Apple iPad (2022) vs iPad Pro 12.9 (2022): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is the clear winner for power users and creative professionals thanks to its M2 chip and stunning Liquid Retina XDR display. However, the iPad (2022) remains a fantastic choice for everyday users seeking a capable and affordable tablet.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad (2022) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A2757 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2757 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2764, A2437 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2757, A2777 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2764 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2777 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2437, A2766 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 18 | 2022, October 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 26 | Available. Released 2022, October 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm (9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in) | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (LTE) (1.05 lb) | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) |
| Stylus support (1st gen only) | Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.0 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) | Octa-core (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple M2 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 10 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Features | HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, ProRes |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort; magnetic connector | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Po 7606 mAh (28.6 Wh) | Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow | Silver, Space Gray |
| Models | A3162, A2757, A2777, A2696, iPad13,18, iPad13,19 | A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 1450 EUR |
Apple iPad (2022)
- Excellent value
- Capable performance (A14 Bionic)
- Beautiful Liquid Retina display
- All-day battery life
- iPadOS ecosystem
- Less powerful than iPad Pro
- No ProMotion display
- No LiDAR scanner
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
- Blazing-fast M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
- ProMotion (120Hz)
- LiDAR scanner for AR
- Premium design and build quality
- Higher price
- Larger size may not be ideal for everyone
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) features a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible brightness, contrast, and HDR performance. The iPad (2022) has an 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, which is still excellent but lacks the Pro's advanced technology. ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) is exclusive to the Pro, providing smoother scrolling and responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Both iPads offer capable cameras, but the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has a LiDAR scanner, which enhances AR experiences and improves portrait mode photography. The Pro also has a slightly better ultrawide camera. Image quality is generally excellent on both.
Performance
The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) delivers a significant performance boost over the A14 Bionic in the iPad (2022). Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. While the A14 is still capable, the M2 is in a different league.
Battery Life
Both iPads offer all-day battery life, typically lasting around 10 hours of mixed usage. Battery capacity is slightly higher on the iPad Pro, but real-world performance is comparable.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad (2022)? Students, casual users, and those on a budget will appreciate the iPad's balance of performance and affordability. Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)? Creative professionals, artists, and anyone needing maximum power and a top-tier display should invest in the Pro.