Let's be real for a second. Most tech from 2018 is basically a paperweight by now. You probably have an old phone in a drawer somewhere that takes five minutes just to open Spotify. But the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation is a weird outlier. It’s the "OG" of the modern iPad era, the first one to ditch the home button and give us that thin-bezel, flat-edge look we’re still using today.
People keep asking if it’s finally time to bury this thing. Honestly? Not yet.
If you're holding a 2018 Pro, you've got a device that somehow still supports the latest iPadOS 26. That’s an insane run for a tablet. While the shiny new M4 models are out there tempting everyone with OLED screens and "AI" everything, the 3rd gen is quietly sitting in the corner, still doing 90% of the same stuff for a fraction of the price.
The iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation and the A12X Power Paradox
When Apple dropped the A12X Bionic chip, they were bragging that it was faster than most portable PCs. Everyone rolled their eyes. It felt like marketing fluff. But eight years later, that chip is the reason this tablet hasn't died.
It was over-engineered.
The A12X was the first time Apple really flexed their silicon muscles in a way that future-proofed a device for nearly a decade. Even in 2026, you can open Lightroom or Procreate on an iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation and it doesn't feel like a chore. Sure, it might take an extra two seconds to export a 4K video compared to an M2 or M4, but for sketching, note-taking, or scrolling through a massive PDF? It’s still buttery.
There is one "gotcha" though. RAM.
Most of these units only have 4GB of RAM. If you were lucky enough to buy the 1TB storage version back in the day, you actually got 6GB. In today's world, 4GB is... tight. If you have twenty tabs open in Safari and try to jump into a heavy drawing app, you’re going to see some refreshing. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s the first place you’ll feel the age of the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation.
That Screen is Still Gorgeous (Mostly)
Let's talk about the Liquid Retina display. No, it isn't OLED. It doesn't have the "XDR" mini-LED backlighting that makes blacks look perfectly dark. If you watch a movie in a pitch-black room, you’ll see the slight grey glow of the LCD backlight.
But you know what it does have? ProMotion.
That 120Hz refresh rate is the "secret sauce" that makes an old iPad feel new. Once you’ve used a 120Hz screen, going back to a standard 60Hz iPad (like the base model iPad 10) feels like you’re looking at a flip phone. It’s laggy. It’s stuttery. The iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation keeps things smooth, which is why artists still hunt these down on the used market.
- Resolution: 2732 x 2048 (Crisp as ever)
- Brightness: 600 nits (Fine for indoors, a struggle in direct sunlight)
- Tech: Fully laminated, P3 wide color, True Tone
Real World Usage: What Can You Actually Do?
I see a lot of students and digital nomads eyeing these on eBay or Swappa for around $300-$350. It’s a tempting price. But you have to be realistic about what you're buying.
For a student, this is a dream. You get the 12.9-inch canvas, which is basically the size of a standard sheet of paper. Using it with the Apple Pencil 2—which, thank goodness, it supports—is still the best note-taking experience you can get. The pencil sticks to the side, it charges wirelessly, and it just works.
If you're a heavy gamer, stay away.
Modern AAA games ported to iPad are starting to require the M-series chips. The iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation will struggle with the most demanding 2026 titles. It’ll run Genshin Impact on medium settings, but it’s going to get hot, and your battery is going to scream for mercy.
Speaking of the battery... that’s the real elephant in the room.
If you buy a used 3rd gen Pro today, that battery has been through some stuff. Lithium-ion batteries degrade. It's science. A unit from 2018 might only give you 4 or 5 hours of actual work time before hitting the red zone. If you're serious about using it, you might need to factor in the cost of a battery replacement from Apple or a reputable shop.
The USB-C Revolution and Accessories
The iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation was the one that killed the Lightning port. Best decision Apple ever made.
Because it has USB-C, you can plug in a hub, a camera, or an SSD. It makes the "Pro" moniker actually mean something. You can also slap it onto a Magic Keyboard. That’s the heavy, expensive one with the trackpad that makes the iPad float. It transforms the tablet into a pseudo-laptop.
However, don't expect it to behave exactly like a MacBook. iPadOS is still iPadOS.
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One annoying limitation: Stage Manager (the windowing system) works on this model, but you don't get full external display support. If you plug it into a monitor, it just mirrors your screen with big black bars on the sides. You need an M1 chip or newer to get the "real" desktop experience. It’s a bummer, but it's Apple's way of telling you to upgrade.
Is the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation Still Worth It?
Honestly? It depends on your budget.
If you have $800, go buy an M2 or M4. Don't look back. But if you have $350 and you need a big screen for drawing, sheet music, or Netflix? The iPad Pro 12.9 3rd generation is better than any brand-new $350 tablet you can buy today. The speakers are louder, the screen is better, and the build quality feels like a premium tool, not a plastic toy.
Just watch out for the "bend" issue. These early pro models were notoriously thin and didn't have much structural reinforcement. If you buy one used, check the frame. If it looks like a banana, skip it. A slight curve is common, but a real bend can mess with the screen layers over time.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re hunting for one of these in 2026, do this:
- Check the Battery Health: Use a tool like iMazing on a Mac or PC to check the actual charge cycle count before you hand over the cash. Anything over 800 cycles is getting risky.
- Verify the Screen: Look for "white spots" or pressure marks on the LCD. These are common on older 12.9-inch panels.
- Choose Storage Wisely: Avoid the 64GB model if you can. iPadOS 26 takes up a huge chunk of that, leaving you almost no room for apps or photos. Aim for the 256GB version.
- Test Face ID: It’s a complex sensor array. If the previous owner dropped it, Face ID is often the first thing to break, and it's a nightmare to fix.
This tablet is a legend. It redefined what an iPad looks like and, against all odds, it’s still standing. It’s the perfect entry point into the "Pro" ecosystem without the "Pro" price tag, as long as you know its limits.