By Karl Belanger

Introduction

I recently had a chance to use an iPad pro for a short time, and wanted to share some things I noticed as a VoiceOver user. The iPad Pro is Apple’s biggest tablet, and the first to have a specially designed keyboard and stylus, called the Apple Pencil. For the most part, using the iPad Pro is identical to using any other iOS device. All the gestures, buttons, and VoiceOver commands are identical. The iPad Pro, by virtue of having the largest screen size, fits the most on the screen and gives the most accurate positioning of items when exploring by touch. However, the device does have a few interesting benefits and drawbacks.

Sound

The biggest benefit for a VoiceOver user is the sound quality. On each of the short sides of the device there are two speakers, which dynamically change audio positioning as the device is turned. For example, if you have the iPad in landscape mode with the Home button to the right, and then flip the iPad around so the Home button is on the left, the speakers will immediately switch so that the proper speakers are now on the left and right. This has a few major benefits. First, the iPad Pro can be loud. It can be significantly louder, and has fuller sound, than any other iOS device. Music is an area where this is especially apparent. Gaming also benefits from this speaker setup. It is now possible to play games that rely on stereo positioning without headphones. This works best with games that utilize the iPad in landscape mode. Games are still playable in portrait mode, though the stereo effect is much less noticeable.

Keyboard

 The iPad Pro’s keyboard attaches to the long side of the device opposite the buttons. The attachment point has three small holes that the keyboard aligns with and magnetically attaches to. If you are familiar with the Microsoft Surface, then the attachment is very similar. On the iPad Pro, the keyboard also works as a stand. Once the keyboard is attached to the iPad, to stand the iPad up, you must lift the iPad, and find the long, concave piece that runs across the width of the keyboard a couple inches forward of the attachment point. Set the edge of the iPad into this groove and the iPad will rest against a portion of the material which will hold it upright. To use the keyboard as a cover, it is necessary to remove the iPad from the stand portion of the keyboard, fold the main portion with the keys back onto the remaining material, and then fold the whole thing over the iPad. This process is not obvious and can be a bit confusing nonvisually at first. Once the keyboard is attached to the iPad, it functions just like any other keyboard with VoiceOver, though limited by some unfortunate design decisions. Most significantly, when using the Quick Nav feature of VoiceOver, the up and down arrows appear to be connected in some way that makes it impossible to use the up-down arrow double-tap shortcut. Additionally, there are no Function keys or an Escape key, removing the ability to hit the Back button with VoiceOver, or control the music playback, like you can with other keyboards. Otherwise, the keyboard has nice large keys that feel quite comfortable to type on and have decent travel.

Other observations

The battery life appears to be excellent. The iPad Pro, as with other newer iPads, lacks the rotation lock/mute switch above the volume buttons, meaning these must be changed through settings. I did not get to spend much time with the Apple Pencil, but from what I have experienced, explore by touch, flicking, typing, and any one-finger action works exactly as if you were using your fingertip. This could be very helpful for some people.

Final thoughts

The iPad Pro will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used iOS. The excellent speakers mean that anyone who likes music or needs higher quality audio than a standard iPad will be well pleased. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on, but the lack of an Escape key, and the inability to use the up and down arrows to double-tap slow things down somewhat for VoiceOver users. Being able to use VoiceOver gestures with the Apple Pencil has some interesting implications for people who may not be able to fully use their hands, and the very long battery life will keep whatever task the iPad is used for going for quite a while.  Overall, if you want the larger screen, better audio, or an attached keyboard, then the iPad Pro may be the right device for you.