iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
A giant-screen iPad built for work, drawing and four speakers.
Overview
The original iPad Pro was Apple's first serious attempt to reposition the tablet as a laptop alternative. Its 12.9-inch display offered the screen area of a small notebook, with a 2732 x 2048 resolution with more pixels than many laptop screens of the day.
The A9X processor, with twice the memory bandwidth of the A8X, handled demanding creative apps, and 4 GB of RAM was a first for an iPad. Four speakers adjusted their output depending on how the tablet was held. The new Smart Connector on the edge powered the Smart Keyboard without any pairing or charging.
Apple Pencil, sold separately, was a pressure-sensitive stylus with very low latency. Together these accessories pointed at the future of iPad, though early reviews noted that iOS 9 was still catching up to the hardware.
Why it mattered
It launched the iPad Pro line along with the Apple Pencil and Smart Connector, reshaping what Apple expected iPads to do.
At a glance
- Announced
- September 9, 2015
- Released
- November 11, 2015
- Discontinued
- June 5, 2017
- Launch price
- $799
- Chip
- Apple A9X, 2.26 GHz dual-core
- Display
- 12.9"
- Storage
- 32GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- 12.9-inch 2732 x 2048 display
- A9X chip with 4 GB of RAM
- Four-speaker audio system
- First Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 12.9-inch
- Type
- Retina LED-backlit IPS, laminated, anti-reflective
- Resolution
- 2732 x 2048 (264 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A9X, 2.26 GHz dual-core 64-bit
- Coprocessor
- Apple M9 motion coprocessor
Memory
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage options
- 32GB, 128GB (Wi-Fi); 128GB (cellular); 256GB added in 2016
Camera
- Rear camera
- 8 MP iSight, 1080p video
- Front camera
- 1.2 MP FaceTime HD
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 38.5 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE model
- Connector
- Lightning (USB 3 speeds) and Smart Connector
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.2
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Keyboard
- Smart Keyboard via Smart Connector
Audio
- Speakers
- Four speakers, automatic orientation balancing
Design
- Dimensions
- 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm
- Weight
- 713 g (Wi-Fi), 723 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 9.1
- Latest supported OS
- iPadOS 16.7.x
How it compares
More in the iPad Pro family
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Pro power and a True Tone screen in the familiar 9.7-inch size.
iPad Pro 10.5-inch
ProMotion arrives, filling a larger screen into the same body.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
The big Pro gains ProMotion, a faster chip and a better camera.
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
A new look: no home button, Face ID and USB-C.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
The Face ID redesign in the large 12.9-inch size.
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
Dual cameras and a LiDAR scanner join the Pro.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
The large Pro gains LiDAR, dual cameras and an A12Z Bionic.
iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
An M1 Mac chip arrives in the iPad Pro.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR brings HDR to the biggest iPad.
iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
M2 speed and Apple Pencil hover in an unchanged body.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
The M2 refresh keeps the mini-LED display and the big canvas.
iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Impossibly thin, with a tandem OLED display and the first M4 chip.
iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
The thinnest Apple product ever, in the large size.
iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)
M5 speed and Apple's own wireless silicon in the OLED Pro.
iPad Pro 13-inch (M5)
The 5.1 mm OLED Pro, upgraded to M5 and Wi-Fi 7.