Apple · iPad Pro
iPad Pro 12.9″ (M1)
Apple's 2021 12.9-inch professional tablet combines M1 and a mini-LED HDR display for drawing, media editing and mobile creative work.
Model history · 5 models, 2015–2021
- Screen
- 12.9″
- Display
- Mini-LED, 120 Hz
- Chip
- M1
- Memory
- 8 GB – 16 GB
- Storage
- 128 GB – 2 TB
- Weight
- 682 g
What reviewers say
Reviewers praise the bright HDR display, fast M1 performance and clear audio. They agree the large tablet and its accessories are expensive, and software at launch still falls short of a laptop workflow. Battery endurance varies with brightness and demanding use, with HDR viewing needing more power.
From techradar.com and tomsguide.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Screen size
- 12.9″
- Resolution
- 2732 × 2048
- Sharpness
- 265 pixels per inch
- Panel
- Mini-LED
- Refresh rate
- 120 Hz
- Brightness
- 600 nits
- HDR peak brightness
- 1,600 nits
- Display type
- Liquid Retina XDR display, mini-LED-backlit IPS LCD; 2596 full-array local dimming zones; 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- Pixel density
- 264 ppi
- Brightness detail
- Up to 1000 nits full-screen HDR; 1600 nits peak for HDR content only
- Display features
- ProMotion up to 120Hz (TechRadar); wide colour (P3); True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
- Chip
- M1
- Memory
- 8 GB – 16 GB
- Storage
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
- CPU
- 8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 8GB RAM on 128–512GB models, 16GB on 1–2TB models
- GPU
- 8-core GPU
- AI engine
- 16-core Neural Engine
Cameras
- Rear camera
- 12 MP
- Ultra wide camera
- 10 MP
- Front camera
- 12 MP
- Rear camera
- 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8, autofocus with Focus Pixels; 10MP Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4, 125°; five-element lenses; 2x optical zoom out, up to 5x digital zoom; True Tone flash; Smart HDR 3; sapphire crystal lens cover
- Front camera
- 12MP TrueDepth Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4, 122°; Center Stage; Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting; Smart HDR 3; Retina Flash; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps
- Video recording
- 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps (Wide); 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation; HEVC and H.264; stereo recording
- Depth sensor
- LiDAR Scanner
Battery and connections
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 10 hours
- Battery capacity
- 40.88 Wh
- Mobile data option
- Yes
- Stylus
- Supported, sold separately
- Keyboard made for it
- Yes
- Battery life detail
- Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data
- Charging
- Via USB-C power adapter or computer; 20W adapter included, maximum charging power not specified by Apple
- USB-C
- USB-C with charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 up to 40Gb/s, USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10Gb/s; one external display up to 6K at 60Hz
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz, HT80 with MIMO
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Mobile network
- Optional 5G and LTE; nano-SIM and eSIM; GPS/GNSS on cellular models; 685g for Wi-Fi + Cellular, 682g for Wi-Fi; mmWave limited to US models
- Stylus support
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C), sold separately; USB-C Pencil compatibility added after launch
- Keyboards
- Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, sold separately; Smart Connector
Design
- Weight
- 682 g
- Thickness
- 6.4 mm
- Height × width
- 280.6 × 214.9 mm
- Operating system
- iPadOS
- Biometrics
- Face ID via TrueDepth camera
- Speakers
- Four-speaker audio
- Microphones
- Five studio-quality microphones
- Sensors
- Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass
- Materials
- Enclosure made with 100% recycled aluminium
- Colours
- Silver, Space Grey
- Software at launch
- iPadOS 14.5; Apple's support page was subsequently updated to iPadOS 15
- In the box
- iPad Pro, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), 20W USB-C Power Adapter
Storage options
| Storage | Memory |
|---|---|
| 128 GB | 8 GB |
| 256 GB | 8 GB |
| 512 GB | 8 GB |
| 1 TB | 16 GB |
| 2 TB | 16 GB |
Pros and cons
Pros
- M1 with an 8-core CPU and GPU, and up to 16GB RAM
- Mini-LED HDR display with ProMotion, Face ID and four speakers
- Thunderbolt and USB 4 with support for a 6K external display
Cons
- 682g Wi-Fi model is heavier than the 11-inch version
- Apple Pencil and keyboard sold separately
- Front camera on the short edge when using a keyboard
Closest rivals
Model | Screen | Display | Chip | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.9″ | Mini-LED, 120 Hz | M2 | 8 GB – 16 GB | 128 GB – 2 TB | 682 g | Oct 2022 | |
| 11″ | LCD, 120 Hz | M1 | 8 GB – 16 GB | 128 GB – 2 TB | 466 g | May 2021 | |
| 12.9″ | LCD, 120 Hz | A12Z Bionic | 6 GB | 128 GB – 1 TB | 641 g | Mar 2020 |
Previous model: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation). Newer model: iPad Pro 12.9″ (M2).
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-gb/111896
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2021/04/apple-unveils-new-ipad-pro-with-m1-chip-and-stunn…
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2021/05/imac-ipad-pro-and-apple-tv-4k-in-stores-friday
- techradar.com/reviews/ipad-pro-129-2021-review