The iPad Pro line has featured Apple's flagship display technology for six years, starting with a ProMotion LED display, moving on to miniLED backlighting for a while, and then arriving at tandem OLED. Here's how they compare.
Apple unveiled the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models during a short video event on May 7. These are the first iPads of OLED screensbut the technology goes far beyond the panels used in it iPhones.
This comparison will focus on the previous three generations of display technology available for the larger iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro had a Liquid Retina display in 2018, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2021 had a Liquid Retina XDR display with miniLED backlighting, and the new 13-inch iPad Pro unveiled in 2024 has an Ultra Retina XDR display.
Apple's naming of each display technology may be arbitrary, but there are several differences in how these displays work and what a user can expect. Basic technologies like 120Hz ProMotion, P3 Wide Color and True Tone have remained through the years, so the main change is the way the pixels display images on the screen.
Here's how the specs of each of the iPad Pros we're comparing compare.
| Function | 13-inch iPad Pro (M4) | 12.9-inch iPad Pro (M2) | 12.9-inch iPad Pro (A12X) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2021 | 2018 |
| Display name | Ultra Retina XDR | Liquid Retina XDR | Liquid retina |
| Technology | Tandem OLED | miniLED backlight | LED |
| Solution | 2752p by 2064p | 2732p by 2048p | 2732p by 2048p |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits SDR 1,000 nits HDR 1,600 nits peak HDR |
600 nits SDR 1,000 nits HDR 1,600 nits peak HDR |
600 nits all content |
| Promotion (120Hz) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| P3 wide color | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| True tone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nano texture | Yes (1TB or 2TB) | No | No |
| Support for Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
Apple pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
Apple pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Apple pencil float | Yes | Yes | No |
Apple has introduced some exciting new display technologies for iPad Pro aimed squarely at creatives and content consumption. Chances are, the iPad Pro will be the best display in your home, perhaps second only Apple Vision Pro.
The “Liquid” in Liquid Retina refers to IPS technology. XDR is an abbreviation for 'extended dynamic range', which refers to the high contrast of the screen thanks to the miniLED backlight.
The latest 'Ultra' designation appears to apply to the use of tandem OLED, which layers two panels on top of each other for a higher sustained brightness of 1,000 nits for SDR and HDR content.
Place these three screens side by side and you'll notice one thing immediately when you view some content: bloom. Or the lack thereof.
The switch to miniLED backlighting reduced blooming, but did not eliminate it, as parts of the backlight had to light up even when a single pixel was white against a black background.
Thanks to OLED, that is no longer a problem. Each pixel provides color and light, so when a pixel is turned off it appears perfectly black.
The move to OLED is the most significant change for the 13-inch iPad Pro, but there are a few more updates to the screen. Note that in marketing it is a 13-inch screen and not a 12.9-inch.
Apple hasn't said anything specific yet, but the specs show there are more pixels in each direction: 20 vertically and 16 horizontally. That indicates that Apple has increased the screen size slightly to earn that larger 13-inch moniker.
The latest upgrade to the 13-inch iPad Pro is optional. Customers purchasing a 1TB or 2TB iPad Pro can choose to add Nano Texture for an additional $100.
Nano Texture is a special etching technology that reduces the reflectivity of a screen. Adding Nano Texture makes the iPad Pro much more usable in bright environments and outdoors.
Nano Texture makes the iPad Pro's screen easier to see in bright conditions
Apple also introduced the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic keyboard for iPadPro. These aren't exactly display related, but they are there are exclusive to the new product line.
Customers who buy a 13-inch iPad Pro will have to buy a new one Apple pencileven if they already own the Apple Pencil 2. The Apple Pencil with USB-C is also compatible.
The first orders are coming in and in-store availability will begin on May 15. The 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299 and can cost up to $2,599 without accessories.