iPad-Pro-Smart-KeyboardMicrosoft will require an Office 365 subscription to use Office apps on an iPad Pro, reports Ars Technica. The reason is that the tablet's 12.9-inch screen size exceeds Microsoft's 10.1-inch threshold for free access to viewing and editing features.

Comparatively, the Office suite of apps on the iPad Air and iPad mini allow viewing and editing documents for free, since their screen sizes are 9.7" and 7.9" respectively. iPhones also have access to viewing and editing features at no cost.

The Office apps on the current iPads offer both viewing and editing documents for free. A handful of features require Office 365 subscriptions, available as in-app purchases, but the core editing capabilities are all zero cost.

Install those same apps on the iPad Pro once it arrives in November, however, and all those editing features will go away. Office on the iPad Pro will require an Office 365 subscription for any and all editing.

Office 365 Home costs $99.99 per year, or $9.99 per month, and includes access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access on 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets and 5 smartphones. Up to five subscribers also get 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype minutes of calling per month to mobile phones and landlines.

Office 365 Personal is also available for $69.99 per year, or $6.99 per month, and includes access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access on 1 PC or Mac, 1 tablet and 1 smartphone. One subscriber also gets 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype minutes of calling per month to mobile phones and landlines.

iPad Pro launches in November starting at $799 in the United States.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
105 months ago
The reason is because the tablet's 12.9-inch screen size exceeds Microsoft's 10.1-inch threshold for free access to viewing and editing features.
So if your iPad Pro is traveling quite quickly, according to the Lorentz-contraction ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_contraction'), you could gain access to Microsoft Office for free!

This is a significant reason for developing near-speed-of-light travel.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bill Killer Avatar
105 months ago
-OR-

I could use Apple's free apps that do the same thing, and read and write MS formatted documents just fine. No thanks, Microsoft.
Apple's free alternatives most certainly don't do the same things. They're very underpowered and contain a number of compatibility issues.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChasSC-Mac-Guy Avatar
105 months ago

Office 365 Personal ('https://products.office.com/en-us/buy/compare-microsoft-office-products?tab=omac') is also available for $69.99 per year, or $6.99 per month, and includes access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access on 1 PC or Mac, 1 tablet and 1 smartphone. One subscriber also gets 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype minutes of calling per month to mobile phones and landlines.
-OR-

I could use Apple's free apps that do the same thing, and read and write MS formatted documents just fine. No thanks, Microsoft.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unobtainium Avatar
105 months ago
People always act shocked and outraged when companies try to make a profit. One of the weirdest side-effects of this internet start-up age.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Adamb10 Avatar
105 months ago
People hate the subscription service but what you don't realize is you get all future upgrades, including Office 2016/2017/2018, etc including 1TB of cloud storage, plus you can install it on 5 devices. It's actually a pretty good deal if you want to always have the latest version of Office.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MartinAppleGuy Avatar
105 months ago
So if your iPad Pro is traveling quite quickly, according to the Lorentz-contraction ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_contraction'), you could gain access to Microsoft Office for free!
Macrumors comment of the year !!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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