No offense to Apple, but I'm not going to recommend the iPad Pro (2020) to most people. Yes, I have long said that the 2018 iPad Pro is one of the best devices Apple has ever made - and even now that the new 2020 model has been released, I am still telling people to buy the older model.

Even though Apple has done reasonably well with this year's new model, I am still convinced that the iPad Pro 2018 is the best high-end tablet you can buy. And that's coming from someone who has upgraded his iPhone every year for the past two years.

Since we are all more budget-conscious than ever, I highly recommend looking for the 2018 iPad Pro, as it should be discounted everywhere. Currently, retailers are discounting the 2018 models by $70 to $120 as they get rid of their inventory of the new versions.

Yes, increased speed is always a good thing. But the new A12Z processor may not be as big an upgrade as it seems at first glance; Geekbench 5 scores show that the latest version of Apple's system-on-chip iPad Pro processor scored 4,720 in the multicore portion and 1,126 in the single-core test recorded; the 2018 iPad Pro with the A12X Bionic chip is much closer, with scores of 4,635 and 1,114.

Another big new feature is the remarkable triple camera on the back, which includes a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner and significantly improves augmented reality app performance If you're into AR apps, this is really I think it's cool. Personally. I'm waiting for developers to do something great with AR.

And as for the iPad Pro's new 10 megapixel ultra-wide and 12 megapixel wide cameras. A very small percentage of people who are not embarrassed to use their tablet as a camera in public might like this, but I already have a better (or equally great) camera on my iPhone 11 Pro in my pocket.

What about the long-awaited Magic Keyboard coming in May? Apple is adding a trackpad to the iPad Pro and will be releasing an expensive Magic Keyboard ($299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch version). But it is even more exciting that this accessory, which makes the iPad Pro even more like a laptop than before, will also work with the 2018 iPad Pro.

And while we appreciate the decision, we're a little surprised that Apple hasn't limited it to the latest iPad Pro. This keyboard is definitely enough of a feature to make someone upgrade--even though the 2018 iPad Pro has only been out for a year and a half.

I've also been using a mouse on my 2018 iPad Pro since iPadOS 13.4 went into public beta and find it more than sufficient. It has already reached the level of integration I wish Apple had added with the first iPadOS drop last year. The cursor is a smaller, more elegant dot (not a big male eye like last year) and shifts into a vertical line when you hover over a text field.

Also, when hovering over an app icon, the cursor grows larger, as if a spotlight is shining on it. The Magic Keyboard, on the other hand, seems better suited for on-the-go use thanks to its floating, adjustable screen design.

Another reason I'd recommend the 2018 iPad Pro is that I've never felt it was "too slow" or needed extra performance; juggling apps in Slide Over or Split View multitasking mode, I've never hit a wall where I felt I needed more power. I've never hit a wall where I felt like I needed more power.

The 10.2-inch iPad is probably the right iPad for most people, given its $329 price. However, I would choose the 2018 iPad Pro as the best overall iPad, especially now that it is a bit cheaper.

There are also rumors of a fall 2020 iPad Pro, which would surprise me. It is not typical of Apple to update its products twice in a year, but if the February rumors are true, a 5G iPad Pro with the A14X chip will be available at the end of the year.

Whether the jump from A12Z to A14X will lead to a significant speed increase remains to be tested, but it is not hard to assume that people will be interested in a 5G iPad Pro (if 5G is available in town by then, that is).

But if that model doesn't come out in the fall, I'm going to encourage most people to stick with the 2018 iPad Pro (if it's available at a lower price), unless they like AR apps, in which case the old version is the new Magic Keyboard. I don't see an overwhelming reason to spend more money on a 2020 iPad Pro when it's still available.