iPad 5 (2017, A9 series) Vs iPad Pro (2020, A12 series)

The iPad 2017, released in March 2017, and the iPad Pro 2020, launched in March 2020, represent distinct tiers within Apple's tablet lineup. While both devices operate on Apple's iPadOS, the iPad Pro 2020 introduces significant advancements in processing power, display technology, and camera capabilities, positioning it as a more capable device for demanding tasks. The iPad 2017, on the other hand, served as a more accessible entry point into the iPad ecosystem.

The longevity of a tablet is often tied to its software support and physical resilience. The iPad 2017, having been released earlier, has naturally reached a more mature stage in its software lifecycle compared to the iPad Pro 2020.

• Software Updates: The iPad 2017 originally shipped with iOS 10 and received updates up to iPadOS 16.7.15, with security updates potentially ending around late 2025 or 2026. The iPad Pro 2020, launching with iPadOS 13.4, is expected to receive major iPadOS updates for several more years, likely extending its full feature support well beyond the iPad 2017.
• Practical Lifespan: Users of the iPad 2017 may find that newer applications and features require a more recent operating system, potentially limiting its utility for certain tasks in the near future. The iPad Pro 2020 offers a longer runway for software compatibility and access to the latest app functionalities.
• Repairability: The iPad 2017's display is not fully laminated, which some sources suggest could make it slightly easier to repair compared to models with laminated displays, though official repair scores vary. The iPad Pro 2020 features a fully laminated display, which can be more complex to repair if damaged.

Performance is a key differentiator between these two tablets, reflecting the three-year gap in their release and their intended user bases. The iPad Pro 2020 offers a substantial upgrade in raw power and efficiency.

• Processing Power: The iPad Pro 2020 handles demanding applications and intensive multitasking with greater fluidity due to its more advanced internal components. Users will experience faster app loading times, smoother transitions, and more responsive performance in graphically intensive tasks like advanced photo and video editing or high-fidelity gaming. The iPad 2017, while capable for everyday browsing, email, and light productivity, may show signs of slowdown with more complex operations or numerous apps running simultaneously.
• Multitasking and Storage: The iPad Pro 2020 comes with a higher amount of unified memory across all configurations, which significantly benefits multitasking, allowing more applications to remain active in the background without needing to reload. Storage options on the iPad Pro 2020 also start at a higher base and extend to larger capacities, providing more room for files, apps, and media. The iPad 2017 offers more modest storage configurations and less memory, which can lead to more frequent app reloads during heavy multitasking.
• Battery Behavior: Both devices are designed to offer a full day of typical use. The iPad Pro 2020, despite its more powerful internals and advanced display, maintains efficient power consumption, often achieving around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. The iPad 2017 also provides comparable battery life for general use, with users reporting around 10 hours for web browsing and video. However, intensive tasks will drain the battery faster on both, with the iPad Pro 2020's performance gains potentially leading to quicker power consumption during sustained heavy workloads.

The visual experience on these two iPads presents notable differences, particularly in terms of display technology and advanced features.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both tablets feature IPS LCD Retina displays, offering sharp text and clear images. The iPad 2017 has a 9.7-inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 264 ppi. The iPad Pro 2020 offers larger screen sizes (11-inch or 12.9-inch) with higher resolutions (2388 x 1668 or 2732 x 2048 pixels respectively), maintaining a similar pixel density of 264 ppi. The iPad Pro 2020's Liquid Retina display also benefits from a fully laminated design, which reduces reflections and brings content closer to the surface, a feature absent on the iPad 2017.
• Advanced Display Features: A significant advantage of the iPad Pro 2020 is its ProMotion technology, which enables an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz. This results in noticeably smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a more responsive experience, especially when interacting with content or using the Apple Pencil. The iPad 2017 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The iPad Pro 2020 also includes True Tone, which adjusts the display's white balance to match the ambient light, and supports a wider P3 color gamut for more vibrant and accurate colors, features not found on the iPad 2017.
• Brightness and Viewing: The iPad Pro 2020 generally offers higher peak brightness, improving visibility in bright environments. The iPad 2017's display is bright enough for most indoor conditions but may struggle more in direct sunlight.

The camera systems on these two iPads cater to different expectations, with the iPad Pro 2020 offering a more versatile and advanced setup.

• Rear Camera System: The iPad 2017 features a single 8-megapixel rear camera, suitable for basic photography and document scanning. The iPad Pro 2020 significantly upgrades this with a dual-camera system, including a 12-megapixel wide lens and a 10-megapixel ultra-wide lens, providing more photographic flexibility.
• Advanced Features and Video: A key addition to the iPad Pro 2020 is the LiDAR Scanner, which enhances augmented reality (AR) experiences and improves depth sensing for photography. The iPad Pro 2020 also supports 4K video recording at higher frame rates (up to 60fps), compared to the iPad 2017's 1080p video capabilities.
• Front Camera and Audio: For video calls and selfies, the iPad Pro 2020 includes a 7-megapixel TrueDepth front camera, enabling features like Face ID and Portrait mode selfies. The iPad 2017 has a 1.2-megapixel front camera. The iPad Pro 2020 also boasts a four-speaker audio system for a more immersive sound experience, alongside five studio-quality microphones, offering superior audio capture compared to the iPad 2017's two-speaker and standard microphone setup.