iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 vs iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018
Swappasaurus says...
Apple released the iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) in June 2017 and released the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) in November 2018. The 12.9” iPad Pro (2017) serves as the 2nd generation model in the 12.9” iPad Pro lineup and the 12.9” iPad Pro serves as the 3rd generation model. The iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) has several improvements over the 2017 model, including a Liquid Retina display, Face ID, and USB-C.
Price Comparison
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017
iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 vs iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 Pricing
Specs Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) features a 12.9-inch Retina display and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) features a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display. Aside from the difference in display technology, these displays both support True Tone and ProMotion. The key specs for the iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) include an Apple A10X Fusion chip, a 7MP FaceTime HD front camera, Lightning, Touch ID in the home button, two microphones, up to 512GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.2, and support for the Apple Smart Keyboard and the 1st generation Apple Pencil. In comparison, the key specs for the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) include an Apple A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine, a 7MP TrueDepth front camera system, USB-C, Face ID, five microphones, up to 1TB of storage, Bluetooth 5.0, and support for the Apple Magic Keyboard, Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, and the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Both of these iPads feature four-speaker audio, WiFi 802.11ac, and the cellular-equipped models support 4G LTE connectivity.
Size
| Size | iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 | iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 221 mm 8.7 inches | 215 mm 8.5 inches |
| Height | 306 mm 12.0 inches | 281 mm 11.1 inches |
| Depth | 7 mm 0.3 inches | 8 mm 0.3 inches |
| Weight | 692 g 24.4 ounces | 631 g 22.3 ounces |
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) feature a 12.9-inch display size, but overall the 2018 model is smaller and lighter than the 2017 model. The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) measures 12” (H) x 8.68” (W) x 0.27” (D). The WiFi-only 2017 model weighs 1.49 pounds and the WiFi + Cellular model weighs 1.53 pounds. To compare, the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) measures 11.04” (H) x 8.46” (W) x 0.23” (D). The WiFi-only 2018 model weighs 1.39 pounds and the WiFi + Cellular model weighs 1.40 pounds.
Camera
| Camera | iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 | iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | 12.0 MP | 12.0 MP |
| Resolution | 4000x3000 | 4000x3000 |
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) feature a 12MP wide-angle rear-facing camera. On the front, the iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) features a 7MP FaceTime HD camera, and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) features a 7MP TrueDepth camera with Portrait Mode and Portrait Lightning.
Screen
| Display | iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 | iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2048x2732 | 2048x2732 |
| Screen Size | 328 mm 12.9 in | 328 mm 12.9 in |
| Pixels Per Inch | 265 ppi | 265 ppi |
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) features a Retina display, and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) features a Liquid Retina display. But overall, these two displays share many of the same features. For example, they both have a resolution of 2732 x 2048 at 264 pixels per inch, wide color (P3), an SDR max brightness of 600 nits, True Tone, and ProMotion technology. Both are also fully laminated with an anti-reflective coating and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
Battery
| Battery | iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 | iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 10870 mAh | 9660 mAh |
| Longevity | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| USB | Lightning | USB-C |
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) is powered by a 41-watt-hour battery and charges via the Lightning connector, and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) is powered by a 36.71-watt-hour battery and charges via USB-C. The battery capacities of the iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) allow for up to 10 hours of battery life when on WiFi or up to 9 hours of battery life when on cellular.
Processing
| Processor | iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 | iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple A10X Fusion APL1071 / APL1W71 (T8011) | Apple A12X Bionic APL1083 (T8027) |
Color Choices
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017
Available in 3 colors:
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Gold
-
Gray
-
Silver
iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018
Available in 2 colors:
-
Gray
-
Silver
Which color iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 is the most popular?
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 vs iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 Colors
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) is available in three colors: Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The Space Gray model has a black bezel on the front and the Silver and Gold models have a white bezel on the front. The iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) is available in Space Gray and Silver, both of which have a black bezel on the front.
Storage Options
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017
Choose from 5 storage options:
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32GB
-
64GB
-
128GB
-
256GB
-
512GB
iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018
Choose from 4 storage options:
-
64GB
-
256GB
-
512GB
-
1TB
Which storage iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 is the most popular?
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 vs iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 Storage
The iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) and the iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) are available with options for 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage space. The iPad Pro 12.9” (2018) is also available in a 1TB storage configuration.
Reviews
iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017 vs iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Gen 2018 Reviews
More Comparisons
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