Typically, we compare fairly recent devices on this website because the update cycles for most devices are relatively short. The same is not true with tablets. If you’re like most of us, you wait years between tablet updates, and that’s because tablets don’t need updates very often. So you may be still using a tablet from the late or even mid-2010s and are starting to wonder if it’s worth upgrading.
Enter the iPad Pro 2024. The new iPad Pro models are 11 and 13 inches and are Apple‘s thinnest products to date. They’re also tremendously powerful and capable and can be paired with some of Apple’s best accessories, like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. It makes older iPads look positively prehistoric, and that’s especially true of the 2018 iPad Pro.
The 2018 iPad Pro, the third generation of the Pro, comes from a very different era. While superficially similar to modern iPad Pro models, the differences couldn’t be starker, as the newer iPad Pros are monumentally more powerful and capable. But does that make them a must-have upgrade for you? Should you finally upgrade your 2018 iPad Pro to the new 2024 iPad Pro? We take a look so you know if it’s time to upgrade or not.
iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2018): Specs
| iPad Pro (2024) | iPad Pro (2018) | |
| Size | 11 inches 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches (249.7 x 177.5 x 5.3 mm) 13 inches 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 (281.6 x 215.5 x 5.1 mm) | 11 inches: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 inches (247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm) 12.9 inches: 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches (280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm) |
| Weight | 11 inches: 0.98 pounds (444 grams) 13 inches: 1.28 pounds (579 grams) | 11 inches: 1.03 pounds (468 grams) 12.9 inches: 1.39 pounds (633 grams) |
| Screen size | 11 inches: Ultra Retina XDR/OLED tandem display | 11-inch Liquid Retina Display 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display |
| Screen resolution | 11 inches: 2420 x 1668 resolution at 264 dpi 13 inches: 2752 x 2064 resolution at 264 dpi | 11 inches: 2388 x 1668 resolution at 265 dpi 12.9 inches: 2732 x 2048 resolution at 265 ppi |
| Glow | SDR Brightness: 1000 nits maximum XDR Brightness: 1000 nits maximum full screen, 1600 nits maximum (HDR content only) | 600 nits maximum |
| OS | iPad 17 | iPad 17 |
| Storage space | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Processor | Apple M4 chip with 16-core Neural Engine, up to 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | Apple A12X Bionic Chip |
| RAM | 256GB/512GB: 8GB RAM 1TB/2TB: 16GB RAM | 4 GB of RAM on models with 64 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB storage 6 GB of RAM on models with 1 TB of storage |
| Camera | 12MP wide camera 12 MP horizontal ultra-wide front camera | 12MP wide camera 7MP front camera |
| Video | Video up to 4K, ProRes | Up to 4K |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | Thunderbolt/USB 4 compatible USB‑C connector | USB-C connector |
| Authentication | facial identification | facial identification |
| SIM card | e SIM | e SIM |
| Audio | Four-speaker audio Four studio-quality microphones | Four stereo speakers Five studio-quality microphones |
| Battery duration | Up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing or video watching | 11 inches: 7812 mAh 12.9 inches: 9720 mAh |
| Grid | Wi-Fi 6E / Cellular | Wi-Fi 6/Cellular |
| Apple Pencil Compatibility | apple pencil pro Apple Pencil (USB-C) | apple pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Magic Keyboard Stand | Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4) | No |
| Colors | Space Black, Silver | Silver, space gray |
| Price | 11 inches: from $999 13 inches: from $1,299 | 11 inches: from $799 12.9 inches: from $999 |
iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2018): Design and display
The design of the iPad Pro hasn’t changed in some time, and that’s a sign that Apple struck gold some time ago and has recognized that there’s no need to make dramatic changes. As such, these two tablets look quite similar, with aluminum frames and backs, glass fronts, and slim bezels around the screens. But there are subtle differences. The camera modules are the most obvious, but the newer iPad Pros are also thinner and lighter, making them easier to carry.
However, the difference in display technology is huge. The new iPad Pros have OLED panels, and while the resolutions are similar, the deep, vibrant blacks of the OLED displays will be very obvious when the two are side by side. Additionally, the newer models get much brighter, with a maximum brightness of 1600 nits in XDR mode, compared to the relatively paltry 600 nits of the 2018 iPad Pro. That makes a big difference if you’re trying to use your tablet in harsh conditions. sunlight.
An important note before we conclude this category: the position of the selfie camera has changed on newer iPads, and that could be a big change if you’re used to older iPads. Older iPads place the selfie camera at the top of the screen in a vertical position, basically where you’d expect to see the front camera on a smartphone. Apple wants the newer iPads to be used more like laptops, so it moved the selfie camera so it’s at the top of the screen in landscape orientation. This is where you would see a webcam on a laptop, and this position makes a lot more sense if you’re using your iPad as a work machine, rather than a large smartphone.
While many things have not changed between these two generations, the differences speak loudly. The newer iPads have much better screens and a much better position for the front camera.
iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2018): Performance and software
It should come as no surprise that newer iPads are more powerful. After all, that’s a key element of any new device. But it’s worth exploring how much more powerful they are.
The iPad Pro 2018 is a great performer. The A12X Bionic is a mobile processor with a lot of headroom, and a decent argument can be made that it can still dance with the best of the best today. It still easily handles gaming, Lightroom, and Photoshop, and while you may have noticed it starting to slow down slightly as it ages, there’s no doubt it’s still a very capable mobile chip.
The 2018 iPad Pro is used with an Apple Pencil. / Keynote USA
We keep saying “mobile” for a reason, and that’s because the iPad Pro has gone through a significant change in recent years. The iPad Pro 2024 is equipped with Apple’s M4 processor, a laptop-level chip that is incredibly powerful. The new iPad Pro is positioned as a tablet for productivity in creative spheres, including filmmaking and editing. That means you need a lot of power and the M4 delivers.
The software is less user-friendly as both are running the latest version of iPadOS 17. While software updates are one of Apple’s strong points, there is no doubt that the 2018 iPad Pro will meet its end much sooner than the iPad Pro. newer. So if having the latest software and updates is important to you, keep that in mind.
We’re not going to win any awards for finding out that the newer device is more powerful, but it’s important to keep in mind how big the gap is. If you need the power to edit, create, or play, you’ll notice how fast the new iPad Pro is.
iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2018): cameras and battery
Apple says both tablets will last around 10 hours, and while the 2018 iPad Pro once lived up to those claims, it’s unlikely the battery has survived six years of use unscathed. We won’t know how it compares to the 2024 model until we’ve tested the newer models, but if it’s anything like the 2022 iPad Pro, then it may struggle to live up to Apple’s claims.
Camera quality is less important on a tablet than on a smartphone, but you should pay attention to the front camera system. The newest iPad Pro has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide selfie lens with a higher location for video calls (see design section above), which is much better than the standard 7 MP lens on the 2018 iPad Pro. The position and quality The selfie camera on the new iPad Pro will make a big difference if you make video calls frequently.
iPad Pro (2024) vs. iPad Pro (2018): Accessories
Accessories are an important part of the life of a modern iPad, whether it’s a keyboard or a stylus. The 2018 iPad Pro has no shortage of available accessories, including the Smart Keyboard and the second-generation Apple Pencil. However, it lacks the modern accessories of the newer iPad Pro.
Do you want the awesome but very expensive Magic Keyboard? It’s only available on newer iPads, including the 2024 iPad Pro. However, the new iPad Pro doesn’t support the second-generation Apple Pencil, so if you have one of those lying around, you’ll need to upgrade to Apple Pencil. Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil USB-C. That’s a bit annoying if you were hoping to reuse accessories, but we guess that’s the nature of the Apple ecosystem.
iPad Pro (2024) vs. iPad Pro (2018): price and availability
Alright, none of these are cheap devices. Inflation has hit the iPad Pro range quite hard, and that means the newer models are several hundred dollars more expensive than the initial retail price of the older models. It will cost you $999 for the base 11-inch iPad Pro 2024, while the 13-inch starts at $1,299. Upgrades and additional accessories will push it even further, making any of them a significant investment.
Sure, the 2018 iPad Pro started at $799 for the 11-inch and $999 for the 12.9-inch, but you won’t find them at that price or new right now. It’s worth keeping in mind the value you got for your money, especially if you bought your iPad Pro in 2018. You can probably expect to repeat that with the new iPad Pro, making the higher price less of an issue.
iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2018): Is it worth the upgrade?
Yes. The iPad Pro 2024 is a massive upgrade over the 2018 version. Not only is it thinner and lighter, but it’s also much more powerful and has a better front-facing camera, more support for accessories, and years of updates ahead. If your 2018 iPad Pro has started to slow down, look unkempt, or show other signs of age, then you should seriously consider taking this huge leap forward.
While it’s advisable to go as long as possible between updates, six years is a long time, and even a tablet as powerful as the iPad Pro has its limits. If you’re starting to feel like those limits are being reached, then it’s time to upgrade. The iPad Pro 2024 is a powerful, capable, and beautiful machine that will likely last you just as long between updates. Buy it now and wait until the iPad Pro 2030 for its next update.
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