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iPad Pro vs. iPad (2019)
What do you get when you have five different models of current iPads, dozens of supported older models, and naming conventions that seem to defy themselves with every new generation?
A bit of confusion, that's for sure.
Aside from the iPad Pro with its distinctive edge-to-edge screen, all iPads look pretty much the same. The only difference is size, but even that isn't a reliable metric. After all, when you can get an iPad mini and a sixth generation iPad with the exact same resolution, why even bother with different model names?
I'm here to help cut through jargon and take a closer look at each of the current Apple iPads in comparison to one another.
11" iPad Pro
Apple iPad Pro
The iPad Pro was recently refreshed with larger screen sizes than the previous generation Pro. The 11" is a sweet spot for most, but if you need a truly gargantuan iPad, there's also a 12.9" model. Since it has the aforementioned edge-to-edge screen design, there's no Touch ID. Instead, this tablet uses the Face ID technology from the latest iPhones. It's quite capable as well, able to unlock your Pro even if you wake it up when it's on its side. Whereas other iPads top out at 256GB or less of storage, you can get up to 1TB on the Pro.
It also supports my favorite mobile keyboard, the Smart Keyboard Folio. If you want to use the superior Gen 2 Apple Pencil, you'll have to stick with the Pro, since other iPads aren't able to charge it. The camera is the best you can get in an iPad, able to shoot 4k video and capture 12mp images. The front-facing camera supports Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting as well. The audio is better too, with four speakers to the other models' two.
The only drawback to the iPad Pro? The price. The base model starts at $400 more than the iPad and quickly rockets into what it would cost to buy a full-sized laptop.
The Pro makes sense if you're an artist and need the latest digital stylus or you need the most versatile productivity device in Apple's stable. With the iPadOS enhancements, working on an iPad is easier than ever. It's up to you to decide if the price is worth it.
iPad (2019)
iPad
The just-announced iPad is Apple’s latest entry-level tablet. It's more than $100 cheaper than the iPad Air and, depending on which model you get, more $1,000 less than an iPad Pro. I'm leading with the price of this iPad, because, honestly, that's its greatest advantage over the others. Yes, the screen is a larger 10.2" and it can use a Smart Keyboard, but other than those two things, this new iPad is an upsized 6th Generation one. It has the same A10 chip, the same 128GB max storage, the same 8mp camera. It's just bigger. When you look at it side-by-side with the iPad Pro, it's obvious that they're meant for different audiences. The older chip in the iPad is already showing its age with iPadOS, whereas the A12X in the Pro is just getting started. This is truly an entry-level device, meant for play and very, very light productivity, while the iPad Pro is for someone who's decided they want the versatility of a tablet to do serious work.
Verdict:
If you're just seeing if an Apple iPad will work for you, by all means, get the latest iPad. The large screen is definitely an improvement over its predecessor. But if you're looking to do more on the go, get the Pro.
Shop the iPad | Shop the iPad Pro
Read my review of the iPad 2019 vs. the iPad Air
