Apple iPad Pro 12.9" 2020 Review

This renewed iPad Pro has one of the best tablet screens you can buy, scoring in the 91st percentile. Its A12Z chip and specs are now just average. Only buy it if you find it cheap and care more about the gorgeous 12.9-inch display than having cutting-edge speed.

The 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch is a renewed tablet that's all about its incredible screen. That 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display lands in the 91st percentile, which means it's one of the best-looking panels you can get on a tablet, even today. It's got ProMotion for smooth scrolling, True Tone, and wide color, making it a top pick for reading, entertainment, and creative work.

Under the hood, you're getting Apple's A12Z Bionic chip and 256GB of storage, which is a solid amount of space. It's a Wi-Fi-only model, so you won't find cellular connectivity here. The big story is that you're getting a pro-grade display and build quality for a fraction of the original price, but you're also buying tech that's a few generations old now.

Performance is a mixed bag, and it really depends on what you're comparing it to. The A12Z chip and its GPU scores land in the 42nd and 43rd percentiles respectively against the current tablet field. In plain English, that means it's middle of the pack for raw power now. It'll handle everyday tasks, streaming, and light creative apps just fine, but don't expect it to keep up with the latest M-series iPad Pros or high-end Android tablets in heavy workloads. The RAM score is also on the lower side. Where it truly shines is that screen. Scoring in the 91st percentile, it's a standout feature that still competes with much newer and more expensive models.

Here's the tricky part: the price isn't listed, but we see a wild spread from about $2,000 to over $11,000 across vendors for this renewed model. That $11k listing is frankly absurd. The value entirely hinges on finding it at the low end of that range. If you can snag it for around two grand, you're getting that phenomenal screen and premium build for a song. Just make sure you're not accidentally looking at a listing priced like it's made of unobtanium.

Stacked up against today's options, the trade-offs are clear. A modern iPad Pro with an M5 chip will run circles around it in CPU and GPU tasks. A Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ will likely beat it in multitasking thanks to more RAM and Dex. Even a new base-model iPad Air might feel snappier. But here's the thing: none of those competitors at a similar $2k price point will match this 2020 Pro's massive, top-tier 12.9-inch display. You're choosing a gorgeous view over the latest engine. For artists, readers, and movie watchers, that might be the right call.

Skip this iPad if you need a laptop replacement or top-tier performance. Its business use score is its weakest at just 51.1 out of 100. The average CPU/GPU scores and iPadOS limitations make it a poor choice for serious multitasking, coding, or complex file management. Also, avoid it if you need cellular connectivity, as this Wi-Fi-only model scores very low (24th percentile) in that category. Power users should look at a newer Pro or a Surface Pro.

We recommend this renewed 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch for one specific buyer: someone who prioritizes screen quality above all else and is on a tight budget. The display is still best-in-class, and the renewed model lets you access it cheaply. But you have to go in knowing the performance is now just average, it's Wi-Fi only, and iPadOS has its limits. If raw power or laptop replacement is your goal, look at a newer model or a different platform.