You probably think the 4th gen iPad Pro was just a placeholder. Released in early 2020, right as the world was shutting down, it landed with a bit of a thud for some tech reviewers. People saw the A12Z Bionic chip and rolled their eyes because it felt like a tiny spec bump over the previous model. But they missed the point. Honestly, this specific tablet changed how we think about "pro" mobile computing more than almost any other release in Apple's history. It wasn't about the raw CPU speed this time. It was about the foundation for everything that came after.
If you're looking at one of these today, you've likely noticed they hold their value surprisingly well. There's a reason for that.
The A12Z Mystery and Why It Actually Matters
Let’s talk about that chip. The A12Z Bionic.
When it launched, tech sleuths at places like TechInsights tore the thing down and found something hilarious. It was basically the A12X from 2018 but with one extra GPU core enabled. Apple had literally just "unlocked" a part of the old chip. You might think that's lazy. In some ways, sure, it is. But that 8-core GPU made a massive difference for thermal headroom and sustained performance in apps like LumaFusion or Procreate.
It didn't just run fast; it ran cool.
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The 4th gen iPad Pro was the first to ship with 6GB of RAM across every single storage tier. Before this, you had to sell a kidney for the 1TB model just to get extra memory. By standardizing the RAM, Apple gave developers a consistent baseline. That’s why these devices still feel snappy on iPadOS 17 and 18. They aren't gasping for air when you switch between Safari and a heavy PDF editor.
The LiDAR Sensor: Gimmick or Game Changer?
Then there’s that weird square camera bump.
The 4th gen iPad Pro introduced the LiDAR Scanner to the Apple ecosystem. At the time, everyone asked: "Who is taking photos with a 12.9-inch slab of glass?" Nobody. That wasn't the goal. Apple was using us as a test bed for the iPhone 12 Pro. But for architects and interior designers using apps like Canvas or Polycam, this was a revolution. You could walk into a room, wave your tablet around, and have a 3D mesh model in minutes.
It’s weirdly specific.
If you're just watching Netflix, LiDAR is useless to you. Totally. It does nothing for your Stranger Things binge. But for the "Pro" in the name? It was a signal that the iPad was becoming a tool for spatial computing years before the Vision Pro was even a rumor.
Magic Keyboard and the Cursor Revolution
We can't talk about the 4th gen iPad Pro without talking about the Magic Keyboard. They launched together. This was the moment Apple finally admitted that a tablet sometimes needs to be a laptop.
The "floating" design is still iconic.
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Adding native trackpad support changed the DNA of iPadOS. It wasn't just a circle mimicking a finger anymore; it was a contextual tool that snapped to buttons. If you've ever tried to edit a spreadsheet using only your thumb, you know the pain. The 4th gen made that pain go away. It turned the iPad into a legitimate machine for writers and students who didn't want to carry a MacBook Pro.
Why the 12.9-inch display still holds up
- ProMotion Technology: The 120Hz refresh rate is addictive. Once you see it, 60Hz looks broken.
- Brightness: 600 nits is plenty for indoor work, though it struggles a bit in direct sunlight compared to the newer Tandem OLED models.
- P3 Wide Color: If you're a photographer, the color accuracy here is still industry-standard.
- The Bezels: They’re small enough to look modern but big enough to hold onto without triggering the touch screen.
The Reality of Battery Life in 2026
Let’s be real for a second. If you buy a used 4th gen iPad Pro now, the battery is probably tired. Apple claims 10 hours of "web surfing," but in the real world? It's more like 6 or 7 if you're doing actual work. Pushing that many pixels at 120Hz takes a toll.
And that's the trade-off.
You're getting a gorgeous Liquid Retina display, but you're tethered to a charger more often than you'd like. This model lacks the Mini-LED tech found in the 5th and 6th gen, which means you don't get those "inky blacks" in HDR content. You get "dark grey" instead. For most people, that's fine. For cinephiles? It might be a dealbreaker.
Studio Quality Mics and the "Zoom" Era
This tablet was the king of the pandemic.
Apple put "studio-quality" microphones in this thing—five of them, actually. They are shockingly good. If you're in a quiet room, you can record a podcast on this device and it won't sound like you're inside a tin can. The quad-speaker setup is also still the best in the business. It’s loud. It’s deep. It makes watching movies in bed a genuinely great experience.
Wait, there's a catch.
The front-facing camera is still on the "short" side. If you use it in landscape mode (which you will, because of the Magic Keyboard), you’ll always look like you’re staring off into space during meetings. Apple didn't fix this until much later. It's annoying. You get used to it, but it's never not awkward.
Comparing the 4th Gen to the M-Series
People often ask if they should skip the 4th gen and go straight for an M1 or M2 iPad Pro.
It depends on your workflow.
If you are editing 4K ProRes video or doing heavy 3D rendering in Octane, yes, get the M-series. The M1 is significantly faster. But for 90% of people—folks writing emails, sketching in Procreate, managing Discord servers, or editing photos for Instagram—the A12Z is still overkill. It’s a very capable chip that hasn't really hit its ceiling for everyday tasks.
What you miss out on with the 4th Gen:
- Stage Manager on External Displays: The 4th gen can do Stage Manager on the tablet itself, but it can't drive a full external monitor setup like the M-series can.
- Apple Pencil Pro support: You're stuck with the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil. It’s still great, but you don't get the squeeze or barrel roll features.
- Thunderbolt: The USB-C port on the 4th gen is fast (10Gbps), but it isn't Thunderbolt. Transferring 100GB of footage will take longer.
Buying Advice: What to Check
If you’re scouring eBay or Swappa for one of these, don't just look at the price.
Check the screen for "white spots." Some of these panels developed small bright patches over time due to pressure points in the backlight. Also, ask about the battery cycle count. If it's over 500, you're going to notice the drain.
The 12.9-inch 4th gen iPad Pro (Model A2229 for the Wi-Fi version) is currently in that "sweet spot" of the used market. It’s significantly cheaper than an M2 but offers nearly the same physical experience. It’s the "budget" way to get a massive, high-refresh-rate canvas.
Actionable Steps for 4th Gen Owners
If you already own this device or just picked one up, here is how to maximize its lifespan:
Optimize your storage immediately. Since this model started at 128GB, it fills up fast. Use an external USB-C SSD for your files. The iPad Pro handles external drives natively in the Files app, and it saves your internal NAND from wearing out.
Invest in a high-wattage charger. The 18W brick that came in the box is slow. This tablet can pull closer to 30W-35W. Using a MacBook charger or a GaN plug will cut your charging time in half.
Check your Apple Pencil tips. A worn-out tip can scratch the screen. Since the 4th gen doesn't have the ultra-hard glass of the newest models, it’s a bit more susceptible to micro-abrasions.
Use "Reduce White Point" if you work at night. Because this isn't an OLED or Mini-LED screen, the "black" areas still emit light. If you find the screen too bright in a dark room, go to Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce White Point to save your eyes.
The 4th gen iPad Pro isn't a relic. It’s a workhorse. It was the moment the iPad Pro matured into its final form, and even years later, it remains a formidable tool for anyone who cares more about doing work than having the latest benchmark scores.