The iPad Pro 2021 is the biggest iPad upgrade in years. In this iPad Pro 2021 vs iPad Pro 2020 comparison, we list the biggest innovations. We also provide purchase advice.
iPad Pro 2021 vs iPad Pro 2020 comparison
2020 was a quiet year for the iPad Pro. Apple’s best tablet got a camera lens and faster chip, but apart from the LiDAR scanner, there were really no major innovations.
That kite will not apply before 2021. Apple’s latest iPad Pro has been significantly renewed both on the inside and outside. In this iPad Pro 2021 vs iPad Pro 2020 comparison, all innovations are therefore clearly listed.
1. Screen: Pro switches to mini LED
The iPad Pro 2021 makes the switch to a mini LED screen and that is a huge improvement. Mini LED has a very high dynamic range (hdr) and excels at displaying contrasts.
This is because the screen can dim the backlight locally. Thus, some pixels are turned off, while others become active. There are a total of 10,000 small LED lights in the latest iPad Pro.
Apple itself calls this screen technology Liquid Retina XDR. It is comparable to the Pro Display XDR, the company’s monitor that costs thousands of euros. Incidentally, only the largest iPad Pro 2021 (with 12.9 inch screen) has a mini LED screen; the 11-inch model sticks to LCD.
The iPad Pro 2020 also has an LCD screen, whatever size you get. There is nothing wrong with an LCD screen, but it loses out to mini-LED.
2. Hardware: MacBook chip in an iPad
Apple has also been tinkering a lot under the hood. The 2021 iPad Pro is powered by an M1 processor, which is the same chip that powers the iMac 2021 and the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. In short, the best iPad of 2021 is therefore equal to a full computer in terms of speed.
According to Apple, the new Pro tablet is about 50 percent faster than its predecessor. The iPad Pro 2020 has an A12Z Bionic chip, which is based on the processor of the iPhone XS (Max) from 2018.
Furthermore, Apple has increased the maximum storage capacity of the iPad Pro 2021 from 1TB to 2TB. The amount of working memory has also improved. Where the iPad Pro of 2020 has ‘only’ 6GB RAM, the successor starts at 8GB. If you choose the most extensive version, you have no less than 16GB of RAM at your disposal. That is more RAM than many laptops have.
3. Camera does not lose focus
2021 is an important year for the iPad camera. The latest iPad Pro may have exactly the same cameras on the back as the 2020 model, but the selfie camera has been improved a lot.
The 2021 model has a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera at the front, compared to a 7-megapixel variant of the 2020 version. Furthermore, Apple has increased the viewing angle, so that the selfie camera also functions as a wide-angle lens.
That’s not all, because the iPad Pro 2021 also has a completely new function: Center Stage. This function ensures that the front camera follows you during video calling. In a FaceTime call, for example, you can move a little, because the selfie camera keeps you continuously in focus.
So the rear cameras are identical. This means that both the iPad Pro 2020 and its successor have a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 10-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. Of course also present: the LiDAR scanner. It was introduced in 2020 and excels at measuring depths. The LiDAR scanner therefore helps to make portrait photos more beautiful in the background.
4.5G and Thunderbolt
After the iPhone 12, the iPad is also making the switch to 5G. The Pro model of 2021 is the first Apple tablet to handle 5G. This is also good news for the Dutch, because the new mobile network will increasingly take shape in the coming years.
In 2022, for example, the center frequency of 5G will roll out, so that you can (in theory) use the internet much faster. Moreover, the successor to 4G is more stable and has more capacity. This is nice for moments of peak load, for example during New Years when everyone wishes each other a happy New Year. The 2020 iPad Pro does not support 5G, only 4G.
Also new: the Thunderbolt connection of the iPad Pro 2021. Thanks to this input you can connect all kinds of peripherals to the tablet, such as hard drives. Compared to USB-C, the connection of the previous iPad Pro, Thunderbolt can transfer data faster. For example, it takes less time when you want to transfer large video files to / from your tablet.
The similarities
All in all, the iPad Pro 2021 is a gigantic step forward. The new tablet is much more powerful, can handle 5G and the new mini LED screen puts LCD panels behind.
But there are also similarities between the two. For example, the design is unchanged. Both the iPad Pro 2021 and the 2020 model have a ‘flat’ design with rounded screen edges and support the Apple Pencil 2.
Little has changed in the field of batteries either. However, according to Apple, this is not a problem, because the iPad Pro 2021 is powered by the energy-efficient M1 chip. Furthermore, both Pro generations can handle the Magic Keyboard.
Advice: switch or not?
We end this iPad Pro 2021 vs iPad Pro 2020 comparison with a purchase advice. Fortunately, it is quite simple: if you want the best of the best, you should get the iPad Pro 2021. The new iPad Pro has been significantly improved and offers a better price-quality ratio than the 2020 model did at the time.
In addition, the 2021 version is more future-proof, for example thanks to the 5G support. The switch to mini-LED is also a sustainable move, because the image quality of films, games and series continues to improve. With the 2021 iPad Pro you can fully enjoy this.
Are you looking for a good iPad, but is the 2021 version a bit too pricey for you? Then the iPad Pro of 2020 is a good alternative. The best Apple tablet of 2020 can last for years and is by no means a bad purchase, but its successor is simply better. The iPad Pro 2020 is therefore especially interesting when you can get it quite cheaply.
price
The price of the iPad Pro 2021 is not tender. You pay 899 euros for the entry-level model with 11 inch screen, just as much as its predecessor. If you go for the 12.9 inch version (with mini LED screen), then you are 1219 euros lighter. That is 100 euros more than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro of 2020 cost at the time.
To buy
The iPad Pro 2021 comes in two screen sizes that cost 899 and 1219 euros respectively. The release will take place in mid-May and the tablets can be pre-ordered from April 30.
Order the iPad Pro 2021 (11 inch) at:
- Coolblue: 899 euros
Order the iPad Pro 2021 (12.9 inches) at:
- Coolblue: 1219 euros
Do you want to buy the iPad Pro 2020? Apple’s best tablet of 2020 has now fallen in price and is available for much less than the official recommended price. Use the price comparison below to find the best deals. A refurbished iPad Pro 2020 is completely affordable.