• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026

1

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
TechWorld's Most Admired Companies

5 Things to Consider When Shopping for an New iPad Pro

By
Jason Cipriani
Jason Cipriani
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jason Cipriani
Jason Cipriani
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 24, 2016, 4:25 PM ET
Apple 9.7-inch iPad Pro
Apple's 9.7-inch iPad Pro shown in a demo area after its March 21 special event. Jason Cipriani
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Apple began taking orders on Thursday for the new, smaller iPad Pro, the latest addition to the company’s tablet lineup that is supposed to appeal to people looking to upgrade from older iPads, or perhaps outdated PC.

The smaller iPad Pro packs healthy performance into a small body, making it easier to lug around without forfeiting overall performance. On top of adding power to a portable size, Apple has finally provided older iPad owners with a legitimate reason to ditch an older tablet.

In addition to having a smaller screen, the new iPad Pro’s price tag is also smaller. Starting at $599 for 32 gigabytes of storage, the new iPad Pro is $200 cheaper than its bigger sibling.

Additionally, Apple’s $149 Smart Keyboard for the smaller iPad Pro is priced $20 less than the bigger equivalent. The same $99 Apple Pencil will work on both devices.

Pricing aside, there are some differences to consider when deciding between the two devices. Although those differences are subtle, they could make for a significant factors depending whether you are a casual user or one who uses resource intensive apps.

Portability

The smaller iPad Pro is, of course, easier to cart around than its larger cousin. That tablet is similar in size to a 13-inch laptop, meaning you can’t throw it into a smaller duffel bag or purse and tote it around.

Putting both iPad Pro models next to one another, the size difference between the two is clear. The bigger iPad Pro has a 12.9-inch display, is 8.68-inches wide, 12 inches long, and 6.9mm thick. Meanwhile, the smaller iPad Pro has a 9.7-inch display, is 6.6-inches wide, 9.4-inches long, and 6.1mm thick.

In terms of weight, the 9.7-inch Pro weighs just under one pound while the 12.9-inch model weighs just over a pound and a half.

For more read Review: Is Apple’s iPad Pro a PC Replacement?

Camera

Apple (AAPL) put a 12-megapixel rear camera on the smaller iPad Pro along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The bigger iPad Pro features an 8 MP camera on the back, with a 1.2 MP camera on the front.

Simply put: If you’re fond of shooting photos or recording videos with your iPad, the smaller Pro is the one you want. Not only does it offer a better camera for still photos, it’s capable of capturing 4K video (while the 12.9-inch Pro is left behind capturing 1080p).

Additionally, holding a nearly 13-inch tablet to take photos at a concert or family gathering isn’t exactly convenient. It’s far easier to use a tablet that is about two-thirds the size.

Performance

Apple, irritatingly, never reveals the amount of memory its mobile devices use until the devices are publicly available. But that detail about the new iPad has already leaked out. Mathew Panzarino, editor-in-chief of tech news site TechCrunch, posted a picture on Twitter that revealed the 9.7-inch iPad Pro has 2-gigabytes of memory, or RAM. In comparison, the larger iPad Pro has 4-gigabytes.

The difference between the two models is something to keep in mind depending on what you plan to use the iPad Pro for. The smaller tablet’s overall performance will likely be fine, with the most noticeable difference being when relaunching recently used apps.

Currently, when you exit an app on your iOS device, the operating system stores the app’s current status in its memory. The more memory a device has, the less it must make room for other tasks. For example, you may have noticed when launching an app that it goes directly to where you left off. Other times, it may go directly to the app’s main screen. Memory is the key factor in determining what happens.

It could be an issue for users who plan to do a lot of video and photo editing, processes that use a lot of resources. The larger iPad will handle the job a bit more quickly than the smaller version because of the need to occasionally reload apps.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Transfer speeds

As with all iOS devices, the iPad Pro line features devices with a single port for charging the iPad, transferring photos, and connecting accessories such as microphones using an adapter. But not all ports are created equal on the iPad Pro line.

The larger iPad Pro features USB 3.0 speeds, a relatively new spec that offers faster transfer and charging speeds than the older USB 2.0 protocol. The smaller iPad Pro is equipped with USB 2.0.

The difference in transfer speeds will be most noticeable to those who spend a lot of time moving photos and videos from a camera or memory card to the iPad. Apple also quietly released a new USB-C to Lighting charging cable on Monday that can more rapidly charging the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The smaller iPad Pro doesn’t have such an option.

For more about Apple’s new iPad Pro, watch:

Display quality

For the most part, the two iPad Pros offer the same display quality with the same 264 pixels per inch. However, the 9.7-inch Pro has a couple of new features that its bigger brother missed out on when it debuted in the fall.

One new feature Apple calls True Tone display will change the screen’s color to adapt to its surroundings. For example, if you’re in a bright white environment, the display’s light will take on a white hue. If you’re in a room with more yellow lighting, the smaller Pro’s display will take on a yellow tint.

The end result is a display that’s easier to look at and less jarring on the eyes. Sensors do the job, but they can be disabled at any time through the device’s settings.

Another benefit the 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s screen is wide color display. In short, the colors displayed on the screen of the smaller Pro will be more accurate.

Conclusion

Regardless of which iPad Pro you end up buying, both devices are more than capable of replacing a desktop computer for most users. Both devices provide what amounts to be the same core experience, thanks to both devices running iOS with access the wealth of suitable apps in the App Store. Ultimately, the decision may come down to portability and overall screen size.

About the Author
By Jason Cipriani
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Michael Burry just shorted Caterpillar’s 172% AI rally. One analyst says his bet won’t even matter
Investingstock prices
Michael Burry just shorted Caterpillar’s 172% AI rally. One analyst says his bet won’t even matter
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 2, 2026
3 hours ago
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
EconomyDebt
AI’s $2.2 trillion deficit fix is already half fake, economists say
By Tristan BoveJuly 2, 2026
4 hours ago
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei
AIEye on AI
Anthropic’s Fable model is back. But U.S. AI policy is still a mess
By Jeremy KahnJuly 2, 2026
4 hours ago
ai
North AmericaImmigration
Trump’s $46 billion ‘smart wall’ with Mexico bets on AI and scale
By Rebecca Santana and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
6 hours ago
sk
AISouth Korea
AI “grief videos” turn mourning into a $390 service in South Korea
By Hyung-Jin Kim and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
6 hours ago
Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo looks to the far right during a conference.
CryptoBlockchain
Securitize is latest crypto company to go public as BlackRock-backed firm sees stock jump 3% on debut
By Camila Grigera NaónJuly 2, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
Big Tech
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 1, 2026
2 days ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
8 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago
Trump got a $78K pension from the Screen Actors Guild in 2025 because he appeared in Home Alone 2 in 1992
Politics
Trump got a $78K pension from the Screen Actors Guild in 2025 because he appeared in Home Alone 2 in 1992
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago
Today, Emily Blunt is worth $80 million thanks to her Hollywood career—but she actually wanted to be a UN Spanish translator on $80K
Success
Today, Emily Blunt is worth $80 million thanks to her Hollywood career—but she actually wanted to be a UN Spanish translator on $80K
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 2, 2026
16 hours ago
CEO of $248 billion cybersecurity company says workers are about to face a ‘Darwinian moment’ thanks to AI: Evolve or get cut
Success
CEO of $248 billion cybersecurity company says workers are about to face a ‘Darwinian moment’ thanks to AI: Evolve or get cut
By Emma BurleighJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.