Home Tablet comparison Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021) - Which is better?

Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

80 out 100
Apple iPad 11
VS
84 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025) Manufactured in March, 2025, with display 11 with chipsetApple A16 Bionic, vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021), Manufactured in May, 2021with chipsetApple M1 (iPad). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
  • Lighter design: 477g vs 682g
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.3 vs 5
  • Fingerprint scanner
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
  • Larger display: 12.9in
  • Higher pixel density: 265ppi
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Higher battery capacity: 10758mAh vs 7698mAh
  • Supports newer USB: 4.0 vs 2
  • Supports DisplayPort
  • Includes charger

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 6/128 GB
- 6/256 GB
- 6/512 GB		 - 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB
- 8/512 GB
- 16/1024 GB
- 16/2048 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Performance
App & system performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Tablets:
iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
vs
iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD Mini LED
Size 11 in 12.9 in
Resolution 1640x2360 pixels 2048x2732 pixels
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Pixel density 264 ppi 265 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (24-120 Hz)
Max brightness 500 nits 600 nits
HDR support No Yes Dolby Vision
Screen-to-body ratio 80.8 % 85.5 %
Features DCI-P3 n/a
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
529 nits
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
612 nits
sRGB gamut96.2 %99.9 %
PWM (Flicker)21120 Hz19190 Hz
Response time38 ms23 ms
Contrast531:1∞ Infinite
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 248.6 mm (9.79 in) 280.6 mm (11.05 in)
Width 179.5 mm (7.07 in) 214.9 mm (8.46 in)
Thickness 7 mm (0.28 in) 6.4 mm (0.25 in)
Weight 477 g (16.83 oz) 682 g (24.06 oz)
Area 446 cm² (69.13 in²) 603 cm² (93.47 in²)
Water resistance No No
Back panel Metal Metal
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Silver
- Blue
- Pink
- Yellow		 - Silver
- Gray
Fingerprint sensor Yes In-Button No
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
80.8 %
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
85.5 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021) In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple A16 Bionic Apple M1 (iPad)
Max Frequency 3460 MHz 3200 MHz
CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 8 (4 + 4)
Architecture - 4/2.02 (Sawtooth)
- 2/3.46 (Everest)		 - 4/3.2 (Icestorm)
- 4/2.1 (Firestorm)
Process TSMC TSMC
Transistor Size 4 nm 5 nm
Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Apple Neural Engine
Graphics Apple A16 GPU Apple M1 GPU
GPU Cores 640 1024
GPU Frequency 1398 MHz 1278 MHz
FLOPS 1789.4 GFLOPS 2617 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
2595
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
2324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
6246
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
8559
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)25952324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)62468559
Geekbench Compute (GPU)19767n/a
Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
1357636
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
1708836
CPU362548494805
GPU410482688229
Memory263536197010
UX321060328792
NanoReview Score13576361708836
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
n/a
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
17076
Max Surface Temp.n/a39.2 °C
Stabilityn/a73 %
Graphics Testn/a102 fps
Graphics Scoren/a17076
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 6 GB 8 GB
Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR4X
Memory Frequency 2133 MHz 4266 MHz
Channels 2 2
Storage
Storage Capacity128 GB128 GB
Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS iPadOS 18.4 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.5) iPadOS 14.5.1 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.3)
OS Size 23 GB n/a

Battery

Volume 7698 mAh 10758 mAh
Max Charging Power 30 W 30 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-Po
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 65 min)
Full Charge Time 3:00 h 2:15 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
n/a
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
32:24
Web Browsingn/a10:29 h
Video Playbackn/a15:19 h
Gamesn/a07:27 h
Standby Moden/a199 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Zoom Digital n/a
Flash No Quad LED
Stabilization Digital Digital
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens n/a 125 °
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP Standard: 12 MP
Ultra-wide: 10 MP
Depth
Features Bokeh effect - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Sensor sizen/a1/3.0"
AutofocusPhase autofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Ultra-wide lens
Matrixn/a10 MP
Aperturen/af/2.4
Stabilizationn/aDigital

Front camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Matrix 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Aperture f/2.4 f/2.4
Sensor CMOS n/a
Autofocus No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5.3 5
Bluetooth features LE LE
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 2 4.0
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort No Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS		 - GPS
- GLONASS
NFC* No No
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*n/a1
SIM TypeeSIMNano
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G Bandsn/aGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B48/B66/B71)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66/B71)
5G SupportYesYes

Sound

Speakers n/a 4.0
3.5 mm Jack No No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Apple iPad 11" (11th Gen, 2025)
86.1 dB
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
83.9 dB

Other

Class Mid-range Flagship
Announced March, 2025 yr April, 2021 yr
Release Date March, 2025 yr May, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) n/a 1099
Sensors - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor		 - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
Charger Included No Yes 20 W
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

Survey

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Total Votes: 1

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