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Apple iPad (10th generation) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad (10th generation) ($272) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) ($500) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right budget tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad (10th generation) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $272 | $500 |
| Weight | 477g | 682g |
| Chip | A14 Bionic | Apple M1 |
| Display | 10.9" Liquid Retina, edge-to-edge | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Port | USB-C | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| TouchID | Moved to top button | — |
| Pencil | 1st generation Apple Pencil, via adapter | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Weight | 477g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Camera | — | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad (10th generation)
- USB-C, first base iPad to drop Lightning
- Edge-to-edge display matches the iPad Air's modern look
- A14 chip is a real step up from the 9th gen's A13
- Landscape stereo speakers, better for video and games
- Still only supports the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, and needs a USB-C adapter to charge it
- No ProMotion or laminated display like the Air/Pro
- 477g, barely lighter than the 9th gen despite the redesign
- Costs meaningfully more than the 9th gen used for a smaller feature gap than the redesign suggests
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
- Mini-LED XDR display, still one of the best screens ever put in a tablet
- M1 chip handles anything current iPadOS asks of it
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 for external displays and fast storage
- LiDAR and the full Pro camera system
- 682g plus a keyboard case is a genuine laptop-weight bag addition
- Mini-LED can show blooming around bright text on dark backgrounds
- Costs noticeably more used than the 11-inch M1 Pro for the display upgrade alone
- Several generations behind current M-series Pro silicon now
Apple iPad (10th generation) is the better value at $272. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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