most advanced displays featuring ProMotion, the powerful new A10X Fusion chip and the advanced camera system of iPhone 7,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing. “Together with iOS 11 these new iPad Pro models will radically change what users can do with iPad.”

One last thing: a new full-sized Smart Keyboard has been custom designed for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, offering a thin yet durable keyboard that never needs to be charged or paired over Bluetooth and is easily foldable into a protective Smart Cover.

What do you think of the new iPad Pro? Will you be picking one up?

10.5″ iPad Pro screen protector surfaces ahead of rumored WWDC announcement

Cody Lee ∙ June 2, 2017

A screen protector for the rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro has surfaced on Amazon ahead of Apple's WWDC keynote on Monday. It's made by popular accessory manufacturer Anker and is available for overnight delivery.

It's not unusual for accessories like this to pop up ahead of expected device announcements, but for a company as large as Anker to feel confident enough in pre-lease info to advertise and ship them is far less common.

Apple is widely believed to introduce a new 10.5-inch iPad on stage during its keynote next week. The tablet is said to have a footprint the same size as the 9.7-inch iPad, with slimmer bezels, and various other upgrades.

There are two customer reviews here: 1 5-star review where the user said they purchased this for the new iPad, and 1 1-star review where the user apparently tried to cut it to fit a smaller tablet. It's glass, so it...shattered. Weird.

Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo gives the rumored iPad a 70% of being unveiled next week, and multiple reports claim Apple has ramped up production on the device. We've also seen alleged cases for the 10.5" tablet.

Join us Monday for full coverage of Apple's WWDC keynote and all subsequent announcements.

Source: Amazon via 9to5Mac

Regulatory filing points towards new Mac, iPad and Magic Keyboard models launching at WWDC

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2017

With less than a week until Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, French outlet Consomac has discovered (Google Translate) a Russian-language regulatory filing in the Eurasian Economic Commission database which identifies five unreleased Mac computers by their model number: A1289, A1347, A1418, A1419 and A1481.

As noted by MacRumors, these numbers differ from the AXX prefixes attributed to current MacBook models. The new model numbers are probably related to the upcoming 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro updates. According to Bloomberg, Apple will refresh its Mac notebooks at WWDC next week with faster Intel chips and updated internal architecture.

Among the Mac notebooks said to be up for a refresh could be Apple's popular MacBook Air, which hasn't seen a major design change since its 2010 introduction.

The filing also identifies some spare parts for the Macs along with a next-generation Apple wireless keyboard (model number A1843) and four numbers classified under iOS 10 (A1671, A1709, A1670 and A1701) that probably refer to the Wi-Fi and cellular editions of the upcoming iPad Pro models, including the rumored new 10.5-inch model.

You can now drag and drop files on iPad between Readdle’s productivity apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 25, 2017

Readdle, Ukrainian makers of fine productivity software for iPhone, iPad and Mac, today announced that, for the first time ever, they're making it possible to drag and drop items in the split screen mode on iPad between its most popular productivity apps: Documents, PDF Expert, Scanner Pro and Spark.

In addition to cross-app drag and drop in Split View multitasking mode, Readdle's excellent Documents app has received a major update that turns it into a Finder on iOS of sorts.

Cross-app drag and drop

Drag and drop between Readdle apps works like a charm, really.

For instance, you can drag a file from Documents and drop it on Spark to instantly create a new email message with an attachment. Or, you can drag and drop scans from Scanner Pro to PDF Expert for further editing.

How about moving that attached contract from Spark to PDF Expert to sign it before sending the signed document back to Spark as a reply? You can do all that—and much, much more—across the aforesaid Readdle apps on your iPad.

The promo video below showcases drag-and-dropping files between Readdle apps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epzh9-rd-AI

True, some third-party iOS apps do support direct manipulation of content within the app.

That being said, however, the ability to drag and drop files and other content between multiple apps has not been utilized on iOS at all. While Apple could enhance iOS's Split View multitasking mode in the future with useful interactions like drag and drop, Readdle has already found a way to make cross-app drag and drop work.

Denys Zhadanov, Readdle's Vice President of Marketing, said via email:

We see it as a major improvement of iOS and this is how all iPad apps should work between each other. It’s so freaking awesome—glues all our apps into a phenomenal productivity ecosystem.

“The Readdle Team hopes that Apple will introduce their own implementation of inter app drag and drop one day,” developers noted. “That will support other apps and make iPad a much better productivity device than it is now.”

New features in Documents 6

As mentioned earlier, Readdle's capable (and free) file manager, called Documents, is getting a major update today turning it into the iOS Finder you’ve always wanted. The update brings out various enhancements, including an overhauled design with Spark-like quick actions, an easier way to import files, improved file management, an all-new media player, on-the-fly editing of cloud files, music and video streaming and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-314ezmBgE

According to Readdle:

iOS has always been a 'no-file-manager' system. Everything is taken care of by the apps. That’s a blessing and a curse at the same time.However, some of us are very comfortable with controlling things on our devices, especially when it comes to getting real work done.

This is why we created Documents, an extremely powerful, versatile hub for all of your files on iPhone or iPad. It’s your Swiss knife that removes iOS file management woes.

Documents has always been a powerful iOS file manager and now it's gotten even better.

The completely rethought user interface is very functional.

As the screenshots attest, you can now easily edit, zip, tag, move or sync your files with fewer taps than before. Bigger file preview thumbnails give you a better idea of the content of that Excel spreadsheet or PPT presentation before you even open it.

A prominently featured “+” button lets you quickly import files, including documents from your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, WebDAV or any other cloud-based storage source. Files are now organized into folders exactly the way you are comfortable with.

Just select one or a few of them and easily drag them to the right location. And with cross-app drag and drop support, you can move a single or multiple files between Documents and Spark, Scanner Pro or PDF Expert.

“The best part is that you can access any of the locally stored files in any app with the ‘Open in’ option,” notes Readdle. “This is a unique experience on iOS, and it’s what finally gives you that Finder feel on your iPhone or iPad.” Now you can work directly with your cloud files in Documents and even stream photos, videos and music from any cloud storage without needing to download the files to your device.

The new media player helps you organize your music into playlists, with the ability to shuffle and loop your favorite tracks. And if you have PDF Expert installed on your device, Documents will let you annotate and edit PDFs, fill out forms, sign applications and more.

If you haven't played with Documents before, you should really give it a try.

Acting a central hub for all of your files, it lets you view almost any file format natively, store your files directly on the device or connect to the popular cloud storage service to keep everything together in perfect sync.

Availability

Spark and Documents are available at no charge from App Store.

PDF Expert is $9.99 on App Store.

Scanner Pro is $3.99 on App Store.

You should really download the latest version of Spark, Documents, Scanner Pro and PDF Expert and see for yourself what kind of a productivity device your iPad can be with proper drag and drop support.

Claimed cases for 10.5″ and 12.9″ iPad Pro suggest rear microphone and stereo speakers

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 22, 2017

Cases for Apple's new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model and a next-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro are circulating the web today, showing rear microphone holes like on the recently unveiled $329 iPad model and cutouts for stereo speakers. Made by a third-party vendor, the design of these cases is based on information allegedly obtained from Apple's contract manufacturer Foxconn.

The current-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro features the microphone cutout on the right side of the device. The images depict four large cutouts for what appears to be stereo speakers, two at the top of the wooden case and two at the bottom of the device on both sides of the Lightning port.

The cases include cutouts for the 3.5mm headphone jack on both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Published by leakster Benjamin Geskin, the photos also indicate that there may not be new iPad mini models this year.

According to BGR, the iPad mini lineup has just been “sized out of its own category,” prompting the Cupertino company to stop updating the device and phase it out gradually due to its constantly decreasing sales.

The 10.5-inch iPad model is expected to feature narrower side bezels so that the 10.5-inch display could be fitted inside a body roughly the size of the current 9.7-inch iPad models.