The 2021 iPad Pro is finally here, and with that, users worldwide are already busy looking for the factors that might lead them to either buy or let go. This review will discuss if features in the M1 Chip-powered iPad Pro are influential enough in driving the device into being the most powerful tablet ever or the story is different altogether.
What’s Inside the Box?
While getting any new device, almost everyone is curious about figuring out what accessories do feature inside the box. So, when we talk about the iPad Pro 2021, no matter if you decide to own the 11-inch or the 12.9-inch model, you’ll be getting a user manual, usual Apple stickers, and the charging kit. The charging kit includes a USB-C Charging Cable (1 meter) and a 20W USB-C Power Adapter. Further, there is also a SIM ejector tool for the cellular models with the already mentioned accessories and the device itself.
Now in case you’re wondering about the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, well, you’ll have to buy them separately for your iPad Pro.
Key Specifications:
Body
- Color: Silver, Space grey
- Weight: For 12.9-inch: 1.5lbs(682g) (Wi-Fi), 1.507lbs(684g)(W-Fi and Cellular), For 11-inch: 1.02lbs(466g) (Wi-Fi), 1.03lbs(468 g)(W-Fi and Cellular)
Display
For 12.9-inch:
- Liquid Retina XDR display
- 32.77 cm / 12.9-inch (diagonal) Mini-LED backlit MultiTouch display featuring IPS technology
- 2732×2048-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch
- The reflectivity of 1.8%
- Max brightness of 600 nits
- Max full-screen brightness:1000 nits, Peak brightness: 1600 nits (HDR)
- Contrast Ratio 10,00,000:1
For 11-inch:
- Liquid Retina display
- 27.96 cm / 11-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit MultiTouch display featuring technology
- 2388×1668-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch
- The reflectivity of 1.8%
- 600 nits brightness
Storage
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 512GB
- 1TB
- 2TB
Chipset and RAM
- Apple M1 chip
- 8-core CPU where 4 are performance cores and 4 are efficiency cores
- An 8-core GPU
- A 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB RAM (For 128GB, 256GB or 512GB models)
- 16GB RAM (For 1TB or 2TB models)
Camera and Video
- Wide: 12MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- Ultra-Wide: 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture and 125° field of view
- 2x optical zoom out
- Digital zoom up to 5x
- Fiveelement lens
- 4K video recording at varied frames including 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps (Wide)
- 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
- 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
True-Depth Camera
- 12MP Ultra-Wide camera, 122° field of view
- ƒ/2.4 aperture
Ports
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 port with support for: Charging, Display Port
- Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 GB/s)
- USB 4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 GB/s)
Check out some of the best tablets with usb-c ports
Battery
- Built-in 40.88 (Watt-Hour) rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (iPad Pro 12.9-inch)
- Built-in 28.65 (Watt-Hour) rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (iPad Pro 11-inch)
Features
Design
When we talk about the design of the 2021 iPad Pro, there are actually no visual differences to be found from its predecessor. In fact, if you’re someone who has been using the 2020 model, it would be hard for you to figure out any major distinguishing factor that sets the design of this year’s iPad Pro apart. However, the only noticeable thing is the 12.9-inch model being slightly thicker, and that’s too for adapting the liquid retina XDR display.
Although the looks are pretty much the same, there is no denying that Apple iPads doesn’t hold back in providing the design that everyone loves to be around.
Display
Home to all the standard features, including the P3 Wide Color, True Tone, ProMotion capturing that support refresh rate up to 120Hz, the 2021 iPad Pro brings in everything you can possibly expect. However, the 12.9-inch variant is more than that.
Featuring a liquid retina XDR display, the larger iPad Pro model is undoubtedly a game-changer. Moreover, it comes with a 1 million to one contrast ratio, making it one of the best options to grind HDR images and videos. In simple words, the display of iPad Pro 2021 is engineered to take your viewing experience to a whole new level.
Chipset and Memory
There always have been talks if iPads could come as a replacement for laptops. Apple has considerably answered a significant part of featuring the M1 silicon chipset in the 2021 iPad Pro. It is basically the same used in the 2021 iMac.
Talking about memory, this year’s iPad Pro provides users with two options. You can either go for the 8GB variant or even choose 16GB for meeting high-end tasks.
Whether we consider the personal usage factor or the numbers, i.e. the benchmark scores, the power elements in iPad Pro 2021 blend perfectly into a high-performing solution.
Storage
iPad Pros with available storage options covering 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and even 1TB might not be something new. However, the massive 2TB flash storage is. The iPad Pro can now hold down the storage capacity similar to Mac computers, just like it does in the chipset and memory segment. So, if you’re looking to convert your iPad Pro into a daily workstation, the 2TB variant is sure to come in real handy.
Camera
The 2021 iPad Pro features an ultra-wide True-Depth front-facing camera that elements a 122-degree field of view. Although the new camera sees a slightly slower aperture than last year’s edition, the much wider field of view is something that needs to be appreciated. Talking about the rear camera, the new set updates to a higher resolution, from 7MP to 12MP.
Now one thing that might seem to be an issue or a reason for discomfort is the placement of the front camera. Thankfully, though, Apple kind of tried to mitigate the problem with the “Center Stage” feature. This is an entirely new addition that helps a user conveniently stick to the middle of the frame while using any video conferencing.
Battery and Ports
This year’s iPad Pro comes with a 28.65 watt-hour and 40.88 watt-hours rechargeable Li-Po battery, respectively, for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch variants. Although we’re still to run a real drainage test, you can expect your iPad Pro to last up to 9 to 10 hours processing regular activities.
What sets it apart from the rest of the devices?
When we walk through the specifications, the first striking factor exclusive for the 2021 iPad pro is the liquid retina XDR display. Although available for the 12.9 variant only, this is by far the most fantastic display that has been made for tablets.
This year’s iPad Pro also features the Apple Silicon M1 chip, a powerful processor from the family of iMacs, something very new to the scene. Apart from the display and processor, the introduction of Thunderbolt 4 ports and expandable storage options of up to 2TB are among the exclusive features for the 2021 variant of iPad Pro.
Who does Really Need the 2021 iPad Pro?
Are you someone who really needs to equip a tablet that genuinely serves the purpose of a laptop? Well then, I need your attention here.
Bagging in the 8GB to 16GB of RAM that powers up the M1 chipset, the 2021 iPad Pro is a performance beast. Also, the Thunderbolt support is fruitful enough for taking the device to the very next level. So, whether you’re a pro gamer or you deal in high-end editing, this year’s iPad Pro is the most convenient solution for processing your heavy tasks.
The iPad Pro 2021: Pros
- A great performer, thanks to Apple’s M1 Chip.
- Availability of Thunderbolt ports.
- The Liquid Retina XDR display is undoubtedly one of the best in tablets so far (only available in the 12.9-inch variant)
- Supports 5G.
The iPad Pro 2021: Cons
- The device is a bit heavier, especially with accessories
- No Liquid Retina XDR display for the 11-inch model
- This year’s iPad Pro rests on the expensive side.
The iPad Pro 2021 Vs The iPad Pro 2020
| Model: | iPad Pro 2021 | iPad Pro 2020 |
| Display: | Liquid XDR Display (12.9-inch) | Liquid Retina LED Display |
| Processor: | Apple Silicon M1 | Apple A 12Z |
| RAM: | 8 GB or 16 GB RAM | 6GB RAM |
| Storage: | Storage up to 2 TB | Storage up to 1 TB |
| Camera: | ƒ/2.4 12MP True Depth camera with Ultra-Wide camera, 2x optical zoom out, and Center Stage. | ƒ/2.2 7MP True Depth camera. |
| Port: | Thunderbolt / USB 4 port. | USB-C Port (no Thunderbolt) |
Hands down, the primary factor that sets this year’s iPad Pro apart from its predecessor is the chipset. Where users were exposed to the Apple A12Z Bionic chipset last year, the 2021 iPad Pro, brings in the M1 silicon chip, the same that the latest MacBooks feature. With that being said, expecting a top-notch performance won’t be unfair at all.
However, if the chipset alone is not enough to settle your mind. In that case, the Thunderbolt ports, 5G connectivity, and the liquid retina XDR display (exclusive for the 12.9-inch model), which are all fresh additions, definitely deserves your attention.
iPad Pro 2021 Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Home to Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ display, the Galaxy Tab S7+ from Samsung provides an excellent viewing experience. However, thanks to the liquid retina XDR display with a 2732×2048-pixel resolution, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro holds down the best display ever that existed for tablets to date.
When we talk about gaming and high-end renderings, the 2021 variant iPad Pro takes a point. Although the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 in S7+ is pretty suitable for occasional light-weight gaming, it is hard to match the power of the M1 chip that sets home in the new generation iMacs.
In the camera section, both the devices come with a promising set. However, featuring various elements like “Center-Stage,” 5x digital zoom, 2x optical zoom, ultra-wide shooting angles, and more, the iPad Pro 2021 stands ahead of its competitor in taking images and shooting videos.
Final Verdict
For someone looking for a serious tablet that can assist in high-end processes, the 2021 iPad is undoubtedly the best fit available to date. However, spending $1,099 without any accessories for the 12.9-inch model might be a hard call for someone to make. The good thing, though, the 11-inch variant is also capable enough of delivering similar performances at around $700. But make sure the display compromises are acceptable from your side. If you are wondering if the new iPad can replace your laptop – it depends. It definitely has that power, performance-wise, but it’s definitely different than the laptop, whole iOS, navigation, etc. Let’s just leave it at this – it definitely has the potential to replace your laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the iPad 2021 Pro Cost?
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 starts from $1,099, while the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 starts at $799. Also, it is essential to remember that for 5G connectivity, you’ll need to pay around $150 additionally. Premium price for a premium device.
How much RAM does the iPad Pro 2021 have?
We already know that previously Apple has never disclosed the RAM information for any of their device. However, the case is different for the 2021 iPad Pro. This year’s iPad Pro provides a user with two choices. He/she can either go for the 8 GB variant or the 16 GB variant. For anyone who’s planning to use the tablet for essentials, 8 GB should be sufficient. If you will want your iPad to accomplish more demanding tasks all at once, gaming, drawing, graphic designs, programming, data processing it’s a good idea to consider a 16 GB model for more sufficient performance.
Will the older Magic Keyboard support the iPad Pro 2021?
Yes, the new iPad Pro 2021 model has clarified that the Magic Keyboard will be fully functional with the new iPad, no additional accessories required, the design is almost identical to its predecessor, the camera fits perfectly and it connects to the devices flawlessly.
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