M1 iPad Pro: 5 standout features that make the best tablet even better
The first major update to the iPad Pro in three years does not disappoint.
Apple released a new iPad Pro in 2020 – a year and a half after the prior update – but it wasn’t much of a change. new camera module that included LiDAR and an ultra-wide lens was fine, but the iPad isn’t really the thing people reach for when they want to take great photos. The processor was updated to the A12Z, which was just the same as the A12X but with a single GPU core, disabled on the
A12X, re-enabled. It had more storage, but that’s just a function of the inevitable march of time.
So, the iPad Pro was overdue for a more significant update, and with the new 5th-generation iPad Pro, we finally have it. Here are the highlights that make this year’s iPad Pro special.
THE M1 PROCESSOR MAKES IT VERY FAST
We were impressed by the M1 in the new Apple silicon Macs, and now the same chip is in the iPad Pro. The M1 is basically what we would have expected from an A14X – it’s like an A14 with double the highperformance cores (4 instead of 2), double the GPU cores (8 instead of 4), and double the memory bus width (128-bit instead of 64-bit).
In addition to the much faster CPU and graphics, storage access is twice as fast as the previous iPad Pro and is now available with up to 2TB of storage (though it’ll cost you an extra
£400). On models with less than 1TB of storage, the new iPad Pro models come with 8GB of RAM. On models with 1TB or 2TB of storage, they come with 16GB of RAM. That’s the first time we haven’t relied on a teardown to get the RAM specs, which is a notable change.
THE 12.9IN MODEL HAS A LIQUID RETINA XDR DISPLAY
Both the 11in and 12.9in iPad Pros have LED displays with a resolution of 264 pixels per inch, True Tone and 120Hz ProMotion support. But the 12.9in model also has a new mini-LED backlight that gives it better contrast.
Apple calls this Liquid Retina XDR, and it works a lot like the Pro Display XDR. You get 1,000 nits of
brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and support for multiple different HDR formats. It also includes the same features as before, including ProMotion, True Tone and P3 wide colour support. Apple says the display delivers “a stunning visual experience that reflects what can be seen in the real world by capturing the brightest highlights and the most subtle details in even the darkest images”.
THUNDERBOLT AND USB4 SUPPORT
With the big 2018 redesign, Apple swapped out the Lightning port on the iPad Pro for a USB Type C connector. This gave the iPad the ability to more easily connect to external storage, cameras and other accessories. The 2021 models support Thunderbolt 3 and USB4. It can even hook up to the Pro Display XDR at full resolution.
NEW 12MP ULTRA WIDE FRONT CAMERA
The 2021 iPad Pros have the same rear cameras as last year’s model: an f/1.8 12Mp Wide and f/2.4 10Mp Ultra Wide camera, plus a LiDAR sensor.
But the front camera has been bumped up to an f/2.4 12Mp Ultra Wide camera with a 122-degree field of view. While the camera is still frustratingly located on the short edge of the device, a new FaceTime feature called Centre Stage automatically pans and zooms to keep you in the frame as you move around the area so it’ll look more natural to the people with whom you’re chatting.
Better image processing from the M1 processor should also result in noticeably better photos and videos despite having the same rear camera hardware.
5G SUPPORT
As with the iPhone 12, the new iPad Pro supports 5G (if you buy a model with cellular support).
iPAD PRO SPECIFICATIONS
Here’s how the new iPad Pro compares to last year’s models.
11in M1 iPad Pro
Display: 600 nits, ProMotion, True Tone, Wide Colour, 264ppi Processor: Apple M1
Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Battery: Up to 10 hours of web on Wi-Fi or watching video
Rear cameras: 12Mp f/1.8 wide and 10Mp, f/2.4 Ultra Wide cameras, Smart HDR 3
Front camera: TrueDepth, Ultra Wide 12Mp f/2.4, Smart HDR 3, Centre Stage
USB-C: USB4 and Thunderbolt support Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, simultaneous dual-band up to 1.2Gb/s
Starting price: £749 Wi-Fi, £899 Wi-Fi and Cellular 12.9in M1 iPad Pro
Display: Mini-LED backlit, 1000+ nits, HDR, ProMotion, True Tone, Wide Colour, 264ppi
Processor: Apple M1
Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Battery: Up to 10 hours of web on Wi-Fi or watching video
Rear cameras: 12Mp f/1.8 wide and 10Mp, f/2.4 Ultra Wide cameras, Smart HDR 3
Front camera: TrueDepth, Ultra Wide 12Mp f/2.4, Smart HDR 3, Centre Stage
USB-C: USB4 and Thunderbolt support Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, simultaneous dual-band up to 1.2Gb/s
Starting price: £999 Wi-Fi, £1,149 Wi-Fi and Cellular 11in/12.9in iPad Pro (2020) Display: 600 nits, ProMotion, True Tone, Wide Colour, 264ppi Processor: Apple A12Z Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery: Up to 10 hours of web on Wi-Fi or watching video
Rear cameras: 12Mp f/1.8 wide and 10Mp, f/2.4 Ultra Wide cameras, Smart HDR 3 Front camera: TrueDepth, 7Mp f/2.2,
Smart HDR
USB-C: USB-C only
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, simultaneous dual-band up to 1.2Gb/s Starting price: £799/£999 Wi-Fi, £999/£1,149 Wi-Fi + Cellular