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We compare different iPad Pro models in a comprehensive buying guide.
range of products iPad delivers high performance, great versatility and phenomenal user experience to consumers in the tablet market. So much so, in fact, that the iPad is the world’s best-selling tablet, quarter after quarter. Well above its rivals.
Apple recently launched a new iPad Air with a large number of new features and a renewed design in the style of the iPad Pro line. Although this tablet model has an M1 chip as powerful as the processor of the iPad Pro, in actually its features, performance and technical specifications are well below the “Pro” tablet from Apple. In a way, you could say that the iPad Pro models are the best tablets in the world. But which iPad Pro model should you choose based on your needs?
In this article, we will walk you through a purchase guide on iPad Pro in which we will compare different models and talk about all the differences between them.
iPad Pro from 2018, 2020 and 2021
Below we attach a comparative table in which you can see all the differences that exist between the different iPad Pro models released in recent years to help you decide which iPad Pro to buy.
Here are the tech specs of the third-generation iPad Pro (2018), fourth-generation iPad Pro (2020), and fifth-generation iPad Pro (2021), all with a 12.9 screen inches.
iPad Pro (2018) | iPad Pro (2020) | iPad Pro (2021) | |
---|---|---|---|
Filter | liquid retina | liquid retina | Liquid Retina XDR with mini-LED technology |
Processor | A12X Bionic | A12Z bionic | M1 |
Storage | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB |
Operating system | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS 15.4 |
Front camera | 12 megapixel wide angle | 12 MP wide angle and 10 MP ultra wide angle | 12 MP wide angle and 10 MP ultra wide angle |
Rear camera | 7 megapixel | 7 megapixel | 12 megapixels |
connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, 4G and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0, 4G and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0, 5G and Wi-Fi |
Color | Silver and space gray | Silver and space gray | Silver and space gray |
Dimensions and weight | 28.06 x 21.49 x 0.59cm | 28.06 x 21.49 x 0.59cm | 28.06 x 21.49 x 0.64cm |
Remember that Apple also sells iPad Pro models with an 11-inch screen, this is its comparison of technical characteristics.
iPad Pro (2018) | iPad Pro (2020) | iPad Pro (2021) | |
---|---|---|---|
Filter | liquid retina | liquid retina | Liquid Retina XDR with mini-LED technology |
Processor | A12X Bionic | A12Z bionic | M1 |
Storage | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB |
Operating system | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS 15.4 |
Front camera | 12 megapixel wide angle | 12 MP wide angle and 10 MP ultra wide angle | 12 MP wide angle and 10 MP ultra wide angle |
Rear camera | 7 megapixel | 7 megapixel | 12 megapixels |
connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, 4G and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0, 4G and Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0, 5G and Wi-Fi |
Color | Silver and space gray | Silver and space gray | Silver and space gray |
Dimensions and weight | 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.59cm | 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.59cm | 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.59cm |
Price of each iPad Pro model
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)
Buy model (refurbished) with Wi-Fi and 256 GB of storage:
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020)
Buy a (refurbished) model with Wi-Fi and 128 GB of storage:
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021)
Buy a Wi-Fi model with 128 GB of storage capacity:
11-inch iPad Pro (2018)
Buy a model (refurbished) with Wi-Fi and 128 GB:
11-inch iPad Pro (2020)
Buy a model with Wi-Fi and 1 TB of storage capacity:
11-inch iPad Pro (2021)
Buy a Wi-Fi model with 128 GB of storage capacity:
Which iPad Pro should you buy given the differences?
The bigger the screen, the better… except in some cases
We will first focus on the screen size of the different models. It is better to choose an iPad Pro with a 12.9 inch screen. At first glance, it is true that you might not notice the difference compared to a model with an 11-inch screen. But when you’ve had a 12.9-inch screen for a while and start using an iPad again with an 11-inch screen, it feels like you’ve got an iPad mini in your hand and the difference is very noticeable. .
Anyway, if you are a student and need the iPad Pro for taking notes in class, surfing the web and using applications to work on your projects, the ideal option is the iPad Pro 11 inch. It is a more manageable model and, of course, more comfortable to transport from one place to another.
As with the screens of the 12.9-inch models, the 2021 iPad Pro has a Liquidative Retina XDR display with mini-LED technology that offers significantly more brightness than the other two models. However, the resolution of all three iPad Pro models is exactly the same, 2732 x 2048 pixels.
Power without control is useless
One of the aspects to consider when buying not only an iPad but any other electronic device is its power or, rather, the power of its processor. It is the most important component of any device.
A good processor is able to multitask while keeping other background tasks running at a high level of performance. It is the brain that is responsible for the operation of the operating system to be correct and directs all operations.
Therefore, it seems logical to think that for any user, it is much better to buy an iPad Pro model with the best possible processor. The power of the M1 chip in the iPad Pro 2021 is something enormous, spectacularly brutal. But the truth is, if you compare the processing speed of the 2021 M1 chip with your own eyes with the processing speed of the 2018 A12X Bionic chip, the difference is minimal.
After all, users in the Apple ecosystem use the iPad Pro to perform mobile application tasks. And it really doesn’t require the use of such barbaric power. In fact, from iPadízate we assure you without fear of being mistaken that the A12X Bionic processor of the third generation iPad Pro continues to operate at full power without showing an iota of wear after 4 years of use.
This means, for practical purposes, that even if you have 20 applications open and you are running multiple tasks simultaneously the iPad Pro from 2018 and the iPad Pro from 2020 or the iPad Pro from 2021 will give you very similar performance. Obviously, if you prefer to have more power, we recommend buying the iPad Pro 2021, but if you want to have similar power and not spend so much money, you can perfectly opt for one of the other two iPad Pro models.
Here ends our buying guide for the latest generation models of Apple’s iPad Pro range. You now have more than enough information to decide whether to buy one model or another. If you are still not sure, remember that you can visit this interesting comparison between iPad Air 2020 and iPad Air 2022 in order to evaluate the purchase of other iPad models.
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