Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) vs. Apple iPad (2022): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown

Apple's iPad lineup caters to a wide range of users, from casual browsing to creative professionals. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) represents the pinnacle of Apple's tablet technology, while the standard iPad (2022) offers a more accessible entry point. But which one is right for you?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) delivers significantly more power and a superior display thanks to the M2 chip and Liquid Retina XDR display. However, the iPad (2022) provides excellent value for everyday users. The Pro is for power users; the standard iPad is for everyone else.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)	Apple iPad (2022)

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 - A2757
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 - A2764, A2437	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
5G bands	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	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
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	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	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

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	280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in)	248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm (9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only)
Weight	682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb)	477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (LTE) (1.05 lb)
	Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic)	Stylus support (1st gen only)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density)	1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density)
Size	12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)	10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak)	Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores)	Hexa-core (2x3.0 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)
Chipset	Apple M2	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)
GPU	Apple GPU (10-core graphics)	Apple GPU (4-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	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB 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	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Video	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, ProRes	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	Face detection, HDR, panorama	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)
Video	1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR	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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.3, A2DP, LE, EDR	5.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only)	GPS, GLONASS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector	USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort; magnetic connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer

Battery
Type	Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh)	Li-Po 7606 mAh (28.6 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Silver, Space Gray	Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow
Models	A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6	A3162, A2757, A2777, A2696, iPad13,18, iPad13,19
Price	About 1450 EUR	About 430 EUR

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)

Blazing-fast M2 chip
Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate
LiDAR scanner for AR
Thunderbolt / USB 4 port

High price
Larger and heavier than the standard iPad
May be overkill for casual users

Apple iPad (2022)

Excellent value for money
Sleek and portable design
Capable A14 Bionic chip
Great for everyday tasks
Modern design

Less powerful than the iPad Pro
Standard 60Hz display
No LiDAR scanner
Slower charging

Display Comparison

The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) boasts a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible brightness, contrast, and HDR performance. The iPad (2022) features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, which is still excellent but lacks the Pro's advanced technology. The Pro's display is noticeably better for content creation and media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both iPads feature a 12MP Wide camera and a 12MP Ultra Wide camera. Image quality is comparable in good lighting conditions. The iPad Pro has a LiDAR scanner which enhances AR experiences and improves low-light photography, but the difference is subtle for most users. Video recording capabilities are similar on both.

Performance

The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) provides a substantial performance boost over the A14 Bionic in the iPad (2022). Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly improved performance in demanding games and creative applications. The A14 is still capable, but the M2 is in a different league.

Battery Life

Both iPads offer excellent battery life, typically lasting around 10 hours of mixed usage. While the iPad Pro has a slightly larger battery capacity, the difference in real-world usage is minimal. Both will easily get you through a full day.

Buying Guide

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is ideal for creative professionals (artists, video editors, graphic designers), users who need maximum performance for demanding tasks, and those who value the best possible display quality. The Apple iPad (2022) is perfect for students, casual users, families, and anyone looking for a versatile tablet for browsing, streaming, and light productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the M2 chip in the iPad Pro worth the extra cost?

If you're a creative professional or frequently use demanding apps, the M2 chip's performance boost is definitely worth it. For casual users, the A14 Bionic in the standard iPad is more than sufficient.

❓ Does the iPad Pro support the Apple Pencil?

Yes, both iPads support the Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation, depending on the model). The iPad Pro benefits more from the Pencil's capabilities due to its ProMotion display and more powerful processor.