5 Best Upgrades to Consider After the iPad Pro 3rd Generation

iPad Pro 3rd generation

If you’re currently using an iPad Pro 3rd generation and seeking an upgrade, you’re in for a treat. The tech world has evolved significantly since its release, offering a plethora of advanced options. Whether your primary focus is enhanced performance, unparalleled display quality, or versatility, there are several compelling choices that will elevate your computing experience. Transitioning from the 3rd generation iPad Pro to a newer model will provide a noticeable leap in capabilities, transforming your workflow and entertainment. Let’s dive into the best upgrade options available, each offering unique advantages tailored to specific needs and preferences.

If raw power is your top priority, the iPad Pro 5th generation or the latest M2-powered iPad Pro should be your go-to choices. These devices boast Apple’s cutting-edge M1 or M2 chips, respectively, delivering exceptional performance that will handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. From video editing to complex 3D modeling, these upgrades will empower you to tackle resource-intensive applications smoothly, ensuring seamless multitasking and lightning-fast responsiveness. Additionally, the increased RAM capacity of these models allows for more efficient handling of large files and multiple apps running concurrently.

For those who value display quality above all else, the iPad Pro 4th generation with its stunning Liquid Retina XDR display stands out. This advanced display technology offers an exceptional visual experience with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and an impressive contrast ratio. HDR content comes to life on this screen, providing unparalleled immersion for movies, videos, and games. Furthermore, the ProMotion technology ensures smooth scrolling and responsive interactions, making navigation and drawing feel incredibly natural and fluid. Whether you’re a creative professional or simply appreciate exceptional visuals, this upgrade will elevate your viewing experience to new heights.

The Next-Generation iPad Pro: A Comprehensive Upgrade from the 3rd Generation

Unveiling the Significant Advancements in Display Technology

The paramount upgrade that sets the new iPad Pro apart from its predecessor lies in its unparalleled display technology. This revolutionary device boasts a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, featuring a mini-LED panel with a staggering 2596 full-array local dimming zones. This cutting-edge display delivers exceptional visuals, offering users an immersive and captivating viewing experience.

With a peak brightness of 1600 nits, the iPad Pro’s display effortlessly handles even the most demanding content. The wide color gamut, encompassing P3 and True Tone display, ensures accurate and vibrant colors that are true to life. Furthermore, the ProMotion technology dynamically adjusts the display’s refresh rate up to 120Hz, resulting in smooth scrolling and fluid animations.

In comparison to the 3rd generation iPad Pro, which featured a traditional LCD display with 60Hz refresh rate and limited dimming capabilities, the Liquid Retina XDR display on the new iPad Pro marks a transformative leap in display technology. This upgrade elevates the device to a level that is unmatched by any other tablet on the market, offering users an unparalleled visual experience.

Key Display Specifications Comparison

Feature	3rd Generation iPad Pro	Next-Generation iPad Pro
Display Technology	LCD	Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED
Peak Brightness	600 nits	1600 nits
Refresh Rate	60Hz	120Hz (ProMotion)
Dimming Zones	N/A	2596 full-array local dimming zones

Enhanced Display: Retina XDR vs. ProMotion

Retina XDR

The iPad Pro 3rd generation features a Retina display, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 4th generation introduces the new Retina XDR display. Retina XDR is an even more advanced display technology that delivers even greater color accuracy, wider color gamut, and higher contrast ratio. It’s perfect for professionals who need a display that can accurately represent their work.

Feature	Retina	Retina XDR
Resolution	2732 x 2048	2732 x 2048
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Color gamut	P3	P3 wide
Contrast ratio	1,200:1	1,000,000:1
HDR	No	Yes

ProMotion

Both the iPad Pro 3rd generation and the iPad Pro 4th generation support ProMotion technology. ProMotion enables a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which results in smoother scrolling, gaming, and video playback. It’s a noticeable improvement over the 60Hz refresh rate of the iPad Pro 3rd generation.

Benefits of ProMotion

* Smoother scrolling and gaming
* Reduced motion blur
* Improved responsiveness
* Lower power consumption

Cutting-Edge Chipset: M1 vs. A12X Bionic

The M1 and A12X Bionic chipsets represent the pinnacle of iPad processing power, but which one is the better choice? Let’s compare their key specifications to determine which is the clear winner.

Performance Benchmarks: A Deeper Dive

In synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench and AnTuTu, the M1 chip reigns supreme. It delivers up to 50% faster single-core performance and up to 40% faster multi-core performance compared to the A12X Bionic. This significant difference translates into smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved overall responsiveness.

Beyond synthetic benchmarks, the M1 chip also showcases its superiority in real-world applications. Video editing tasks on LumaFusion are completed up to 3x faster, and photo editing operations in Adobe Photoshop are up to 2x faster. This performance boost makes the M1 iPad Pro ideal for demanding creative workflows.

Additionally, the M1 chip features a unified memory architecture that seamlessly combines system memory and graphics memory into a single pool. This design reduces latency and improves memory bandwidth, resulting in a more efficient and responsive user experience.

Here is a table summarizing the key performance differences between the M1 and A12X Bionic chipsets:

	M1	A12X Bionic
CPU Cores	8	8
GPU Cores	8	7
Neural Engine Cores	16	8
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)	1700	1100
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)	7200	4900

Revolutionary Thunderbolt Port: Connectivity Enhanced

Expand Your Connectivity Possibilities

The Thunderbolt port on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) has revolutionized connectivity. With a maximum data transfer speed of 40Gbps, this cutting-edge port allows for seamless and lightning-fast connections with a wide range of peripherals and external devices. This unprecedented level of connectivity opens up a myriad of possibilities, empowering you to connect to external monitors, graphics processors, hard drives, and more with ease.

Versatile External Display Support

The Thunderbolt port empowers you to connect your iPad Pro to external displays with stunning clarity and resolution. Whether you’re a graphic artist, video editor, or simply seeking an immersive viewing experience, the Thunderbolt port enables you to extend your workspace or share content on large-screen monitors with resolutions up to 6K.

High-Speed Data Transfer

The Thunderbolt port is not only a gateway to external displays but also a high-speed data transfer hub. It offers blazing-fast data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, enabling you to move large files, such as high-resolution videos and comprehensive software installers, in a matter of seconds.

Device Compatibility and Practical Applications

The Thunderbolt port on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) is compatible with various peripherals and devices, including external monitors, graphics cards (eGPUs), high-performance storage devices, and more. This wide range of compatibility allows you to extend the functionality of your iPad Pro to meet your specific needs. For example, you can connect an external monitor to create a multi-screen workspace, harness the power of an eGPU for demanding graphics-intensive tasks, or quickly back up your data to an external hard drive.

Device	Function
External Monitor	Display extension or mirroring
eGPU (Graphics Card)	Enhanced graphics performance
External Hard Drive	High-speed data backup and storage
Audio Interface	Professional audio recording and mixing
Docking Station	Comprehensive port expansion and device charging

Improved Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 5

One of the most significant upgrades from the iPad Pro 3rd generation is the improved connectivity options. The new model supports Wi-Fi 6, which is the latest and fastest Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 offers several advantages over the previous Wi-Fi 5 standard, including:

Faster speeds: Wi-Fi 6 can support speeds up to 9.6 Gbps, which is significantly faster than the 3.5 Gbps maximum speed of Wi-Fi 5.
Reduced latency: Wi-Fi 6 uses a new technology called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to reduce latency, which is the amount of time it takes for data to travel between devices.
Increased capacity: Wi-Fi 6 can handle more devices simultaneously than Wi-Fi 5, making it ideal for crowded networks.
Improved security: Wi-Fi 6 uses the latest WPA3 security protocol, which provides stronger encryption and more robust protection against cyberattacks.
More efficient power consumption: Wi-Fi 6 devices use less power than Wi-Fi 5 devices, which can extend battery life.

Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 6
Speed: up to 3.5 Gbps	Speed: up to 9.6 Gbps
Latency: high	Latency: low
Capacity: low	Capacity: high
Security: WPA2	Security: WPA3
Power consumption: high	Power consumption: low

Refined Camera System: Capture Stunning Moments

The iPad Pro 5th generation boasts a significantly upgraded camera system that elevates photography and videography experiences to new heights. With a triple-lens rear camera setup and a TrueDepth front-facing camera, the device empowers users to capture breathtaking images and videos with remarkable detail and vibrancy.

1. Rear Cameras: A Trio of Photographic Precision

The rear camera system comprises a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 10MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with optical image stabilization. This versatile lens combination allows for stunning wide-angle shots, ultra-wide panoramas, and telephoto portraits with beautiful bokeh effects.

2. Wide-Angle Lens: Capture the Expansive World

The 12MP wide-angle lens features a wide field of view, perfect for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, and group photos. Its large aperture ensures excellent low-light performance, allowing for sharp and detailed images in even challenging lighting conditions.

3. Ultrawide Lens: Expand Your Perspective

The 10MP ultrawide lens offers a 120-degree field of view, enabling users to capture expansive scenes with incredible depth and detail. It’s ideal for capturing group photos, architectural shots, and immersive nature panoramas.

4. Telephoto Lens: Zoom In on the Details

The 12MP telephoto lens provides a 2x optical zoom, allowing users to bring distant subjects closer without sacrificing image quality. Its optical image stabilization reduces camera shake, ensuring sharp and steady shots even at longer focal lengths.

5. TrueDepth Front-Facing Camera: Capture Your Best Self

The 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera delivers exceptional selfies and portrait-mode photos. Its advanced depth-mapping technology creates stunning portrait effects with natural-looking bokeh, while the wide field of view makes it perfect for capturing group selfies and video calls.

6. Night Mode: Illuminate the Darkness

The iPad Pro 5th generation introduces Night mode, which allows for exceptional low-light photography. By employing computational photography techniques, Night mode brightens shadows, reduces noise, and enhances details, resulting in stunning images even in dim environments.

7. Video Recording: Capture Life in Motion

The iPad Pro’s camera system excels at videography as well. It can record 4K videos at up to 60 fps and 1080p videos at up to 240 fps, enabling slow-motion capture. The advanced stabilization system ensures smooth and steady footage, even when filming on the move.

Longer Battery Life: Power Through Your Tasks

The battery life of the iPad Pro 3rd generation is already impressive, but the newer models offer even more endurance. The iPad Pro 5th generation boasts up to 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web and up to 9 hours of video playback, while the iPad Pro 6th generation offers up to 11 hours of web browsing and up to 10 hours of video playback. This extended battery life means you can power through your tasks all day long without having to worry about running out of juice.

Here’s a table comparing the battery life of the iPad Pro 3rd, 5th, and 6th generations:

Model	Battery Life (web browsing)	Battery Life (video playback)
iPad Pro 3rd generation	Up to 10 hours	Up to 9 hours
iPad Pro 5th generation	Up to 10 hours	Up to 9 hours
iPad Pro 6th generation	Up to 11 hours	Up to 10 hours

Accessories Compatibility: Seamless Integration with Existing Peripherals

The latest iPad Pro maintains compatibility with a range of Apple and third-party accessories designed for previous generations. This ensures that you won’t have to replace your existing peripherals, such as the Apple Pencil 2nd generation, various keyboards, and cases. This compatibility not only saves you money but also provides a seamless transition when upgrading.

Peripherals Compatibility:

Accessory	Compatible?
Apple Pencil 2nd Generation	Yes
Magic Keyboard	Yes
Smart Keyboard Folio	Yes
Folio Cases (12.9-inch 3rd Gen)	Yes
USB-C Hubs	Yes

This extensive peripheral compatibility means that your existing accessories will continue to function seamlessly with the new iPad Pro. You can connect your external monitors, storage devices, and other accessories to maintain your existing workflow without interruption.

What’s the Best Upgrade from an iPad Pro 3rd Generation?

The third-generation iPad Pro was released in March 2016, and while it’s still a great tablet, it’s starting to show its age. If you’re looking for an upgrade, there are a few options to consider.

The obvious choice is the new iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch, which was released in March 2018. These models offer a number of improvements over the third-generation iPad Pro, including:

A more powerful A12X Bionic chip
A brighter and more color accurate Liquid Retina display
Improved cameras
USB-C connectivity

If you’re looking for the best possible iPad experience, the new iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch is the way to go. However, if you’re on a budget, or if you don’t need the latest and greatest, there are a few other options to consider.

The iPad Pro 10.5-inch is still a great tablet, and it can be found for a good price. It offers many of the same features as the third-generation iPad Pro, but with a smaller and more portable screen size.

If you’re looking for an even more affordable option, the iPad (2018) is a great choice. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the iPad Pro, but it’s still a powerful and capable tablet.