10.5-inch iPad Pro vs 11-inch iPad Pro: Is New iPad Pro Worth Upgrading?

New models of iPad Pro is finally released with a new edge-to-edge display, better specs and also a new Apple Pencil. Not just a more modern design, Apple also offers iPad Pro in a different size, keeping the same 12.9-inch model but increasing size of the 10.5-inch model to 11.9-inch.

But is the newer 11-inch 2018 model of iPad pro really an upgrade of its predecessor 10.5-inch 2017 model? Is it worth upgrading and paying extra money for? The 10.5-inch 2017 model is still for sale at $650 (Rs. 47,359). Therefore, we would want to do a comparison between the previous 10.5-inch 2017 iPad Pro and the newer 11-inch 2017 iPad Pro.

Specs of both models

Charging, Battery life, and Performance

Both models have excellent specs but one model clearly stands out more. The 11-inch iPad Pro comes with the latest Apple’s A12X Bionic chipset which has been praised to have similar performance to laptop processor. The A10X Fusion on the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is also great but obvious the newer one is always expected to be better. And it is indeed proven to be better.

Both tablets’ battery life is pretty similar to each other. Apple claims both models can offer 10 hours for users to surf webs so there wouldn't be any noticeable difference between them. For some reason, Apple still hasn’t offered wireless charging for both models even though they already applied it in their new iPhone series and their Apple Watch as well.

Due to the laptop-level performance, the 2018 iPad Pro is clearly winning in these aspects.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Durability and Design

Both models feature a classic design of the iPad but the 2018 model has an edge in the design. Featuring an edge-to-edge display o it, it has much smaller bezels compared to its predecessor. The nice flat edges also make the 2018 iPad look ultra modern.

But I’m not saying that the previous iPad Pro does not have a good design. It still features a nice aluminum solid build with a classy look and it also comes with more color options — Gold and Rose Gold. The 2018 iPad Pro only comes with two color options: Silver and Space Gray.

Both models of iPad Pro probably have similar durability as both come with aluminum backs as well as glass fronts which can shatter if the tablets got dropped.

The most notable difference between two tablets should be the headphone jack as it is now removed in the 2018 iPad. Also, the Lightning port is the thing in the past as it is replaced with USB-C port.

With the versatile USB-C port, it offers users more functions such as connecting their iPad to an external display or charging your iPhone from the iPad. I would say adding USB-C can compensate the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. So again, the new 2018 iPad triumphs here.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Display

Apple is still using LCD displays on their iPad despite the fact that they adopt OLED on other devices. The 2017 model is equipped with a 10.5-inch screen while the 2018 one has a little bigger screen at 11 inches.

The 2018 iPad Pro’s resolution is a little bit sharper but both models have the same pixel density of 264 PPI. Both still have ProMotion tech of Apple which offers smoother scrolling with a 120Hz refresh rate.

In this aspect, the 11-inch iPad Pro gains a slight edge due to its bigger display even though it is only a minor difference. So, it is, once again, the winner.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Camera

Users may have different ways of taking photos with the iPad than their smartphone, the camera is still important to many people, especially when it comes to video calling with the front camera. In this aspect, both iPad Pro models have the same camera specs as both have a 12MP rear camera and a 7MP front camera. They can both capture video up to 4K at 60fps and 720p video at up to 240fps.

The latest iPad Pro still got the edge here because it has Smart HDR which is a feature that was just introduced on the newest iPhones. It can help with high-contrast lighting and is promised to deliver a much better camera experience.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Operating system and updates

Even though the 2017 model does not initially run iOS 12 like the 2018 one but users can easily update and use it on their 2017 iPad Pro without a problem.

However, with the laptop-level chipset and a more recent release date of the 2018 iPad Pro, it is probably supported by Apple for a longer time than the older model. Therefore, it is the winner in this case.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Special features

Both 2017 and 2018 iPad Pro offer the same overall experience but there are still notable differences that you should keep in mind. Firstly, the 2018 iPad Pro has Face ID which let you unlock your tablets with facial recognition just like what you can do with the latest iPhone devices.

Secondly, it also supports the recently released Apple Pencil which can connect to the iPad Pro and pair as well as charge wirelessly.

The 2017 iPad Pro still has the fingerprint scanner and home button which are both removed in the new model.

And another notable aforementioned feature in the 2018 iPad Pro is the addition of USB-C port which offers much more versatile functions like connecting to displays and so on.

Winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

Price

The new iPad Pro can be a better device but the better usually goes along with a high price as well.

While you can own a 2017 iPad Pro at a price of $650 (Rs. 47,359), you have to pay an extra of around $150 (Rs. 10,929) if you want to new iPad Pro model. That means you are probably paying $150 extra for better performance, edge-to-edge display and also a new Apple Pencil.

For the 2017 iPad Pro, you will have to pay $800 (Rs. 58,288) and $1,000 (Rs. 72,860) for the 256GB and 512GB respectively. For the 2018 iPad Pro, you will have to pay an extra of $150 (Rs. 10,929) for both 256GB and 512GB models compared to the 2017 one.

The new iPad Pro also comes with the new 1TB model which costs $1,550 (Rs. 112,979)

Overall winner: 11-inch iPad Pro

It isn't really a surprise when the 11-inch 2018 iPad Pro is the winner. The tablet has a much better processor, bigger display and also very modern design. If you want the most powerful tablet then this is the one for you. But the 10.5-inch iPad Pro is still a strong contender. It still offers impressive performance along with a classic design which is preferred by many people.

I would say if you are looking for a tablet to play some games or use it around your house, the 10.5-inch model fits your more, you can even happy with the new $330 (Rs. 24,053) iPad. And if you are looking for something much stronger, the 11-inch iPad Pro is there for you.