Apple IPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021): Review & Specs

Hey guys! Let's dive into the amazing world of the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch. This isn't just another tablet; it's a powerhouse that blends performance, beauty, and a whole lot of innovation. If you're considering upgrading or just curious about what Apple's been up to, you're in the right place. We're going to break down everything you need to know, from its stunning display to its beastly M1 chip, and see if it really lives up to the hype. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

The design and build quality of the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch are, frankly, top-notch. Apple has consistently delivered premium aesthetics, and this iPad is no exception. The sleek aluminum unibody design not only looks fantastic but also feels incredibly sturdy in your hands. The squared-off edges give it a modern, sophisticated vibe that sets it apart from previous generations. Holding this device, you immediately sense the attention to detail and the high-quality materials used. The thin bezels surrounding the display contribute to an immersive viewing experience, making everything from watching movies to editing photos a joy. Apple's commitment to minimalist design shines through, creating a device that is both visually appealing and highly functional. The placement of the buttons and ports is intuitive, and the overall fit and finish are impeccable. Available in Silver and Space Gray, the iPad Pro offers a touch of elegance to suit different tastes. This iPad isn't just about looking good; it's built to last, making it a reliable companion for all your creative and productivity needs. The integration of the Liquid Retina XDR display into this sleek form factor is a testament to Apple's engineering prowess. The device feels balanced and comfortable to hold, even for extended periods. The magnetic connector for the Apple Pencil is seamlessly integrated, ensuring that your stylus is always within reach and securely attached. All these elements combine to create a device that not only meets but exceeds expectations in terms of design and build quality. This iPad Pro is a true example of how form and function can come together to create something truly exceptional.

Display: Liquid Retina XDR

The Liquid Retina XDR display on the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is a game-changer. It's not just a screen; it's a visual masterpiece that brings your content to life with stunning clarity, vibrant colors, and incredible contrast. The mini-LED technology is the secret sauce behind this display's brilliance. It uses thousands of tiny LEDs to create a backlight that offers far greater precision in controlling brightness and darkness across different parts of the screen. This results in a dynamic range that is simply breathtaking. Colors pop with incredible accuracy, and blacks are deep and inky, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Whether you're watching movies, editing photos, or simply browsing the web, the Liquid Retina XDR display makes everything look better. The ProMotion technology, with its adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, ensures that scrolling and animations are buttery smooth. This responsiveness makes the iPad Pro feel incredibly fluid and natural to use. The display also supports P3 wide color gamut, which means it can reproduce a broader range of colors than standard displays, making images look more realistic and vibrant. Apple's True Tone technology adjusts the color temperature of the display to match the ambient lighting, reducing eye strain and making the screen more comfortable to view in any environment. With a peak brightness of 1600 nits, the display is easily visible even in bright sunlight. This makes the iPad Pro a versatile device that you can use anywhere, whether you're indoors or outdoors. The anti-reflective coating minimizes glare, ensuring that you can always see the screen clearly. The Liquid Retina XDR display is not just a feature; it's a defining characteristic of the 2021 iPad Pro, setting it apart from the competition and providing an unmatched visual experience. It's a display that you have to see to believe.

Performance: M1 Chip

The performance of the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is where it truly shines, thanks to the M1 chip. This isn't just a processor; it's a system on a chip (SoC) that integrates the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and other components into a single, unified package. The result is a massive leap in performance compared to previous iPad models. The M1 chip delivers blazing-fast speeds and incredible responsiveness, making everything from launching apps to running complex tasks feel effortless. Whether you're editing 4K video, playing graphics-intensive games, or multitasking between multiple apps, the iPad Pro handles it all with ease. The 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU provide desktop-class performance in a mobile device. This means you can tackle demanding projects on the go without sacrificing speed or efficiency. The M1 chip also features a 16-core Neural Engine, which accelerates machine learning tasks. This enhances features like image recognition, natural language processing, and augmented reality experiences. The iPad Pro is not just fast; it's also incredibly efficient. The M1 chip is designed to optimize power consumption, allowing the iPad to deliver all-day battery life even when running demanding tasks. This makes it a reliable companion for both work and play. The M1 chip's unified memory architecture allows the CPU and GPU to access the same pool of memory, reducing latency and improving overall performance. The iPad Pro with the M1 chip is a powerhouse that can handle anything you throw at it. It's a device that empowers you to be more creative, more productive, and more connected. The combination of the M1 chip and iPadOS creates a seamless and intuitive user experience. The iPad Pro is not just a tablet; it's a mobile workstation that can replace your laptop for many tasks. The M1 chip is a game-changer for the iPad Pro, taking its performance to a whole new level.

Camera System

The camera system on the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is surprisingly robust and versatile. It's not just an afterthought; it's a well-thought-out system that delivers excellent image quality and a range of useful features. The rear camera setup includes a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera. The Wide camera captures stunning photos and videos with excellent detail and dynamic range. The Ultra Wide camera allows you to capture more of the scene in a single shot, making it perfect for landscapes, group photos, and creative compositions. The LiDAR Scanner is a standout feature that enhances augmented reality (AR) experiences. It measures the distance to objects in the environment, allowing the iPad to create a detailed 3D map of the space. This enables more realistic and immersive AR applications. The LiDAR Scanner also improves autofocus in low-light conditions, resulting in sharper and more detailed photos and videos. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is equally impressive. It features a 12MP Ultra Wide sensor and supports Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you in the frame during video calls. Center Stage is a game-changer for video conferencing, making it feel more natural and engaging. The TrueDepth camera also enables Face ID, which provides secure and convenient authentication. You can use Face ID to unlock your iPad, authorize purchases, and sign in to apps. The iPad Pro can record video in up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It also supports ProRes video recording, which allows you to capture high-quality video with greater flexibility in post-production. The camera system on the iPad Pro is not just for taking photos and videos; it's a tool for creativity, communication, and productivity. Whether you're capturing memories, collaborating with colleagues, or exploring augmented reality, the iPad Pro has you covered. The combination of advanced hardware and intelligent software makes the camera system on the iPad Pro a standout feature.

iPadOS Features

The iPadOS features on the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch are designed to take full advantage of the powerful hardware. iPadOS is not just a scaled-up version of iOS; it's a unique operating system that is optimized for the iPad's larger screen and versatile capabilities. One of the standout features is multitasking. iPadOS allows you to run multiple apps side-by-side, making it easy to switch between tasks and be more productive. You can use Slide Over to quickly access a floating app window, or Split View to run two apps simultaneously. The Files app provides a centralized location for managing all your files, whether they're stored on your iPad, in iCloud Drive, or on a third-party cloud service. The Files app supports drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to move files between apps. The Apple Pencil support is another key feature of iPadOS. The Apple Pencil provides a natural and intuitive way to create, sketch, and annotate on the iPad. iPadOS includes features like Scribble, which allows you to handwrite text in any text field, and Quick Note, which lets you quickly jot down notes from anywhere in the system. The Widgets feature allows you to customize your home screen with widgets that provide at-a-glance information. You can add widgets for weather, calendar, news, and more. The App Library organizes your apps into categories, making it easier to find the apps you need. The Universal Control feature allows you to seamlessly switch between your iPad and Mac using the same keyboard and mouse. This makes it easy to work across multiple devices. iPadOS is constantly evolving, with new features and improvements being added regularly. Apple is committed to making iPadOS the best possible operating system for the iPad. The combination of powerful hardware and intuitive software makes the iPad Pro a truly versatile and capable device.

Audio Quality

The audio quality on the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is truly impressive, providing a rich and immersive listening experience. With its four-speaker audio system, the iPad Pro delivers a wide stereo soundstage that fills the room. Whether you're watching movies, listening to music, or playing games, the audio quality is exceptional. The speakers are strategically placed to provide balanced sound, with clear highs, detailed mids, and deep bass. The iPad Pro also supports spatial audio, which creates a three-dimensional sound experience. Spatial audio makes it feel like the sound is coming from all around you, enhancing the immersion when watching movies or playing games. The microphones on the iPad Pro are also top-notch. With its five-microphone array, the iPad Pro captures clear and crisp audio for video calls, voice recordings, and more. The microphones are designed to reduce background noise, ensuring that your voice is always heard clearly. The iPad Pro also supports Dolby Atmos, which provides an even more immersive audio experience. Dolby Atmos adds height channels to the audio, creating a more realistic and three-dimensional soundstage. Whether you're listening through the built-in speakers or using headphones, the audio quality on the iPad Pro is exceptional. The iPad Pro is not just a device for visual entertainment; it's also a device for audio entertainment. The combination of high-quality speakers, microphones, and advanced audio technologies makes the iPad Pro a standout device for audio quality. Whether you're creating content, consuming media, or communicating with others, the audio quality on the iPad Pro will not disappoint.

Battery Life

The battery life of the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is impressive, providing all-day power for most users. Apple claims that the iPad Pro can last up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video. In real-world testing, the iPad Pro typically delivers on this promise. With moderate usage, you can easily get through a full day of work or school without needing to recharge. Even with more intensive tasks, such as video editing or gaming, the iPad Pro can still last for several hours. The M1 chip is incredibly efficient, which helps to extend battery life. The M1 chip is designed to optimize power consumption, allowing the iPad to run demanding tasks without draining the battery too quickly. The iPad Pro also supports fast charging, which allows you to quickly recharge the battery when needed. With the included 20W USB-C power adapter, you can recharge the iPad Pro to 50% in about 30 minutes. The battery life of the iPad Pro is a major selling point, making it a reliable device for both work and play. Whether you're traveling, attending meetings, or simply relaxing at home, you can count on the iPad Pro to last throughout the day. The combination of efficient hardware and intelligent software makes the battery life on the iPad Pro truly exceptional.

Price and Value

The price and value of the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is a crucial consideration for potential buyers. It's no secret that Apple products come with a premium price tag, and the iPad Pro is no exception. However, it's important to consider what you're getting for your money. The iPad Pro is not just a tablet; it's a powerful and versatile device that can replace your laptop for many tasks. With its M1 chip, stunning display, and advanced features, the iPad Pro offers a level of performance and functionality that is unmatched by most other tablets. The iPad Pro is available in a range of storage options, from 128GB to 2TB. The price increases as you increase the storage capacity. It's important to choose the storage option that best suits your needs. If you plan to store a lot of photos, videos, or other files on your iPad, you'll need a larger storage capacity. The iPad Pro is also available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model allows you to connect to the internet using a cellular network, even when you're not near a Wi-Fi hotspot. This can be a valuable feature for users who need to stay connected on the go. When evaluating the price and value of the iPad Pro, it's also important to consider the accessories. The Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are both popular accessories that can enhance the iPad Pro's functionality. However, these accessories are sold separately and can add to the overall cost. Despite the high price tag, the iPad Pro offers excellent value for users who need a powerful and versatile tablet. If you're a creative professional, a student, or someone who simply wants the best possible tablet experience, the iPad Pro is worth considering. The combination of performance, features, and ecosystem makes the iPad Pro a standout device in its class.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch is a remarkable device that sets a new standard for what a tablet can be. From its breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display to its powerhouse M1 chip, every aspect of this iPad is designed to impress. Whether you're a creative professional, a student, or simply someone who appreciates cutting-edge technology, the iPad Pro offers a compelling package. The design and build quality are top-notch, the performance is blazing fast, and the camera system is surprisingly versatile. The iPadOS features enhance the overall user experience, and the audio quality is exceptional. The battery life is impressive, providing all-day power for most users. While the price tag may be high, the iPad Pro offers excellent value for those who need a powerful and versatile tablet. It's a device that can replace your laptop for many tasks, allowing you to be more productive and creative on the go. If you're looking for the best possible tablet experience, the 2021 Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch is definitely worth considering. It's a device that truly lives up to the hype, pushing the boundaries of what a tablet can achieve. So, that's the scoop, folks! Hope you found this deep dive helpful. Until next time!