What are the "pros and cons" of the iPad Pro line? Is one the best iPad for me?

Only you can decide if a new or used iPad Pro is the best iPad for you.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Pro - Hong Kong Skyline)

However, you definitely can review an objective "pros and cons" of the devices to determine whether or not your needs are met.

If you prefer a more in-depth evaluation, EveryiPad.com also provides detailed comparisons of each line, but the below should be ideal for those who prefer a quick summary:

Pros:

• Beautiful, extremely thin designs. Models with smaller displays weigh a pound or less and models with 12.9" or 13" displays weigh around a pound and a half or less (the current 13" iPad Pro M4 only weighs 1.28 pounds).
• Bright, high resolution and crisp displays. Although all are high quality, each series is even better than the last with increased brightness and improved refresh rates. The current iPad Pro M4 models with "Tandem OLED" displays essentially are as good as tablet displays get.
• All displays have a helpful antiglare coating.
• Fast performance, even faster than some Macs.
• Excellent battery life.
• System-wide mirroring support. All iPad Pro 11" models and iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen) and higher even support a second display.
• Cellular capable models support a wide range of cellular bands with each new model supporting more bands and faster connectivity than the last.
• Quality rear cameras (especially iPad Pro 2nd Gen and later models).
• Usable onscreen keyboard and optional external Apple Smart Keyboard and Apple Magic Keyboard make productive use quite possible (larger keyboards for the 12.9" models is easier to use than smaller keyboards for the smaller models).
• Sold unlocked and without a contract in the US, and most other countries, with multiple wireless carrier options.
• Apple Pencil support (All iPad Pro 11" models and iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd and later models support much better Apple Pencil devices with magnet connections).
• USB-C support -- all iPad Pro 11" models and iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd and later models -- opens a world of more "computer-like" usage with storage, docks, and external display capability. The iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen) and iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen) models and later support even faster Thunderbolt / USB 4 via their USB-C shaped port.
• LiDAR scanner -- on iPad Pro 2 11" and later and iPad Pro 4 12.9" and later -- promises distant measurement and significant enhancements in AR experiences.

Cons:

• Expensive compared to other iPad models, Android tablets, and even many full featured Mac and Windows notebooks.
• iPadOS, although improving with each version, still is somewhat awkward and hamstrung for professional and productivity use.
• The 12.9" and 13" models are large enough that some users may find them unwieldy.
• The original 12.9" display is not as high quality as the 9.7" model and subsequent models.
• The original 9.7" model only has 2 GB of RAM unlike the original 12.9" model and subsequent models that have 4 GB of RAM or more.
• The battery is glued in place and is not designed to be replaced by an end user.
• Internal RAM cannot be upgraded. Even at the time of purchase, RAM upgrades that are available on some models also require very expensive storage upgrades.
• Internal storage cannot be upgraded and may be inadequate given increasingly large file sizes to display images and other content optimized for the high-resolution displays (not to mention recording 4K video on compatible models). However, recent iPad Pro models easily can support external storage via USB-C or Thunderbolt.
• Shooting photos and video with such a physically large device is awkward.
• No SD card slot for easy photo transfer.
• The original 9.7" model only supports USB 2 rather than USB 3 like the original 12.9" model and subsequent models, so data transfer is much slower on the 9.7" model.
• The original 12.9" model lacks 4K video support.
• Onscreen keyboard and even many of the external keyboard options are not as comfortable as typing on a "traditional" notebook keyboard with more "travel" for the keys (the Apple Magic Keyboard options finally get pretty close, though).
• No bundled headphones (a particularly miserly omission given the high price of the device).

 

So, which iPad Pro is best for me?

Ultimately, if you want an iPad, the iPad Pro models represent the best tablets that Apple has to offer.

The current iPad Pro M4 11" and iPad Pro M4 13" models are without a doubt the best tablets Apple ever has made. They are (1) fast, (2) have beautiful displays, (3) are remarkably lightweight for their dimensions and capabilities, (4) have advanced, fast cellular connectivity including 5G support, and (5) Thunderbolt / USB 4 support offers a world of more computer-like capabilities.

Earlier iPad Pro models, especially those that still support iPadOS 17, remain well worth considering. They are not as fast or as capable as the current models, but they still are quite fast and capable and have plenty of life left.

If you are the type of user who takes good care of hardware and plan to keep your iPad Pro for as long as possible, you might choose to avoid the original 9.7" iPad Pro and 12.9" iPad Pro models because they no longer support the current version of the iPadOS and software support will start to wane quickly accordingly.

iPad Pro Purchase & Sale Options

There are no shortage of places to buy a new or used iPad Pro. However, buying your iPad Pro from a reliable 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 Pro to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.