The largest tablets › 12.7 to 12.9-inch tablets › Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022): specs, size and price
Apple’s former 12.9-inch flagship: mini-LED HDR screen, M2 chip, now refurbished or used
Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) Photo: large-screens.com
Key specifications
- Screen12.9″ Mini-LED, 120 Hz
- Aspect ratio4:3 (1.33)squarer, like the iPad: good for reading and drawing
- Resolution2732 × 2048 pixelsvery sharp (265 ppi)
- Brightness600 nits (1,600 nits peak)bright: fine in the shade outdoors
- Screen area515 cm² · 85 % of a Letter sheet
- SystemiPadOS 27
- ProcessorApple M2
- Weight682 g
- Penoptional
- Keyboardoptional
- Statusolder model
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I am a classical musician (violist) with 20 years of professional experience in orchestra and chamber music. For many years, I have been advising colleagues, students, and fellow musicians in the choice of their tablet.
Along with the many positives of using tablets, I’ve also seen the negatives: tablets crashing just before going on stage, batteries that don’t hold up during long rehearsal days, and missing page turner pedals in concert.
Overview
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2015–2022) was Apple’s large tablet until the 13-inch model replaced it in May 2024. This page describes the last, M2 model (October 2022). Reviewers liked it (Pocket-lint 4.5/5) but saw only a small step over the 2021 M1 model (Tom’s Guide, Engadget); Expert Reviews found it hard to justify at its price.
The screen is almost as large as the 13-inch iPad Pro’s, in the same 4:3 format: taller than the 16:10 screens of most Android tablets, better for documents and sheet music. It is sharp (264 ppi, 120 Hz) and glossy, with an anti-reflective coating. Its mini-LED backlight (2,596 zones) gives deep blacks: Tom’s Guide measured 586 nits in normal use, Expert Reviews 1,123 nits in HDR. On the M1 model, Notebookcheck saw halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
The M2 is still very fast, with 8 GB of RAM (16 GB with 1 or 2 TB). Apple gives no update period, but iPadOS 27 still supports it, with Apple Intelligence. Netflix and Prime Video play in HD.
It works with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation, with hover) and the Apple Pencil (USB-C), not the Pencil Pro. Tom’s Guide measured 10 hours 39 minutes of web browsing and Expert Reviews 11 hours 18 minutes of video; in heavy use or HDR video, Pocket-lint and TechRadar got 5 to 7 hours. The 20 W charger needs about 2.5 hours (Android Authority). It weighs 682 g (1.36 kg with the Magic Keyboard) and has four speakers, a Thunderbolt port and no headphone jack. The front camera sits on the short side, awkward for landscape video calls.
It launched at $1,099, £1,249 or €1,449. In October 2026, Apple’s US refurbished store sold it from $969 (128 GB); a refurbished 13-inch M4 started at $1,169 (Apple). Models before 2021 have an LCD; those before 2020 do not get iPadOS 27.
Pros
- Mini-LED screen with deep blacks and strong HDR (1,123 nits measured)
- Large, sharp 4:3 screen (264 ppi, 120 Hz)
- M2 chip still very fast
- Over 10 hours of light use (10 h 39 min web, Tom’s Guide)
- Apple Pencil hover, Magic Keyboard with touchpad, four good speakers
- Still supported by iPadOS 27, with Apple Intelligence
Cons
- No longer sold new; Apple refurbished from $969, close to a refurbished 13-inch M4
- Only 5 to 7 hours in heavy use or HDR video
- Heavy with the Magic Keyboard (1.36 kg)
- Front camera on the short side, awkward for video calls
- Slow 20 W charger (about 2.5 hours)
- No headphone jack or microSD; no Apple Pencil Pro support
Performance
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) is powered by the relatively old Apple M2 processor, released in 2022 and built on a 5 nm process. It is one of the fastest chips in any tablet: it handles everything, including heavy video editing, 3D work and the most demanding games. Compared with other large tablets:
- The Apple M5 in the Apple iPad Pro 13″ (M5) is about 50 % faster.
- The Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) is about 20 % faster than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and its MediaTek Dimensity 9400+.
- The Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) is about 5 times faster than the Meswao MES-B3 (Pro) and its MediaTek Helio G99.
Brightness
The screen of the Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) reaches 600 nits according to Apple, which is bright: enough for bright rooms and for outdoor use in the shade, even in the summer. Tom's Guide measured 586 nits.
Size compared with the iPad Pro and a sheet of paper
- Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022)
10.3 × 7.7 in - iPad Pro 13″
10.4 × 7.8 in - Letter sheet
11.0 × 8.5 in
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ (2015–2022) drawn to scale with the 13-inch iPad Pro and a Letter sheet.
Full specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.9 inches |
| Screen area | 79.9 in² · 515 cm² · 85 % of a Letter sheet · 98 % of the 13″ iPad Pro |
| Resolution | 2732 × 2048 |
| Pixel density | 265 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 (1.33) |
| Panel | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| Max brightness (maker) | 600 nits (1,600 nits HDR) |
| Max brightness (measured) | 586 cd/m² (Tom's Guide) |
| Min brightness (measured) | 2.1 cd/m² (Notebookcheck (M1 model, same screen)) |
| Surface | anti-reflective coating |
| Performance and software | |
| Operating system | iPadOS 27 |
| Updates | 7 years |
| Processor | Apple M2 (5 nm) |
| Class | high-end |
| RAM | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| microSD | no |
| Pen and keyboard | |
| Pen | optional — Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Keyboard | optional — Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 12.9-inch |
| Built-in kickstand | no |
| Design and battery | |
| Weight (tablet) | 682 g (1.50 lb) |
| Weight with keyboard | 1,360 g |
| Thickness | 6.4 mm |
| Dimensions | 280.6 × 214.9 × 6.4 mm |
| Battery | 10,758 mAh · 40.9 Wh |
| Battery life | 10.7 h (Wi-Fi web browsing at 150 nits, Tom's Guide) |
| Ports | 1 × USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4, 40 Gb/s) |
| Video out (USB-C) | yes |
| Headphone jack | no |
| Speakers | 4 |
| Cameras | 12 MP wide + 10 MP ultra-wide rear, 12 MP ultra-wide front |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G (optional) |
| Colours | Silver, Space Gray |
| Price and availability | |
| List price (manufacturer) | $1,099 · €1,449 · £1,249 |
| Status | older model |
| Released | October 2022 |
| Sold in | USA, Europe, UK |
Specifications checked on October 2, 2026. Prices are the manufacturers’ list prices (not Amazon prices) and change often.
Similar tablets
- Apple iPad Air 13″ 12.9″
- Teclast ArtPad Pro 12.7″
- Lenovo Idea Tab Pro / Tab P12 12.7″
- Huion Kamvas Slate 13 12.7″
- Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus 12.7″
Sources
- Apple (tech specs, 6th gen.)
- Apple Newsroom (Oct 18, 2022)
- Apple (iPadOS 27 compatibility)
- Wikipedia
- Apple (tech specs, 5th gen.)
- Apple Newsroom DE (launch)
- Apple Newsroom UK (launch)
- Apple Newsroom (M2 chip)
- Apple Store US (refurbished)
- Tom's Guide (review)
- Expert Reviews (review)
- Pocket-lint (review)
- TechRadar (review)
- TechRadar France (review)
- Engadget (review)
- Android Authority (review)
- Nextpit (review)
- Popular Science (review)
- Notebookcheck (review, M1 model)