Apple has been a big name since the introduction of its first computer. Through the years, it has made an impact on the industry by introducing the famous iPod, iPhone and iPad. The company has a knack for making customers loyal and hooking them on the unique Apple technology. For some people, the only device is one with an apple on it.

The iPad line has gone through many transformations throughout the years. The most recent incarnation is the iPad Pro second generation. There are two options in this line. We want to talk about the iPad Pro 12.9. This tablet really stretches the limits and turns a typical tablet into a viable replacement for a laptop, allowing users more portability than ever.

Find out more about this tablet. Discover how it compares to others. See the good and the bad about it. Read through the specifications to get to know more about it. Get a complete picture of what to expect from the iPad Pro 12.9.

Information On the iPad

Apple has done very well with matching consumer need when it introduces new products. The company listens to what people want and delivers. When it comes to tablets, people are wanting something that is more functional. They want something that is highly portable, light and able to be used in multiple ways. With the iPad Pro line, consumers get just this in a 2-in-1 format.

The iPad was first put on the market in 2010. The newest option, the second-generation iPad Pro, was released in 2017. The iPad Pro 2 offers two size options, both of which are designed to make this easy to use as a laptop since the focus on this line really is to provide more computing options in the tablet.

What makes Apple truly unique is it is very exclusive. The iPad runs the iOS mobile operating system, which is also used on the iPhone. This operating system has its own app store and design. This is compared to Android, which is used by most competitors and uses the Google Play store for apps. For most people, there is a clear choice between the two, and they tend to stay loyal. However, Apple is very good at creating buzz and creating a good vibe about its products, which helps it to stay on top.

The iPad Pro 12.9 option is unique itself because it is the biggest tablet of the forerunners in this field. The size is exceptionally helpful for those who are aiming to use the tablet as a laptop more so than a tablet. Many convertible options fall short here and do not provide the screen size that makes it functional to use the tablet as a laptop.

Specifications

The iPad Pro 12.9 provides you with the ultimate experience for converting from tablet mode to laptop. The screen size is ideal for computing and leaves you feeling as if you get that true laptop experience. In addition, you also get the exclusive Smart Connector, which allows you to connect a keyboard in one simple step. Just connect and work. It disconnects just as easily. These two points alone put the iPad ahead when it comes to offering the best experience in a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop.

You can choose from 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB when buying. The tablet has 4 GB of RAM and a 2.34 GHz CPU. For graphics, you get a 12-core PowerVR Series 7XT. It features dual-channel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. When making your purchase, you can choose to just get Wi-Fi connectivity or you can add cellular for additional functionality.

The screen is made for being on the go with all the different things that could pose problems. The antireflective coating means it is much easier to use this tablet anywhere without having to worry about glare. It also is smudge resistant thanks to the oleophobic coating. Plus, it has a scratch-resistant coating and is fully laminated. The resolution is 2732 x 2048 for sharp, clear images. You get LED backlighting and True Tone with a wide color display. The display has a 120 Hz refresh rate and ProMotion. It is also multi-touch and you can use stylus’s with the product.

Finally, the camera is made to the highest standards to offer the quintessential Apple experience. It has some improvements worth noting, including noise reduction, local tone mapping and face detection. You get a six-element lens with a sapphire crystal lens cover and hybrid IR filter. It also has 3x digital zoom, auto HDR and a True Tone LED flash. The camera has exposure control, autofocus and 4K video recording. You can take advantage of some options as well when taking pictures or capturing video, including time lapse, slo-mo, burst mode and timer mode. It also offers panorama up to 63 MP. Lastly, it has backside illumination and geotagging.

Pricing

You can buy the iPad Pro 12.9-inch device directly from Apple or from almost any retailer that sells electronic, computing or mobile products. The pricing is going to be fairly consistent no matter where you buy it, though. Sometimes a retailer may offer discounts or sales, but keep in mind that Apple products are known for being high priced. You may get a slight discount buying refurbished or used if you are looking to save some money. You can also get up to $250 in credit from Apple if you turn in an old device.

Buying brand new, you can get the 64 GB base model with Wi-Fi connection only for $799. If you want to add in the cellular connectivity, it will cost $929. If you need more storage, the 256 GB with Wi-Fi only is $960. To add cellular, it is $1,079. For maximum storage, you can get the 512 GB for $1,149 with Wi-Fi only. To add in cellular, you get it for $1,279. All iPads come with free engraving if you buy from Apple.

Do keep in mind that you can getting additional protection for accidental damage and access to technical support for two years by adding AppleCare. This will cost an additional $99.

Comparison

Comparison shopping can help you to ensure you buy the right product that meets your needs. Typically, you would compare products of the same price or within the same price range. However, when it comes to the iPad, it is more expensive than the competition. So, we were unable to make that comparison. We also ran into trouble trying to compare by size because nobody else makes a tablet as large as the iPad Pro 12.9. So, we settled on just comparing the iPad to its closest competitors.

[amazon link=”B0155OCLWK” title=”Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ /]

[amazon box=”B0155OCLWK”]

As the most expensive tablet on the list, there are high expectations. People who buy the iPad do so because they trust Apple and are loyal to the brand. Even those who do not have loyalty to the brand cannot help but notice all the good reviews Apple products get, which often helps to sway them to make the switch. Furthermore, Apple has amazing build quality and does a great job of making the tablet user-friendly. At this size, it also makes it very convenient to take advantage of the convertible feature and use this as a functional laptop.

[amazon link=”B07G2T5NY9″ title=”Microsoft Surface Go” /]

[amazon box=”B07G2T5NY9″]

The Surface is a serious competitor to the iPad because it is designed to operate as a 2-in-1 as well. However, where this tablet lacks is the OS, which is bulky. This means it can lag and even slow down. It is nice for using Microsoft Office, though. Plus, Microsoft does have excellent build quality. It is smaller, though, with the 10-inch screen being the maximum size available. However, it does come with the keyboard, which will cost you extra with the iPad.

[amazon link=”B07GC1PKG9″ title=”Samsung Galaxy Tab S4″ /]

[amazon box=”B07GC1PKG9″]

The Galaxy Tab is not as popular as the iPad, but Samsung is respected for quality products. The smartphone in this line, for example, is a top seller. This tablet does have some good aspects, such as the long battery life and the amazing display. It also is lightweight. However, it does have low RAM, which could limit its function.

[amazon link=”B01GEW27DA” title=”Amazon Kindle Fire 7″ /]

[amazon box=”B01GEW27DA”]

The Kindle does not function as a 2-in-1. It is really just a tablet. Any use as a laptop is limited. It also only comes in a maximum seven-inch screen. However, price-wise this is a bargain. Amazon also offers amazing specials from time to time that offer an even more discounted price. The Fire does have issues with running slow, but if you just want a tablet and don’t want to spend a lot, it can be the best value.

Comparison Table

Pros and Cons

Since the iPad is a pricey product, you want to be sure you are getting your money’s worth. Knowing how people review this item is helpful. We wanted to compile the information we found in reading through countless user reviews of this product so you can see at a glance the pros and cons. We made sure that we ignored bias and took reviews with a grain of salt. Some people review items right after buying and do not take the time to go beyond initial opinions, which can cloud the review. Another common issue is people who review and rate products based on outside factors, such as delivery. This drags things down, too. We looked through reviews with these things in mind. We understand we had to weed through them to get to the truth. Below we present our findings stripped of bias and including only the most accurate information that give a true idea of the iPad Pro 12.9.

Pros

• Screen size is great for multitasking and using this as a laptop
• Fast processing
• Beautiful display
• Smooth operation
• Great sound
• HDR support

Cons

• Expensive
• Won’t match everyone’s laptop needs
• Charging is slow unless you buy an upgraded charger
• Cannot use an external mouse
• Apple products do tend to slow when new models are introduced

Conclusion

The only real downside to the iPad Pro 12.9 is the cost. However, when buying an Apple product, you know you will pay more. This brand gets away with higher pricing, though, because it delivers. When we look to the competition, they all have some operating issues. Apple does well with producing a product that functions as it should with minimal issues.

The iPad is fast. It runs smoothly. It is built to function well in either tablet or laptop mode. The operating system isn’t bulky, which helps with the speed and overall function. It also is user friendly. Furthermore, people like the iOS. They are often very familiar with it and feel comfortable using it. Plus, Apple does a good job of connecting to its customers in a way that instills trust. People know when they buy an Apple product that they can believe in the product.

The only hesitation we have about the iPad Pro 2 is that a new version is expected soon. Typically, when Apple introduces a new version of a product, the older versions run slower and begin having issues. At this price point, it should really be expected that the product will last for a long time and not have these issues. While we cannot say this will happen, it is a good idea to be aware of the possibility.

Overall, though, we do recommend the iPad Pro 2 in the 12.9-inch size if you want a true convertible tablet. It does provide great functionality as a laptop. While it may not meet everyone’s needs, it should do a pretty good job for most people.

Rating:

It can be tough to choose the right tablet for your needs, especially if you’re looking for something the whole family can use freely. Not only do you need to find a tablet with power to handle your applications and games, but you also need a tablet with a long battery life so you can enjoy those apps and games for a while.

The RCA 7 Voyager II is a great family tablet because it’s small, lightweight and inexpensive, so you don’t have to worry if you drop it. If you need a new tablet to keep your family entertained on those particularly slow days, take a look at our review of the RCA 7 Voyager II tablet to see if it’s the right fit for you.

What is a 7″ Tablet?

When shopping for tablets, you have your choice among numerous different sizes, including 7”, 8”, 9”, 10”, 12” and 13” tablets. Obviously, the biggest difference among these tablets is the physical size of the screen, but that size difference affects many other things, as well. For starters, while portability is a big selling point for tablets, a 12” tablet is harder to lug around.

However, there are some benefits to buying a larger tablet. For instance, 7” tablets often have the weakest hardware because they simply aren’t big enough to fit large hardware inside. Conversely, manufacturers can fit a fairly large processor and battery into 12” tablets, which gives them a big performance boost over their smaller counterparts. Larger screens also provide a high-resolution display.

If both performance and portability are important to you, you can always opt for something in between a 7” and 12” tablet, such as a 9”. That way you can still easily take your tablet from one place to another without worrying about whether it will stay charged or be able to handle more demanding tasks.

What Is the RCA 7 Voyager II?

RCA makes a number of budget tablets, most of which come in smaller sizes but still pack a punch. [amazon link=”B00Z7ZACEM” title=”The RCA 7 Voyager II” /] may not be the fastest tablet or have the longest battery life, but what it offers in all-around functionality for its price is hard to beat. This is a fairly basic RCA 7 tablet that looks like other budget tablets such as those from Acer and Amazon. It may be a little bit outdated in terms of technology and software, but the RCA 7 Voyager II is still one of the best entry-level options on the market.

Because this is a smaller, cheaper tablet, it makes for a great family device. For less than $50, you can buy a capable tablet that you can hand to any relative without worrying about him breaking a $500 computer. This is truly one of the best-selling points of the RCA 7 Voyager II, which also gives you access to the Google Play Store so you can download and buy all sorts of great games and apps.

RCA 7 Tablet Voyager II Specifications

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As important as it is to read a few reviews before deciding on a tablet, the best thing you can do is compare the tablets you’re looking at by the numbers. Most manufacturers have spec sheets for their tablets, so you can easily compare some of the different features such as the processor, battery, RAM, storage space, storage expandability, camera quality and more. Here’s what you need to know about the hardware inside the RCA 7 Voyager II.

Basic Hardware

The first thing you want to look at with a tablet is the hardware that determines how well it performs and how useable it is. First off, you’ll need a powerful processor, which the RCA 7 Voyager II provides in the form of a 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU. As far as RAM goes, you get a measly one GB of DDR3L memory, but that should be enough to handle things like browsing the internet, playing basic games, listening to music and watching videos. RCA doesn’t make any mention of the specific processor used in the 7 Voyager II, or what kind of video card it has, but at a glance it appears that the RCA 7 Voyager II is more than capable of handling the average user’s needs.

Operating System

When you’re buying an Android tablet—especially an older model—you need to know which version of the Android operating system you will be getting. The newer your Android OS is, the more likely you will be able to download your favorite games and apps and access newer features. Unfortunately, the RCA 7 Voyager II comes with Android 5.0​​ Lollipop, which is really outdated. While you can probably upgrade the OS a bit and shouldn’t have a problem with day-to-day tasks on an older operating system, there may be some games and apps you flat-out can’t install.

If app accessibility and up-to-date features are important to you, you might want to consider one of the newer low-budget tablets on the market that gives you access to a more current operating system.

Apps

RCA tablets use Android operating systems that get their apps from the Google Play Store. For the most part, you should be able to find just about any app in the App Store on Google Play, so making the switch from an Apple device to the Voyager II isn’t too difficult. However, there may be some apps that aren’t available, so check before you buy.

The real drawback with apps on this RCA 7 tablet is the fact that its older Android operating system doesn’t give you access to all the newest apps and features available on other Android tablets.

Battery

RCA doesn’t provide a whole lot of specific information about this tablet, and that includes the battery. While you can assume the Voyager II contains a lithium-ion battery that will degrade over time with use, RCA doesn’t actually give the mAh number for the battery. However, it does estimate that your RCA 7 Voyager II tablet should be able to run for about six hours on a single charge, though that will depend heavily on your settings and what you’re actually using your tablet for.

As far as battery life goes, the [amazon link=”B00Z7ZACEM” title=”RCA 7 Voyager II” /] is fairly average. Some tablets may last a bit longer, but six hours is fair when you’re talking about a 7” tablet.

Webcam

Despite its small size, the RCA 7 Voyager II tablet isn’t necessarily made to be used as a portable camera, which is why you won’t find much camera function in this tablet. While most tablets have both front and rear cameras (and sometimes multiple rear cameras), the RCA 7 Voyager II only has a two-megapixel front-facing camera that allows you to video chat and take decent-quality selfies. This isn’t a huge problem since tablets aren’t used for taking pictures all that often, but it’s something to note if a good camera is important to your family.

Display

The RCA 7 Voyager II doesn’t have a great display, but it’s display is pretty much what you’d expect from a tablet this size. The screen measures 7.1” from corner to corner, which means you don’t have a ton of room to work with when watching videos, drawing or browsing the web. A 1024 x 600 resolution further exacerbates this problem, although the small size of this tablet is part of what makes it so great—and affordable.

RCA 7 Voyager II Pricing

When it comes to buying a tablet, it’s hard to say what a “fair” price is. While there are a lot of cheap tablets on the market that cost less than $50, there are also tablets designed for professionals that cost hundreds despite their tiny size. It’s important to keep this in mind when you’re trying to determine whether one tablet is a good deal compared to another.

With all that being said, the RCA 7 Voyager II is definitely a fairly priced tablet. RCA currently offers this tablet for $44.99 brand new on its website, which means you can get your family a solid 7” tablet for roughly the price of a few trips to the drive-thru. However, we wouldn’t say this tablet is a great deal, necessarily. There are actually a lot of Android tablets on the market in this $50 price range, including options from popular brands such as Amazon. If you do choose to invest in the RCA 7 Voyager II over, say, an iPad mini, you shouldn’t expect as much in terms of performance and features.

How the RCA 7 Voyager II Compares

The RCA 7 Voyager II is far from the best tablet on the market, but it definitely offers enough features to make it a viable $50 tablet. If you are thinking about buying something else, take a look at some other similar tablets to see how the RCA 7 Voyager II stacks up against the competition.

[amazon link=”B016PT10XA” title=”Apple Ipad Mini 4″ /]

[amazon box=”B016PT10XA”]

[amazon link=”B01GEW27DA” title=”Amazon Fire 7″ /]

[amazon box=”B01GEW27DA”]

[amazon link=”B01N13866H” title=”Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7″ /]

[amazon box=”B01N13866H”]

[amazon link=”B00KD5SER8″ title=”Asus Memo Pad 7″ /]

[amazon box=”B00KD5SER8″]

[amazon link=”B00Z7ZACEM” title=”RCA Voyager II Tablet PROS and CONS” /]

[amazon box=”B00Z7ZACEM”]

Pros

• Affordable
• Reasonably powerful
• Easy to travel with
• Decent battery life

Cons

• Lack of RAM
• Bad camera
• Outdated Android operating system

The Verdict: A Good Choice for Families and Beginners

Not everybody wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a tablet they’re only going to use occasionally. If you’re looking for a good entry-level tablet or something you can share with your entire family, the [amazon link=”B00Z7ZACEM” title=”RCA 7 Voyager II” /] is one of your better choices. The biggest downsides to this tablet are its display resolution and the outdated Android operating system, but neither of these cons should prevent you from buying this RCA 7 tablet.

If you’re looking for an affordable quad-core-powered tablet that allows you to easily add extra storage with a microSD card, the RCA 7 Voyager II offers everything you need. The only people who won’t like this tablet are those who need top-level performance.