Comparison iPad Pro 2018 vs iPad Pro 2021

Specifications table

Before going fully into each and every one of the differences that exist between these two iPad Pro models, we want to put on your table a table with the technical specifications. In this way you have all the information related to each device and you will be able to understand much better everything that differentiates, or not, these two iPad Pro.

Once you have clear the technical specifications of these two Apple products, and before developing each of the main points of this comparison we want to expose you to those that we consider most important and that can affect the experience in a more profound way than the users can have with them.

• The screen is undoubtedly one of the points that as soon as you put them one in front of the other you will notice, that is, only in the 12.9-inch model, since the 11-inch models have the same screen.
• In terms of power there is also a big jump in the 2021 model, however, the question that many users ask is, can you really take advantage of it?
• The number of cameras is another difference that you appreciate at first glance.
• And if we talk about cameras, in the rear module the presence of the LiDAR sensor can sometimes be differential.
• You also have to take 5G connectivity into account, especially if you are going to buy or need an iPad with mobile data.

What has changed from one to the other?

The iPad Pro is a device that does not really incorporate too striking novelties in its generation updates, however, how have you been able to previously verify that there are some quite differential aspects between the 2018 model and the 2021 model. what we are going to start talking about.

More power

The biggest change between these two true beasts is without any inside. The iPad Pro of 2018 has the A12X Bionic chip , which gives it the power and capacity that allows all its users to be able to carry out practically any task they propose. However, if we look inside the iPad Pro from 2021, things change quite a bit.

The performance offered by the 2018 model is already fantastic, but the 2021 model has the famous Apple M1 chip , a chip that has been talked about a lot, and practically everything for the good given the performance that it provides to all devices that use it. The iPad Pro of 2021 has become a machine that is capable of doing everything that a user sets out to do with it, it has no limits, at least in hardware.

But not everything is positive. Although it is true that the iPad Pro from 2021 has very high capacities at the hardware level, these in the end are weighed down by being very limited by the software available for it. In fact, there are few tasks that you cannot carry out with the iPad Pro from 2018 and yes with the one from 2021. The Cupertino company undoubtedly has a professional device, but the question is, can users really get out of it? match so much power and performance?

A professional display

The screen is another of the points where the Cupertino company has taken a great step forward. Without any doubt, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro screen from 2021 can be considered a totally professional screen, since this model has the famous Liquid Retina XDR screen , with 2D mini-LED technology with Multi-Touch and IPS technology. .

This screen of the 12.9-inch model makes the iPad a perfect tool for all photo editing professionals , since the representation of the colors is totally faithful to reality. In addition, not only for professional tasks this screen is a joy, but also to consume any type of content . To notice the difference you just have to put one next to the other and, never better said, there will be no color in how you will see the contents in one and the other.

But again, not everything is perfect and that is, only the 12.9-inch model from 2021 is the one that has this type of screen , so the 11-inch model from 2021 has the same screen as the iPad Pro of 2018. This causes users of the small model of iPad Pro to seriously think about whether the jump is worth it or not, but we will talk about it at the end of this post.

IPad Cameras

Something that is present in the iPad, but that few users really use given the focus of this device are the cameras. Despite this, Apple has considerably evolved all the features that the iPad offers in this regard. First of all, what should be noted is the number of lenses in the rear, going from the wide angle of the 2018 model, to a double camera consisting of a wide angle and ultra wide angle in the 2021 model, in addition to the presence of the LiDAR scanner in the latter.

Few users use the iPad to take pictures, however, it is a very powerful and interesting tool for everything related to virtual reality and augmented reality . In fact, the iPad Pro was the first model to have the LiDAR scanner, although at the moment it has not been possible to take full advantage of it. Therefore, users who opt for the iPad Pro from 2021 before the one from 2018 will be counted in this regard.

However, surely the camera that can be used the most on an iPad is the front camera , where the iPad Pro from 2021 also has a great improvement compared to the 2018 model. The first significant change is the type of lens that one has. and another, since on the part of the iPad Pro of 2018 it mounts a TrueDepth camera, while the 2021 model has a TrueDepth camera with 12 Mpx ultra wide angle. The fact that it is ultra wide angle makes a lot more sense given that it will usually be used for video calls and allows you to cover much more field of vision. But beware that this is not the only novelty, since the iPad Pro from 2021 has Centered Framing , a technology that will keep the subject always in the central part of the image, making the camera follow the movements you can make.

5G is here

Connectivity is another point that has evolved over the generations of iPad Pro. The great novelty in this regard is undoubtedly the arrival of 5G , a technology that increases the speed of Internet connection considerably in a device that when working needs the highest possible speed.

However, this point is damaged given the 5G that Spain has and a large majority of countries today, where it could actually be considered an evolution of 4G , rather than 5G, which, for example, can be enjoyed by users. US users. Therefore, with the passage of time, it will be a point where you can find a great difference, but that today will not mark the user experience.

Similar aspects of both models

We have already told you about the aspects in which you will find a greater difference between what the iPad Pro of 2018 and that of 2021 are capable of offering. However, and although the change is not so significant, there are other aspects in which you have to look to be able to assess the evolution of such a popular device. We will talk about it below.

USB-C port, although not identical

The arrival of the USB-C port to the iPad was a tremendous turning point for a device that Apple wanted to focus on professional use but did not really have the necessary features for it. Without a doubt, this movement was key and gave the iPad a tremendous range of possibilities.

Of course, there is a more than appreciable difference between them. And it is that while the 2018 model has a USB-C port, the 2021 model has a Thunderbolt port that allows a much higher data transfer rate , in addition to allowing it to be connected to monitors more efficiently. and with higher quality.

For basic uses of this iPad Pro, the speed when exchanging data is not too important, since the USB-C already achieves very good speeds. However, in the professional section, the Thunderbolt port is completely differential since it considerably increases the speed at which data is exchanged, in fact it is one of the key points so that the iPad can be used connected to a professional monitor.

Compatible accessories

Continuing with the line that the USB-C connector has marked, this was important given the large number of accessories with which the iPad was made compatible. In this sense, the difference is zero between both devices, but it is important to highlight the wide variety of devices that you can use together with your iPad to provide it with the capabilities you need.

First of all, Apple accessories like the Apple Pencil or the Magic Keyboard give the iPad tremendous possibilities to work with, in fact the keyboard practically transforms the iPad into a touchscreen laptop. If you also combine all this with the possibilities of USB-C to connect different Hubs and devices, they make the iPad a very versatile work and productivity device for the vast majority of users.

Battery

The last point we want to talk about is the battery, something really important since it is a device that will not be used regularly connected to the current and which users transport from one place to another to work or consume audiovisual content. Therefore, having good autonomy is key.

Fortunately, the iPad Pro has always had great autonomy, allowing users to use it without problems during long working hours. In this regard, both devices, both the iPad Pro of 2018 and that of 2021 offer the same benefits, which are the following.

• Up to 10 hours of Internet browsing via Wi-Fi, or video or music playback.
• Up to 9 hours of Internet browsing through mobile networks.

Our conclusion

We reached the end of the comparison, and obviously the point where we tell you what our final conclusion about this comparison is. However, since we have told you all the differences between the two iPad Pro, we invite you to make your own conclusions and decide to purchase one or the other. Or to change the 2018 model for the 2021 one if you already had it.

Undoubtedly, these are two devices that today offer enviable performance , something predictable in the 2021 model, but that perhaps some users may doubt with the 2018 model. However, it is evident that at certain points the iPad Pro from 2021 far exceeds that of 2018. If your case is that of a user who already has the iPad Pro from 2018 , it will really only be worth the jump to the 12.9-inch model from 2021 because of the incredible screen with the one that counts. At the power level there is also a tremendous jump.

However, that power of the 2021 model is not usable today given the tools and software that iPadOS has, so there will not be many situations in which you find differences in terms of the possibilities you have to do certain tasks with one and the other.

On the other hand, if you do not have either of the two and you are considering the purchase of an iPad Pro, without any doubt our advice is that you acquire the iPad Pro of 2021, for all that can come in the next few years and that, Without a doubt, it will be much more usable with the 2021 model than with the 2018 model. Of course, if you find a good offer for the previous model, it is a good option that will give you an excellent experience.