Apple is currently selling five different models of its popular iPad, but only two have the Pro designation. The iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch models are the largest, but the iPad Air 4 is the newest. For anyone shopping for a new tablet, understanding the differences in price and features will be helpful in deciding between the very low-cost standard iPad and iPad mini, and the more expensive iPad Air and iPad Pro.
The first iPad Pro was launched in 2015 and the difference with this new device was clear. It had a massive 12.9-inch screen, as large as some laptop displays, but retained the slim and light proportions of a regular iPad. This was also the first appearance of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. These accessories did not work with any other device at the time, making the iPad Pro unique in its ability to serve as a laptop replacement and fill the needs of artists that were previously reliant upon a graphics tablet and computer for digital painting and drawing. It was a huge announcement and broke ground for a new class of tablets.
With the current generation of Apple tablets, the line between consumer and professional has softened. Every iPad except the iPad mini is compatible with an Apple Pencil, the lowest cost iPad 8 using the first generation stylus while the iPad Air 4 and iPad Pro models work with the improved Apple Pencil 2. Likewise, only the iPad mini is excluded from use with an Apple Smart Keyboard, but the Air and Pro models have access to the latest Magic Keyboard that raises and angles the tablet with powerful magnetic attachment. Size matters when it comes to tablet screens and the iPad Pro 12.9-inch is by far the largest. The 11-inch iPad Pro is second, followed very closely by the 10.9-inch iPad Air 4 and 10.2-inch iPad 8. The iPad mini is in a category of its own, small enough that it might be considered an advantage for some with its 7.9-inch screen. The Pro models have slightly brighter displays at 600-nits versus 500-nits for the rest, but the stand-out feature is its 120-hertz ProMotion technology that helps with high frame rate video and smooths scrolling. The iPad Air and both iPad Pro models display wide-gamut P3 color allowing professional users to view and edit photos, videos and graphics with more accuracy.
iPad Pro Pricing & Special Features
The iPad Pro models offer higher capacity configurations than Apple’s other tablets, but even at the entry-level, it will cost $200 more to buy than an iPad Air. The largest iPad Pro 12.9-inch, starting at $999, costs $400 more than the iPad Air. The A12Z processor in the Pro models offers a higher core count, handling some tasks easier than the new A14 chip found in the iPad Air and easily outclasses the iPad 8 and iPad mini, which are $329 and $399, respectively. So the best comparison is really the iPad Pro 11-inch and the iPad Air 4. Does the iPad Pro offer enough to justify the $200 difference for those that want the size and power of at least the mid-range iPad? Each of these tablets can use the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard, so accessories do not distinguish them. What makes the iPad Pro special?
The iPad Pro can be ordered with up to 1-terabyte of internal storage, while the iPad Air and iPad 8 top out at 256-gigabytes. The iPad Pro models also have a bit more memory than the rest, though Apple doesn’t advertise this. As mentioned, the iPad Pro has a brighter display with a faster refresh rate. The most unique aspect of the 2020 iPad Pro is the camera array. Tablets generally aren’t known for their cameras, but both of the Pro models have a second ultra-wide rear camera and a LiDAR Scanner, which allows near-instant capture of three-dimensional point clouds for professional augmented reality (AR) development. The front-facing TrueDepth camera enables FaceID authentication which eliminates the need for TouchID. Finally, four speakers allow stereo sound in both portrait and landscape orientation.
For those that want the best, the large display on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch can’t be beaten. When looking for something small, the iPad mini is a wonderful tablet and plenty for most. The cheapest model, the iPad 8, is a great starter tablet and is great for casual use. The iPad Pro 11-inch has enough features to justify the expense, but for those that have no need for LiDAR or that don’t feel the other little extras will make much difference, Apple’s iPad Air 4 is a very close competitor.
