iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) vs. iPad Pro 12.9 (2020): Does the M1 make a difference?

Apple has released the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), featuring a MacBook-level M1 chip, a mini-LED display, and 5G support. It certainly looks like a fantastic tablet, but is it really that much better than 2020’s iPad Pro? Last year’s model also boasts some mouthwatering specs, a beautiful screen, and stunning performance, so it’s not immediately obvious if it’s worth upgrading to the newer model.

To answer this question, we put the two Apple tablets to the test in a head-to-head comparison. We examine their specs, designs, displays, performance, cameras, software, and special features, evaluating which one is the best device overall. This should help you make a decision that’s right for you.

Please note: This is a comparison of the 12.9-inch models of both devices. If you’d like to look at some other iPad models, check out our article on the best iPad to buy in 2021.

Specs

Design, display, and durability

There’s no significant design upgrade this year with the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), but that’s not really a bad thing, and this year’s Pro tablet is basically identical to last year’s, with the same edge-to-edge display and narrow bezels. Both devices incorporate aluminum frames and rears, and while their dimensions are almost exactly the same, the newer iPad Pro is 0.2mm thicker. This isn’t really noticeable, although what is noticeable is the 40-gram difference in weight, meaning that the 2021 iPad Pro is about a 10th of a pound heavier than its older sibling.

While their designs are all but indistinguishable, the iPad Pro (2021) does offer a tangibly improved display. Admittedly, it is the same size and does feature the same number of pixels (2048 x 2732), but it finds Apple using mini-LED technology for the first time. Basically, such tech allows for enhanced backlighting that improves the brightness of the display while also deepening the blacks on offer. Everything is richer and more vibrant, with the mini-LEDs allowing for deeper blacks and enhanced brightness.

As for durability, neither tablet is water resistant, although they do feature scratch-resistant glass that’s also oleophobic (i.e. it repels oil and fingerprints). This puts them on level pegging, but because the newer iPad Pro does have a detectably better screen, we’re giving it this opening round.

Winner: iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Performance, battery life, and charging

Needless to say, the 2020 iPad Pro was one powerful beast of a tablet, featuring an A12Z Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM. However, Apple has decided to do away with a mobile chip for its latest model, instead going with the M1 chip used in its latest iMacs and MacBooks. That’s right, the iPad Pro (2021) is basically a highly portable laptop, and with 8GB — or 12GB — of RAM, it will outperform the 2020 version by a noticeable margin.

This represents a clear step forward in terms of performance, and while things aren’t quite the same in terms of internal memory, the newer iPad Pro still has a slight edge. While it starts with 128GB of RAM as standard (just like the 2020 iPad Pro), it can be upgraded to a whopping 2TB. Again, this really does make it a more nimble laptop, although you will have to pay Apple an astonishingly expensive $2,199 if you want that amount of storage.

The 2021 iPad Pro’s battery is bigger than the 2020 model’s — 10,758mAh compared to 9,720mAh. Thanks to this difference, it lasts a little longer between charges, even if its use of mini-LED technology can be slightly energy intensive. Both iPads support fast charging at 18W.

Winner: iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Cameras

Things are very close in the camera department, save for one notable improvement. Both devices feature a dual-lens rear camera, with a 12-megapixel wide lens and a 10MP ultrawide lens, as well as a LiDAR sensor (that’s potentially useful for augmented reality applications). They’ll both be as versatile and as useful as each other, with our review of the 2020 model finding that it takes decent photos in the vast majority of conditions, even if it isn’t quite up to the same level as the iPhone 12 or leading Android phones.

While the rear cameras are basically the same, the iPad Pro (2021) packs a 12MP ultrawide selfie camera, in contrast to the 2020’s 7MP regular wide lens. Apple says this provides more natural video calls, while the use of the artificial intelligence-powered Center Stage feature should allow for some impressively panoramic selfies since it ensures you’re always cropped in the center of any given shot. Given the regularity with which most of us take selfies and video calls these days, this proves to be more than just a fancy gimmick, so we’re giving yet another round to the newer iPad Pro.

Winner: iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Software and updates

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and its 2020 predecessor both run iPadOS 14, which offers a variety of helpful features you don’t get with the iPhone, such as sidebars, the Dock menu, and the great Scribble feature (letting you use the Apple Pencil to write into on-screen text fields and boxes).

This means they’ll be as useful as each other, while Apple’s enviable track record in rolling out updates also means they’ll receive updates as regularly and as promptly as each other. It’s also worth pointing out that Apple hasn’t yet stopped supporting any iPad Pro model (and we’re now onto the fifth generation), so you’ll be able to use both for many years before actually needing to upgrade.

Winner: Tie

Special features

The iPad Pro 2021 copies the iPhone 12 range by adding the option of 5G support. You will have to pay $200 extra for this privilege, but it will grant you access to the fastest mmWave 5G bands, as well as the longer-range sub-6Hz frequencies. This is something not all flagship smartphones can boast of (even in 2021), so you really will be at the forefront of innovation with the 2021 model.

As noted above, both models come with a LiDAR sensor. This enables the use of a range of augmented-reality apps, although these remain few and far between at the moment, so you probably won’t be using it all that much. Both devices also harness Face ID (for unlocking and purchases) and even support the Magic Keyboard accessory, letting you turn both of them into a glorified laptop.

Again, there isn’t a massive difference between either device, but the inclusion of 5G support is another feature that does just enough to tip the scales in favor of the newer iPad Pro.

Winner: iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Price and availability

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is now available to order from Apple’s website, starting at $1,099 and rising to $2,229 if you want the 2TB version with 5G. It’s supported by all major networks and sold by pretty much every credible retailer.

Now that it has been officially usurped by the 2021 model, you can no longer purchase the iPad Pro (2020) directly from Apple’s site. Still, there are plenty of good deals available from retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon, and you are likely to find it at a small ($100) discount right about now, so get shopping.

Overall winner: iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) isn’t a quantum leap over the iPad Pro (2020), but it does offer improvements in just about every department. Its display has been enriched by the use of mini-LED technology, it has a seriously capable M1 processor, a more versatile selfie camera, and 5G support. So while the older version has many of the same fundamental features in place, these new improvements do tip it over the edge.

That said, if you’re not too fussed about selfies or 5G support, the iPad Pro (2020) is certainly worth buying if you can find a new model for less than its launch price. It will last you for almost as long as the 2021 model, and will do the vast majority of the same things. Similarly, if you already have the 2020 model, it probably isn’t worth upgrading just yet.

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