Apple released a new iPad Pro in 2020 — a yr and a half after the prior update — but it was n’t much of a change . A Modern television camera mental faculty that included LiDAR and an ultra - extensive lens was all right , but the iPad is n’t really the matter people pass on for when they require to take great photos . The processor was update to the A12Z , which was just the same as the A12X but with a single GPU core , disabled on the A12X , reenabled . It had more storage , but that ’s just a function of the inevitable border district of time .
So , the iPad Pro was overdue for a more important update , and with the new fifth - generation iPad Pro , we at long last have it . Here are the highlight that make this year ’s iPad Pro special .
11-inch iPad Pro (2021)
12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021)
The M1 processor makes it fast as all get-out
We were impressed by theM1 in the new Apple Si Macs , and now the same chip is in the iPad Pro . The M1 is basically what we would have look from an A14X — it ’s like an A14 with double the high - performance essence ( 4 instead of 2 ) , double the GPU cores ( 8 or else of 4 ) , and double the memory passenger vehicle width ( 128 - bit or else of 64 - bit ) .
In summation to the much fast CPU and graphic , storage entree is doubly as tight as the previous iPad Pro and is now available with up to 2 TB of store ( though it ’ll be you an extra $ 400 ) . On manakin with less than 1 TB of storehouse , the new iPad Pro models amount with 8 GB of RAM . On manikin with 1 TB or 2 TB of storage , they come with 16 GB of RAM . That ’s the first time we have n’t relied on a teardown to get the RAM glasses , which is a far-famed change .
The 12.9-inch model has a Liquid Retina XDR display
Both the 11 - in and 12.9 - inch iPad Pros have LED display with a resolution of 264 pixels per in , True Tone , and 120Hz ProMotion support . But the 12.9 - inch model also has a newmini - LED backlightthat gives it better contrast .
Apple call this Liquid Retina XDR , and it works a lot like the Pro Display XDR . You get 1000 nits of smartness and 1600 nit of peak brightness , a 1,000,000:1 demarcation ratio , and financial support for multiple unlike HDR format . It also includes the same features as before , including ProMotion , True Tone , and P3 wide colour support . Apple says the display give birth “ a stunning visual experience that ruminate what can be seen in the real world by capturing the brightest highlight and the most elusive details in even the darkest image . ”
Apple
They now have Thunderbolt and USB4 support
With the big 2018 redesign , Apple trade out the Lightning port on the iPad Pro for a USB character atomic number 6 connector . This gave the iPad the ability to more easily link to external computer memory , cameras , and other accessories . The 2021 models support Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 , which stand for they stand all the existing USB - C stuff as well as bolt of lightning accoutrement like higher - speeding outside memory board devices and high - res monitors . It can even knock off up to the Pro Display XDR at full resolution .
New 12MP Ultra Wide front camera
The 2021 iPad Pros have the same rear camera as last year ’s model : an f/1.8 12MP astray and f/2.4 10MP Ultra across-the-board tv camera , plus a LiDAR sensor .
But the front camera has been find up to an f/2.4 12MP Ultra Wide camera with a 122 - degree field of horizon . While the camera is still frustratingly locate on the unforesightful bound of the machine , a new FaceTime feature call Center Stage automatically pan and zoom to keep you in the frame as you move around the region so it ’ll look more instinctive to the people with whom you ’re chatting .
Better icon processing from the M1 processor should also result in noticeably respectable photograph and videos despite having the same rear tv camera hardware .
5G support
As with the iPhone 12 , the new 5th multiplication iPad Pro abide 5 G ( if you buy a model with cellular musical accompaniment ) . Also as with the iPhone 12 , financial backing motley by area — in the U.S. , you get sub-6GHz and mmWave reinforcement . In the rest of the macrocosm , support is limit to sub-6GHz .
iPad Pro specs compared
Here ’s how the novel iPad Pro compare to last year ’s models .
Prices start at $799 and $1099, available mid-May
The 11 - column inch iPad Pro carry the same price as last year ’s model : start at $ 799 128 GB of storage with Wi - Fi only . The Wi - Fi + Cellular model starts at $ 999 , a $ 50 increase over last twelvemonth ’s mannikin ( that 5 one thousand support does n’t come crummy ) . The 12.9 - inch model is $ 100 more expensive , thanks to the new Liquid Retina XDR display . It starts at $ 1099 for 128 GB of repositing in the Wi - Fi only manakin . Wi - Fi + Cellular starts at $ 1299 .
Orders begin on April 30 , 2021 , but Apple has only given a vague “ 2d half of May ” date for handiness .
