Apple iPad Pro Apple 2021 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular, Review
The 2021 iPad Pro packs a desktop-class M1 chip into a small tablet, but mediocre battery life and a high price make it hard to recommend for most people.
Overview
The 2021 iPad Pro is a weird one. It's got the same M1 chip that powered MacBooks, which is frankly overkill for an 11-inch tablet. The one thing you need to know? This is a productivity and creative powerhouse trapped in a small screen with mediocre battery life. It feels like Apple put a Formula 1 engine in a commuter car and forgot to upgrade the fuel tank.
Performance
The M1 chip is still a beast, landing in the 81st percentile for both CPU and GPU. Apps fly, and you can edit 4K video without breaking a sweat. What surprised me, though, is how that power feels wasted. Most iPad apps just can't take full advantage of it, and the battery life, sitting in the 48th percentile, can't keep up with the chip's potential. It's fast, but you'll be hunting for an outlet.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The M1 chip is ridiculously fast for a tablet. 91th
- Build quality and software support are top-tier. 86th
- Great for artists with Apple Pencil 2 support. 86th
- Center Stage on the front camera is genuinely useful for video calls. 85th
Cons
- Battery life is just okay, especially for a 'Pro' device. 29th
- The 11-inch screen feels cramped for real multitasking.
- Connectivity is in the bottom 16th percentile—Wi-Fi 6 is fine, but no cellular here.
- At $499, it's a steep price for a 3-year-old tablet with a small screen.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 3.2 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Connectivity
| Cellular | Yes |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
At $499, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for that M1 chip and the Apple ecosystem, but you're getting a device with a small screen and average battery. If you're deeply invested in Apple Pencil workflows, maybe. For everyone else, there are better values.
vs Competition
The most relevant competitor is the 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip. It's more expensive, but you get a much better screen and longer support. For the same price, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 offers a full Windows experience and a better keyboard setup for productivity. If you just want a great media tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ has a stunning OLED screen that blows this iPad's 11-inch display out of the water.
| Spec | Apple iPad Pro Apple 2021 11-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular, | Apple iPad Pro Apple 11" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 512GB, | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung 12.4" Galaxy Tab S10+ 256GB Multi-Touch | Lenovo Yoga Tab Series Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus | HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.2 GHz | Apple M5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek 9300 | Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3, QCM8650 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 16 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 512 | 1000 | 256 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | - | 11" 2420x1668 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 10.1" 1920x1200 |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | true | false | false |
| Cellular | true | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
I can only recommend this to a very specific user: someone who needs Apple Pencil precision on a smaller, ultra-portable canvas and doesn't care about battery life. For 99% of people looking at an 11-inch tablet, the value isn't there. Look at the newer iPad Air or a competing Android tablet instead.