How much internal storage do the iPad Pro models have? Which models support external storage? Which external storage option is best?

All iPad Pro models have a fixed default capacity and this internal storage cannot be expanded or upgraded subsequently. They do not have an SD card slot, either.

However, it is possible to add external storage to all iPad Pro models. The original iPad Pro and iPad Pro (2nd Gen) models have a Lightning connector; the iPad Pro 11" (2nd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (4th Gen) models have a USB-C port; and the iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen) and later models all have a faster USB-C shaped Thunderbolt / USB 4 port.

Default Internal iPad Pro Storage (Skip)

The default storage is provided on the specs page for each iPad Pro, but also follows:

iPad Pro	Model	Internal Storage
12.9" (Wi-Fi Only)	A1584	32, 128, 256 GB
12.9" (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1652	128, 256 GB
9.7" (Wi-Fi Only)	A1673	32, 128, 256 GB
9.7" (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1674	32, 128, 256 GB
10.5" (Wi-Fi Only)	A1701	64, 256, 512 GB
10.5" (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1709	64, 256, 512 GB
12.9" 2(Wi-Fi Only)	A1670	64, 256, 512 GB
12.9" 2 (Wi-Fi/Cell)	A1671	64, 256, 512 GB
11" (Wi-Fi Only)	A1980	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" (Wi-Fi/Cellular - US/CA)	A2013	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" (Wi-Fi/Cellular - Global)	A1934	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" (Wi-Fi/Cellular - China)	A1979	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 3 (Wi-Fi Only)	A1876	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA)	A2014	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global)	A1895	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell China)	A1983	64, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" 2 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2228	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" 2 (Wi-Fi/Cell US/CA)	A2068	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" 2 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2230	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" 2 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2231	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 4 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2229	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell US/CA)	A2069	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2232	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
12.9" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2233	128, 256, 512 GB; 1 TB
11" 3 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2377	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 3 (Wi-Fi/Cell US)	A2301	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 3 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2459	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 3 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2460	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 5 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2378	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 5 (Wi-Fi/Cell US)	A2379	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 5 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2461	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 5 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2462	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 4 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2759	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell US)	A2435	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2761	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
11" 4 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2762	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 6 (Wi-Fi Only)	A2436	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell US)	A2764	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell Global)	A2437	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
12.9" 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell China)	A2766	128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 11" (Wi-Fi Only)	A2836	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell)	A2837	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell China)	A3006	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 13" (Wi-Fi Only)	A2925	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell)	A2926	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB
M4 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell China)	A3007	256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB

To reiterate, the default internal storage in all of the iPad Pro models cannot be upgraded beyond the amount that was installed at the time of purchase.

External iPad Pro Storage Solutions

If you would like to add storage to your original iPad Pro or iPad Pro (2nd Gen), it is possible to add an external storage drive via Lightning connector or USB-C port.

Best Lightning External iPad Pro Storage

Effectively any external Lightning storage that works with the iPhone also will work with the original iPad Pro and iPad Pro (2nd Gen) models that have Lightning ports, including storage devices like the compact SanDisk iXpand Drive Go.

There once were physically larger and much larger capacity wireless storage options for these iPad models, but reviews were mixed and compatible wireless storage is hard to find these days. Accordingly, Lightning-connected storage likely is the best option for these increasingly vintage iPad models in a pinch.

Best USB-C External iPad Pro Storage

For the iPad Pro 11" (Original & 2nd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd & 4th Gen) models that are equipped with a USB-C port, the best option is to use storage equipped with a USB-C port. In general, USB-C storage should be straightforward, fast, and reliable.

Two good options include the durable, waterproof OWC Envoy Pro Elektron, from site sponsor OWC, and the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD from site sponsor Adorama.

Photo Credit: OWC (Left); SanDisk (Right)

Both are smaller than a mobile phone and enclosed in rugged cases designed to resist dust and water as well as survive a drop. OWC even advertises that the Envoy Pro Elektron is "crushproof" and "can be rolled over multiple times without damage to your precious data inside" if you drop the drive "onto a driveway or parking lot." Although it always is best to avoid having your storage drives run over, either certainly is a good choice to carry around in a backpack.

The SanDisk Extreme supports transfer speeds up to 550MB/s and is available in capacities ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB. The OWC Envoy Pro Elektron is faster, with transfer speeds up to 1011MB/s and capacities from 240 GB to 4 TB.

Best Thunderbolt 3 External iPad Pro Storage

For the iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen) and later models -- including the current iPad Pro M4 line -- which all support faster Thunderbolt / USB 4 storage with a USB-C shaped connector, it also is possible to use USB-C storage, but because Thunderbolt is faster, it is best to use Thunderbolt.

Photo Credit: OWC Envoy Express (Opened for SSD Installation)

Two good portable options include the high-performance, plug-and-play OWC Envoy Pro FX and the upgradable "add your own drive" OWC Envoy Express, both from site sponsor Other World Computing.

Both external drives are completely SSD-based. The OWC Envoy Pro FX provides transfer speeds up to 2800 MB/s, is available in capacities from 240 GB to 4 TB, and is dust proof, drop proof, and even water proof up to 30 meters.

The OWC Envoy Express provides transfer speeds up to 1533 MB/s and is ready for you to install "any 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD" of your choice, including OWC's own Aura P12 Pro NVMe M.2 SSDs. 8 TB is the maximum capacity available now, but because the SSD can be swapped out, you easily can upgrade it yourself in the future.

iPad Pro Storage Summary

By adding external storage to your iPad Pro whether via Thunderbolt, USB-C, or Thunderbolt 3, it makes these tablets much more suitable for serious content creation and editing.

Particularly for the iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen) and later models -- including current ones -- true storage support and addition of a proper file manager starting with iOS 13 (iPadOS), makes the iPad Pro much more of a "real" computer for creative professionals. Any of these external storage options from SanDisk or OWC can make life much better for iPad Pro users.