Apple iPad Pro 12.9" iPad Pro (5th Generation) 2021 Space Gray

The M1 chip puts this iPad in the 98th percentile for tablet CPU performance, making it one of the fastest slates you can buy, while battery life and connectivity also hit the 99th percentile. However, the user sentiment for renewed units sits at only the 64th percentile, marred by reports of charging port defects and generic accessories. If you snag a clean unit around $525, it's a staggering value, just make sure you can return it if the port acts up.

Armed with Apple's M1 chip, the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 sits in the 98th percentile for CPU performance among all tablets we've tested, making it one of the fastest options you can buy. Paired with a GPU at the 97th percentile, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, this slab rips through 4K video edits, heavy AR models, and console-class gaming without a stutter. Its connectivity suite is class-leading, landing in the 99th percentile thanks to Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 6, and 5G cellular, and battery life also claims a 99th percentile spot, so you can leave the charger at home for a full workday. The 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600 nits peak brightness is a stunner for HDR content, and the 120Hz ProMotion keeps everything silky smooth. But our data tells a more nuanced story. While the specs are elite, the user sentiment score sits at a modest 64th percentile, reflecting the risks of buying a refurbished unit. Many units arrive with near-perfect screens and excellent battery health, but the occasional horror story, a wonky charging port, a generic charger, flimsy packaging, is enough to keep the aggregate satisfaction from reaching the same heights as the hardware. If you're eyeing a renewed model, the value is undeniable, but you're rolling the dice on exactly which box you'll get.

In our tablet performance database, the M1's 8-core design delivers CPU scores that put it in a tier of its own for this form factor, the absolute best right now for mobile processing. The 8-core GPU similarly dominates, hitting the 97th percentile, which means it's a standout for graphics work and gaming. That 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600 nits peak brightness is a real stunner for HDR content, though the 81st percentile screen ranking tells us a few competitors have since pushed into even higher peak brightness or color accuracy territory. Still, with ProMotion 120Hz, everything from scrolling to sketching with the Apple Pencil feels fluid. The 8GB RAM is only middling at the 66th percentile, but iPadOS is so efficient that we never felt constrained during heavy multitasking. And with a 40Wh battery consistently delivering all-day stamina, it's right up at the 99th percentile, best-in-class longevity that rivals like the Surface Pro can only dream of.

Pricing is all over the map, from as low as $525 for a renewed unit up to an absurd $12,083 at certain vendors. The sweet spot is clearly the sub-$600 refurb, where you get an M1-powered tablet with a flagship display for less than a midrange Android slate. Considering the 98th percentile CPU and 99th percentile battery, the performance-per-dollar at the low end is outstanding, provided you accept the gamble on cosmetic condition and charger quality. Paying anywhere near four figures for this 2021 model no longer makes sense given newer options, but if you grab one on Amazon (where renewed listings are most common), you're getting a powerhouse at a fraction of its original price.

The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro both undercut the iPad Pro on price but can't touch the M1's CPU and GPU muscle, which sit in the 97th-98th percentiles versus their mid-range silicon. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra offers an even larger 14.6-inch AMOLED screen that bests the iPad's 81st percentile display for contrast and black levels, though Samsung's chip trails the M1 in raw throughput. Microsoft's Surface Pro (EP2-20077) runs full Windows, a different beast entirely; its x86 apps are a win for desktop flexibility but its battery life is lackluster, nothing close to the iPad's 99th percentile endurance. For media creation and consumption, the iPad's 120Hz XDR panel and class-leading Thunderbolt connectivity make it the most well-rounded tablet here, as long as you're comfortable with iPadOS's app limitations.

If you need a tablet with a perfect out-of-box experience, skip the renewed route on this iPad Pro. The 64th percentile user sentiment reflects inconsistent quality control: you might get a flawless machine or one with a finicky USB-C port and a no-name charger. Also, if your workflow depends on Windows software, the Surface Pro's x86 compatibility makes more sense despite its weaker battery. And if you're a digital artist who demands ultimate pen precision with zero latency variability, the Samsung Tab S11 Ultra's Wacom-powered S Pen is arguably better than Apple Pencil for line control, though you'll sacrifice the M1's processing power.

The 2021 iPad Pro with M1 remains a spec monster, earning elite scores for CPU, GPU, battery, and connectivity. If you buy a renewed unit from a reputable listing, you're getting near-new performance and screen quality at a price that makes newer flagship tablets look overpriced. Just know that the refurb experience can be a lottery: most people are thrilled, but a nontrivial number run into port issues or banged-up packaging. We'd recommend it to anyone who values raw power and doesn't mind the occasional battle with a charger. For the risk-averse, spring for a unit with a solid return policy and be ready to test that port on day one.