Apple iPad Pro 5th Gen (12.9-inch, 2021)

Incredible performance ; Beautiful display on 12.9-inch model ; Stunning design ; Center Stage works great ; USB 4/Thunderbolt 3 port

Nearly MacBook priced ; No Mini-LED on 11-inch model

“The iPad Pro takes the previous-generation iPad, and gives it meaningful updates that will make what was already the best tablet even better.”

Gorgeous Mini LED screen ; Desktop-level CPU ; Excellent cameras and audio ; Stellar 5G performance

No real multiple monitor support ; iPadOS makes multitasking difficult ; Major apps missing from the platform

The 2021 edition of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is just as powerful as a Mac, but its operating system keeps it so tightly leashed that much of its potential goes unrealized.

XDR display can get bright and vivid ; M1 chip is outrageously fast ; Slim, durable chassis ; Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 support ; Improved front-facing camera with Center Stage ; 5G wireless speeds

Display has some limitations ; iPadOS can feel restricting ; Expensive

Apple's iPad Pro 2021 brings display, processor and connectivity upgrades to what was already the world's best (and most expensive) tablet.

Beautiful and large OLED-rivaling mini-LED display ; Unparalleled performance ; Best speakers on a tablet ; Surprisingly thin and light for its size

iPadOS 14 doesn't take advantage of those specs ; Expensive accessories

Incredible performance ; New screen technology is fantastic (12.9-inch version only) ; Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard support…

…at a cost ; Still expensive ; iPadOS still feels closer to iOS than macOS

The iPad Pro 2021 with M1 is the most powerful iPad you can buy, but it’s still an iPad. That may be what you need, but anyone looking for a laptop replacement may have a hard time justifying the cost – outside of specific workflows.

XDR display gets super bright ; M1 processor sets new iPadOS records ; Center Stage is pretty cool ; Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 support ; 5G, finally

Display is best on HDR content ; Expensive with accessories

— and catch themselves waiting for it to export video faster — should upgrade. It's without a doubt the best tablet there is — especially if you can see the difference between HDR and 4K HDR. I bet, though, that they'd love for iPadOS to mature a bit...

Liquid Display XDR is superb ; Class-leading performance ; Useful, high-quality accessories

11-inch model lacks display upgrade ; Accessories greatly increase price ; IPadOS is in an awkward phase

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Amazing HDR Mini-LED screen ; Ridiculously powerful M1 chip ; Extremely thin and well-made ; Useful optional 5G connectivity

Screen is mostly still 600 nits ; Just one port still

The iPad Pro M1 is, simply, the best tablet you can buy. The screen is astounding, the M1 processor is truly a beast, and everything else is top-tier too. The only question is of value – whether you’ll make use of the new features, or whether Apple’s...