The iPad Pro is Apple’s top-of-the-line tablet, featuring premium specs, a fantastic camera, a beautiful screen, and highly versatile software. The 2020 model is Apple’s latest, but is it the greatest? There’s a good case for arguing that it is, but with the 2018 iPad Pro also boasting some very impressive features, it’s not immediately obvious as to whether the newer iPad Pro is the one to get.
Like the previous-generation iPad Pro, the new models are available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. Although they come at the same price, you’re likely to find discounts on the older models considering they are now last-generation tech. Should you save your cash and buy a last-gen iPad Pro, or should you go for the latest and greatest?
If you’re looking for even steeper discounts, take a look at the best iPad deals and best Apple sales available now.
Specs
Table of Contents
| iPad Pro (2018) | iPad Pro (2020) | |
| Size | 11-inch: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 inches
12.9-inch: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches |
11-inch: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 inches
12.9-inch: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches |
| Weight | 11-inch: 1.03 pounds
12.9-inch: 1.39 pounds |
11-inch: 1.04 pounds
12.9-inch: 1.41 pounds |
| Screen size | 11 inches, 12.9 inches | 11 inches, 12.9 inches |
| Screen resolution | 11-inch: 1,668 x 2,388
12.9-inch: 2,048 x 2,732 |
11-inch: 1,668 x 2,388
12.9-inch: 2,048 x 2,732 |
| Operating system | iPadOS | iPadOS |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| MicroSD card slot | No | No |
| Processor | Apple A12X Bionic | Apple A12Z Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 6GB |
| Camera | 12MP rear, 7MP front | Dual 12MP + 10MP Ultrawide, LiDAR, 7MP front |
| Video | 4K at 60fps, 720p at 240fps | 4K at 60fps, 1,080p at 240fps |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Fingerprint sensor | No | No |
| Water resistance | No | No |
| Battery | 11-inch: 29.45Wh
12.9-inch: 36.71Wh |
11-inch: 28.65Wh
12.9-inch: 36.71Wh |
| App marketplace | Apple App Store | Apple App Store |
| Network support | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon (Cellular models only) | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon (Cellular models only) |
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Silver, Space Gray |
| Price | 11-inch: $800+
12.9-inch: $1,000+ |
11-inch: $800+
12.9-inch: $1,000+ |
| Buy from | Best Buy | Apple |
| Review score | 4 out of 5 stars | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
Design, display, and durability
The 2018 iPad Pro represented a design shift for the iPad, doing away with the home button in favor of an edge-to-edge display and Face ID. As such, Apple didn’t provide us with a massive refresh for the 2020 model. Instead, the only real design change is the camera module. The 2018 iPad Pro offered a single-lens camera, while the new iPad Pro adds a square camera bump similar to that on the iPhone 11 series.
The display on the 2018 iPad models and the 2020 iPad models is exactly the same — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They’re not the highest-resolution displays out there, but they look great, and graphic designers and video editors should have no problems with them. That said, eventually, we hope Apple moves to an OLED display on the iPad.
The iPad is a sleek, thin device, and as such it’s not necessarily the most durable tablet out there. It’s not made of glass, so at least the back of it won’t shatter, but tests consistently show that the device will easily bend under pressure. Safe to say, it’s worth being careful with the iPad Pro.
Winner: Tie
Performance, battery life, and charging
The 2018 iPad Pro offered excellent performance, thanks to its ultra-powerful Apple A12X Bionic chip and either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, depending on the model you went for. The 2020 iPad Pro takes things a step further, with the slightly more powerful A12Z Bionic, and 6GB of RAM in all models.
Ultimately, while the new model is more powerful, the performance boost seems to be relatively small — so most will still be more than happy with the performance on offer by the 2018 iPad Pro. That doesn’t mean they’re even. The A12Z Bionic is quicker. A little.
The battery on the new iPad Pro is technically smaller, but not by much. Apple says that all models will get “10 hours of surfing the web.” They all charge through the USB-C port, but none of the models support wireless charging, if that’s important to you.
The performance upgrades are minor. Yet they do exist, and for that reason, we give Apple’s new model the edge.
Winner: 2020 iPad Pro
Cameras
The 2020 iPad Pro’s most meaningful upgrade may well be its new camera features. While the 2018 iPad Pro offered a single-lens 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, the new model offers a 12-megapixel primary lens, a 10MP ultrawide lens, and a LiDAR sensor. The new sensor can come in handy for augmented reality applications. That may be more helpful for some users than for others, but it’s a clear upgrade that makes sense on the iPad.
For most, the front-facing camera will be more important, and there is no upgrade to be found there. Like the 2018 model, the 2020 model of the iPad Pro offers a 7MP front-facing camera. This puts both tablets on an equal footing, but with the extra ultrawide lens (and the LiDAR sensor), this is another win for the newer iPad Pro.
Winner: 2020 iPad Pro
Software and updates
The 2018 iPad Pro shipped with iPadOS 12. However, as with the 2020 iPad Pro, it can be updated to the latest OS, iPadOS14. iPadOS itself offers a number of features over its close cousin iOS, such as helpful sidebars, the Dock menu, and the new Scribble feature.
Generally, Apple is good at offering software updates to its devices for several years. It’s possible that the 2020 iPad Pro will get updates further into the future than the 2018 iPad Pro considering it’s newer. On the other hand, the two have very similar performance, so it’s equally probable that Apple will discontinue support for both whenever that happens.
It’s hard to know for sure. Apple has yet to discontinue support for any iPad Pro.
Winner: Tie
Special features
Both the 2018 iPad Pro and the 2020 iPad Pro offer a range of special features that put them ahead of other iPad models, but the new model doesn’t offer much beyond the older 2018 version. They both feature Face ID, which works no matter which orientation you have your iPad set up. They also both support all Apple Pencil models, and thanks to iPadOS 13.4 (and later OS versions), they both have mouse and trackpad support. They even both support the Magic Keyboard accessory, so don’t feel like you need to buy the new model to use that keyboard.
The only feature that the new iPad offers over the previous model is the upgraded camera setup, so if you plan on using your device for AR a lot, you might want that LiDAR.
Winner: 2020 iPad Pro
Price and availability
You can find the 2020 iPad Pro on Apple’s website and at most major electronics retailers. If you’re more of an online shopper, these retailers also offer online purchase options. The base model features an 11-inch screen and has a 128 GB storage capacity for around $800. If it’s in the budget to spend up to $1,300, you can purchase the 11-inch model with an upgraded 1 TB of storage. The 12.9-inch model starts at $1,000 for the 128GB model, with prices ranging up to $1,500 for 1TB of storage.
The 2018 iPad Pros have the same list prices as the new model, but we project that retailers are going to be creating their own individual discounts to make space for the newer models. While you may not be able to buy the older device straight from Apple you shouldn’t have a problem finding it from other retailers, like Best Buy and Amazon.
Overall winner: 2020 iPad Pro
The 2020 iPad Pro’s upgrades aren’t very significant, and it’s the same price as the outgoing model, making it a no-brainer to recommend the new version if you’re in search of a new iPad. If you’re shopping for a bargain, look for promotions and closeouts on the older 2018 iPad Pro stock. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a discount of at least $150 lower than retail, as that’s equivalent to the best iPad Pro deals we saw during last year’s holiday shopping season.
Editors’ Recommendations