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Apple iPad (9th generation) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad (9th generation) ($155) 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 (9th generation) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $155 | $500 |
| Weight | 487g | 682g |
| Chip | A13 Bionic | Apple M1 |
| Display | 10.2" Retina | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage front, 8MP rear | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Port | Lightning | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Pencil | 1st generation Apple Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Weight | 487g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad (9th generation)
- Cheapest working iPad with a modern-enough chip for everyday apps
- Home button and Touch ID, familiar to anyone coming from an older iPhone
- Center Stage front camera for video calls
- Compatible with the 1st-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard
- Lightning port, not USB-C
- Thick bezels around a smaller 10.2-inch display
- 487g is heavier than every iPad Air or Pro on this list
- No longer sold new, so accessories will thin out over time
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 (9th generation) is the better value at $155. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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