The iPad Pro is a line of tablet computers manufactured by Apple, targeted primarily at professionals and users who want high-performance capabilities in a portable device. The tablet features a sleek and premium design characterized by a thin profile, aluminum chassis, and a large touchscreen display.
The computer comes with a suite of useful applications written by Apple, and there are millions more available in the App Store. Apple sells two high-end accessories for the M4 iPad Pro: the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil Pro.
Plus, iPad Pro users can choose from a wide array of accessories made by third-party manufacturers. That includes multiple attachable keyboard cases with a trackpad to turn the tablet into a slim convertible notebook.
Overall, the tablet is positioned as a powerful and versatile computer suitable for a wide range of tasks, from content consumption to professional-level creative work, offering portability and convenience without compromising on performance.
Apple unveiled the first tablet in this product line on September 9, 2015. It featured an impressively large 12.9-inch screen. Apple released the original iPad Pro on November 11, 2015. A version with a 9.7-inch screen followed in early 2016.
Apple announced the second-generation model on June 5, 2017. Powered by an A10X Fusion processor, it came with three storage options: 64GB, 256GB and 512GB. A 10.5-inch model replaced the original 9.7-inch version; the 12.9-inch version stayed the same size. Both screen sizes employed better technology, with refresh rates up to 120Hz, better HDR and TrueTone white balancing. These were the last “Pro” models that came with a Home Button and a Lightning connector.
Apple announced the third-generation iPad Pro on October 30, 2018, in two screen sizes: 11-inch and 12.9-inch. Removing the Home Button enabled Apple to design the tablets with full-screen displays, with Face ID sensors on the top edge that worked in both landscape and portrait orientations. The third generation also replaced Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector with an industry-standard USB-C connector. These iPads worked with a new Smart Keyboard Folio as well as the previously launched Magic Keyboard.
Apple announced its fourth-generation premier tablets on March 18, 2020, with the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes. A a redesigned camera module, with a LiDAR Scanner for capturing 3D objects and environments. Powered by an Apple A12Z processor, the iPad Pro 4 started at 128GB storage. Apple also sold a Magic Keyboard with a trackpad for this model iPad Pro.
Apple announced the fifth-generation model on April 20, 2021. It looked the same as the previous generation, but brought a powerful upgrade: Apple’s new M1 chip. It also offered Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 connectivity (up to 40 Gbps) and 5G capability for cellular models. The 2021 iPad Pro also supported external display output up to 6K resolution. The 12.9-inch model gained an XDR display with mini-LEDs that Apple dubbed “Liquid Retina XDR.”
Apple announced the sixth-generation iPad Pro on October 18, 2022. These models used the same design as previous generations, but the more-powerful Apple M2 chip offered a performance upgrade. These tablets also supported a new Apple Pencil Hover feature that let the display detect the stylus up to 12mm above the screen. The sixth generation also gained ProRes Video Recording (limited to 1080p for variants with 128GB storage but capable of up to 4K for 256GB-plus models). Plus, it supported Apple’s ProMotion adaptive display technology, which let the screen refresh at up to 120 images per second.
The latest model, the M4 iPad Pro released in May 2024, comes in two sizes: one with an 11-inch screen and a second with a 13-inch screen. Like all Apple tablets, it runs iPadOS. At its heart is a powerful Apple M4 processor. It also features what Apple calls a “tandem OLED” screen that delivers darker blacks and brighter colors. It’s maker says the tablet’s slim new design makes it the “thinnest Apple product ever.”
Looking for a powerhouse tablet without the premium price? This grade-A refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pro delivers pro-level performance and versatility for just $519.97. Whether you’re a creative professional, a multitasking pro or a casual user who craves performance, you can get it with this fourth-gen iPad Pro model from 2020.
2025 will finally bring the much-anticipated 11th-generation iPad, a version of the budget tablet with a faster processor capable of accessing the latest Apple Intelligence features.
In addition, expect faster iPad Pro and iPad Air models in 2025 — one sooner than might be expected.
When you run a ton of peripherals with your Mac, how do keep it all connected and running smoothly? Well, today’s featured M4 Pro Mac mini user drives a pair of 4K external displays, runs a power hub and input devices, and keeps backups on portable storage devices. And they keep it connected without a hitch using the well-regarded CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 hub named “Element.”
With all the mousing and typing people do, you’d think products designed for ergonomic comfort — and to help avoid repetitive-strain injuy — would crop up in more computer setups. Well, today’s MacBook Pro and Mac Pro rig answers the call. The user, a smarty-pants undergrad at Harvard, relies on a Logitech MX Vertical wireless mouse setup plus a Logitech Pop Keys Mechanical Keyboard for data input.
So, you’ve been dreaming of owning an iPad Pro but weren’t quite ready to drop more than a grand on one? Good news: Your tech dreams just became a lot more affordable. This grade-A refurbished iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 4th Gen, 2020) is available for just $699.99 — $400 off the original price.
A university student calling themselves a “broke Harvard undergrad” while showing off a computer setup loaded with older and newer Apple hardware is bound to take some ribbing from social media on various levels. But today’s data-science number-crunching setup makes impressive and thrifty use of newer and older gear, including a 2023 M3 MacBook Pro, a 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro and a 2018 Intel MacBook Pro, plus a 2021 iPad Pro and a PlayStation 5 console.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: An interesting new gadget called the Flexbar takes Apple’s doomed Touch Bar idea and runs with it. Instead of being fixed in place like on the MacBook Pro, this customizable OLED strip connects to Macs and PCs via USB-C.
It looks pretty cool! But can it succeed where the Touch Bar failed?
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
The next big iPad Pro refresh will arrive in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report. The upgraded M5 iPad Pro reportedly will be the first product to use the next-gen Apple silicon chip.
Apple surprised everyone by launching this year’s iPad Pro refresh with an M4 chip.
There’s no better tablet to buy than an iPad. Apple overhauled the iPad Pro lineup this year with a slimmer new design, brighter displays, and a faster M4 chip.
I upgraded to the 11-inch iPad Pro from the M1 version earlier this year and could not be happier. This Black Friday, you should buy one, too, especially since the tablet is available with a big $150 discount.
Shopping for an iPad can be overwhelming. Apple sells six iPad models in a wide range of sizes, prices and capabilities. Each tablet has its strengths and weaknesses. You don’t want to get one that doesn’t have all the features you want, but you also don’t want to pay too much for features you won’t use.
Here’s some straightforward advice on picking the right iPad for you.
Trend alert: Folks are talking on social media sites and YouTube about using iPad as an external display for the new M4 Mac mini. Why? Well, as today’s setup user notes, the combination creates a credible mobile solution. And as others point out, it’s economical. Mac mini is a sensational value. And for a few hundred bucks more you can add an iPad (or you may already have one) and a few other inexpensive elements to make it work. But still, plenty of people see this and just say, “get a MacBook.”
Trying to decide which Apple tablet is right for you? Knowing which is the most popular might help. And there’s no doubt which one earns the top spot: iPad Pro.
You can probably guess the second most purchased iPadOS model.
November 11, 2015: Apple’s first iPad Pro goes on sale after months of speculation about the giant-size tablet. With its much larger screen, professional-oriented targeting and dreaded (optional) stylus, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro represents Apple CEO Tim Cook’s cleanest break yet from Steve Jobs’ vision for iOS devices.
And it turned out all the better for it!
iPad shipments grew only slightly last quarter, according to a market research firm, despite the release of new high-end and mid-range tablets in the spring. The lack of a new entry-level tablet from Apple significantly affected the shipment total.
Still, Apple itself showed a larger year-over-year bump in revenue during the third quarter of 2024 from this class of computer.
Normally, you pay a lot for a jumbo iPad Pro, but sometimes a sale comes along and you can get that big-screen tablet at a steep discount. Like, for instance, this near-mint refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pro for just $399.99.
It’s a third-gen model from 2018, but it’s still great for a wide variety of uses. And it doesn’t cost $1,299 like the latest model does.
The new iPad mini (7th generation) came out Tuesday, and other new models are likely to follow soon — but, as usual, the biggest savings are in older models, including current Amazon deals on iPads. Right now you can get some pretty serious discounts at Amazon on a variety of iPad models, including M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, 9th- and 10th-generation iPads and the previous iPad mini (6th generation). Some models are $200 off! See below. And it’s not just iPads, but Apple Pencils and iPad keyboard cases, too.
It’s that time of year again, Amazon Prime Day (the fall edition, October 8 and 9). So the early deals flowed starting over the weekend, with the full-on sale hitting with even better deals on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll show you the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too. Click on the links below, and return to this page often — deals are subject to change, often for the better, and we’ll add more as we find them.
Update: Though prices on some items continue to fluctuate, Amazon has extended most deals beyond Wednesday.
If you’ve been putting off buying an Apple tablet because you were waiting for a good deal, grab your wallet. It’s Amazon Prime Day so you can save a bundle on the latest and greatest iPad Pro or iPad Air.
UPDATE: While Prime Day is over, you chance to save on an Apple tablet is not. Many of the deals are still available.
When they can restrain themselves, savvy Apple fans resist buying the second a new product comes out. They wait for discounts to come along. And that’s what makes now a great time to nab Cupertino’s latest-and-greatest tablet, the M4 iPad Pro. Amazon just loaded markdowns on 13-inch and 11-inch models, with or without cellular. You can choose the specs you need and get up to $200 off in these deals on M4 iPad Pro.
Apple temporarily stopped allowing access to the iPadOS 18 upgrade for the M3 iPad Pro. A bug apparently bricked some tablets during the installation process for the new version.
The problem only affects the iPad Pro M4. And if you already made it through the update process, there seems nothing to worry about.
You can now buy refurbished M2 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air from Apple’s online store in the US. They are available with up to 20% discounts on their retail price.
Apple unveiled these iPads in 2022, with the M1 iPad Air launching in March 2022 and the M2 iPad Pro in October.
M4 iPad Pro has been out a while, so some big retailers, like Best Buy, are offering bigger and better deals on the last models with the M2 chip (you know, to get rid of them). They’re still amazing tablets, and you can get up to $1,000 off M2 iPad Pro‘s regular prices. And that’s without having to be a Best Buy member (sometimes their best deals are reserved for members).
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Many users out there on social media can’t seem to get enough external displays into their computer setups. Sometimes we see as many as six big screens. But don’t forget a simple way you can always add another small screen. Namely, don’t just add your MacBook open on the desk or on a stand. Include your iPad, too. Today’s M1 MacBook Air user proudly has his M4 iPad Pro mirror on Studio Display as it sits in the mix on a Twelve South stand.
Macs have gained ground in the gaming world with the rise of Apple silicon chips, as those M-series chips massively boost performance. But sometimes you just want to play on a console rather than your computer. Today’s MacBook Air user switches to Xbox One for gaming. And he gave simple advice, below, to curious commenters who wanted to know how he gets the system to work with his Studio Display. He describes his method below.
We’ve seen a trend for some time of people using massive smart TVs as external computer displays because they want something even bigger than most purpose-built monitors. But regular monitors are catching up. We’ve seen a few 49-inch curved gaming displays out there, of course, and today’s MacBook Pro setup uses a giant 43-inch Dell flat panel with 4K resolution.