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- iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) vs iPad Pro 12.9 (2020): Is Apple's Latest Tablet Right For You?
Autrefois la meilleure tablette du marché, l'iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) a pris un léger retard grâce à l'existence de son petit frère, l'iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), mais cela signifie-t-il que vous devriez l 'ignore ? That's a tricky question, and a lot of it comes down to how cheap you can find the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) and how important having the latest technology is to you. That said, both of these tablets are still very remarkable portable devices and more than competent for the vast majority of whatever you might need to do on the go (or at home). If you're having trouble deciding which iPad Pro 12.9 is right for you, we're here to help. We've gone through all the features and specifications of both tablets, while also paying attention to design changes and anything else you might need to know before considering buying one.
Price and availability of iPad Pro 12.9 vs iPad Pro 12.9
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) Wi-Fi only starts at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,649 for 128GB of storage. The price rises to €1,199 / £1,099 / AU$1,799 for 256GB of storage, with up to 2TB available for €2,199 / £1,999 / AU$3,299. Alternatively, if you want to take the 5G cellular route, expect to pay a bit more for the benefits of not having to rely solely on Wi-Fi when you're on the go. Stock is available, both through Apple directly and at many physical and online retailers. Buying the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) is a more complicated proposition. That's because Apple no longer sells it, but sticks to the new model. However, that means you can find it at a massive discount at various third-party retailers, as long as you don't mind hunting down or buying a refurbished model. iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) is only available with 128GB to 1TB storage, with optional Wi-Fi or Cellular LTE. Pricing officially starts at $999 / £969 / AU$1649, rising to £1499 / £1469 / AU$2499 for 1TB, and more if you want cellular connectivity, but again, in practice it's often much cheaper. Today's best Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2020) deals
Both slates are expensive, but the 2021 model is more expensive (Image credit: LaComparacion)
Integrated
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) are almost identical in terms of dimensions. Both offer the same 280,6mm height and 214,9mm width, with the only notable difference being that the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is slightly deeper at 6,4mm compared to 5,9mm. of iPad Pro 12.9 (2020). With regular use, you'll never know the difference. In terms of weight, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is slightly heavier at 682g for the Wi-Fi model compared to 641g for the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020), with 2g among cellular models, but a time is far from a deal. groundbreaking for anyone.
These two slates look very similar (Image credit: TechRadar) Apple has been playing it safe with both tablets, so expect an aluminum back and frame for both models, and both have glass fronts that beg for a case to protect them. Other design choices are to be expected, as both tablets offer four speakers and all the relevant ports on the bottom of the devices. Silver and space gray are your only options if you want to express yourself with a different color palette.
Monitor
On the screen side, more has changed in the space of a year, but perhaps not as much as you might expect. Both tablets have 12,9-inch displays with True Tone (which adjusts color temperature to suit your surroundings), but the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has a mini LED display, which improves brightness and image quality in compared to the LCD of the 2020 Model. The new model has a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits compared to just 600 on the 2020 iPad Pro, but honestly, that's probably something few users will really need.
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has a nice Mini LED display (Image credit: TechRadar) Elsewhere, both tablets offer 2048 x 2732 resolutions for around 265 pixels per inch. An ever-handy feature is that both the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) have 120Hz refresh rates, which are great for smooth online browsing or high-speed gaming. It's something you'll soon wonder how you ever lived without, especially combined with the sleek smoothness of stock iPadOS.
Camera and battery
When it comes to the camera, you're probably not buying a tablet for its photo-taking capabilities. Fortunately, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) are reasonably good for those rare moments when you need to take a few photos. Both offer 12-megapixel wide and 10-megapixel wide-angle cameras with an ƒ/1.8 aperture for the wide lens and ƒ/2.4 aperture for the ultra-wide lens. So what is the difference? Not much. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has Smart HDR 3 compared to the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)'s Smart HDR software (which uses HDR in conjunction with machine learning to capture better photos), but we're talking very incremental changes here.
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) has similar rear cameras to the 2021 model (Image credit: Future) Both tablets can record 4K video at 24-60fps, and the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has the benefit of extended dynamic range for videos up to 30 fps. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) also sports a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera and the rather neat Center Stage feature, which allows the camera to “follow” you around a room when taking video calls. The 2020 model doesn't have one and has a more conventional 7MP selfie snapper. Battery life is also about the same for these tablets with up to 10 hours of browsing or watching videos, or up to 9 hours when using the cell phone. Both also support 18W charging.
Specifications and Features
So far, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) seem to be remarkably similar, which may have you wondering why paying more for the latest model is worth it. The biggest distinction is in the base specs of the two tablets, and this is also where the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) falls light years ahead of the competition. This is because it uses the Apple M1 chipset that we've seen in Apple laptops and desktop systems. It's fantastic. While a typical iPad user might not notice it during everyday tasks, it makes the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) a powerful system for those looking to make music, edit videos, or perform other power-hungry tasks. If you're only planning to browse and stream content, this isn't necessary, but for those with bigger plans, it's just shot.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) packs a lot more power (Image credit: TechRadar) That's not to say the A12Z Bionic chipset in the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) is a downer. It's fantastic compared to almost all other competitors, including the best Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, although it can't compare to the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021). You also get more RAM with the new model, at 8GB or 16GB, while the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) comes with just 6GB. Elsewhere, it's worth noting that if you need 5G connectivity, you'll need the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), as the older model only supports 4G. Also, if your storage needs are critical, no tablet is microSD compatible, so you'll need to plan ahead. It is possible to buy the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) with 128GB to 2TB of storage depending on your budget, while the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) only goes up to 1TB. It's still very impressive, but if you need that extra storage space, you need it. the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021). Both offer USB-C connectors, and the 2021-inch iPad Pro (12,9) supports Thunderbolt/USB 4. There are also no accessory compatibility issues with the two Apple-supported tablets. Stylus (XNUMXnd generation), Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard case.
Older slate is still a great buy (Image credit: Future)
Wear
For many users, there isn't much of a difference between the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020). Both tablets offer nearly identical designs, displays, cameras, and other features. Where things get much more different, however, is when it comes to device speed. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) is more than enough for many users, but if you want the fastest device, you'll need the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021). It can function as a laptop with as high power as a MacBook, and can do just about anything you want, from video editing to music creation. If you just need a regular tablet, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is totally over the top and the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) may be a more tempting middle ground thanks to the deep discounts available since it's an older device. For standard web browsing, streaming, and regular tablet use, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) will do just fine, but depending on your budget, you might be better off going down a notch and opting for an iPad Air 4 (2020). . . As is often the case with technology, it all comes down to speed and having the latest device you care about.
- There are plenty of other options - check out the best iPads