How the M1-powered iPad Pro compares to other iPad models - The Verge

Apple has announced the next generation of its iPad Pro line. But most of the biggest changes for Apple’s flagship tablet are largely on the inside. The latest iPad Pros feature a new eight-core M1 processor; the same chip featured in the most recent model refreshes for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and the newly announced iMac.

Like last year, the iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. The 12.9-inch model this year also includes a new Mini-LED screen, which Apple is branding as a “Liquid Retina XDR” display. The iPad Pro 2021 refreshes also include support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4, in addition to 5G connectivity. Both iPad Pros also feature a new 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that can automatically track you during video calls.

Of course, specs don’t always tell how much has changed between model refreshes. And it can be easy to presume, at first glance, that not much has changed — especially if you own a 2020 iPad Pro. If you want to see how both iPad Pro models with the M1 chip compare to the other three iPads Apple currently sells, along with the 2020 Pro models, take a look at the chart below.

iPad comparison April 2021

Category	12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th-gen)	11-inch iPad Pro (3rd-gen)	12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th-gen)	11-inch iPad Pro (2nd-gen)	iPad Air (4th-gen)	iPad (8th-gen)	iPad mini (5th-gen)
Category	12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th-gen)	11-inch iPad Pro (3rd-gen)	12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th-gen)	11-inch iPad Pro (2nd-gen)	iPad Air (4th-gen)	iPad (8th-gen)	iPad mini (5th-gen)
Screen type	12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display	11-inch Liquid Retina display	12.9‑inch Liquid Retina display	11‑inch Liquid Retina display	10.9‑inch Liquid Retina display	10.2-inch Retina display	7.9-inch Retina display
Resolution	2732 x 2048	2388 x 1668	2732 x 2048	2388 x 1668	2360 x 1640	2160 x 1620	2048 x 1536
Front camera	12 megapixels	12 megapixels	7 megapixels	7 megapixels	7 megapixels	1.2 megapixels	7 megapixels
Rear camera	12 megapixels (10-megapixel ultrawide)	12 megapixels (10-megapixel ultrawide)	12 megapixels (10-megapixel ultrawide)	12 megapixels (10-megapixel ultrawide)	12 megapixels	8 megapixels	8 megapixels
Stylus support	Apple Pencil (2nd-gen)	Apple Pencil (2nd-gen)	Apple Pencil (2nd-gen)	Apple Pencil (2nd-gen)	Apple Pencil (2nd-gen)	Apple Pencil (1st-gen)	Apple Pencil (1st-gen)
Keyboard support	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Bluetooth keyboards	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Bluetooth keyboards	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Bluetooth keyboards	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Bluetooth keyboards	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Bluetooth keyboards	Smart Keyboard (non-folio) and Bluetooth keyboards	Only Bluetooth keyboards
Port	Thunderbolt / USB 4	Thunderbolt / USB 4	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	Lightning	Lightning
Processor	Apple M1 chip	Apple M1 chip	A12Z Bionic	A12Z Bionic	A14 Bionic	A12 Bionic	A12 Bionic
Storage	128 / 256 / 512GB / 1 / 2TB	128 / 256 / 512GB / 1 / 2TB	128 / 256 / 512GB / 1TB	128 / 256 / 512GB / 1TB	64 / 256GB	32 / 128GB	64 / 256GB
Weight	1.5 pounds (Wi-Fi) / 1.51 pounds (Wi-Fi + Cellular)	1.03 pounds (Wi-Fi) / 1.04 pounds (Wi-Fi + Cellular)	1.41 pounds	1.04 pounds	1 pound	1.08 pounds	0.68 pound
Price (Wi-Fi)	$1,099 / $1,199 / $1,399 / $1,799 / $2,199	$799 / $899 / $1,099 / $1,499 / $1,899	$999 / $1,099 / $1,299 / $1,499	$799 / $899 / $1,099 / $1,299	$599 / $749	$329 / $429	$399 / $549
Price (Wi-Fi + Cellular)	$1,299 / $1,399 / $1,599 / $1,999 / $2,399	$999 / $1,099 / $1,299 / $1,699 / $2,099	$1,149 / $1,249 / $1,449 / $1,649	$949 / $1,049 / $1,249 / $1,449	$729 / $879	$459 / $559	$529 / $679
Authentication	Face ID	Face ID	Face ID	Face ID	Touch ID built into power button	Touch ID built into home button	Touch ID built into home button
Battery life	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours
Misc.	LIDAR, ProMotion, Wi-Fi 6, 5G millimeter-wave, four-speaker system, no headphone jack	LIDAR, ProMotion, Wi-Fi 6, 5G millimeter-wave, four-speaker system, no headphone jack	LIDAR, ProMotion, True Tone, Wi-Fi 6, four-speaker system, no headphone jack	LIDAR, ProMotion, True Tone, Wi-Fi 6, four-speaker system, no headphone jack	True Tone, Wi-Fi 6, two-speaker system, no headphone jack	Two-speaker system, headphone jack	True Tone, two-speaker system, Headphone jack