Features

9.7-inch iPad Pro hands-on: Apple’s best tablet yet?

Published

April 3, 2016

Monch Lopez

Apple’s March 2016 keynote saw the American tech giant showing off two new products directly inspired by previous designs and going small(er) without making big compromises where the user experience suffers.

For fans of compact smartphones, there’s the iPhone SE, a much improved iPhone 5S, that like the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, also comes in rose gold.

We’ve already covered the iPhone SE in a separate post, so today we’re shining the spotlight on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which is essentially the legitimate offspring of the first iPad Pro and iPad Air 2. It is perhaps the best iPad ever built by Apple, having the most power the company has ever crammed into a consumer-friendly device, alongside basic productivity features like split-screen multitasking.

And while the new iPad Pro lacks the ability to run legacy desktop apps — it’s limited to what’s on offer from the App Store — thereby diminishing its appeal as a proper PC replacement, it is nevertheless a fantastic tablet that does tablet stuff as good as anything on the market.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the Apple accessories you can pair with the smaller iPad Pro for smaller sums: the $US99 Apple Pencil stylus is a must for those who love to sketch; the $US149 Smart Keyboard cover may come in handy for pecking out emails and lengthy status updates and editing documents. Even if you don’t give a rat’s posterior about either of those items, it’s nice to think that first-party options are available should they be needed.

Before we get to the hardware, let’s briefly go over the contents of the retail box, which includes the standard Lightning-to-USB cable, a power adapter, some documentation, and Apple stickers. No surprises here, really.

Another non-shocking revelation? The new Pro sports much of the same handsome all-aluminum aesthetics as the original, except in a smaller and markedly lighter package, prompting the inevitable comparison to another 9.7-inch slate Apple still makes. The Pro also meets the company’s superlative standard of refinement and build quality, which are unparalleled in the industry.

The power button, headphone jack, and two of the four built-in stereo speakers are located on the top edge of the device. The right-hand side features the volume up and down buttons, as well as dual microphones, while the left edge houses the Smart Connector for use with a compatible accessory. Along the bottom is where the Lightning port and second pair of speakers can be found.

The rectangular unibody shell is smooth and has rounded edges, making holding the tablet for extended periods of time more pleasant than we anticipated. It also has a slightly protruding camera assembly around the back, but thankfully the lump isn’t big enough to make the Pro wobble when it’s resting on a flat surface.

Speaking of which, the 12- and 5-megapixel rear and selfie cameras are the same modules the iPhone 6S has, meaning, yes, they’re great and the rear-facer can shoot 4K video, and, no, this still isn’t a solid enough excuse to hold a tablet up vertically during a concert.

The 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display supports a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 and works out to 264 pixels per inch, so it isn’t any sharper than the Air 2’s. It is, however, well-saturated and impressively bright — possibly brighter than those of earlier iPads — which is to say the panel is more than good enough to take outdoors and view in direct sunlight.

The size of the screen also lends well to running two different apps side-by-side; we’d like it to be bigger, sure, but that would mean stretching the hardware to accommodate a larger display, not to mention stealing the thunder from the original Pro.

As for the new Pro’s True Tone display that uses ambient-light sensors to measure the light in a room and autocorrect the screen’s color temperature, we found it to be a great addition to the iPad’s feature set. In fact, we liked it so much we decided to leave it turned on.

Now, about the A9X chipset with 2GB of RAM tucked away in that metal chassis: It’s deserving of the praise it’s earned so far; the smaller iPad Pro is in the same league as Apple’s top-of-the-line slate, despite a slower CPU clock speed and half the RAM. We half-expected it to struggle with intensive apps and heavy multitasking, but it didn’t happen. This machine just keeps chugging along regardless of what’s in front of it.

So, Pro distinction aside, is this the standard-sized iOS tablet to get? If you can afford spending $US200 more than what you’d pay if you purchased the iPad Air 2, then yes. Even without the accessories, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is an excellent product that offers plenty of power and portability for more demanding users. Just don’t expect it to replace your laptop.

The new iPad Pro comes in silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold and starts at $US599 for the base configuration with 32GB of storage and WiFi-only connectivity. Adding 4G LTE support generally adds $US130 to the retail price.

Watch our unboxing below.

[irp posts=”1920″ name=”9.7-inch iPad Pro Unboxing”]

Related Topics:9.7-inch iPad Pro Apple iPad tablet

Cameras

What HYROX Hong Kong looks like up close

Photographed on the Canon EOS R6 Mark III.

Published

June 11, 2026

MJ Jucutan

HYROX drew people from all over the world for a single purpose: finish the course. In Hong Kong, athletes showed up at AsiaWorld-Expo ready to run, row, and push through 8 stations of pure functional fitness.

So, we brought the Canon EOS R6 Mark III to capture one of the most demanding fitness races on the planet.

The Expo floor is a lighting nightmare, a mix of harsh overheads and deep shadows, but the 32.5MP sensor handled the contrast without breaking a sweat.

The 40fps electronic shutter and Pre-continuous shooting meant we were already capturing the moment half a second before we consciously decided to press the shutter.

Covering a race means staying mobile, and the 8.5-stop IBIS let us move freely alongside athletes without losing the shot. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II stayed locked on athletes even when they were squinting through the final stretch.

What came out were stories of triumph and determination. Even when their bodies were screaming, they pushed through anyway.

This is what HYROX Hong Kong looked like from the inside.

Words by MJ Jucutan. Photos by Sky Rodillas.

Buyer's Guide

Buyer’s Guide: Xiaomi Pad 8 Series

Do you need the base or the Pro?

Published

June 8, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Choosing between the Xiaomi Pad 8 and the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro feels like picking between a “sweet treat” and a “full-course meal.”

It’s deciding between a reliable travel companion and a specialized workstation. Both tablets rock a slim 5.8mm profile and a manageable 485-gram weight, and a 9200mAh battery.

However, under the hood, they are playing in different leagues. Especially since the “Pro” moniker adds serious muscle to the internals, and a solution for that glossy screen distraction.

Specs at a glance

Product	Xiaomi Pad 8	Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro
Processor	Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Display	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)
Surface	Ultra-Glossy Glass	Optional Matte Nano-Texture
Storage/RAM	Up to 12GB LPDDR5X / 256GB	Up to 16GB LPDDR5T / 512GB
Rear Camera	13MP	50MP
Front Camera	8MP	32MP
Charging	45W Turbo Charge	67W HyperCharge
Pricing	Starts at PhP 20,999	Starts at PhP 38,999

Why you should pick the Xiaomi Pad 8

The standard Pad 8 is that “Goldilocks” device, hitting that sweet spot between price and premium hardware.

It’s ideal if your tablet usage is centered on media consumption and light productivity. Since it shares the same 11.2-inch screen size as the Pro, it fits perfectly on an airplane tray table, making it a dream for frequent flyers.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is no slouch; it still runs titles like Racing Master at 60fps on Ultra-High settings. If you’re a fan of XG or KiiiKiii, you’ll appreciate the quad-speaker setup and Hi-Res Audio support without needing to pay the “Pro” tax.

It’s the smart choice for those who want a capable second screen to complement their main laptop.

Why you should level up to the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro

The “Pro” is for those who found the standard model’s limitations — like the glossy screen reflections or the 128GB storage ceiling — to be a dealbreaker.

The biggest upgrade is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a powerhouse chip that turns the tablet into a legitimate workstation for video editing in CapCut or heavy multitasking in HyperOS 3.0.

Beyond power, the Pro version offers a Matte Glass Edition, which completely solves the “reflection” issue that can ruin your movie sessions or drawing time under bright lights.

You also get significantly better cameras, such as a 32-megapixel front sensor for professional-looking video calls. There’s also a 50-megapixel rear camera for high-res document scanning.

Finally, the 67W HyperCharge means you spend less time tethered to a wall and more time being productive.

Which Xiaomi Pad is your GadgetMatch?

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 if you want the best value for your money.

It’s thin, light, and powerful enough for 90% of users. It handles gaming, writing, and music playback with ease, making it a worthy recipient of a seal of approval for anyone on a budget.

Just be sure to skip the 128GB entry model and go for the 256GB version to ensure you get those faster storage speeds.

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro if you are a “power user” who hates screen glare. If you plan to use the Focus Pen Pro for serious creative work or need 512GB of space for a massive game library, the Pro is worth the extra investment.

It’s a high-speed machine that charges faster, captures better photos, and runs every app with flagship-level fluidness.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 starts at PhP 20,999 with Normal Keyboard while the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro starts at PhP 38,999 with Touch Keyboard. Both tablets come with free Focus Pen Pro.

Apps

The No-Nonsense guide to mid-year shopping

Let AI do the heavy lifting for you this Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale

Published

June 5, 2026

MJ Jucutan

The mid-year sale season is here, but the days of mindless impulse buying are over.

Shoppers are shifting toward intentional, value-driven decisions, focusing on quality, authenticity, and actual utility over flashy, low-quality gimmicks.

From 8:00 PM on June 5 until 11:59 PM on June 8, 2026, the Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale is dropping major discounts. But the real win is using the platform’s tools to maximize your budget.

Lock in the baseline discounts

Before diving into specific items, map out how to stack the core offers.

You can stretch your money by hunting down LazFlash Deals for up to 90% off, collecting up to PhP 3,000 in stackable vouchers, and ensuring every order qualifies for the free shipping offers available throughout the event.

True value comes from combining these three layers of savings on things you already need.

Jisulife: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Filter for authentic value

Shopping smart means avoiding the trap of “too good to be true” counterfeits that end up in the trash.

Data shows a massive consumer shift toward trusted quality, with LazMall growth vastly outperforming standard listings during major sales.

To ensure your money goes toward genuine products with real warranties, restrict your browsing to official, brand-certified stores.

If you are upgrading your tech, parenting gear, or wardrobe, look to trusted names anchoring the sale like UGREEN, JisuLife, ANTA, Maserati Watches, Momcozy, and O.TWO.O.

UGREEN: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Outsmart the noise with built-in tech

Don’t waste hours scrolling through endless listings or guessing which product is better.

The smartest way to navigate a massive mid-year event is to let the platform’s built-in features cut through choice paralysis.

Tools like AI Lazzie and AI Picks allow you to instantly compare similar items, analyze prices, and get personalized recommendations based on actual data rather than generic marketing hype.

Smart Shopper Tip: True value is a mix of the right price, verified authenticity, and a seamless return policy. Use this sale period to stock up on everyday essentials and high-quality upgrades rather than panic-buying items you’ll regret later.