The iPad Pro is Apple’s premium iPad model, and Apple has finally given it a big refresh after a year and a half drought. The iPad Pro (2024) comes in two sizes – 11-inch and 13-inch – and packs the latest silicon with the powerful M4 chip. The 1TB or 2TB models even have a new nano-textured finish on the screen, which is more anti-glare than regular models.
But as great as the latest iPad Pro is, you can’t deny it: the iPad Pro is very Dear. It also still runs iPadOS, which still has its own limitations. Here are some great alternatives you might consider instead of the iPad Pro (2024).
iPad Air (2024)
The iPad Pro (2024) wasn’t the only new iPad launched by Apple this year: there’s also the iPad Air (2024).
Apple actually brought the new iPad Air closer to the iPad Pro this year. In fact, it now comes in two varieties: 11 inches and 13 inches, just like the iPad Pro. So now, if you want the largest iPad model, you don’t need to shell out more than four figures for one, because the 13-inch iPad Air costs well under $1,000.
Although the iPad Air (2024) doesn’t have the new OLED display of the iPad Pro (2024), the Liquid Retina LED display still looks good and is a good fit for most people. Colors are vibrant, brightness is high enough for comfortable use no matter where you are, and glare is minimal.
The only negative aspect of the iPad Air (2024) screen is that it still uses a 60Hz refresh rate. It would have been great if Apple had given the iPad Air the 120Hz ProMotion display, even if it made the Air and the Pro a little Also similar. Still, for most people this isn’t a problem, as the iPad Air’s screen is still very capable.
The iPad Air (2024) also got a spec boost with the M2 chip inside, rather than its predecessor’s M1. With the M2, you get a lot of power and performance, and for the average person, that will be more than enough. The M2 can handle your basic tasks with ease while also providing extra power for intense gaming and entertainment.
While no one should really buy an iPad for its camera, the iPad Air (2024) has the same 12 MP main camera as the iPad Pro (2024). It takes pretty decent photos in a pinch, but it’s also good for scanning documents. You also get a 12 MP front camera that will work great for video calls and selfies.
The iPad Air (2024) may not be as thin as the new iPad Pro (2024) or feature the M4 chip, but it’s now available in a larger size and is still very capable . And it’s also much cheaper!
iPad Pro (2022)
If you still have your heart set on an iPad Pro, you might also want to consider the 2022 models. Even though they’re the previous generation, these are still very powerful tablets, and it’s not difficult to find them at a reasonable price. discounted now that the new models are out.
The iPad Pro (2022) is still available in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. The 11-inch has the standard Liquid Retina display, not the brighter Liquid Retina XDR display. The screens still look great, with vibrant colors and deep blacks, crisp, crisp text, and the 120Hz ProMotion display.
And even though the iPad Pro (2022) uses the older M2 chip, it’s still very fast and delivers powerful performance. For most people, the M2 chip will be (more than) sufficient for everyday tasks, watching videos, playing games, editing photos and videos, drawing, etc. And with up to 2TB of storage, you’ll have plenty of room for all your files.
If you don’t need the latest stuff, the iPad Pro (2022) is still a fantastic tablet. Plus, you can definitely save money by purchasing this model over the last one as retailers may be trying to get rid of their inventory.
iPad (2022)
When we look at the tablet market, it is very clear that Apple dominates it with the iPad. And while the iPad Pro is the “best” iPad on offer, not everyone needs all that power. If you wanted an iPad Pro just because you want an iPad, you might even consider the standard base model iPad (2022).
With the iPad (2022), you only have one size: 10.9 inches. It also only has a Liquid Retina LED display, but like the other iPad models we’ve already mentioned, Apple still impresses with regular LED displays because the colors are bright and vivid and text appears sharp and net. Although you only have a 60Hz refresh rate, for most people this won’t be very noticeable.
The iPad (2022) uses Apple’s older A14 Bionic chip, which may not be as beastly as the M-series chips, but still offers good power and efficiency for the average user. It’s fast enough to run iPadOS 17 and handle your daily tasks, and if you just want to use an iPad to consume media (as most people probably do), then it’s perfectly fine for work.
Plus, if you just need an iPad, this is the one for you and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. At the recently reduced price of just $350, there’s never been a better time to buy the iPad.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
If you’re considering the larger 13-inch iPad Pro (2024), you might also want to take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. As long as you don’t mind switching to Android, of course.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the Android equivalent of the larger iPad Pro. In fact, it’s actually even bigger than the 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) if that’s what you’re looking for. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a huge 14.6-inch AMOLED display, which is one of the best displays you can get. It sports a resolution of 2960 x 1848 pixels with HDR10+ support and a 120Hz refresh rate. No matter what you’re watching, it will look stunning with vibrant colors and sharp, crisp text. And scrolling will be smooth.
This massive tablet also uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip for Galaxy, which means incredible power and performance, especially when paired with 16GB of RAM. This is easily a laptop replacement if you want it to be. You also get 256GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot allowing you to expand your storage if necessary.
Although Android is generally not optimized for tablets, Samsung has solved this problem with Samsung DeX, which transforms the normal Android interface into something reminiscent of Windows. This is already a big advantage compared to iPadOS, which does not have such a mode to make it easier for experienced users.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra starts at around the same price as the 13-inch iPad Pro (2024). So, if you don’t mind switching platforms, you can find a little more versatility with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
OnePlus tablet
Another great tablet option, provided you don’t mind switching to Android, is the OnePlus Pad. It definitely stands out among the crowded tablet space with a unique design and beautiful color that will definitely turn heads.
The OnePlus Pad sports an 11.61-inch LCD screen, which is equivalent to the smaller 11-inch iPad Pro (2024). It has a resolution of 2800 x 2000 pixels and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate on the screen. Now the 144Hz refresh rate will only work in certain apps and games, but for everything else it will be 120Hz. And even though it’s an LCD, it still looks great with colors vivid and deep blacks: the OnePlus Pad is ideal for multimedia consumption.
OnePlus has equipped the OnePlus Pad with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The company claims that the OnePlus Pad has enough power to run up to 24 apps at once via multitasking. This is a bit overkill for most people, but hey, the capacity is there! It definitely outperforms the slightly more limited capabilities of iPadOS.
Another big strength of the OnePlus Pad is its battery life. Its 9,510 mAh battery can easily last a full day or more. It can also last about a month on standby, or up to 50 days if you don’t have any wearables or background apps running. With wired charging speeds of 67W, it’s one of the fastest charging tablets on the market.
The OnePlus Pad is a great alternative to the 11-inch iPad Pro, especially since it costs half the price.
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