Apple’s 2021 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive iPad lineup we’ve seen, making it our best overall pick. It’s also the most expensive, by a long shot. The design hasn’t changed all that much on the outside, but on the inside, you’ll find Apple’s M1 processor. Yes, that’s the same exact processor that Apple is using in the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Read the review: Apple iPad Pro (2021) review: Impressively powerful
We spent a lot of time with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be faster and more capable than any other iPad model we’ve tested to date. Another highlight of the larger iPad Pro is its Mini LED display which Apple calls Liquid Retina XDR, which is brighter and offers more color contrast.
The Thunderbolt 4 port enables faster syncing between the iPad and external storage devices, as well as more reliable connections to external monitors (hopefully in the future that means true external monitor support).
The Pro also supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, with a magnetic spot on the side to charge it. The Smart Connector is on the back of the iPad Pro, giving you the option to use it with the Magic Keyboard that includes backlit keys and trackpad, or Apple’s Smart Keyboard.
The iPad Pro, combined with iPadOS, is as close as you can get to a laptop without actually buying a laptop.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 for the Wi-Fi model and $999 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099 for the Wi-Fi model and $1,299 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.