What are all the differences between the original 9.7" iPad Pro and 12.9" iPad Pro? Is one of these older models still worth considering?

Please note that the original iPad Pro models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with current iOS support info and other details and is quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these models on the used market.

No doubt many would take a quick look at the original 9.7" iPad Pro models -- the 9.7" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi) and 9.7" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi/Cellular) -- next to the original 12.9" iPad Pro models -- the 12.9" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi) and 12.9" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi/Cellular) -- and determine that the difference is size.

Although size is one important difference between these iPad Pro models, there are a number of other important differences that are not nearly as obvious. In fact, some of these more subtle differences may be the deciding factor for you to choose one device or the other.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (12.9" iPad Pro & 9.7" iPad Pro)

External Design & Color Differences

The original 9.7" iPad Pro and 12.9" iPad Pro share external designs in the same style with gently rounded sides and corners and both have dual microphones and dual sets of stereo speakers. However, the larger model is larger -- 12.0 inches by 8.68 inches compared to 9.4 inches by 6.6 inches -- as well as heavier -- a bit more than a pound and a half compared to just under a pound for the smaller models.

It wasn't that long ago that a portable device that only weighed a pound and a half would have been amazing, but some users no doubt will prefer the lighter device these days.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (9.7" iPad Pro Color Options)

Both models are available in black and "Space Gray," silver and white, or gold and white, but the smaller 9.7" iPad Pro also is available in a pink-tinted "Rose Gold" color option.

Accessory Support Differences

Both of these iPad Pro models support the Apple Pencil (A1603, US$99), as an optional purchase. This input device provides a variety of pressure-sensitive sketching and drawing options.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Pencil)

Both of these iPad Pro models also have a "Smart Connector" that provides connectivity for an optional Apple Smart Keyboard, but the Smart Keyboard for the smaller model is smaller and the one for the larger model is larger, naturally. The smaller keyboard is US$149 and the larger one is US$169.

Based on hands-on experience, EveryiPad.com found both keyboards to be usable, and significantly better than typing on glass, but those who do a lot of typing no doubt will prefer a notebook with a "real" keyboard. Typing on the larger keyboard also tends to be faster and more accurate.

Display Differences

Both original iPad Pro models have a multitouch-capable LED-backlit display with the same 264 ppi pixel density and antireflective coating, but the smaller display, with a native 2048x1536 resolution actually is higher quality than the larger display with a 2732x2048 resolution.

This is because the smaller 9.7" iPad Pro has a "wide color display" (DCI-P3 color gamut) as well as introduced a new "True Tone" feature that evaluates the color temperature and ambient brightness of your surroundings and dynamically adjusts the display's white balance to match.

Camera Differences

The original iPad Pro models both are awkward to use as handheld cameras, but Apple has begun marketing them more for semi-professional business use with tripods or other mounts as well as for practical photography of paper forms and other documents to turn into PDF files.

Based on hands-on use, EveryiPad.com has found the iPad Pro models, and earlier ones, to be quite useful for completing paper forms more quickly as well as creating easy "scans" of paper documents.

Both the front-facing "FaceTime HD" camera and rear "iSight" camera are substantially better quality on the smaller 9.7" iPad Pro than the larger 12.9" model.

FaceTime HD Cameras

The FaceTime HD camera on the smaller model supports larger images and has a better "Retina Flash" that is intended to provide better selfies:

	9.7" iPad Pro	12.9" iPad Pro
Megapixels:	5 MP	1.2 MP
Aperture:	f/2.2	f/2.2
Video:	720p	720p
Backside Illumination:	Yes	Yes
Burst Mode:	Yes	Yes
Retina Flash:	Yes	No

iSight Cameras

The rear-mounted "iSight" camera on the 9.7" iPad Pro is much better than the one on the 12.9" iPad Pro, supporting 4K video (rather than just 1080p) as well as other mostly improved hardware and software features:

	9.7" iPad Pro	12.9" iPad Pro
Megapixels:	12 MP	8 MP
Aperture:	f/2.2	f/2.4
Video:	4K	1080p
Panorama:	Yes (63 MP)	Yes (43 MP)
Burst Mode:	Yes	Yes
Video Zoom (3X):	Yes	Yes
Slo-mo Video:	Yes (1080p)	Yes (720p)
Video Stabilization:	Yes (Cinematic)	Yes

Ultimately, both cameras on the 9.7" iPad Pro are significantly better than the cameras on the 12.9" iPad Pro and represent a significant boost for the camera quality of the iPad line in general. However, note that the rear iSight camera does "bulge" a bit from its housing on the smaller 9.7" model, but is flush on the 12.9" one and some detail-minded users seem to find this "bump" on the smaller model unacceptable.

Identification Differences

Although it is easy to differentiate these iPad Pro models when they are sitting side-by-side, it is not easy to visually distinguish iPad models in general and visual identification is not a good method for differentiation overall.

Instead, one of the best methods for external identification is via Model Number. Model numbers are provided in tiny type toward the bottom of the back of each iPad:

iPad	Model No
iPad Pro 9.7" (Wi-Fi Only)	A1673
iPad Pro 9.7" (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1674
iPad Pro 12.9" (Wi-Fi)	A1584
iPad Pro 12.9" (Wi-Fi/Cellular)	A1652

EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can precisely identify these iPad models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and their Serial Numbers, too.

Internal & Connectivity Differences

There are a number of internal and connectivity differences between the original 9.7" iPad Pro and the original 12.9" model:

	9.7" iPad Pro	12.9" iPad Pro
Clockspeed:	2.1 GHz	2.2 GHz
Processor Type:	Apple A9X	Apple A9X
Processor Cores:	Two	Two
Architecture:	64-Bit	64-Bit
Coprocessor:	Apple M9	Apple M9
RAM:	2 GB	4 GB
Storage Options (GB):	32/128/256	32/128/256
Wi-Fi Support:	802.11ac	802.11ac
LTE Support:	23 Bands	20 Bands
Apple SIM:	Embedded	Included
Lightning Connector:	USB 2	USB 3

Most notably, the cellular-capable 9.7" iPad Pro has better LTE support than its larger counterpart (both support bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, and 41, but the smaller model packs "LTE Advanced," which adds bands 12, 27, and 30). The smaller cellular-capable model also has a new "Embedded SIM" (in addition to a Nano SIM slot) that could make it easier to switch between mobile data providers in the future.

On the other hand, the larger 12.9" iPad Pro models have a modestly faster processor, a massive twice as much RAM, and as first noted by photographer Jeff Carlson, the Lightning connector connects at USB 3 speed rather than USB 2, which means data transfer from the larger model from a SD card or to a computer is much faster.

Although the larger 12.9" iPad Pro has a larger 38.5 watt-hour battery and the smaller 9.7" iPad Pro has a smaller 27.5 watt-hour battery, Apple estimates that all of these models provide up to 10 hours of runtime surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music and the cellular capable models provide up to 9 hours of runtime surfing the web using a cellular network.

iOS Support Differences

The 12.9" iPad Pro originally shipped with iOS 9.1 and the 9.7" iPad Pro with iOS 9.3, but both are capable of supporting iOS 10 and iOS 11 with the exception of the "Health" related features that the iPhone line supports. Both are capable of supporting iOS 12 with the exception of the minor Memoji and Camera Effects features, as well.

Both models fully iOS 13 (iPadOS), with the exception of the Adjust Portrait Lighting and "High-Key Mono" photography features as well as modest AR features (Motion Capture and People Occlusion).

Both models support iPadOS 14, but neither support Location Anchors, Spatial Audio, or On-Device Dictation. Both support iPadOS 15 and iPadOS 16, as well, but do not support any advanced features, most notably Stage Manager, introduced with iPadOS 16.

iPad Pro Comparison Chart

The above differences between the 9.7" iPad Pro and the 12.9" iPad Pro -- as well as US pricing details -- are summarized below:

	9.7 " iPad Pro	12.9" iPad Pro
Introduced:	Mar 2016	Sep 2015
Discontinued:	Jun 2017	Jun 2017
Clockspeed:	2.1 GHz	2.2 GHz
Processor:	Apple A9X	Apple A9X
Coprocessor:	M9 Motion	M9 Motion
RAM:	2 GB	4 GB
Storage (GB):	32/128/256	32/128/256
Display Size:	9.7"	12.9"
Resolution:	2048x1536	2732x2048
True Tone:	Yes	No
4G/LTE Internet:	23 Bands	20 Bands
Wi-Fi (802.11):	a/b/g/n/ac	a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth:	4.2	4.2
Front Camera:	5 MP	1.2 MP
Rear Camera:	12 MP	8 MP
Video Recording:	4K	1080p
Camera Bump:	Yes	No
Touch ID:	Yes	Yes
Apple Pay:	Yes	Yes
Apple SIM:	Embedded	Included
SIM Card:	Nano	Nano
Original iOS:	iOS 9	iOS 9
Maximum iOS:	iPadOS 16	iPadOS 16
Color Options:	Silver Gray Gold Rose Gold	Silver Gray Gold
Battery:	27.5 W Hr	38.5 W Hr
Height:	9.4 in.	12.0 in.
Width:	6.6 in.	8.68 in.
Depth/Thinness:	0.24 in.	0.27 in.
Weight:	0.96-0.98 lb.	1.57-1.59 lb.
Smart Keyboard:	Small	Large
Apple Pencil:	Yes	Yes
Orig. Price (Wi-Fi):	US$599 US$749 US$899	US$799 US$949
Orig. Price (LTE):	US$729 US$879 US$1029	US$1079

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 two iPad Pro models is best for me? Is one of these older models still worth considering?

At this point, because neither support the current version of the iPadOS and software support will start to wane quickly, most users would be better served with a newer iPad. However, for a frugal user with basic needs, they still may have life left for a bit longer.

Nevertheless, just comparing these two discontinued models rather than subsequent or current ones, still may be a difficult decision.

The larger 12.9" option is best if (1) a larger display, (2) the option of a larger, easier to use keyboard, (3) faster performance, (4) faster data transfers thanks to USB 3 support, and (5) twice the RAM -- which likely means it will be usable longer with possible better iOS support in the future -- are most important to you.

The smaller 9.7" option is better for you if you place more value on having (1) a better display, (2) better cameras (and 4K video support), (3) the option of more advanced and faster cellular connectivity, (4) a smaller and lighter housing, and (5) a lower price tag.

iPad Pro Purchase & Sale Options

There are no shortage of places to buy a new or used iPad Pro. However, buying your device from a quality company with extensive knowledge -- and after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.

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 model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.