IPad Pro 12.9 (2020 Vs 2021): Which Is Best?

Alright guys, let's dive into a topic that's been on a lot of minds: the iPad Pro 12.9 inch models from 2020 and 2021. If you're trying to figure out which one is the right pick for you, you've come to the right place. We're going to break down the differences, highlight the upgrades, and help you make a super informed decision. Think of this as your ultimate showdown between these two amazing tablets.

The 2020 iPad Pro 12.9: Still a Powerhouse

Even though the 2021 model is out, the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch is absolutely still a fantastic device. For many of us, it's more than powerful enough for our daily needs. It sports a gorgeous Liquid Retina display that's a joy to look at, whether you're editing photos, watching movies, or just scrolling through social media. Under the hood, it's rocking the A12Z Bionic chip. Now, this chip was a beast when it came out, and it still handles pretty much anything you throw at it. Multitasking? No problem. Demanding apps and games? It'll chew through them. The camera system, while not the main selling point for a tablet, is perfectly decent for scanning documents or jumping on video calls. Plus, it supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd gen), which are game-changers for productivity. So, if you're looking for a high-end tablet experience and maybe want to save a bit of cash by going for the slightly older model, the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 is a serious contender. It offers incredible performance, a stunning display, and that premium Apple build quality we all love.

What Makes the 2020 Model Stand Out?

What made the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch so special upon its release? Well, for starters, it was the first iPad Pro to feature the A12Z Bionic chip, which was a significant step up from its predecessor. This chip brought enhanced graphics performance and improved thermal management, making it even better for sustained heavy workloads. The design remained largely the same as the 2018 model, featuring flat edges and a sleek aluminum body. The display was, and still is, a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display with ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz), True Tone, and a wide P3 color gamut. This screen is incredibly responsive and visually stunning, offering smooth scrolling and fluid animations. For artists and designers, the support for the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) was crucial, offering precise input and pressure sensitivity. Productivity buffs rejoiced at the introduction of the Magic Keyboard, which transformed the iPad Pro into a laptop-like device with a trackpad and backlit keys. The camera system included a 12MP wide lens and a 10MP ultra-wide lens, along with a LiDAR scanner. This scanner was particularly innovative, enabling enhanced augmented reality experiences and faster autofocus in low-light conditions. Battery life was also a strong point, typically offering around 10 hours of web surfing or video playback, which is pretty standard for Apple's high-end devices. Connectivity-wise, it offered Wi-Fi 6 and LTE, ensuring fast and reliable internet access on the go. While the 2021 model has since surpassed it, the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch laid a solid foundation and remains a highly capable device for professionals and creatives alike. Its robust performance and premium features still make it a worthwhile option, especially if you can find it at a more attractive price point.

The 2021 iPad Pro 12.9: The Big Leap Forward

Now, let's talk about the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch. This is where Apple really decided to push the envelope. The biggest and most noticeable upgrade is the display. They've ditched the traditional LCD and brought in a Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED technology. Guys, this screen is insane. We're talking about much higher brightness levels, incredible contrast ratios, and true blacks. This means HDR content just pops, and your creative work will look more true-to-life than ever before. Under the hood, the 2021 model boasts the M1 chip. Yes, the same chip that powers their MacBooks! This is a massive performance jump. Everything feels snappier, apps launch instantly, and you can tackle even more demanding tasks, like complex video editing or 3D rendering, with ease. It also supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd gen), just like the 2020 model, but the performance boost from the M1 chip makes these accessories even more powerful. Another neat addition is the Center Stage feature on the front camera, which automatically pans and zooms to keep you in the frame during video calls. For connectivity, it steps up to Thunderbolt / USB 4, offering significantly faster data transfer speeds. If you want the absolute best iPad experience available right now, the 2021 model is the one to beat.

Diving Deeper into the 2021 Upgrades

The 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch wasn't just a minor refresh; it was a significant leap forward, primarily driven by the groundbreaking M1 chip and a revolutionary display. Let's unpack these stellar upgrades. The M1 chip, borrowed from Apple's Mac lineup, brings desktop-class performance to the iPad. This translates to an astonishing increase in CPU and GPU power, enabling users to handle professional-grade applications like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and complex CAD software without breaking a sweat. The neural engine is also beefed up, accelerating machine learning tasks. This level of power means that the line between tablet and laptop continues to blur, offering unprecedented capabilities in a portable form factor. But the real showstopper is the Liquid Retina XDR display. Utilizing mini-LED technology, it achieves a sustained full-screen brightness of 1000 nits and a peak brightness of 1600 nits for HDR content. The contrast ratio is a jaw-dropping 1,000,000:1, delivering incredibly deep blacks and vibrant highlights. This makes watching HDR movies, editing photos with precise color accuracy, or viewing detailed graphics an unparalleled visual experience. Beyond the core components, the 2021 iPad Pro introduced the Center Stage feature for the 11-inch model's ultra-wide front camera, which uses AI to keep you centered in the frame during video calls, even if you move around. While this feature is primarily on the 11-inch model, the 12.9-inch model still benefits from the improved camera system overall. Connectivity sees a major boost with the inclusion of Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. This not only allows for faster data transfers (up to 40Gbps) but also enables connection to external displays with higher resolutions and bandwidth, further enhancing its productivity potential. The Wi-Fi 6 and 5G (on cellular models) ensure that you stay connected at blazing-fast speeds. The addition of LiDAR scanner remains, enhancing AR capabilities and low-light autofocus. When considering the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch, it's clear that Apple aimed to create a device that could genuinely replace a laptop for many users, offering a potent combination of raw power, a class-leading display, and advanced connectivity.

Key Differences: Side-by-Side

When you put the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch and the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch side-by-side, a few key differences immediately jump out. Performance is the most obvious one. The 2021 model's M1 chip is a significant upgrade over the 2020 model's A12Z Bionic. While the A12Z is still very capable, the M1 offers considerably more power, especially for sustained heavy tasks and graphically intensive applications. Think faster rendering times, smoother multitasking, and the ability to run even more demanding pro apps. The Display is another massive differentiator. The 2021 model features the Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering vastly superior brightness, contrast, and HDR performance compared to the 2020 model's Liquid Retina display. If you work with HDR content or simply want the most stunning visual experience possible, the 2021 model's display is a game-changer. Connectivity is also improved in the 2021 version, with the inclusion of Thunderbolt / USB 4, which provides much faster data transfer speeds and broader peripheral support than the USB-C on the 2020 model. The front camera on the 2021 model gained the Center Stage feature (though more prominent on the 11-inch, it's still an improvement), which automatically keeps you in view during video calls. While both models support the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) and Magic Keyboard, the enhanced performance and display of the 2021 model make these accessories feel even more integrated and capable. The design is largely the same for both generations, with flat edges and premium build quality. However, the 2021 model is slightly thicker and heavier due to the new display technology. For most users, this difference is negligible, but it's worth noting. Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the superior display, significantly boosted performance, and enhanced connectivity of the 2021 model are worth the premium over the still-excellent 2020 iPad Pro.

Performance and Power: M1 vs. A12Z

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what's powering these incredible machines: the M1 chip in the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch versus the A12Z Bionic in the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch. This is arguably the most significant upgrade and the biggest reason why many are eyeing the newer model. The A12Z Bionic chip that powered the 2020 iPad Pro was, and still is, a powerhouse. It's an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU design that offered incredible speed and graphical prowess for its time. It handled demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming with ease, making it a top-tier tablet processor. However, the M1 chip is on a completely different level. It features an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, but it's built on a more advanced process node, leading to greater efficiency and significantly higher performance. Benchmarks consistently show the M1 chip outperforming the A12Z in both single-core and multi-core tasks, as well as in graphics performance. What does this mean for you, the user? It means the 2021 iPad Pro feels even snappier, with apps launching almost instantaneously. Complex tasks like professional video editing, 3D rendering, or working with large graphic design files are handled with remarkable smoothness. The M1 chip also includes a more powerful Neural Engine and improved image signal processor, contributing to faster AI-driven tasks and better camera processing. For developers, this means they can create even more sophisticated apps that push the boundaries of what's possible on an iPad. For creatives, it unlocks new workflows and reduces waiting times, making the creative process more fluid. While the A12Z is more than capable for 95% of users, the M1 chip in the 2021 model provides that extra headroom and future-proofing for those who demand the absolute best performance or utilize the iPad Pro for intensive professional work. It truly bridges the gap between mobile and desktop computing power.

Display Technology: Mini-LED vs. Liquid Retina

One of the most visually striking differences between the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 inch and the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch lies in their display technology. The 2020 model boasts a fantastic 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display. This is a high-resolution screen with excellent color accuracy (P3 wide color gamut), True Tone technology for adaptive white balance, and ProMotion technology, which provides an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz for incredibly smooth scrolling and responsiveness. It's a display that many would consider among the best on any tablet. However, Apple took things to a whole new level with the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 inch by introducing the Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED technology. This is where the magic happens. Instead of a few hundred LEDs for backlighting, the mini-LED display uses thousands of tiny LEDs grouped into hundreds of local dimming zones. This allows for much finer control over brightness and contrast across the screen. The result? A dramatic improvement in HDR (High Dynamic Range) content. The 2021 iPad Pro achieves a sustained full-screen brightness of 1000 nits and can go up to 1600 nits for peak HDR highlights. More importantly, the local dimming allows for an incredible contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. This means you get incredibly deep, inky blacks right next to bright highlights, without the