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themaestro

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 10, 2019
238
77
Ireland
I like the idea of buying iPad Pro 11. Since I already have 2 12.9 Pros (the very 1st generation and a later model) I was thinking of going refurbished. Is there much difference between the 3rd generation and most recent 5th? Thank you
 

AJB1971

macrumors 6502
Jun 23, 2011
452
431
I think you mean the 3rd and 4th generation 11-inch iPad Pros. The 4th gen is the M2.

There isn't much difference. Have a look at the following comparison - I've also added on the 5th generation Air as well.
 

themaestro

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 10, 2019
238
77
Ireland
Thank you. I saw 5th generation on Wiki but possibly misread. Thank you. Wow amazing how close the Air is. Also very little difference between the 3rd gen & 4th gen pros
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,260
Thank you. I saw 5th generation on Wiki but possibly misread. Thank you. Wow amazing how close the Air is. Also very little difference between the 3rd gen & 4th gen pros

That’s understandable. The generation numbers of the 11” and 12.9” don’t match which is probably what caused the confusion.

2015/2016
9.7”
12.9” 1st gen

2017
10.5”
12.9” 2nd gen

2018
11” 1st gen
12.9” 3rd gen

2020
11” 2nd gen
12.9” 4th gen

2021
11” 3rd gen
12.9” 5th gen

2022
11” 4th gen
12.9” 6th gen
 

themaestro

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 10, 2019
238
77
Ireland
Ah that makes sense thank you. I’m still using the 2015 12.9 for ForScore. No change of battery. My other 12.9 is 3rd generation. I probably don’t need the 11 but always curious about it. Probably too small to read music scores, well for my eyes at least
 

Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
May 20, 2010
6,024
2,616
Los Angeles, CA
I like the idea of buying iPad Pro 11. Since I already have 2 12.9 Pros (the very 1st generation and a later model) I was thinking of going refurbished. Is there much difference between the 3rd generation and most recent 5th? Thank you
I'm also stumped as to which iPads you are comparing to. There are only four generations of 11-inch iPad Pro. The first generation 11-inch iPad Pro is contemporary with the third generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, while the second generation 11-inch iPad Pro is contemporary with the fourth generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The current version of 11-inch iPad Pro is the fourth and that is contemporary with the current 12.9-inch iPad, which is the sixth.

Your biggest jump in features/performance came with the third generation 11-inch iPad Pro (and the fifth generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro) which had the M1 in tow. The current versions of both have M2 and, with one key Apple Pencil feature, it's not much to write home about.
 

themaestro

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 10, 2019
238
77
Ireland
Yes I misread an article and assumed the 11 appeared when the 12.9 first did. I probably wouldn't need the M2. I do like that hover pencil but could live without it, as I have done so far :)
 

AppleFanatic10

macrumors 68030
Nov 2, 2010
2,833
326
Hawthorne, CA
I like the idea of buying iPad Pro 11. Since I already have 2 12.9 Pros (the very 1st generation and a later model) I was thinking of going refurbished. Is there much difference between the 3rd generation and most recent 5th? Thank you
I briefly had the iPad Pro 11 M2... my wife has the iPad Pro 11 from 2020 and I can assure you aside from the camera there's no real difference IMO.
 
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