iPad Pro comparison guide
Why buy an iPad pro?
The Apple iPad Pro was designed to give creative designers the freedom to use the latest apps and software wherever they were – with excellent processing speeds, a large display, and intuitive touch screen technology.
The iPad Pro has had many iterations, just like the iPhone and even the Mac – but choosing the right one for you will depend on several factors – not least the cost.
Buying a brand-new iPad Pro might be out of your budget – but thanks to the diligent refurbishment and quality control here at WeBuyTek, you could get a refurbished iPad Pro for much less than you might expect.
You can find out more about the iPad Pro in our handy guide to buying a refurbished device.
Benefits of a refurbished iPad Pro
The iPad Pro was designed to offer top-spec technology and design through every generation, and there are certain benefits to getting one – even one of the first iterations. These include:
- Lightweight devices
- Crisp resolution screens, suitable for designing graphics or watching movies
- Intuitive touchscreen interaction
- A range of additional extensions, like the Apple Pencil (later models) and Bluetooth keyboards
- Fast performance
- Excellent battery life, even with heavy use
When was the iPad pro first released?
The first-generation iPad Pro was released back in 2015. Each generation that followed has been available in two screen sizes and several different storage capacities, as well as assorted colours.
Apple usually releases a new iPad Pro model every 1-2 years.
Which iPad Pro model is right for me?
When thinking about which refurbished iPad Pro model you want to buy, there are some things to consider. The choice is yours – especially when amazing condition refurbished iPad Pro devices are available, like the ones that we have here at WeBuyTek.
Some of the things you might want to consider when choosing the right model include:
- Price
- Storage/memory capacity
- Size – of the device and of the screen, including weight
- Internal software and processing
- Compatibility with other devices, like the Apple Pencil or a keyboard
- Camera specifications
- Battery life
- Condition – like new, or fairly used
iPad Pro 1 9.7 inch/12.9 inch
The first iPad Pro to be released came in two screen sizes – 9.7inch and 12.9 inches.
- Capacity: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Available in Wi-fi only, or 4G
- Size: 9.7inch screen – 240mm x 169.5mm x 6.1 mm. 12.9inch screen – 305.7mm x 220.6mm x 6.9mm
- Weight: 9.7inch – 437g for Wi-fi only, 444g for 4G. 12.9inch – 713g for the Wi-fi model, 723g for 4G.
- Touch ID
- Built-in stereo speakers, dual microphones
- Lightning to USB cable and adapter
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Retina display, LED-backlit and multitouch
- 2048×1536 resolution with 264ppi
- P3 Wide Color and True Tone technology
- The screen is laminated, with an oleophobic and anti-reflective coating
- Powered by an A9x chip with 64-bit architecture, working with an M9 coprocessor
- Front camera 5MP, rear camera 12MP
- Capable of 4k video at 3840×2160 resolution
- Slo-mo and time lapse
- Built-in 27.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- 10 hours battery life on Wi-fi, 9 hours on 4G.
- iOS10 as standard.
iPad Pro 2 10.5 inch/12.9 inch
The iPad Pro 2 was released in 2017, and it too was available in two sizes – 10.5 inch and 12.9inch. Although the size of each model is different, the internal specifications remain the same.
- Capacity: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Available as Wi-fi only, or 4G
- Size: 10.5inch – 250.6mm x 174.1mm x 6.1mm. 12.9inch – 305.7mm x 220.6mm x 6.9mm
- Weight: 10.5inch – 469g for Wi-fi, 477g for 4G. 12.9inch – 677g for Wi-fi, 692g for 4G
- TouchID
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Lightning to USB cable and adapter
- Dual microphones and stereo speakers
- Retina display, LED backlit and multitouch
- 2224×1668 resolution at 264ppi
- ProMotion, P3 Wide Color and True Tone technology
- Laminated screen with oleophobic and anti-reflective properties
- A10X Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture, running with an M10 coprocessor
- Front camera – 7MP, rear camera 12MP
- 5 x digital zoom and playback zoom
- 4k video recording, slo-mo, and timelapse
- Integrated 30.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- 10 hours battery life on Wi-fi, 9 hours on 4G
- iOS 12 built in
iPad Pro 3 11 inch/12.9 inch
The iPad Pro third generation had two model versions, as before. This release saw the smaller option get bigger. Released in 2018, this was a slightly thinner model that weighed less than its predecessors but packed more of a punch in terms of processing speed and technology.
- Capacity: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Available as Wi-fi only, or 4G
- Size: 11inch – 178.5mm x 247.6mm x 5.9mm. 12.9inch – 214.9 x 280.6mm x 5.9mm
- Weight: 11inch – 466g (Wi-fi), 470g (4G). 12.9inch – 631g (Wi-fi), 633g (4G)
- Five microphones and four speakers
- Magnetic connector and smart connector
- Thunderbolt-USB 4
- USB-C charge cable and adapter
- Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit with multitouch and IPS technology
- 2388×1668 resolution, 264ppi
- ProMotion, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone colours
- Laminated screen, oleophobic and antireflective (1.8% reflective), with 600mits brightness
- A12X Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, powered by the neural engine and an M12 coprocessor
- Front 7MP true depth camera, 12MP rear camera
- 5 x digital zoom
- Captures both JPEG and HEIF images
- Video in 4K, slo-mo, and time-lapse
- Captures video in HEVC and H.264
- Can use Animoji and memoji in videos and images
- Internal 29.37-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- 10 hours battery life on Wi-fi, 9 hours on 4G
- Standard operating system – iPadOS (designed for optimum use of iPad software, applications, and technology).
How much does an iPad pro cost?
These iPads are now discontinued, so it is difficult to find brand new devices – and used prices can vary.
Refurbished iPad Pro 1
You can find the 9.7inch iPad pro refurbished costing as little as £100 online, in used condition.
At WeBuyTek, the prices range from £200 to just over £300. Our refurbished devices all must meet our strict quality checklist – everything from battery life, performance and condition are carefully assessed so you will get an iPad that is factory fresh. The 4G version usually costs more because it can be used with a SIM card while out and about, but the Wi-fi only model costs less and is a better choice for those who are likely to use it at home or in the office with Wi-fi available.
The 12.9inch has a bigger viewing area, and it can cost up to £350, depending on capacity and condition.
Refurbished iPad Pro 2
We offer the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 refurbished for about £250, depending on condition, capacity, and whether it is the Wi-fi only iPad Pro 10.5 refurbished or the 4G enabled iPad Pro 10.5 refurbished.
Both the 4G and the Wi-fi only option iPad Pro refurbished devices are subject to detailed cleaning and polishing, before being graded on their condition. Those that are considered Grade A are almost perfect, while those that are Grade D are in fair condition and show signs of use. This is one of the biggest differences in price points amongst our devices.
You can also find the refurbished iPad pro 12.9 inch here at WeBuyTek, priced at around £500.
iPad Pro 3
The refurbished iPad Pro 12.9 is also available in Wi-fi only and 4G versions. With prices for the 11inch version of the iPad Pro 3 between £400 – £500 depending on condition and capacity, you can get your hands on this device for less than you might expect here at WeBuyTek.
The refurbished iPad Pro 12.9 will cost between £350 and £500, depending on whether you are looking for a Wi-fi only version, and what capacity and condition you need.
Things to consider when buying an iPad pro
Battery life
Although the battery itself is slightly different in each generation of refurbished iPad Pro, the battery life is the same.
This is something that we are passionate about testing for in our refurbished devices; it is important to us that when we sell a refurbished iPad Pro it has at least 80% of the original battery performance – and if it doesn’t meet this standard, we will replace the battery.
Size and weight
This is where personal preference comes to the fore in terms of design. For some applications, like designing or graphic work, a bigger screen might be needed to get those details in.
With the 12.9inch screen being the biggest in all three iterations, it is simple to choose that no matter which generation you go for.
Camera quality
If you are going to be using your iPad Pro for taking pictures or making video calls, or you need to take online meetings etc, then you need a good camera.
The rear camera on all three generations is similar – all at 12MP.
However, as the technology develops, the software and hardware surrounding the camera have more depth – so if you want impressive performance in both front-facing and rear-facing cameras, then the iPad Pro 3 must be your choice. With excellent video recording capabilities and true depth in the front-facing camera, it has more to offer than the previous generations.
Memory
Apple likes to make it easy for you to choose the capacity that suits your needs, and each iteration of the iPad Pro has several options. It is worth remembering when you are considering your options that some of the memory will be taken by built-in apps, and you will need to factor in any heavy use from certain apps – so it is best to look for a model that offers more gigabytes. The 1TB top model of the iPad Pro 3 might be your best bet if you are going to be downloading a lot of apps, taking pictures, or running several programs at once.
Processing
One of the main factors that people use when deciding which iPad Pro to go for is the processing capacity. Apple has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to processing speeds in their devices – and in some cases, the iPad is faster than a Mac!
Each iPad Pro has a different chip with 64-bit architecture, and the coprocessor will allow you to work on more than one thing at a time.
In most cases, the more up-to-date processing hardware will make it easier to use modern apps, but older processing can still hold up to most app usage.
Headphone jack
It is a well-documented issue with modern Apple products that they have removed the headphone jack – and in the iPad Pro 1 and the iPad Pro 2, there is still a port that you can use. However, the iPad Pro 3 and later generations do not have that option, so you will need to factor that into the costs when you are making that decision.
Ports
Lightning and thunderbolt technology make for faster charging and can make sharing files easier if you have the right connections in your Mac or PC.
What is the difference between Wi-fi-only and 4G models?
Aside from the weight, the only difference between a Wi-fi only model and a 4G model is how they connect to the internet.
The Wi-fi model can only connect through a stable Wi-fi connection, which makes it brilliant for use in your home or the office.
You can connect to the internet with a 4G model using a SIM card, much the same way as you do with a smartphone. All the refurbished 4G iPad Pro models that we sell have been unlocked to accept the SIM card of any network.
Do 4G models still support Wi-fi?
4G models will also connect via Wi-fi and not through a mobile phone network if that option is available.
Explore our entire range of refurbished iPad Pros or head to our blog for more insight on refurbished Apple devices.
