iPad Pro 2021 vs. iPad Pro 2022 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?

How different are the two successive iPad Pro generations compared to the previous one?

In April 2021, Apple unveiled new iPad Pro models, including the M1 chip, an upgraded front-facing camera with Center Stage, and extended dynamic range video. The iPad Pro models have been discontinued by Apple, and the prices at third-party resells are falling. Some customers may be wondering if they should buy the new iPad Pro or the old model.

Should you buy the newer iPad Pros or stick with the older one to save money? The breakdown shows the differences between the new iPad Pro and the old one.

There is an iPad pro in 2021.

• ‌M1‌ chip with 8-core, 3.2GHz CPU and 8-core GPU
• 68.25GB/s memory bandwidth
• Neural Engine
• Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC
• Video encode and decode engine
• Image signal processor (ISP)
• Smart HDR 3
• Wi‑Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.0

The iPad Pro is a new model.

• M2 chip with 8-core, 3.49GHz CPU and 10-core GPU
• 100GB/s memory bandwidth
• 40 percent faster Neural Engine
• Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
• Higher-bandwidth video decode engine
• Video encode and decode engine
• ProRes encode and decode engine
• "New" image signal processor (ISP)
• Smart HDR 4
• ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps
• Wi‑Fi 6E
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Apple Pencil hover

The new iPad Pro is powered by the M2 chip, which has a 15 percent fasterCPU and a 35 percent fasterGPU. The chip's 16-core Neural Engine can process 40 percent more operations per second and offer almost double the memory bandwidth to aid multitasking. The iPad Pro can capture video for the first time with a new media engine, and the footage can be edited up to 3 times faster. Most prospective customers do not need more than the 2021 model's M1 chip to take advantage of the iPad Pro's power and few people have professional workflows that can take advantage of it.

• M1 vs. M2 Chip Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M2?

The Apple Pencil can be detected up to 12mm above the iPad Pro's display, allowing users to see a preview of their mark before they make it. Text fields and icons can be expanded below the Apple Pencil. It isn't likely to be a motivator to buy the latest model of Apple Pencil.

The only significant changes to the iPad Pro are the M2 chip and Apple Pencil, which makes it hard to upgrade. Many 2021 iPad Pro users will not be able to justifyUpgrading to the latest model, but some customers coming from an older version of the iPad Pro could still have good reason to prefer the latest models, especially those who need maximum performance and use the Apple Pencil for note taking and illustration. The two iPad Pro models are very similar, so customers who have an older iPad may want to look for a discounted model.