IPad Pro (2018) Vs. IPad 10th Gen: Which Is Best?

Hey guys, let's dive into a comparison that many of you have been asking about: the iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) versus the brand new iPad 10th Gen. It's a classic case of a seasoned pro meeting a fresh contender, and honestly, figuring out which one is the right pick for you can be a bit tricky. We're going to break down everything from performance and display to those little nitty-gritty features that make all the difference. So, whether you're a creative pro looking for that extra horsepower, a student needing a reliable device for notes and research, or just someone who wants a killer tablet for everyday use, stick around. We'll help you make sense of the specs and ultimately decide which of these fantastic iPads deserves a spot in your digital life. Get ready, because we're about to go deep!

The Display: Size, Quality, and Everything In Between

When we talk about iPads, the display is almost always the star of the show, and this comparison is no different. The iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) came with a gorgeous 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display. Yeah, you heard that right – a massive 12.9 inches of pure visual bliss. This screen is known for its stunning color accuracy, deep blacks, and that buttery-smooth ProMotion technology, which gives you a 120Hz refresh rate. What does that mean for you, practically? It means scrolling is unbelievably smooth, drawing with the Apple Pencil feels incredibly responsive, and watching videos is an absolute joy. The resolution is also top-notch, making text super crisp and images incredibly detailed. It truly was a flagship feature back in 2018, and even by today's standards, it's a display that can hold its own. The larger screen real estate is also a massive plus for multitasking, using split-screen apps, or just getting immersed in your work or entertainment. For artists and designers, that extra screen space combined with ProMotion is a game-changer, allowing for more detailed work and a more natural drawing experience. The P3 wide color gamut ensures that the colors you see are true to life, which is crucial for photo editing and graphic design. Plus, the anti-reflective coating helps reduce glare, making it easier to use in various lighting conditions. It’s a premium experience, no doubt about it. The sheer size of the 12.9-inch display also means you can comfortably view documents, spreadsheets, and even complex timelines without excessive zooming or scrolling, boosting productivity significantly. The HDR support further enhances the viewing experience, making those bright highlights pop and the dark shadows retain their detail in compatible content.

Now, let's look at the iPad 10th Gen. This one sports a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. While it's a bit smaller than the Pro's 12.9 inches, don't underestimate it! It's still a fantastic display with excellent color reproduction and sharp resolution. It's bright, vibrant, and perfect for everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking emails, watching your favorite shows, or even doing some light creative work. The 10.9-inch size is a sweet spot for many – it's large enough to be productive but still portable and easy to handle. You lose the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate here, so the scrolling and animations won't feel quite as fluid as on the Pro. However, for most users, the standard 60Hz refresh rate is more than adequate. The design is also a bit more modern, with thinner bezels compared to the 2018 Pro. It supports the Apple Pencil (1st Gen and USB-C versions), which is great for note-taking and sketching. While it doesn't have the same professional-grade features like ProMotion, it offers a visually pleasing experience for the vast majority of users. The color accuracy is still very good, making it suitable for casual photo viewing and editing. The increased brightness compared to some older standard iPads also means it performs better in well-lit environments. The edge-to-edge design contributes to a more immersive viewing experience, especially when consuming media or playing games. The True Tone technology, which adjusts the white balance of the display to match the ambient light, is also present, helping to reduce eye strain during extended use. It's a solid, reliable display that represents great value for its class, offering a bright and clear canvas for all your digital adventures.

Performance: Powering Your Productivity and Play

Under the hood is where things get really interesting, especially when you're comparing a 'Pro' model with a newer standard model. The iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) packed a serious punch with the A12X Bionic chip. This chip was groundbreaking at the time, offering desktop-class performance that could handle demanding apps, heavy multitasking, and even professional creative workflows like video editing and 3D rendering. If you're someone who pushes your iPad to its limits, the A12X Bionic is still a very capable processor. It handles apps like Procreate, LumaFusion, and Adobe Photoshop with relative ease. Combined with 4GB or 6GB of RAM (depending on the storage configuration), multitasking is generally smooth, although you might notice some occasional slowdowns with extremely heavy loads compared to the very latest chips. The graphics performance is also strong, making it great for demanding games and graphics-intensive applications. For its age, the 2018 iPad Pro remains a powerful device, especially if you need that sustained performance for professional tasks. It was designed to be a laptop replacement for many, and the A12X Bionic chip was central to that ambition. Its neural engine also powers advanced machine learning features, making tasks like image recognition and natural language processing faster and more efficient. The chip's power efficiency also means that even with its demanding capabilities, it still offers respectable battery life for its class. The sustained performance is key here; it's designed to keep up with intensive tasks without overheating or throttling too quickly, which is a hallmark of Apple's Pro chips.

On the other side, we have the iPad 10th Gen, powered by the A14 Bionic chip. Now, the A14 might sound older than the A12X, but here's the kicker: it's a newer generation chip, and it offers a very strong performance profile for its class. While it might not match the raw peak performance of the A12X in some highly specific benchmarks, the A14 Bionic is incredibly efficient and powerful for everyday use and most creative tasks. It handles multitasking, browsing, streaming, and even demanding games like a champ. For tasks like note-taking, drawing in apps like Procreate (though perhaps not with the same ultra-complex canvases as the Pro), and editing photos, the A14 is more than capable. It also features a more advanced Neural Engine compared to the A12X, which can lead to faster AI-powered features in apps. Plus, the efficiency of the A14 Bionic chip contributes to excellent battery life. While the A12X might have had more raw power for specific pro tasks back in the day, the A14 Bionic offers a more modern, efficient, and still very potent performance experience that is perfectly suited for the vast majority of users. It's a testament to how Apple iterates on its silicon – newer generations often bring significant improvements in efficiency and AI capabilities, even if the raw benchmark numbers in certain areas don't always tell the whole story. The A14's improved image signal processor also means better camera performance, although that's less of a factor for the iPad's primary use cases. Overall, the A14 provides a smooth, responsive experience that will satisfy almost everyone, from students to casual creators.

Design and Build: Aesthetics and Ergonomics

Let's talk about how these iPads look and feel. The iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) sported a design that was quite ahead of its time. It featured thinner bezels, rounded corners, and that iconic aluminum unibody construction. It had a more traditional iPad design with a prominent home button (with Touch ID) and a lightning port. The build quality is, as expected from Apple, superb – it feels solid, premium, and built to last. The design, while slightly dated by today's standards, is still elegant and functional. The inclusion of four speakers (two on each side when held in landscape) offered an immersive audio experience, which was a significant differentiator. The placement of the cameras is standard, and the magnetic connector for the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) on the side was a convenient addition. The slim profile made it comfortable to hold, although the larger 12.9-inch size can make one-handed use challenging for extended periods. The materials used – aluminum and glass – give it a premium feel that still holds up today. The overall aesthetic is one of understated professional elegance. The weight distribution is also well-managed, making it feel balanced despite its size. The buttons are tactile and responsive, and the overall fit and finish are impeccable, as you'd expect from a device that was once the pinnacle of Apple's tablet lineup. The corners are nicely chamfered, avoiding sharp edges, and the seamless integration of the display into the chassis speaks to Apple's design prowess.

Now, the iPad 10th Gen represents a significant design evolution for the standard iPad line. It adopts the modern, all-screen design language seen in the iPad Air and iPad Pro models. This means no home button and a move to Touch ID integrated into the top button. It boasts thinner bezels all around, giving it a more contemporary look. The device is available in a range of vibrant colors, which adds a fun, personal touch. The USB-C port is a welcome addition, offering more versatility for charging and connecting accessories compared to the Lightning port. The build quality is still excellent, feeling robust and well-made, though perhaps not quite as premium as the Pro's materials. It features stereo speakers in landscape mode, which is great for media consumption. The magnetic connector on the side is for charging the Apple Pencil (USB-C version) or the Apple Pencil (1st Gen) via an adapter. The design feels fresh and modern, and the thinner bezels make it feel more compact for its screen size compared to older iPads. The flat edges are now the norm, which is both a stylistic choice and a practical one for holding accessories like the Magic Keyboard. The overall impression is one of a device that has caught up with the rest of Apple's modern tablet lineup, offering a sleek and functional aesthetic that appeals to a broad audience. The slightly thicker chassis compared to the Pro might contribute to a more secure grip for some users, and the colorful options make it a more expressive device.

Apple Pencil and Keyboard Support: The Creative and Productive Edge

For anyone considering an iPad for creative work or enhanced productivity, the Apple Pencil and keyboard support are crucial. The iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) is compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). This is a huge advantage. The Pencil 2nd Gen magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad Pro for pairing and charging, which is incredibly convenient. It offers excellent pressure and tilt sensitivity, making it feel very natural for drawing, sketching, and handwriting notes. The 120Hz ProMotion display on the Pro enhances the Pencil experience further, reducing latency and making it feel even more like writing or drawing on paper. For demanding creative tasks like detailed illustration, digital painting, or intricate photo editing, the combination of the A12X chip, the ProMotion display, and the Pencil 2nd Gen is still a powerhouse. It also supports the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and the Smart Keyboard Folio, transforming it into a capable laptop-like device for typing and productivity. The Smart Connector on the back makes attaching these accessories seamless and effortless. The responsiveness of the display paired with the Pencil is a key selling point for artists and students alike. The double-tap feature on the Pencil 2nd Gen allows for quick switching between tools within compatible apps, further streamlining the creative workflow. The charging mechanism on the side is far superior to the older method of plugging the Pencil into the iPad's port.

Now, the iPad 10th Gen has an interesting mix of compatibility. It supports the Apple Pencil (1st Gen) and the Apple Pencil (USB-C). This is a bit of a mixed bag. The 1st Gen Pencil charges and pairs by plugging into the Lightning port (which this iPad doesn't have, so you need a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter for charging and pairing). The newer Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a more affordable option and charges via USB-C. While both pencils work well for note-taking and general sketching, they don't offer the same seamless magnetic attachment and charging experience as the Pencil 2nd Gen on the Pro. The latency might also be slightly higher on the 10th Gen display compared to the ProMotion display, though it's still very good for most users. For productivity, the iPad 10th Gen supports the Magic Keyboard Folio (specifically designed for it), which attaches via the Smart Connector and provides a full keyboard and trackpad experience. While it's a great keyboard, it's not quite the same premium experience as the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro models. The A14 Bionic chip ensures that even with these accessories, the performance remains snappy for most tasks. The support for the USB-C Pencil is a positive step, making it easier to charge and pair, but the lack of Pencil 2nd Gen support is a notable drawback for those seeking the ultimate Apple Pencil experience. The adapter requirement for the 1st Gen Pencil adds an extra step and a potential point of failure or loss.

Price and Value: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

When it comes to price, this is where the lines really blur, and your needs become paramount. The iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018), being an older model, can often be found at significantly reduced prices, especially on the refurbished or used market. If you're lucky, you might snag a great deal on a device that still packs a serious punch. The value here lies in its powerful performance and premium features (like ProMotion and the better display) at a potentially much lower cost than a new iPad. However, you need to be mindful of the fact that it's an older device. Apple's software support eventually ends for older hardware, though the A12X chip is likely to receive iPadOS updates for a good while longer. Battery health on used devices can also be a concern. If you can find one in good condition with decent battery life, it might offer incredible value for power users on a budget who need those Pro-level features. It's a calculated risk, but the reward can be substantial savings on a previously high-end device. The longevity of software updates is a key factor to consider; while it will receive updates for some time, it won't be supported indefinitely. Therefore, factoring in the cost of potential future upgrades might be wise.

On the other hand, the iPad 10th Gen is a brand new device, so its price reflects that. You're getting the latest design, a modern processor with great efficiency, and guaranteed software support for many years to come. The value proposition here is strong for the average user. You get a fantastic all-around tablet that excels at everyday tasks, media consumption, and general productivity and creativity. It's a future-proof investment in terms of software updates. While it might not have the ProMotion display or the raw horsepower of the older Pro for very specific heavy tasks, it offers a more balanced and modern experience for most people. The USB-C port, newer design, and generally better efficiency make it a compelling choice for those who want a reliable, up-to-date device without breaking the bank on the latest Pro models. It’s the sensible, safe choice that delivers excellent performance and features for its price point, ensuring you won't feel like you're missing out on essential modern conveniences. The extended software support means you can rely on it for longer, making the initial investment more worthwhile over time. Plus, the availability of accessories like the Magic Keyboard Folio at a reasonable price point adds to its overall value as a productivity tool.

Final Verdict: Which iPad Should You Choose?

So, after all that, which one should you go for? It really boils down to your priorities, guys. If you are a creative professional, a power user, or someone who absolutely needs the best possible display experience with buttery-smooth scrolling and drawing, the iPad Pro 1st Gen (2018) is still a compelling option, especially if you can find it at a significant discount. The 12.9-inch ProMotion display and the A12X Bionic chip offer capabilities that the 10th Gen iPad simply doesn't match. However, be prepared for the fact that it's older hardware, and software support will eventually end sooner than for the new iPad. You'll also miss out on the Pencil 2nd Gen's seamless charging and pairing experience if you opt for the 1st Gen Pencil.

However, for most users – students, casual creators, families, or anyone looking for a fantastic all-around tablet that feels modern and will be supported for years to come – the iPad 10th Gen is likely the smarter, more practical choice. It offers a sleek design, a great display, more than enough power for everyday tasks and most creative endeavors, and the assurance of long-term software updates. The USB-C port and the availability of the Magic Keyboard Folio make it a versatile device for various needs. It's the safe, reliable, and arguably the better value pick for the majority of people looking for a new iPad experience today. You get a device that feels current and will serve you well for a long time without the potential pitfalls of buying older, high-performance hardware.

Ultimately, the best iPad is the one that fits your specific needs and budget. Both are great devices in their own right, but they cater to slightly different users. Choose wisely, and happy tablet-ing!