Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Русский
Türkçe
Svenska
Chinese
MagyarApple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) review: Apple's giant tablet now runs with the M2 SoC
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 takes things to a new level. Sporting a 12.9-inch display, it is a rarity not only because of its sheer size, but also because of the mini-LED technology used. Throw in the optional keyboard and stylus, and the tablet turns into a creative machine, while the Apple M2 processor leaves most notebooks in the dust. However, all this comes at a price, which has increased with the new version.
In review here is the cheapest entry-level model without mobile connectivity, which costs US$1,099. All prices and storage variants, which now range up to 2 TB, can be found in the following table:
| Storage equipment | Price (WLAN model) | Price (with cellular modem) |
|---|---|---|
| 128 GB | US$1,099 | US$1,299 |
| 256 GB | US$1,199 | US$1,399 |
| 512 GB | US$1,399 | US$1,599 |
| 1.024 GB | US$1,799 | US$1,999 |
| 2.048 GB | US$2,199 | US$2,399 |
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91.8 % | 11/2022 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 M2, M2 10-Core GPU | 682 g | 6.4 mm | 12.90" | 2732x2048 | |
| 88.3 % | 04/2022 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730 | 572 g | 5.7 mm | 12.40" | 2800x1752 | |
| 91.3 % | 06/2021 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 M1, M1 8-Core GPU | 682 g | 6.4 mm | 12.90" | 2732x2048 | |
| 89.1 % | 03/2022 | Lenovo Tab P12 Pro SD 870, Adreno 650 | 565 g | 5.6 mm | 12.60" | 2560x1600 | |
| 88.8 % | 10/2021 | Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 Kirin 9000E, Mali-G78 MP22 | 609 g | 6.7 mm | 12.60" | 2560x1600 |
Case - Almost as large as six iPhone 14 Pro(s)
Despite its immense size, the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has a slim unibody design and feels good in the hands. Although it is the heaviest tablet in the comparison field, it is not as bulky as the spec sheet suggests. Fun fact: The display area is almost as large as that of six iPhone 14 Pros.
The build quality is first-class. The aluminum is a haptic flatterer and insensitive to fingerprints. Gaps are tight and even. The tablet yields slightly when subject to torsional stress and creaks a little, but still gives a stable impression.
The iPad Pro 12.9 does not possess any certifications against dust or water. On the aspect of sustainability the 6th generation shows no improvements, unfortunately. Apple's sustainability report reveals reduced energy efficiency and the 2 TB model has a larger carbon footprint than its predecessor, but all other storage variants have a lower carbon footprint. As with the iPad 10, recycled gold is now also used here.
Equipment - Apple tablet with Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4
Apple has left equipment of last year's model, which was already very high quality, untouched. This includes a USB 4 interface, which also supports Thunderbolt 3 and thus data transfer rates of up to 40 GBit/s as well as wired image output.
Bluetooth 5.3 is a new addition, and the Apple tablet now also supports Wi-Fi 6E. Optional keyboards can be connected to the Smart Connector on the back, which magnetically lock to the iPad Pro. A pencil (2nd generation) can be attached and recharged via the magnetic surface on the right long side.
Software - iPadOS is still no replacement for macOS
The 6th generation Apple iPad Pro 12.9 comes with iPadOS 16.1. During our review, our review sample received a bugfix update to version 16.1.1. The mobile operating system is still not an adequate alternative to macOS. Even if Apple likes to claim that the tablet is a full-fledged notebook replacement, this is likely to be true only in a few cases, especially in productive work. An exception here is certainly the creativity aspect, which is simply more fluid with a pen and a touchscreen than on a laptop. We like the fact that Stage Manager has made it onto the iPad.
The current iPadOS continues to do without bloatware and the iPad Pro 12.9 should be supplied with updates for a long time. Although Apple does not provide exact details, we expect at least five years of software updates.
Communication & GNSS - 6 GHz WiFi for iPad Pro 12.9
A new feature of the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is the support for Wi-Fi 6E and thus also the 6 GHz network for the WLAN. This also works in conjunction with our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router, but the transmission rates fall far short of expectations. This worked much better in the smaller iPad Pro 11.
A cellular module with a broad frequency range and 5G is optionally available, which can use either a nano-SIM or an eSIM.
| Networking | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz |
|
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 |
|
| iperf3 receive AX12 |
|
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 |
|
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 |
|
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 |
|
| iperf3 receive AX12 |
|
The WLAN model does not use GNSS for positioning. Instead, the Apple tablet uses Wi-Fi, the digital compass, and iBeacon micro-location to determine its own location. However, this is insufficient for navigation tasks or route guidance.
Cameras - 4k ProRes not for all models
The front camera of the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 features an ultra-wide angle (122°) with 12 MPix, supports Smart HDR 4 and can record videos in Full HD at up to 60 frames per second. We like the recordings and they are well suited for video conferencing.
On the back is a dual camera which consists of a 12 MPix wide-angle and a 10 MPix ultra-wide-angle sensor. The white balance is quite warm, and photos are very coherent and balanced at close range. Details are retained very well without being overdone via post-sharpening. In panoramic shots or with distant objects, however, the dynamics drop sharply and noise becomes visible in dark image areas. The ultra-wide-angle becomes a little blurry towards the edges and the depth of field is rather weak. Since the tablet is not a typical companion for photography, the given performance is more than sufficient and is again supplemented by a LiDAR scanner.
Videos are recorded in Ultra HD at up to 60 FPS at best, which can even be done in Apple's ProRes (up to 4k, 30 FPS). Those who want to use video material with the Intaframe format should keep in mind that this feature only works to a limited extent at 1,080p (30 FPS) in the 128 GB model.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraUltra wide angle5x zoomLow light
Under controlled lighting conditions, the main camera of the iPad Pro 12.9 is characterized by comparatively natural color reproduction, which shows no major outliers. The white balance is quite warm, just like in everyday life. Black is strongly brightened and looks more like gray.
The test chart has been strongly sharpened in the middle, showing a lot of detail, but becomes blurrier towards the edges.
Accessories & Warranty - Cable now sealed in fabric
The scope of delivery remains unchanged and includes a modular 20-watt power adapter (USB-C) and a fabric-covered USB-C cable. The 2nd generation Pencil stylus is optionally available for US$129.99, and a Magic Keyboard costs US$349.99. Apple also offers protective cases, stronger power adapters and much more.
Apple grants a 12-month warranty for the iPad Pro, which does not affect the retailer's warranty (which itself is country/location dependent - be sure to check with your supplier before purchasing).
A Care+ insurance package is also available. This costs either a one-time fee of US$149.00 (for two years) or US7.99 per month and includes an unlimited number of repairs in case of accidental damage. Each accident is subject to a service fee of US$49 for the iPad and US$29 for the Apple Pencil or Apple-branded iPad keyboard, plus applicable tax.
Input Devices & Operation - iPad with Face ID
The huge capacitive touchscreen of the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has very good gliding properties and implements inputs quickly and precisely in all areas. The panel also supports pen input, which requires a 2nd generation Apple Pencil that is simply paired with the tablet and charged by clipping onto the magnetic connector. Although this is nothing new so far, the panel now recognizes the Pencil even when it is hovering above the display.
A big difference to the smaller iPad Pro 11 concerns the preinstalled keyboard layout. This has more keys, which makes for more comfortable typing on the large iPad Pro, even without the optional keyboard.
A three-dimensional Face ID facial recognition is available for biometric security. This works well, but the necessary sensors are often covered when the Apple tablet is held in landscape mode.
Display - Accurate mini LED panel in the iPad Pro 2022
The display of the iPad Pro 12.9 has not changed fundamentally compared to last year's model. Apple continues to deploy a high-resolution mini-LED panel that works with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and uses over 10,000 mini-LEDs for 2,596 local dimming zones.
The brightness distribution is very even and delivers an average value of 611 cd/m² (SDR) with the ambient light sensor activated. Those who prefer to regulate it manually have up to 588 cd/m² at their disposal. With an even distribution of bright and dark areas (APL18), this measures 625 cd/m². When displaying HDR content, up to 1,600 cd/m² is supposed to be possible, but we could not extract this number out of the panel.
Under the oscilloscope, we observed a constant high-frequency flickering. Those who are very sensitive to pulse width modulation may tend to complain during longer periods of use. Otherwise it should not prove problematic, but it did make it difficult for us to measure the response times. These turned out to be quite high, and OLEDs still have a clear advantage in this area. On the other hand, as slow-motion observation through a microscope shows, no temporal dithering is present.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 611 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.22
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 Mini-LED, 2732x2048, 12.90 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G Super AMOLED, 2800x1752, 12.40 | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 IPS mini-LED, 2732x2048, 12.90 | Lenovo Tab P12 Pro AMOLED, 2560x1600, 12.60 | Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 OLED, 2560x1600, 12.60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -34% | -18% | -44% | -21% | |
| Brightness middle | 611 | 459 -25% | 620 1% | 552 -10% | 383 -37% |
| Brightness | 605 | 462 -24% | 612 1% | 555 -8% | 390 -36% |
| Brightness Distribution | 92 | 97 5% | 96 4% | 97 5% | 94 2% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.4 | 2.2 -57% | 1.8 -29% | 3.43 -145% | 2.1 -50% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.3 | 4.9 -48% | 4.9 -48% | 7.25 -120% | 3.7 -12% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.3 | 3.6 -57% | 3.1 -35% | 2 13% | 2.1 9% |
| Gamma | 2.22 99% | 2.09 105% | 2214 0% | 2.253 98% | 2.14 103% |
| CCT | 6930 94% | 6558 99% | 6892 94% | 6417 101% | 6258 104% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 6401 Hz | ≤ 100 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 6401 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 6401 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Series of measurements at a fixed zoom level and different brightness settings
Color representation is even more accurate in our tablet than in the predecessor. Colors do not show any deviations that can be seen with the naked eye, and the white balance is just a touch too cool with the True Tone function deactivated. With True Tone, the display is much warmer, but unfortunately not more accurate.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 37.53 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 16 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 21.53 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 95 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 35.3 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 19.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 43 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 makes a good impression outdoors and is usually easy to read. However, it may be a different story on sunny summer days because, while the brightness is good, it does not provide enough reserves. The anti-reflective coating keeps reflections visibly within limits.
The viewing angle stability of the mini-LED display in the iPad Pro 12.9 is excellent. Even at very flat viewing angles, there is hardly any loss of brightness and colors do not show any inversions. We did not observe any halos in our review sample either.
Performance - iPad Pro with Apple M2
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is powered by the Apple M2 SoC and has 8 GB of RAM. Those who opt for the 1 or 2 TB variant even get 16 GB of RAM. This means that the Apple tablet nominally has the same computing power as the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
This is confirmed in terms of pure CPU performance in the benchmarks because the iPad Pro 12.9 achieves the same results as the two laptops in Geekbench. Compared to the predecessor with the M1, this means a performance increase of eleven percent (single-core) and 16 percent (multi-core).
Compared to the Android competition, the iPad Pro is in a different league in all areas. In regard to storage speed, write rates have greatly improved.
| Geekbench ML | |
| TensorFlow Lite CPU 0.5 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Average Apple M2 () | |
| Average of class Tablet (851 - 1245, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| TensorFlow Lite GPU 0.5 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Average Apple M2 () | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Average of class Tablet (1991 - 3383, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| TensorFlow Lite NNAPI / Core ML 0.5 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Average Apple M2 () | |
| Average of class Tablet (2496 - 3150, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
The Apple M2 GPU ensures strong performance and is up 38 percent over its predecessor in 3DMark and up to 55 percent in GFXBench. This is mainly due to the two additional cores.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal: offscreen Overall Score
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro | |
| Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal / Overall Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 | |
Basemark GPUScore
Web browsing is second nature for the Apple tablet, i.e. smooth and very fast in everyday use. While the iPad Pro with the M1 was already far ahead of the competition, the 2022 model is even faster. However, we dare to doubt whether this is noticeable in everyday use.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average Apple M2 (220 - 239, n=7) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 (Safari 14.1.1) | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G (Samsung Browser V16) | |
| Average of class Tablet (19.9 - 236, n=59, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| Average of class Tablet (57.3 - 135.7, n=5, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Average Apple M2 (223 - 256, n=6) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
| Average of class Tablet (21 - 227, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average Apple M2 (342 - 387, n=7) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 (Safari 14.1.1) | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G (Samsung Browser V16) | |
| Average of class Tablet (34 - 342, n=42, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average Apple M2 (363 - 428, n=7) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 (Safari 14.1.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G (Samsung Browser V16) | |
| Average of class Tablet (14.7 - 376, n=52, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
| Average Apple M2 (72484 - 75776, n=7) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 (Safari 14.1.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G (Samsung Browser V16) | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| Average of class Tablet (2672 - 74614, n=72, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Tablet (451 - 34733, n=59, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1.4.302) | |
| Lenovo Tab P12 Pro (Chrome 98) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G (Samsung Browser V16) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 (Safari 14.1.1) | |
| Average Apple M2 (440 - 467, n=7) | |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 (Safari Mobile 16.1) | |
* ... smaller is better
Gaming - 120 FPS gaming thanks to Apple M2
Unfortunately, our partner GameBench did not support the current iPadOS at the time of review, so we cannot present any recordings here.
Nominally, the iPad Pro 12.9 with the M2 has more than enough gaming power to run x86 games adequately. Those from the App Store do not pose any problems for the tablet. Genshin Impact, a very demanding game, even offers a 120 FPS option at full detail settings. This also works on last year's model and runs smoothly: while frame rates do drop quickly, there is no lag.
The bigger problem is more likely to be the dimensions and the weight of the tablet.
Emissions - iPad Pro M2 throttles under load
Temperature
The surface temperatures of the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 M2 remain harmless at all times and only partially rise above the 37-degree mark on the back, even under prolonged load.
But the waste heat generated does not leave the Apple tablet untouched either. In the 3DMark Wild Life stress test, it exhausts its capabilities in the first run, but the frame rates continue to fall until a performance drop of around 30% is reached at the end of 20 runs. But even then, the iPad Pro is still more than twice as fast as the Galaxy Tab S8+ with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.9 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.6 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.6 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.
Speakers
The four stereo speakers of the Apple iPad 12.9 (2022) provide very good sound quality. Due to its size, bass tones are mostly inaudible, but it scores with powerful low mids. Using the Apple tablet for media playback is a lot of fun.
Alternatively, the USB port can be used for wired sound output. Bluetooth 5.3 is available wirelessly, but it only supports the SBC and AAC audio codecs.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (8.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 2% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 7% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power Management - The iPad Pro 12.9 battery has a capacity of 40.88 Wh
Power Consumption
The idle power consumption of the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (Gen. 6) is slightly higher than that of the predecessor. This is due to both the new chipset and the new operating system. However, despite the stronger GPU, the iPad Pro 2022 does not extract more juice from the socket in GFXBench. The power adapter is not a limiting factor because the results are identical with a more powerful one.
Nevertheless, the 20-watt power adapter is quite tight and takes more than three hours for a full battery charge. The Apple tablet also consumes a lot of power in a deactivated state.
| Off / Standby |   1.25 / 0.23 Watt |
| Idle |  2.54 / 11.24 / 11.48 Watt |
| Load |
12.97 / 16.6 Watt |
    
| |
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 10702 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G 10090 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 mAh | Lenovo Tab P12 Pro 10200 mAh | Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 10050 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 39% | 18% | 48% | -9% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 2.54 | 3.08 -21% | 1.8 29% | 2.2 13% | 6.2 -144% |
| Idle Average * | 11.24 | 3.69 67% | 9.6 15% | 2.6 77% | 9.07 19% |
| Idle Maximum * | 11.48 | 3.76 67% | 9.8 15% | 3.2 72% | 9.12 21% |
| Load Average * | 12.97 | 7.72 40% | 12.2 6% | 7.1 45% | 8.79 32% |
| Load Maximum * | 16.6 | 9.87 41% | 12.6 24% | 11.5 31% | 12.07 27% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
The battery of the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) once again has a capacity of 40.88 Wh and delivers almost the same battery runtimes as last year's model in our tests. Only the runtimes under load are significantly shorter.
In comparison, only the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 can shine with better runtimes, but it has an older SoC and a 60 Hz panel.
| Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022 10702 mAh | Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G 10090 mAh | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378 mAh | Lenovo Tab P12 Pro 10200 mAh | Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 2021 10050 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -9% | 16% | -2% | 47% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1839 | 846 -54% | 1034 -44% | 2080 13% | |
| H.264 | 816 | 607 -26% | 818 0% | 892 9% | 1367 68% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 671 | 437 -35% | 673 0% | 627 -7% | 740 10% |
| Load | 173 | 309 79% | 255 47% | 236 36% | 342 98% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Classic product care for the iPad Pro 12.9
No tablet in this size class delivers greater performance than the iPad Pro 12.9, and even in compact form factors, the smaller iPad Pro 11 is the best. No other rival device comes close. This is not only reflected in the benchmarks, but is particularly noticeable in image and video editing. Even many notebooks in the same price range simply cannot keep up in terms of performance.
The brute power of the Apple M2 is supplemented by a bright and accurate mini-LED display, which also supports a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Optionally, tablet use can also be extended with a very good pen and various keyboard variants.
The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is a technically powerful tablet, which is absolutely underchallenged by pure media playback.
In terms of potential, the Apple tablet can also be equipped with a lot of storage, and the Thunderbolt 3 port makes the possibilities seem endless. However, the biggest obstacle to really being able to replace a laptop is the operating system. Unlike macOS, iPadOS is designed more for touch gestures, which makes scaling uncomfortable in many areas, and file management is no real pleasure, especially since a MacBook Air with the same storage configuration is cheaper.
The iPad Pro 12.9 is therefore a playground for creative people who do not want to do without the Apple Pencil or for prospective buyers who do not want to make any compromises. Even if only for media consumption, the Apple tablet is a force to be reckoned with in terms of both audio and visuals.
Strong alternatives come primarily from Samsung with the Galaxy Tab S8+ and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The latter has an even bigger OLED screen. The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is also much cheaper in the productivity category.
Price and Availability
The iPad Pro 12.9 can be ordered directly from Apple in all color and storage variants. Other supplers such as Amazon usually list the device at cheaper prices.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2022
-
11/29/2022 v7
Daniel Schmidt
Pricecompare
