Apple iPad Pro M1 Review: The Best Or An Overkill?

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This year’s Apple iPad Pro M1 release made a few yet significant leaps in terms of upgrades. Each year, Apple seems to make it its goal to make the iPad fully substitute your dedicated laptop. And I think this year, they’re closer than ever to reaching that goal. From its excellent camera quality, impressively bright display, up to its newly added M1 chipset that makes this model basically a compact computer.

Since the dawn of tablets, Apple seems to have always dominated the market for these devices. Whether it’s their reliable software or their robust app library that no other manufacturer can touch, the iPad Pro is just a really tough machine to beat.

Of course, other tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab series or even the pseudo-laptop that is the Microsoft Surface lineup are still pretty solid devices. But in comparison, the Windows operating system just doesn’t cut it when you place it on a tablet. They definitely made impressive upgrades in recent years, but the iPadOS just remains to be two steps ahead of them each time.

So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at our review of one of the best tablets ever made, the Apple iPad Pro (2021).

See Where The Apple iPad Pro M1 Ranks In our Top Picks For The Best Tablets For College Students 2021 Here.

Overview Of The Apple iPad Pro M1

Overview

As you might already know, the Apple iPad Pro this 2021 has dished out a lot of upgrades from its previous iteration that will surely satisfy even the most power-hungry tech enthusiasts on the planet. With the introduction of the M1 chipset on Apple’s flagship tablet, the game has completely changed.

So what does this mean exactly? To put it simply, this means that you will surely get some next-level performance out of this powerful machine that can easily go toe to toe against some of the best laptops and even desktop PCs in the market right now and for the years to come.

However, while the M1 chipset sounds good on paper, this much power is somewhat underused in a machine this small because the iPadOS still has its limitations. If this was a Macbook, then the M1 chipset is definitely perfect for such a device.

Not to mention, not a lot of users know what to do with this much power in a tablet or have the freedom to tinker around with Apple’s devices. A lot of the time, if you’re not a content creator, a video editor, or a digital artist, you are mostly just going to use this for streaming and maybe some light tasks for your daily necessities.

Pricing

Of course, these upgrades don’t come at a cheap cost. As of release, the Apple iPad Pro comes in at over a thousand dollars. As usual, Apple tablets often come at a hefty price tag that will surely raise some brows from a lot of people. But there’s no surprise there. These are high-end and premium machines that can act as a replacement for your laptop after all.

So if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly tablet, you might want to look for models from other manufacturers or brands.

Accessories

When it comes to pairing the Apple Ipad Pro with accessories, Apple has you covered. If you want to switch it up, you can easily pair the iPad Pro with Apple’s magic keyboard or the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil for more variety and a more laptop feel. Though keep in mind, these accessories are all bought separately. So you might want to add that to your budgeting costs.

Who Is It For?

The Apple iPad Pro can cater to a variety of people. From casual tech enthusiasts, students, to professionals. However, not everyone really needs this much power for productivity to get their tasks done. It’s not necessary nor practical, and it’s a whole lot of money to spend. And if you don’t mind a few downgrades, you might want to look into the Apple iPad Air 4 or even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

Trust me, you’ll save a lot more money and these devices can perform just as solidly if you’re not really planning on doing anything heavy like video editing, graphics creation, and other similar activities.

But if you’re hellbent on getting your hands on such a powerful device that will last you for a handful of years, then you really won’t find anything better than the iPad Pro.

In addition to that, if you’re a student, I do highly recommend getting this tablet if you’re studying digital art or any art and graphics-related courses. This will surely be a great investment for you as Apple has the best app library for tablets that will benefit artists like Procreate.

If you feel like the 12.9-inch screen is a little too big for your liking, the Apple iPad Pro M1 also comes in with an 11-inch screen variant that feels a little more compact.

Features & Specifications

Product Dimensions: ‎11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Apple
Item Weight: ‎2.65 pounds
Wireless Communication Technology: WiFi, Bluetooth
Screen Size: 12.9 inches
Screen Resolution: Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology and True Tone.
Operating System: iPadOS
CPU: Apple M1 chip 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
RAM: 8 GB and 16 GB.
Storage: 128GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB.
Batteries Used: ‎1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours depending on usage.
Front Camera: 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide cameras with Smart HDR and 4K video at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps.
Rear Camera: 12MP Ultra Wide TrueDepth front camera with Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and Smart HDR 3.
Colors: Silver, Space Gray.
Accessories: Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard (all bought separately).
Extra Special Features: TrueDepth camera system, Apple M1 chip, Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color.

Check Out Apple’s Preview Of The iPad Pro 2021 Below.

If You Want To Check Out Other Tablets In The Market, Click Here To Read Our Top Picks For The Best Tablet For College Students In 2021 Here.

What We Love About The Apple iPad Pro

Mini LED Display

Apart from the M1 chipset, a huge factor that makes upgrading to the iPad Pro so worth it is the display. Unlike its predecessors, this year’s iPad Pro boasts what Apple calls “Liquid Retina XDR display“. But a lot of people just call it “mini LED”.

However, don’t be fooled. This iPad Pro still uses an LCD display and we have yet to see an OLED screen on any of Apple’s tablets. Though as of recently, the new iterations of the iPad mini and the regular iPad should have this type of screen by next year.

But don’t fret, Apple has used a particular backlighting technology in this year’s iPad Pro that makes its screen much brighter than previous models. From 72 LEDs working behind the screen to illuminate the display, the iPad Pro now has 10,000.

To put it simply, the more LEDs you integrate into a device, the better you will be able to control its overall screen contrast as well as the deepness of blacks in any part of the screen. This kind of thing can also be called local dimming technology.

Our Least Favorite Thing

It’s Expensive

I have already stated this previously and it’s actually pretty hard to find a flaw on this year’s Apple iPad Pro, but the pricing on the iPad Pro and all of their devices, in general, will forever be Apple’s one big flaw. Obviously, you’re paying for the amount of high-tech specs Apple puts into their gadgets but there are also other budget-friendly tablets in the market that can also do the same things for you.

So aside from the brand, the camera, and the M1 chipset, you’re not going to miss a lot of things if your main purpose for a tablet is just some light tasks for your daily work and some streaming. Not to mention, it’s also disappointing that you still have to buy additional accessories like the Apple Pencil despite the already high price point.

In A Nutshell

Now that we’ve covered what we liked and disliked about the iPad Pro, here is the narrowed-down list of the pros and cons of this tablet.

Pros

One of the best tablets you can buy in the market.
Sleek and premium design.
Perfect for productivity, especially for digital artists.
Wide range of apps to choose from.
Great battery life.
Amazing camera quality.

Cons

It’s quite expensive.
The additional accessories are also pricey.

The Final Verdict

Overall, the Apple iPad Pro M1 is an amazing and powerful device. Apple has definitely outdone themselves with updating an already impressive tablet this year.

However, this much power isn’t really practical or necessary for the casual user. This kind of powerful hardware can be lost or even go to waste if you don’t know what you’re dealing with. Unless you’re doing anything that requires heavier tasks like video editing or anything graphics-related, you would be better off investing in a lesser model like the iPad Air series.

But if you have the money to splurge and just simply want the best of the best, then the Apple iPad Pro won’t certainly disappoint you.

Do you already own the Apple iPad Pro M1? Or are you still thinking of purchasing one? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights, suggestions, questions, or experiences to share! I would love to hear all your thoughts about it!