Apple's new iPad Pro is big -- 12.9 inches big -- and it's coming to Australia with a hefty price tag to match.
Released simultaneously with the U.S., UK and other countries, the iPad Pro will be available to order online Thursday, and should appear in Apple stores and other retailers later in the week. With its mega-screen designed to allow multi-tasking, Apple seems to have its eye on the business market.
Unfortunately, the current Australian to U.S. dollar exchange rate is not your friend, and neither is Apple's pricing.
Available in silver, gold and space grey, the iPad Pro starts at A$1,249 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and A$1,699 for the Wi-Fi and cellular 128GB model. In the U.S, it's only US$799 and US$1,079, respectively.
If you've ever wanted to pay A$165 for a pencil, the much-debated Apple Pencil will also be available to order and purchase this week. That's a lot of cash for a fancy stylus, especially when our American friends are paying US$99. Apple’s new Smart Keyboard is available for A$269 -- or US$169.
The prices square more or less with the exchange rate as of publication -- US$1 is A$1.42, according to XE Currency Converter -- with a little extra added on, but it still hurts. Apple's main challenger in this space, Microsoft's Surface Pro 4, starts at A$1,349 with 128GB and a stylus included.
An 128GB iPad Pro with all the trimmings could cost you more than A$2,000. Apple, I thought we were friends?