ZTE nubia Pad 3D vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022): A Detailed Tablet Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) wins overall thanks to its superior ecosystem, optimized software, and consistently excellent performance. However, the nubia Pad 3D offers a compelling alternative for those seeking high-end specs on a budget, particularly if 3D capabilities are a priority.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Pad 3D | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 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, 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 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | 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 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, February 28 | 2022, October 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 11 | Available. Released 2022, October 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 285 x 190 x 8.5 mm (11.22 x 7.48 x 0.33 in) | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 780 g (1.72 lb) | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) |
| - | Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1600 x 2560 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~243 ppi density) | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.4 inches, 445.8 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) |
| 3D lightfield display Real-time 2D to 3D content conversion | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Apple M2 |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 12L | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), AF 16 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), AF | 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama, stereoscopic Al-powered 3D capture | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1200p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, ProRes |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f.2,2, 105˚ (ultrawide) 8 MP, f.2,2, 105˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | Stereoscopic Al-powered 3D capture | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1200p@30fps | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR |
| 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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, magnetic connector, video output | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (accessories only) | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | - |
| Type | 9070 mAh | Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray | Silver, Space Gray |
| Models | - | A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6 |
| Price | About 1300 EUR | About 1450 EUR |
ZTE nubia Pad 3D
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Competitive price
- Potentially good 3D capabilities
- Large display
- Likely inferior display quality compared to iPad Pro
- Less optimized software experience
- Potentially weaker camera system
- 33W charging is slower than some competitors
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
- Blazing-fast M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
- Excellent camera system
- Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
- Optimized iPadOS
- High price
- Limited customization options compared to Android
- Lightning port (older standard)
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 boasts a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. The nubia Pad 3D likely has a good quality LCD, but it won't match the iPad Pro's visual fidelity. The iPad Pro's ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) also provides a smoother experience.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 generally has superior camera systems, with better image quality, video recording capabilities, and computational photography features. The nubia Pad 3D's cameras are likely adequate for basic use, but won't compete with the iPad Pro's flagship-level cameras.
Performance
While the Snapdragon 888 is a powerful chipset, the Apple M2 chip in the iPad Pro 12.9 is significantly faster and more efficient. The M2's optimized architecture and tight integration with iPadOS provide a noticeable performance advantage in demanding tasks like video editing and graphic design. The iPadOS ecosystem is also more optimized for tablet use.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer all-day battery life. The iPad Pro 12.9's M2 chip contributes to excellent power efficiency. The nubia Pad 3D's battery capacity is likely comparable, but real-world usage will depend on screen brightness and usage patterns.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Pad 3D is ideal for budget-conscious users who want a powerful tablet for gaming, media consumption, and general productivity. The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is perfect for creative professionals, students, and anyone who demands the best possible tablet experience and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.