The new, 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the original 12.9-inch iPad Pro are incredibly similar; after all, they share a single name. However, there are some differences beyond the change in size, which you’ll want to know about if you’re considering picking up an iPad. Which is better? You’ll have to read through — here’s our comparison!
Display
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has one of the most advanced Apple displays ever. Its resolution and size may be unchanged from the iPad Air 2, but it comes with a True Tone display. That means it automatically adjusts its colour temperature based on your surroundings (as shown below).
The display also has the lowest reflectivity of any tablet, which should be a good feature for use in bright conditions. It also has a wider gamut than its predecessor, a useful inclusion for digital artists.
Otherwise, the difference between the two iPad Pro models is just size and resolution. The 9.7-inch version has a resolution of 2048 x 1536, while the 12.9-inch model is 2732 x 2048. Both screens have a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch, so each screen is equally crisp.
Camera
The camera on the new iPad Pro has been heavily upgraded compared to the original model. The new model has a 12-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, plus a 5-megapixel unit up front with support for Retina flash. The rear camera is capable of 4K/30 video recording, 63-megapixel panoramas and Live Photos too.
In contrast, the full-size iPad Pro has only an 8-megapixel camera, without flash. The secondary camera is also much worse, at just 1.2 megapixels. Video and panoramas are also weaker on the larger iPad, with only 1080p/30 video recording and 43-megapixel panoramas. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro does have one advantage though: its camera is flush with its body, while the 9.7-inch body has a camera bump like the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
Hardware
Both tablets run the A9X, Apple’s fastest mobile chipset. Despite this commonality, the two phones actually have different levels of performance, thanks to regressions in CPU/GPU clock rate and RAM.
This is confirmed via Apple’s specs page, which shows that the A9X chip on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is 2.5x faster than the A7, but the 9.7-inch model is only 2.4x faster. The GPU is also less powerful on the smaller iPad, where it’s only 4.3x faster than the A7, while the larger iPad has 5x faster graphics performance. This is due to the thermal considerations; the smaller body of the 9.7-inch model can’t be cooled as effectively in the space provided, so a lower clock rate (2.16GHz vs 2.26 GHz) is used to ensure stability.
The iPad Pro 9.7 also comes with less RAM than its predecessor – it has only 2GB, where the iPad Pro had 4GB. This is a surprising downgrade that wasn’t mentioned in Apple’s presentation (go figure).
If you are a hardcore gamer or are otherwise using the iPad to its fullest potential, then the 12.9-inch iPad Pro might be the one to go for.
Battery & charging
Both iPads come with impressive ten hour battery life, but the smaller iPad charges faster thanks to its smaller internal battery. The larger iPad Pro takes about 4.5 hours to charge using the provided mains adapter, while the smaller iPad Pro should take around 3.2 hours. However, using Apple’s 29W MacBook charger should speed things up considerably — find more info here.
LTE connectivity
The LTE-capable models of the iPad Pro differ slightly as well. The new iPad Pro comes with an embedded Apple SIM, capable of changing providers on the fly. The 9.7-inch model also includes LTE Advanced support, which could provide up to 50% data speeds in supported areas. Finally, the new iPad includes a more iPhone-like look for the antenna band, replacing the plastic strip we’ve seen on previous iPad models.
Design
The iPad Pro 9.7-inch has one major advantage over the 12.9-inch version: it’s available in Rose Gold. It’s also slightly thinner at 6.1mm (compared to 6.9mm), and weighs less too at 437 grams (compared to 713 grams). If in-hand ergonomics are important to you, the smaller iPad should be a better fit.
Software
There’s only one notable software difference between the two sizes of the iPad Pro when it comes to software: the new model is always listening for ‘Hey Siri’, while the older model only supports ‘Hey Siri’ when it’s plugged in. Weird.
Accessories
The iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9 both come with support for the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. The Pencil remains the same for both devices, but the Smart Keyboard has been adapted for use with the smaller iPad Pro. The keyboard is necessarily smaller, with tinier keys that make it a bit harder to type with accuracy and speed. Of course, the two tablets have their own cases as well.
| Shop iPad Pro 9.7 cases > Shop iPad Pro 9.7 accessories > | Shop iPad Pro 12.9 cases > Shop iPad Pro 12.9 accessories > |
Wrap-up
In general, the iPad Pro 9.7 seems a much stronger tablet than its predecessor, which some nifty new features, a more ergonomic shape and a lower price to boot. I expect we’ll see an iPad Pro 12.9 refresh in the future, but for now Apple’s latest iPad Pro is also its best.