When Apple added its M1 chip to the 2021 iPad Pro lineup, it didn’t just give the tablet a speed bump — it blurred the line between iPad and MacBook. The same chip that powers Macs now runs in a sleek, portable tablet. For creators, professionals, and power users, the M1 iPad Pro offers serious potential: fast performance, desktop-level workflows, and features meant for big tasks.
What Makes the M1 So Special in the iPad Pro
M1 Performance
- The iPad Pro (2021) comes with the Apple M1 chip (8-core CPU and 8-core GPU). The Guardian+2Creative Bloq+2
- In benchmarks, it beats last year’s model and many Windows tablets and 2-in-1s. The Guardian+2Business Insider+2
- Tasks like exporting 4K video, editing photos on Lightroom, even using graphic apps are much faster than in older iPads. Business Insider+2Creative Bloq+2
Display & Hardware Upgrades
- The 12.9-inch model has Apple’s mini-LED “Liquid Retina XDR” display: high contrast, deep blacks, impressive HDR brightness (peaks of ~1600 nits), which makes watching movies and HDR content awesome. The Guardian+2Digital Camera World+2
- For both 11-inch and 12.9-inch, options are there for 5G, USB4/Thunderbolt, LiDAR scanner, high-quality cameras and solid build. The Guardian+1
Real-World Use: What You Can Actually Do
- Copy/paste from MacBook-level tasks: video editing, rendering, design work, even 3D modeling (for some cases) feels much more fluid. Business Insider+1
- Multitasking: many tabs, apps open, creative apps + note apps, works smoothly. Creative Bloq+1
- Artists and designers with Apple Pencil benefit especially; latency is low, stroke input is responsive.
Trade-Offs & Limitations
- Battery Life: While Apple claims ~10 hours, in practice, heavy use (HDR, video editing, brightness high) drains it much faster, especially with the 12.9-inch mini-LED display. Notebookcheck+2The Guardian+2
- Portability vs Laptop: It’s great, but iPadOS still has limitations compared to macOS. Some desktop apps or workflows might be harder or missing.
- Price: The higher tiers (more storage, more RAM) get expensive. Accessories (Pencil, Magic Keyboard etc.) add up.
Who Should Pick the iPad Pro M1?
- Creative professionals (video editors, photo editors, designers) who want powerful performance in a more portable form.
- Students or professionals who move a lot and want something more capable than a regular tablet, but maybe don’t need a full laptop all the time.
- Anyone who cares about quality display, high brightness (for HDR content), and hardware that can handle demanding apps.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a tablet that’s powerful enough to rival many laptops — especially macOS machines — the 2021 iPad Pro with M1 chip delivers. It’s not perfect, and there are trade-offs (battery, price, OS limitations), but for many, it brings the “MacBook Pro power” in a form factor that’s flexible, sleek, and very capable.
