Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) vs iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): The Ultimate Showdown

The Apple iPad Pro line represents the pinnacle of tablet technology. Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models from 2021 boast the powerful M1 chip, but significant differences in display technology and size make choosing between them a crucial decision. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you find the perfect Pro for your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) wins for its stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, ideal for creative professionals. However, the iPad Pro 11 (2021) offers greater portability and a slightly lower price point, making it a strong choice for everyday use and those prioritizing a more compact form factor. Both are incredibly powerful.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)	Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	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 - A2301, A2459, A2460	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 - A2379, A2461, A2462
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2301	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2379
Speed	HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G	HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2459, A2460	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2461, A2462

Launch
Announced	2021, April 20	2021, April 20
Status	Available. Released 2021, May 21	Available. Released 2021, May 21

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in)	280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	466 g (Wi-Fi), 470 g (5G) (1.03 lb)	682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb)
	Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic)	Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	1668 x 2388 pixels (~265 ppi density)	2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density)
Size	11.0 inches, 366.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)	12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 600 nits (typ)	Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz)	Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz)
Chipset	Apple M1	Apple M1
GPU	Apple GPU (8-core graphics)	Apple GPU (8-core graphics)
OS	iPadOS 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1	iPadOS 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB 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)	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	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)
Video	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	Face detection, HDR, panorama	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

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)	Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR	5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only)	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), DisplayPort, magnetic connector	USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), 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/6, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer

Battery
Type	Li-Po 7538 mAh (28.65 Wh)	Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Silver, Space Gray	Silver, Space Gray
Models	A2301, A2459, A2460, iPad13,4, iPad13,5, iPad13,6, iPad13,7	A2379, A2461, A2462, iPad13,8, iPad13,9, iPad13,10, iPad13,11
Price	About 870 EUR	About 1200 EUR

Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)

More portable
Slightly lower price
Excellent Liquid Retina display
Powerful M1 chip

Display not as impressive as 12.9's XDR
Smaller screen size

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
Larger screen for immersive viewing
Powerful M1 chip
Excellent for creative workflows

Less portable
Higher price
Can be unwieldy for some users

Display Comparison

The most significant difference lies in the display. The iPad Pro 11 (2021) features a Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology, offering excellent color accuracy and brightness. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), however, utilizes a Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, delivering significantly higher peak brightness, incredible contrast, and superior HDR performance. This makes a noticeable difference when viewing HDR content or working with color-critical applications.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is largely identical between the two models. Both feature a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera with a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences and faster autofocus. Image quality is excellent in both devices, particularly in well-lit conditions.

Performance

Both tablets are powered by the Apple M1 chip, ensuring blazing-fast performance across the board. You'll experience seamless multitasking, smooth graphics rendering, and effortless handling of demanding applications. Real-world performance differences are minimal due to the identical chipset. However, sustained performance under heavy load *might* be slightly better on the 12.9 due to its larger thermal footprint.

Battery Life

Battery life is comparable between the two, offering around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. The 12.9-inch model has a slightly larger battery capacity to compensate for its larger screen, but the difference in real-world usage is minimal.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)? Students, professionals needing portability, and users who prefer a more compact tablet. Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)? Creative professionals (photographers, videographers, graphic designers), users who prioritize a larger, more immersive display, and those who enjoy media consumption on a bigger screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the M1 chip the same in both iPad Pro models?

Yes, both the iPad Pro 11 (2021) and iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) utilize the same Apple M1 chip, providing comparable processing power.

❓ Which iPad Pro is better for drawing and digital art?

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is generally considered better for drawing and digital art due to its larger screen and superior display quality, especially for color accuracy.