With the debut of the iPad Pro, Apple is adding yet another iPad model to its tablet lineup. The Pro version will be sold alongside the new iPad mini 4, the iPad Air 2, the iPad Air and the iPad mini 2. It’s an eclectic lineup and one that is worth a closer look.
Size Matters
The biggest differentiator between the devices is their screen size with the iPad mini models measuring 7.9-inches, the iPad Airs coming in at 9.7-inches and the iPad Pro breaking the mold with a 12.9-inch display. As we have mentioned in the past, the iPad mini is great for stashing in your bag and using it on the go, while the iPad Air is for media consumption, drawing and editing media files. This trend is even more true with the iPad Pro, which excels at editing and media playback due to its large screen. Drawing and editing is easier, but it comes with a cost and that is portability. The iPad Pro is big enough that you just can’t drop it into any bag and go. Unless you have a dedicated bag or case solution, the iPad Pro is more an at-home or at-work device.
Pricing
Another criteria that separates Apple’s current iPad lineup is pricing. Not surprisingly, the iPad mini models are the least expensive with a starting price tag of $399 for the base 16GB WiFi-only version of the iPad mini 4. The same 16GB version of the iPad Air 2 costs $499, while the entry-level iPad Pro starts at $799 for a 32GB WiFi-only configuration. As it has been in the past, the WiFi + Cellular model costs $129 more than its WiFi-only counterpart. The 128GB iPad Pro WiFi + Cellular is the premium configuration with a price tag of $1079.
Specifications
Use the handy table below to compare the hardware specifications of Apple’s most recent iPad models, including the iPad Pro, the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 4. Let us know in the comments which iPad model you prefer and why.
Color, Capacity, and Price
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Space, Gray, Silver, Gold | Space, Gray, Silver, Gold | Space, Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| 32GB — $799
128GB — $949 |
16GB — $499
64GB — $599 128GB — $699 |
16GB — $399
64GB — $499 128GB — $599 |
| Wi-Fi + Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular |
| 128GB — $1079 | 16GB — $629
64GB — $729 128GB — $829 |
16GB — $529
64GB — $629 128GB — $729 |
Display
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.9‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch display | 9.7‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch display | 7.9‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch display |
| 2732‑by‑2048 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) | 2048‑by‑1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi) | 2048‑by‑1536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi) |
Chip
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| A9X third-generation chip with 64-bit architecture
Compared to A7: CPU: 2.5x faster Graphics: 5x faster RAM: 4GB |
A8X second-generation chip with 64-bit architecture
Compared to A7: CPU: 1.4x faster Graphics: 2.5x faster RAM: 2GB |
A8 second-generation chip with 64-bit architecture
Compared to A7: CPU: 1.3x faster Graphics: 1.6x faster RAM: 2GB |
| M9 motion coprocessor | M8 motion coprocessor | M8 motion coprocessor |
FaceTime HD Camera
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2MP photos | 1.2MP photos | 1.2MP photos |
| 720p HD video | 720p HD video | 720p HD video |
| FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular | FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular | FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular |
iSight Camera
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 8MP photos | 8MP photos | 8MP photos |
| 1080p HD video | 1080p HD video | 1080p HD video |
| Autofocus, Video stabilization, Face detection and more | Autofocus, Video stabilization, Face detection and more | Autofocus, Video stabilization, Face detection and more |
Cellular and Wireless
| All iPad Pro models | All iPad Air 2 models | All iPad mini 4 models |
|---|---|---|
| Wi‑Fi (802.11a, b, g, n, ac); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) | Wi‑Fi (802.11a, b, g, n, ac); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) | Wi‑Fi (802.11a, b, g, n, ac); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) |
| MIMO | MIMO | MIMO |
| Bluetooth 4.2 technology | Bluetooth 4.2 technology | Bluetooth 4.2 technology |
| Wi-Fi + Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular |
| GSM/EDGE | GSM/EDGE | GSM/EDGE |
| CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B | CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B | CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B |
| UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+, DC‑HSDPA | UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+, DC‑HSDPA | UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+, DC‑HSDPA |
| LTE | LTE | LTE |
Touch ID
| Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button | Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button | Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button |
Apple Pay
| Pay with your iPad using Touch ID within apps | Pay with your iPad using Touch ID within apps | Pay with your iPad using Touch ID within apps |
Power and Battery
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
|
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Weight and Dimensions
| iPad Pro | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Height
12 inches (305.7 mm) |
Height
9.4 inches (240 mm) |
Height
8 inches (203.2 mm) |
| Width: 8.68 inches (220.6 mm) | Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm) | Width: 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) |
| Depth: 0.27 inch (6.9 mm) | Depth: 0.24 inch (6.1 mm) | Depth: 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) |
| Weight (Wi-Fi): 1.57 pounds (713 grams) | Weight (Wi-Fi): 0.96 pound (437 grams) | Weight (Wi-Fi): 0.65 pound (298.8 grams) |
| Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular): 1.59 pounds (723 grams) | Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular): 0.98 pound (444 grams) | Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular): 0.67 pound (304 grams) |
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