Image: Apple · source
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR brings HDR to the biggest iPad.
Overview
Where the 11-inch Pro changed only inside, the 12.9-inch model also received a new Liquid Retina XDR display. It replaced the conventional backlight with more than 10,000 mini-LEDs arranged in 2,596 local dimming zones, producing deep blacks, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a sustained full-screen brightness of 1,000 nits, rising to 1,600 nits for HDR highlights.
The M1 chip, Thunderbolt connector and 5G were shared with the smaller model, and the 12.9-inch version also had the 16 GB memory option for 1 TB and 2 TB models. The extra panel layers made the tablet 0.5 mm thicker than the previous generation.
Video editors, photographers and colorists were the target audience, as the screen could preview HDR content in a way that no earlier iPad could.
Why it mattered
Brought a professional-grade HDR mini-LED display to a tablet before it reached Apple laptops.
At a glance
- Announced
- April 20, 2021
- Released
- May 21, 2021
- Discontinued
- October 18, 2022
- Launch price
- $1,099
- Chip
- Apple M1
- Display
- 12.9"
- Storage
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Status
- Discontinued
Highlights
- Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display
- 1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 nits peak HDR
- M1 chip and Thunderbolt / USB 4
- 5G cellular and Center Stage camera
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 12.9-inch
- Type
- Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED with ProMotion, True Tone, wide color (P3)
- Resolution
- 2732 x 2048 (264 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- Up to 120 Hz
- Brightness
- 1,000 nits full-screen, 1,600 nits peak HDR
- Contrast
- 1,000,000:1
Chip
- Chip
- Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU
- Coprocessor
- 16-core Neural Engine
Memory
- RAM
- 8 GB (128GB-512GB), 16 GB (1TB-2TB)
- Storage options
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 12 MP wide (f/1.8) + 10 MP ultra wide (f/2.4), LiDAR scanner, 4K video at 60 fps
- Front camera
- 12 MP ultra wide, Center Stage
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 40.88 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Cellular
- Optional 5G sub-6 GHz and mmWave (US) model
- Connector
- USB-C with Thunderbolt / USB 4 and Smart Connector
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- Keyboard
- Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio
Audio
- Speakers
- Four speakers, five studio-quality microphones
Design
- Dimensions
- 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm
- Weight
- 682 g (Wi-Fi), 684 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Face ID
Software
- Launch OS
- iPadOS 14.5
- Latest supported OS
- iPadOS 27 (still supported)
How it compares
More in the iPad Pro family
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
A giant-screen iPad built for work, drawing and four speakers.
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 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.