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Apple iPad (A16) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad (A16) ($449) 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 (A16) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449 | $500 |
| Weight | 477g | 682g |
| Chip | A16 | Apple M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | — |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Camera | — | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Pencil | — | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad (A16)
- $449 entry into a mature ecosystem
- A16 is plenty for media and notes
- Same 11-inch screen size as the Air
- Years of software support at this price
- No Pencil Pro — USB-C Pencil only
- Heavier than the 11-inch Air it undercuts
- Unlaminated display feels less premium
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 (A16) is the better value at $449. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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