Apple's iPad is eternal, an expertly engineered slab of glass and aluminum that perseveres, like the intrepid cockroach or a beloved family recipe. Back in 2010, when the first iPad was introduced, it was near-perfect, offering a casual sit-down experience that empowered users to consume and create in a new and enjoyable way. Fast forward a few years and not even the iPad can save the declining tablet market. Over the past several months, we've witnessed iPad sales plummet, despite these gadgets getting faster and thinner. The problem is an iPad from several years ago is still good; the iPad 2, released in 2011, continues to hold up, so why upgrade? Tablets just don't have the same upgrade cycle of smartphones and there's been no overwhelmingly compelling reason to ditch an old model for something new. Tablet A can just as well check email and browse the internet as Tablet B. The iPad Pro, if you hadn't already guessed, is Apple's answer.

Originally offered with a massive 12.9-inch screen, Apple has shrunk the iPad Pro into a more manageable size without compromising what people loved about the first. It's still fast, it still supports the Apple Pencil, and thanks to a few additions, it might be better than the iPad Pro Huge Edition. Existing in that hybrid state between tablet and laptop, the iPad Pro is a product Apple vehemently believes is the "future of personal computing," a device you'll rely on for more than just watching a few dozen cat videos. While the current iPad Pro lineup doesn't quite reach the lofty heights Tim Cook envisions, the 9.7-inch model makes a compelling case to upgrade.

It comes at a price If you want to partake in Apple's Pro tablet future, get ready to pay up the nose. Traditionally, the iPad starts out at $499; it's been that way from the beginning of time. That changed with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and it gets even more complicated with the new model. The base starts at $599, and that's before all of the accessories, which are necessary to use the device to its fullest potential. The Apple Pencil retails for an absurd $99 while the Smart Keyboard is a mind-numbing $149. You're better off carrying around a cheap Bluetooth keyboard and saving the extra $100 for something else. Seriously. Let's say you do purchase the base model, which has just 32GB of storage, and then pick up the accessories. Out of the door, you're spending a minimum of $850… for what is essentially a slightly better iPad Air 2. Economically, that's… not good. I understand why the pricing divide exists. Apple believes that because the box says "pro" it excuses the company from charging abhorrent prices. Take a step up to the 256GB model and you're looking to spend $899 without any bells or whistles. People will argue it starts at $200 cheaper than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro as if that somehow makes it okay. But it's just not. Just because it's expensive in no way means I dislike the tablet itself.

It's faster than fast, with battery for days With the word Pro in its name, the device better be fast; luckily, performance in not an issue. Consider this the Usain Bolt of tablets. Equipped with the same A9X chip as the larger iPad Pro, the 9.7-inch model is a beast, capable of editing, consuming, and browsing without breaking a sweat. And the fact that it comes with 2GB of RAM, down from the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's 4GB of RAM, should not concern you one bit. I don't do a whole heck of a lot when I use tablets. My use typically consists of checking a few websites and watching YouTube videos. But I made an effort to see what the iPad Pro could do and found it's certainly competent enough to rival that of a low-end laptop. In many cases, the iPad Pro is much more accessible on a usability level just because of how apps are designed. I found editing pictures and video to be much easier to understand inside of the iPad ecosystem. I've spent next to no time with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, so I'm not sure how they compare regarding speed. However, you'll certainly notice a difference if you're coming from an iPad Air 2, which uses a still very impressive A8X chip. When you start bouncing between apps and putting them side-by-side, the iPad Pro wins without question. Meanwhile, the battery is pretty much never-ending. Out of the box, I ran it into the ground from about 40 percent. From there, I charged it all the way up to 100 percent and found that it far exceeded Apple's rating of 10 hours. In fact, I was able to get through several days of use (watching videos, email, and a lot of drawing) until the battery drained.

The True Tone is as good as you've heard The 9.7-inch iPad Pro isn't just an amalgam of previous Apple parts. The company says it made some substantial improvements to the device's 2048 x 1536-pixel display, which uses the "same color space as the digital cinema industry," according to Apple. That translates to what Apple claims is 25 percent greater color saturation than previous models. For artists, photographers and filmmakers, the improved display means a more accurate representation of their vision. The real standout feature, however, has to be True Tone (not to be confused with Tone Loc), which utilizes sensors to dynamically adjust the device's display. The feature is meant to mimic what it's like to look at a sheet of paper, making the screen's blue light less harsh on your eyes. It works, and it works well. I initially thought True Tone would be nothing more than a sneaky trick but as soon as I turned the feature off, I was startled by how big of a difference it made. True Tone does provide a more pleasing experience, especially if you spend a lot of time using the iPad to read. Of course, the feature pretty much negates the iPad Pro's aim to be a device for creators. Chances are it'll be something designers keep turned off, at least when they're working. This would have been the perfect opportunity for Apple to include a quick switch in Control Center but no such access exists. Maybe in iOS 12?