Apple iPad Pro Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular, Review

For $450, you get a 90th-percentile display and 70th-percentile performance, which is a steal. The trade-off is mediocre battery life and outdated connectivity. It's a fantastic budget creative tablet, but don't expect a cutting-edge workhorse.

At $450 for a renewed 2020 iPad Pro, you're getting a tablet that punches well above its price point in some key areas. Its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display lands in the 90th percentile, which means it's still one of the best screens you can get on any tablet, period. The A12Z Bionic chip, while a few generations old now, still delivers CPU and GPU performance in the high 70th percentiles. That's more than enough for most creative apps and general productivity.

But this is a story of trade-offs. The battery life sits right at the median, the 49th percentile, which is a known iPad Pro weak spot. And the connectivity score is in the 11th percentile, which reflects its aging Wi-Fi 6 and lack of newer standards. For the price, you're buying into a premium ecosystem with a few dated specs.

Performance is this iPad's strongest suit relative to its cost. That A12Z Bionic chip puts it in the 78th and 77th percentiles for CPU and GPU power, respectively. In our database, that means it's faster than about three-quarters of all tablets we track. For tasks like digital art, photo editing, or even light video work, it's still plenty capable. The 6GB of RAM, while only in the 68th percentile, is enough for iPadOS to juggle multiple pro apps without much fuss.

The real star is the screen. A 90th percentile display is rare at this price. The ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel silky smooth, and the color accuracy is top-notch. It's the kind of screen that makes you forget you're using a four-year-old device.

At $450, the value proposition is clear: you're getting a premium-tier screen and very competent performance for about a third of what this thing cost new. The 'renewed' part is key—it brings a high-end experience down to a mid-range price. Just know you're trading the latest specs for that discount. Compared to a new $450 tablet, this iPad Pro will feel faster and look better, but you'll give up some modern conveniences and potentially deal with battery wear.

Stacked against its main rivals, it's a specs-for-dollars play. The newer 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip will obliterate it in raw performance, but you're paying over $1,000 for that privilege. A Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers a more modern Android experience and likely better battery life, but its screen and app optimization for creative work often can't match the iPad's. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a full Windows PC, which is better for heavy business software, but its tablet experience and app ecosystem are clunkier. This 2020 iPad Pro carves out a niche: if your top priorities are screen quality and smooth performance for art or media consumption, and you're on a tight budget, it beats the others on pure value.

Skip this iPad Pro if you're a power user who needs the latest connectivity. Its 11th percentile ranking there means slower Wi-Fi and older Bluetooth. Also, if 'business' use is your main focus (it scored a weak 54.5/100), you'd be better served by a Surface Pro or a newer iPad with more RAM for heavy multitasking. It's not the right tool for that job.

We recommend this renewed 2020 iPad Pro if you're a digital artist, student, or media consumer who prioritizes screen quality and responsive performance above all else. The data shows its strengths are exactly where a pro tablet needs to be strong. We'd steer clear if you need all-day battery life, the absolute latest Wi-Fi speeds, or plan to use it as a full laptop replacement for heavy, multi-window work. Its 54.5/100 score for 'business' use highlights that weakness.