Apple Introduces Next-Generation iPad Pro With M1 Chip, Thunderbolt, 5G, XDR Display, and More

Tuesday April 20, 2021 10:40 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced the next-generation iPad Pro with the same M1 chip found in the latest Macs, Thunderbolt and USB4 support, 5G connectivity on cellular models with mmWave support in the United States, and more.

ipad pro with m1 chip
With an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, Apple says the M1 chip in the new iPad Pro provides up to 50% faster performance and up to 40% faster graphics compared to the A12Z Bionic chip in the previous-generation iPad Pro.

The new iPad Pro is available with up to 2TB of storage, which is double the previous limit. ‌iPad Pro‌ models with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage will come with 8GB RAM, while ‌iPad Pro‌ models with 1TB or 2TB of storage will feature 16GB RAM, marking the first time that Apple has offered varying amounts of RAM in the iPad Pro.

Exclusive to the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is an all-new Liquid Retina XDR display, with up to 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness, up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. As was widely rumored, the display uses mini-LED backlighting with over 10,000 LEDs to deliver true-to-life HDR content.

Newly added support for Thunderbolt and USB4 provides up to 40Gbps total bandwidth. Thunderbolt supports 10Gbps Ethernet, high-performance accessories, and high-resolution displays like Apple's Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution.

The front-facing TrueDepth camera system in the new iPad Pro features a new 12-megapixel Ultra Wide lens that enables a 120-degree field of view for a new "Center Stage" feature that automatically keeps users perfectly within the frame during video calls.

Cellular models of the new iPad Pro in the U.S. support mmWave, the higher frequency version of 5G, allowing the tablet to reach speeds up to 4Gbps.

The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, while the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099. Pre-orders will begin April 30, with availability beginning in the second half of May. No specific release date was provided.

Apple also announced that the optional Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is being released in a new white color.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Tag: April 2021 Event

Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

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