Compare the Apple iPad Pro (2021) to the Apple iPad Pro (2020)

The iPad Pro (2021) 11-inches has the same Liquid Retina display as the iPad Pro (2020). The 12.9-inch version did get an upgrade and has a sharper and brighter Liquid Retina XDR display. The contrast of this screen is even stronger, so colors really come into their own. With 1600 nits, the 12.9-inch screen is a lot brighter than the screen of the iPad Pro (2020). The 120Hz refresh rate is the same as that of the 2020 version. This technology ensures that games and animations are displayed smoothly, for example.

The iPad Pro (2020) has a Liquid Retina display. Both screens have a brightness of 600 nits, which is 400 nits less than the 12.9 screen of the iPad Pro (2021). As a result, it isn't as easy to read in bright light. This iPad has the same ProMotion technology as the iPad Pro (2021). Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, you can effortlessly scroll through web pages with a lot of text on this tablet as well and it displays animations smoothly.

The Apple iPad Pro (2021) has the most powerful processor of any iPad up to now, namely the Apple M1. You can also find this chip in the MacBook (2020) and iMac (2021). Thanks to this powerful and energy-efficient chip, demanding augmented reality apps and the latest 3D games run more smoothly than on the iPad Pro (2020). You can navigate through all your apps super fast and multitask without difficulty. As a result, you can use a demanding Adobe app at the same time as Spotify and you can easily switch to other apps in the mean time.

The iPad Pro (2020) has an A12Z Bionic chip. This chip is part of an older generation. You can also effortlessly use demanding apps and 3D games on the iPad (2020), though they won't run as smoothly as on the iPad Pro (2021). You can multitask and switch between different apps quickly, but not as quickly as with the new version. Keep in mind that the speed decreases as apps continue to develop. As a result, the iPad Pro (2020) isn't as future-proof.

The iPad Pro (2021) has a Smart Connector and a USB-C connector with Thunderbolt. This makes the data transfer faster and allows you to connect and external monitor, for example. You can connect your Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard to the Smart Connector. The 12.9-inch version is 0.5mm thicker than the 2020 version. That's why a Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro (2020) doesn't fit on this tablet. The new version of the Magic Keyboard is now available in white as well and is also suitable for the iPad Pro (2018/2020).

The iPad Pro (2020) also has a USB-C connector, but without Thunderbolt. As a result, you can't connect an external monitor for extra working comfort. Just like the iPad Pro (2021), this tablet has a Smart Connector that you can connect your Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard too. On this tablet, you can bring to life all your creative ideas with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation). It'll just work slightly less smooth then it would on the iPad Pro (2021).

The iPad Pro (2021) is available in an 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen size. You have a lot of options when it comes to storage capacity, namely 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The main difference compared to its predecessor is the 5G support. This way, you're guaranteed to have a super fast and stable internet connection in places without WiFi in the future. If that isn't what you're looking for, you can choose the version that only supports WiFi. The iPad Pro (2021) is available in the colors Space Gray and Silver.

When it comes to design, the iPad Pro (2020) is identical to the 2021 version. The tablet just isn't available with 2TB. The Apple iPad Pro (2020) supports 4G. At the moment, you don't notice a lot of difference in speed when you use a mobile data plan, but that'll change in the future. 4G will be a lot slower. Just like the iPad Pro (2021), this tablet is also available in a version that only supports WiFi. The 2020 version is also available in Space Gray.