Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) ($412) 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 pro tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
| Price | $412 | $500 |
| Weight | 466g | 682g |
| Chip | Apple M1 | Apple M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina, 120Hz ProMotion | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Port | Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Camera | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Weight | 466g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1)
- M1 chip, genuinely desktop-class performance that still feels fast
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 port supports external displays and fast storage
- 120Hz ProMotion display
- LiDAR scanner for AR and improved autofocus
- No mini-LED XDR display, that arrived on the 12.9-inch model only
- 466g plus a Magic Keyboard adds real bag weight
- M1 is now several generations behind current iPad Pro silicon
- Costs meaningfully more used than the iPad Air it visually resembles
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 Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) is the better value at $412. Both are part of our curated pro tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.