Home Tablet comparison Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021) - Which is better?

Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

75 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
VS
84 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020) Manufactured in March, 2019, with display 12.9 with chipsetApple A12Z 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 Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
  • Lighter design: 641g vs 682g
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
  • Higher battery capacity: 10758mAh vs 9720mAh
  • Supports newer USB: 4.0 vs 3.1

Versions

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

Review

Key Specs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
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" (4th Gen, 2020)
vs
iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD Mini LED
Size 12.9 in 12.9 in
Resolution 2048x2732 pixels 2048x2732 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 (24-120 Hz)
Max brightness 600 nits 600 nits
HDR support No Yes Dolby Vision
Screen-to-body ratio 85.5 % 85.5 %
Features DCI-P3 n/a
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
597 nits
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
612 nits
sRGB gamut99.7 %99.9 %
PWM (Flicker)58820 Hz19190 Hz
Response time35 ms23 ms
Contrast1330:1∞ Infinite
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 280.6 mm (11.05 in) 280.6 mm (11.05 in)
Width 214.9 mm (8.46 in) 214.9 mm (8.46 in)
Thickness 5.9 mm (0.23 in) 6.4 mm (0.25 in)
Weight 641 g (22.61 oz) 682 g (24.06 oz)
Area 603 cm² (93.47 in²) 603 cm² (93.47 in²)
Water resistance No No
Back panel Metal Metal
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Silver
- Gray		 - Silver
- Gray
Fingerprint sensor No No
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
85.5 %
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
85.5 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021) In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple A12Z Bionic Apple M1 (iPad)
Max Frequency 2250 MHz 3200 MHz
CPU Cores n/a 8 (4 + 4)
Architecture n/a - 4/3.2 (Icestorm)
- 4/2.1 (Firestorm)
Process n/a TSMC
Transistor Size n/a 5 nm
Neural Processor n/a Apple Neural Engine
Graphics n/a Apple M1 GPU
GPU Cores n/a 1024
GPU Frequency n/a 1278 MHz
FLOPS n/a 2617 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
1359
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
2324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
4855
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
8559
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)13592324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)48558559
Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
1064706
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
1708836
CPU391023494805
GPU387489688229
Memory139802197010
UX146392328792
NanoReview Score10647061708836
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
12855
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
17076
Max Surface Temp.42.3 °C39.2 °C
Stability77 %73 %
Graphics Test76 fps102 fps
Graphics Score1285517076
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)], [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 13.4 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.3) iPadOS 14.5.1 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.3)
OS Size 8 GB n/a

Battery

Volume 9720 mAh 10758 mAh
Max Charging Power 30 W 30 W
Battery Type Li-Po Li-Po
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (30% in 50 min) Yes (50% in 65 min)
Full Charge Time 2:55 h 2:15 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen, 2020)
31:48
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
32:24
Web Browsing11:51 h10:29 h
Video Playback15:53 h15:19 h
Games07:16 h07:27 h
Standby Mode178 h199 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
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 240 fps (720p) 240 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens 125 ° 125 °
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
Ultra-wide: 10 MP
Depth		 Standard: 12 MP
Ultra-wide: 10 MP
Depth
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode		 - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Sensor size1/3.0"1/3.0"
Pixel size1.4 μmn/a
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Ultra-wide lens
Matrix10 MP10 MP
Aperturef/2.4f/2.4
Focal length11 mmn/a
StabilizationDigitalDigital

Front camera

Matrix 7 MP 12 MP
Matrix 3472x2063 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Aperture f/2.2 f/2.4
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 5
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 Yes 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 MHzGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
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/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B29/B30/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/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 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" (4th Gen, 2020)
81 dB
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
83.9 dB

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced March, 2019 yr April, 2021 yr
Release Date March, 2019 yr May, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) 999 1099
Sensors - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor		 - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
Charger Included Yes 18 W Yes 20 W
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

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