Home Tablet comparison Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025) - Which is better?

Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) vs Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)

71 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
VS
97 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 13
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) Manufactured in November, 2018, with display 12.9 with chipsetApple A12X Bionic, vs Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025), Manufactured in October, 2025with chipsetApple M5 (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 Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    • Larger display: 13in
    • Lighter design: 579g vs 631g
    • Higher battery capacity: 10340mAh vs 9720mAh
    • Newer Bluetooth version: 6.0 vs 5
    • Supports newer USB: 4.0 vs 3.1
    • Supports DisplayPort

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 4/64 GB
    - 4/256 GB
    - 4/512 GB
    - 6/1024 GB    		 - 12/256 GB
    - 12/512 GB
    - 16/1024 GB
    - 16/2048 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    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 Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    vs
    iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type IPS LCD OLED
    Size 12.9 in 13 in
    Resolution 2048x2732 pixels 2064x2752 pixels
    Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
    Pixel density 265 ppi 265 ppi
    Refresh rate 120 Hz 120 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate Yes (24-120 Hz) Yes (10-120 Hz)
    Max brightness 600 nits 1000 nits
    HDR support Yes HDR10 Yes, Dolby Vision
    Screen-to-body ratio 85.5 % 86.2 %
    Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    601 nits
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    n/a
    sRGB gamut99.7 %n/a
    Response time36 msn/a
    Contrast1975:1n/a
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 280.6 mm (11.05 in) 281.6 mm (11.09 in)
    Width 214.9 mm (8.46 in) 215.5 mm (8.48 in)
    Thickness 5.9 mm (0.23 in) 5.1 mm (0.2 in)
    Weight 631 g (22.26 oz) 579 g (20.42 oz)
    Area 603 cm² (93.47 in²) 607 cm² (94.09 in²)
    Water resistance No No
    Back panel Metal Metal
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - Silver
    - Gray    		 - Black
    - Silver
    Fingerprint sensor No No
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    85.5 %
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    86.2 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025) In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A12X Bionic Apple M5 (iPad)
    Max Frequency 2500 MHz 4600 MHz
    CPU Cores n/a 10 (4 + 6)
    Architecture n/a 6/2.95 ()
    Process n/a TSMC
    Transistor Size n/a 3 nm
    Neural Processor n/a Apple Neural Engine
    Graphics n/a Apple M5 GPU
    GPU Cores n/a 1280
    GPU Frequency n/a 2005 MHz
    FLOPS n/a 5133 GFLOPS
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    1358
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    4175
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    4736
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    15577
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)13584175
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)473615577
    Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)], [Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)]
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    677981
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    n/a
    CPU2102011234977
    GPU2075381095596
    Memory122462420432
    UX137780404644
    NanoReview Score677981n/a
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    11793
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    n/a
    Max Surface Temp.41.2 °Cn/a
    Stability76 %n/a
    Graphics Test70 fpsn/a
    Graphics Score11793n/a
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 4 GB 12 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5X
    Memory Frequency 2133 MHz n/a
    Channels 2 4
    Storage
    Storage Capacity64 GB256 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iPadOS 12 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.1) iPadOS 26

    Battery

    Volume 9720 mAh 10340 mAh
    Max Charging Power 30 W 30 W
    Battery Type Li-Po Li-Po
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging No No
    Reverse Charging No Yes
    Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 38 min)
    Full Charge Time 2:45 h n/a
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    31:49
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    n/a
    Web Browsing11:25 hn/a
    Video Playback16:28 hn/a
    Games07:17 hn/a
    Standby Mode179 hn/a

    Main camera

    Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
    Zoom n/a Digital
    Flash Quad LED 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 120 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
    Lenses count Standard: 12 MP Standard: 12 MP
    Depth
    Features Bokeh effect - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix12 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
    Focal length29 mmn/a
    Sensor size1/3.0"n/a
    Pixel size1.4 μm1.22 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationDigitalDigital

    Front camera

    Matrix 7 MP 12 MP
    Matrix 3472x2063 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
    Aperture f/2.2 f/2.0
    Focal length 32 mm n/a
    Autofocus No No
    Stabilization Digital Digital
    Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
    TOF 3D sensor No No

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - 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 6.0
    Bluetooth features LE LE
    USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
    USB version 3.1 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*11
    SIM TypeNanoNano
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHzn/a
    3G BandsUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHzUMTS/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/B29/B30/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B46/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/B48/B66/B71)
    5G SupportNoYes

    Sound

    Speakers 4.0 4.0
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
    82.9 dB
    Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025)
    n/a

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced October, 2018 yr October, 2025 yr
    Release Date November, 2018 yr October, 2025 yr
    Launch Price ($) 999 n/a
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Barometer
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Face Sensor
    Charger Included Yes 18 W Yes, 20 W
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPad Pro 13" (8th Gen, 2025) the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

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