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iPad Pro Q&A
Update Published May 18, 2024
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What are all the differences between the iPad Pro 11" (4th Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (6th Gen)? Which is best for my needs?
The iPad Pro 11" (4th Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (6th Gen) models all have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with current iOS support and more and can be quite helpful to anyone buying or selling one on the used market.
As Apple has rather confusingly done for several years, the iPad Pro models released at the same time in 2022 are formally identifed as different generations -- "4th Gen" for models with 11" displays and "6th Gen" for models with 12.9" displays -- but these models are the same except for display size and quality.
However, more specifically, there are four different iPad Pro models of each display size, as well. Some of the models were sold in different countries and have different connectivity as well as different identifiers and prices.
EveryiPad.com officially documents the 11" models as the iPad Pro 11" (Wi-Fi Only - 4th Gen), 11" (Wi-Fi/Cell US - 4th Gen), 11" (Wi-Fi/Cell Global - 4th Gen), and 11" (Wi-Fi/Cell China - 4th Gen) and 12.9" models as the iPad Pro 12.9" (Wi-Fi Only - 6th Gen), 12.9" (Wi-Fi/Cell US - 6th Gen), 12.9" (Wi-Fi/Cell Global - 6th Gen), and 12.9" (Wi-Fi/Cell China - 6th Gen).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Pro 11" 4th Gen; iPad Pro 12.9" 6th Gen)
Device Differences
Of course, the 12.9" iPad Pro models are physically larger and weigh more than the 11" models, but both share the same overall design -- a glass front with a narrow bezel around the edge, an aluminum back, and flat sides with rounded corners. Case color options include a black front with either a silver colored or darker "Space Gray" back.
Both have high-quality displays. The 11" models have an LED-backlit 2388x1668 "Liquid Retina" display (264 ppi, 600 nits brightness) and the 12.9" models have a even better mini-LED backlit 2732x2048 "Liquid Retina XDR" display (264 ppi, 1000 nits full-screen brightness, 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio).
Both are compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 (A2051, MU8F2AM/A) and size-specific Apple Smart Keyboard Folio and Apple Magic Keyboard with an integrated trackpad. The Apple Pencil 2 supports a "next-level Apple Pencil hover experience" that shows a user where the Apple Pencil will touch the display within 12 mm.
Although they have different internal parts, the 2022 iPad Pro models all are powered by an eight-core 3.49 GHz Apple M2 processor (SoC), a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 100 GB/s memory bandwidth. If any of these iPad Pro models are configured with 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of storage, they also are equipped with 8 GB of onboard RAM. If one is configured with 1 TB or 2 TB of storage, it also is equipped with 16 GB of onboard RAM.
All of the 2022 iPad Pro models have three cameras -- one 12 megapixel, 1080p front-facing, portrait aligned "TrueDepth" camera that supports "Center Stage" and dual rear cameras -- a 12 megapixel wide angle lens and a 10 megapixel ultra-wide angle lens that shoot in 4K. For the first time, these iPad Pro models support ProRes video capture.
Additional features that the 2022 iPad Pro models each share include LiDAR, "Face ID" authentication, a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port for power and advanced connectivity, 802.11ax with 2x2 MIMO (Wi-Fi 6E) on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies (simultaneous dual band) and Bluetooth 5.3. They all have five microphones and a four speaker system, as well. Cellular-capable models all support 5G.
iPadOS Support Similarities
The 2022 iPad Pro models all initially shipped with iPadOS 16.1 and fully support iPadOS 17, as well.
Identification Differences
It is essentially impossible to use visual identification for different iPad Pro models and definitely impossible to visually differentiate between models within the same line that have different cellular capabilities.
Accordingly, one of the best ways to identify these models is via Model Number; externally displayed toward the bottom on the back of each device:
iPad Pro |
Model No |
Initially, the cellular-equipped models likely will not be in the same locale because of their geographic distribution, but over time, they will inevitably find their way around the world.
The 11" and 12.9" iPad Pro models released in 2022 also can be differentiated by other identifiers as well, such as the Order Number. The Order Number can be located by selecting the Settings app and pressing General > About and scrolling down to what is specified as "Model" within the iOS. For example, the Wi-Fi only configuration of the iPad Pro 11" (4th Gen) in "Space Gray" with 512 GB of storage is MNXF3LL/A.
To track down an exact iPad Pro by a variety of different identifiers, please refer to the Ultimate iLookup feature.
Connectivity & Battery Life Differences
While using Wi-Fi, the 2022 iPad Pro models provide up to of ten hours of runtime, whereas the cellular configurations only provide up to nine hours of runtime when using a cellular connection.
All of these cellular-equipped iPad Pro models support A-GPS, GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), 4G LTE, but 5G cellular connectivity varies accordingly:
iPad Pro |
Model No |
5G |
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79, n258, n260, n261 |
||
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
||
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
||
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79, n258, n260, n261 |
||
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
||
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
All cellular iPad Pro models ship unlocked. In the United States, the applicable tablet works with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, but some carriers may still require activation or configuration before it will work properly -- or at all -- on their network.
All of these cellular-equipped iPad Pro models have a Nano SIM card slot. With the exception of iPad Pro models sold only in mainland China (A2762, A2766), they all have a software-based eSIM and support a physical Apple SIM, as well. The models sold in mainland China only have a physical Nano SIM card slot.
iPad Pro 2022 Comparison Chart
The above differences between the 11" iPad Pro (4th Gen) and the 12.9" iPad Pro (6th Gen) -- as well as US pricing details -- are summarized below:
 11" iPad Pro 4 |
 12.9" iPad Pro 6 |
|
| Display Size: | 11" | 12.9" |
| Display Type: | Liquid Retina | Liquid Retina XDR |
| Resolution: | 2388x1668 | 2732x2048 |
| RAM: | 8 GB; 16 GB | 8 GB; 16 GB |
| Storage Capacity: | 128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB |
128, 256, 512 GB; 1, 2 TB |
| 5G LTE: | Yes | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Center Stage: | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Camera: | 10+12 MP | 10+12 MP |
| Video Recording: | 4K | 4K |
| ProRes: | Yes | Yes |
| Thunderbolt / USB 4: | Yes | Yes |
| Face ID: | Yes | Yes |
| LiDAR: | Yes | Yes |
| Apple SIM: | Embedded | Embedded |
| SIM Card: | Nano | Nano |
| Original iOS: | iOS 16.1 | iOS 16.1 |
| Maximum iOS: | Current | Current |
| Color Options: | Silver Gray |
Silver Gray |
| Battery: | 28.65 W Hr | 40.88 W Hr |
| Height: | 9.74 in. | 11.04 in. |
| Width: | 7.02 in. | 8.46 in. |
| Depth/Thinness: | 0.23 in. | 0.25 in. |
| Weight: | 1.03-1.04 lb. | 1.5-1.51 lb. |
| Smart Keyboard: | Small | Large |
| Apple Pencil 2: | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pencil Hover: | Yes | Yes |
| Original Price (Wi-Fi): | US$799 US$899 US$1099 US$1499 US$1899 |
US$1099 US$1199 US$1399 US$1799 US$2199 |
| Original Price (5G): | US$999 US$1099 US$1299 US$1699 US$2099 |
US$1299 US$1399 US$1599 US$1999 US$2399 |
For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPad as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPad.com.
So, which of these iPad Pro models is best for my needs?
Ignoring subsequent models, it can be a challenging decision between the 2022 iPad Pro options -- the iPad Pro 11" (4th Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (6th Gen) -- because they differ not only by display size and price, but also by display quality. The Liquid Retina display in the 11" model is high quality, but the Liquid Retina XDR display in the 12.9" tablet is significantly better.
If you want the highest quality display in an iPad from 2022, you have no choice but to buy the 12.9" model, even if you prefer the easier portability of the smaller 11" option. If you want a better quality display in an 11" iPad Pro, you would be better off buying a newer iPad Pro M4.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad (new or old alike).
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