IPad Pro M1 Vs. 2017: Which Apple Tablet Reigns Supreme?

Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel! Today, we're diving deep into a showdown that's been on a lot of your minds: the iPad Pro M1 vs. the iPad Pro 2017. We're talking about two powerhouses from different eras of Apple's tablet history, and let me tell you, the differences are stark. If you're trying to decide whether to upgrade, or just curious about how far Apple has come, you've come to the right place. We'll break down everything from raw performance to display quality, battery life, and those little features that make a big difference. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and let's find out which of these legendary iPads truly deserves the crown.

The Performance Powerhouse: M1 Chip vs. A10X Fusion

Let's kick things off with what's arguably the biggest differentiator: the processors. The iPad Pro M1, released in 2021, sports Apple's M1 chip, the very same silicon that powers their latest MacBooks and iMacs. This isn't just a small bump; it's a leap in performance. We're talking about desktop-class power in a tablet form factor. Tasks that would make older iPads chug, like complex video editing, heavy multitasking, or running demanding creative apps, are handled with incredible ease by the M1. The CPU and GPU performance gains are substantial, translating to lightning-fast app launches, super-smooth animations, and the ability to tackle workflows previously reserved for high-end laptops. For power users, gamers, and creative professionals, the M1 chip is a game-changer. It unlocks new possibilities for what you can achieve on an iPad, making it a truly viable replacement for a traditional computer in many scenarios. You'll notice the speed difference immediately, from the moment you unlock the device to the most intensive tasks you throw at it. The M1 also brings significant improvements in efficiency, meaning you get this incredible performance without a drastic hit to battery life, which is always a huge plus for a portable device.

Now, let's talk about the 2017 iPad Pro. It packed the A10X Fusion chip, which at the time was revolutionary. It offered impressive speed and graphical capabilities for its era, and honestly, it still holds up reasonably well for everyday tasks like browsing, email, and light productivity. However, when stacked against the M1, the A10X shows its age. While it can run most apps smoothly, you'll start to notice slowdowns with more demanding applications, especially those that leverage intensive multitasking or complex 3D rendering. The A10X was designed for a world where tablets were primarily for consumption and lighter creative work. The M1, on the other hand, was built with the expectation that iPads could handle professional-grade workloads. So, while the 2017 iPad Pro was a performance leader in its day, the iPad Pro M1 blows it out of the water. If raw power and future-proofing are your top priorities, the M1 chip is the clear winner. It's not just about doing things faster; it's about being able to do more things that were previously impossible on a tablet.

Display Brilliance: Liquid Retina vs. Retina

Moving on to the visuals, because let's be honest, we spend a lot of time looking at our iPads. The iPad Pro M1 features a stunning Liquid Retina display (or Liquid Retina XDR for the 12.9-inch model), which is an absolute feast for the eyes. These displays boast incredible color accuracy, high brightness, and P3 wide color gamut support, making them perfect for photographers, videographers, and anyone who appreciates vibrant, true-to-life colors. The ProMotion technology, with its adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, makes scrolling, drawing, and gaming feel unbelievably smooth and responsive. It's that silky-smooth experience that really elevates the overall user interaction. The contrast ratios are also exceptional, delivering deep blacks and bright whites that make content pop. Whether you're editing photos, watching HDR movies, or just browsing the web, the Liquid Retina display provides an immersive and visually rich experience that is hard to beat. The M1 models also introduced features like HDR viewing, which is a significant upgrade for consuming content that supports it, offering a much wider dynamic range for highlights and shadows.

Now, the 2017 iPad Pro came equipped with a fantastic Retina display for its time. It was sharp, bright, and offered good color reproduction. It also featured ProMotion technology, which was a big deal back then, providing that 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and responsiveness. For its generation, it was one of the best tablet displays on the market. However, compared to the newer Liquid Retina displays on the M1 models, the 2017 model's display, while still great, lacks some of the advanced features and overall polish. The peak brightness might be lower, and the color gamut, while good, doesn't quite reach the same level of accuracy and vibrancy as the P3 wide color support found in the M1 iPads. You won't get the same HDR capabilities either. So, while the 2017 iPad Pro's display is certainly more than capable for most users, the iPad Pro M1 offers a superior visual experience, especially for creative professionals and media consumption. It's about refined details, deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and that overall enhanced realism that the newer display technology brings to the table. It truly makes a difference in how you perceive and interact with content.

Design and Build: A Familiar Face with Modern Twists

When you hold both the iPad Pro M1 and the 2017 iPad Pro side-by-side, you'll notice a familiar design language, especially if you've owned an iPad before. Both devices sport that sleek, premium aluminum unibody construction that Apple is famous for. They feel solid, well-built, and comfortable to hold. However, there are subtle but significant design differences that reflect their respective release dates. The 2017 iPad Pro has a more traditional design with thicker bezels around the screen and the iconic Home button with Touch ID at the bottom. This design was standard for iPads for many years and is familiar to a lot of users. It's a robust and functional design that has stood the test of time.

Fast forward to the iPad Pro M1, and Apple made some key evolutionary changes. While retaining the premium feel, the M1 models adopted a more modern, edge-to-edge display design, similar to the iPhone's aesthetic. This means thinner bezels all around, offering a more immersive screen real estate without significantly increasing the overall size of the device. The Home button is gone, replaced by Face ID, which offers a more seamless and secure way to unlock your iPad and authorize payments. The chassis itself is also slightly refined, with flatter edges that give it a more contemporary look and feel. This modern design is not just about aesthetics; it's about maximizing screen space and adopting newer biometric authentication methods. While the 2017 model is certainly a handsome device, the iPad Pro M1's design feels more current and futuristic. It offers a more expansive display experience and leverages the latest in Apple's design philosophy. Both are great to hold, but the M1 model offers a more refined and modern aesthetic that many users will appreciate. It's about that sleek, uninterrupted screen that draws you in.

Connectivity and Ports: USB-C Revolution

This is another area where the iPad Pro M1 really shines and shows its modern lineage. The M1 iPad Pros ditched the old Lightning port in favor of a USB-C port. Now, why is this a big deal, guys? Well, USB-C is the universal standard for charging and data transfer on most modern devices. This means you can connect your iPad Pro M1 to a wider range of accessories and peripherals than ever before. Think external monitors, hard drives, SD card readers, and even other USB-C devices. It opens up a world of possibilities for productivity and creativity, allowing your iPad to function more like a laptop. File transfers are faster, and connecting to external displays is much more versatile. Plus, it simplifies your charging setup – one cable for your laptop, your phone (if it's USB-C), and your iPad. The support for Thunderbolt/USB 4 on the M1 models also means even faster data transfer speeds and the ability to drive high-resolution external displays, which is a massive win for professional users. It truly bridges the gap between a tablet and a full-fledged computer, making it a much more capable tool for demanding workflows. The versatility of USB-C is a significant upgrade that streamlines workflow and enhances connectivity.

On the flip side, the 2017 iPad Pro is equipped with Apple's proprietary Lightning port. While Lightning was a revolutionary connector when it was introduced, it's become somewhat of a limitation in the age of USB-C. You can still charge your iPad and connect to a variety of accessories, but the ecosystem is more limited compared to USB-C. External storage options might require specific adapters, and connecting to external displays is less straightforward and often requires specific dongles or adapters that might not offer the same level of performance or resolution as a direct USB-C connection. While adapters are available to bridge the gap, they add complexity and cost. For many, the reliance on Lightning means a less seamless experience when trying to integrate the iPad into a modern, multi-device workflow. So, while the 2017 iPad Pro is perfectly functional with its Lightning port, the iPad Pro M1's USB-C port is a significant advantage in terms of connectivity, versatility, and future-proofing. It aligns the iPad Pro with the broader tech ecosystem, making it a more powerful and flexible tool for a wider range of tasks and users. It's all about that universal connection that simplifies life.

Camera Systems: More Than Just Scanners

Now, let's talk cameras. For a long time, the cameras on iPads were an afterthought, primarily used for scanning documents or quick video calls. However, both the iPad Pro M1 and the 2017 iPad Pro feature surprisingly capable camera systems that have seen significant improvements over the years. The 2017 iPad Pro came with a solid 12MP rear camera and a 7MP front-facing FaceTime HD camera. For its time, the rear camera was quite good, capable of taking decent photos and shooting 4K video. It was more than enough for casual photography and document scanning. The front camera was adequate for video calls. These cameras served their purpose well for the typical iPad user.

However, Apple has really stepped up the game with the iPad Pro M1. The rear camera system gets a significant upgrade, typically featuring a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera. This dual-camera setup offers much more versatility, allowing you to capture wider shots or get closer without losing detail. The image processing on the M1 models is also vastly improved, thanks to the M1 chip and its advanced image signal processor. This means better low-light performance, sharper details, and more natural colors. The M1 iPads also introduce Center Stage on the front camera, a truly magical feature that uses the Ultra Wide camera and machine learning to keep you perfectly framed in the center of the shot during video calls, even if you move around. This is a huge win for remote workers and anyone who does a lot of video conferencing. The LiDAR Scanner on the M1 models also enhances augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus in low-light conditions. While the 2017 iPad Pro's cameras were competent, the iPad Pro M1 offers a far more advanced and versatile camera system, especially with the addition of the Ultra Wide lens and intelligent features like Center Stage. It turns the iPad from a document scanner into a more capable creative tool and enhances communication experiences significantly. It’s that extra layer of capability that makes a real difference.

Battery Life and Charging: Enduring Power

When it comes to battery life, both the iPad Pro M1 and the 2017 iPad Pro are designed to get you through a full day of typical use. Apple has consistently optimized their iPads for excellent battery performance, and these two models are no exception. You can generally expect around 10 hours of web surfing or video playback on both devices, which is impressive for tablets of their respective generations. The M1 chip, despite its immense power, is remarkably efficient, contributing to the iPad Pro M1's strong battery endurance. You can push the M1 hard with demanding tasks, and it still manages to deliver solid battery life, often matching or even exceeding the 2017 model under similar loads, especially when those loads are very demanding. The larger battery capacity in some of the M1 models also plays a role. So, while the headline figures for web browsing might be similar, the M1's efficiency means it handles heavier workloads without draining the battery as quickly as the older A10X chip might.

In terms of charging, both devices support fast charging, though the specifics might vary slightly depending on the charger you use. Both will come with a power adapter in the box, and you can typically get them back up to a significant charge relatively quickly. The key difference here, as we've discussed, lies in the port. The iPad Pro M1 uses USB-C, which, as mentioned, offers broader compatibility with chargers and power banks. If you already have USB-C chargers for your laptop or phone, you can likely use them with your M1 iPad Pro, simplifying your charging arsenal. The 2017 iPad Pro uses Lightning, so you'll need a Lightning cable and a compatible adapter. While both offer good battery life for their class, the iPad Pro M1's charging ecosystem is more modern and convenient due to its USB-C port. You're less likely to be caught out needing a specific proprietary cable. So, while the actual hours of use might be comparable for light tasks, the M1's efficiency and the convenience of USB-C charging give it a slight edge in the long run, especially for power users. It's about that reliable all-day power and the ease of topping up.

Which iPad Pro is Right for You?

So, the big question: iPad Pro M1 vs. iPad Pro 2017, which one should you go for? The answer, as always, depends on your needs and budget, guys. If you're looking for the absolute best performance, the most advanced display, cutting-edge features like Center Stage and LiDAR, and the versatility of USB-C, then the iPad Pro M1 is the clear winner. It's a device that can genuinely replace a laptop for many creative professionals, students, and power users. It’s built for the future and can handle virtually anything you throw at it. It offers a premium experience that is hard to match.

However, the 2017 iPad Pro is still a very capable tablet, especially if you can find one at a good price. If your needs are more basic – web browsing, email, social media, streaming, and light productivity apps – then the 2017 model might still be perfectly sufficient. It offers a great display and solid performance for everyday tasks. It’s a testament to Apple’s build quality that a five-year-old device can still be relevant. But you need to be realistic about its limitations. You won't get the raw speed of the M1, the advanced camera features, or the modern connectivity of USB-C. The iPad Pro M1 represents a significant technological leap, and if you can afford it, it's undoubtedly the superior device in almost every category. Think of the 2017 model as a fantastic tablet for its time, and the M1 as a revolution in portable computing. Ultimately, weigh your priorities: budget, performance needs, and desired features. Either way, you're getting an iPad, and that means a quality experience. Let me know in the comments which one you're leaning towards!