iPad · Pro
2016
iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
Brings the iPad Pro architecture to the 9.7-inch form factor while debuting True Tone display color temperature adaptation and an advanced 12MP 4K camera system.
- Announced
- 2016-03-21
- Family
- iPad
- Branch
- Pro
- Historical weight
- Major evolution
Key specifications
Apple verification ↗- Display
- 9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 (True Tone, wide colour)
- Chip / CPU
- Apple A9X · 2.16 GHz
- Memory
- 2 GB
- Base storage
- 32 GB
- Ports & charging
- Lightning, Smart Connector
- Weight
- 437 g
- Dimensions
- 240×169.5×6.1 mm
- Original OS
- iOS 9.3
- Launch price
- $599
- Released
- March 31, 2016
- Discontinued
- June 2017
- Graphics
- PowerVR (12-core)
- CPU cores
- 2
Generation delta
What changed?
Introduced
10- Display
True Tone display technology
Features four-channel ambient light sensors that continuously measure both ambient brightness and color temperature, dynamically tuning the display's white point to match the surrounding environment for a natural, paper-like reading experience.
- Display
Wide Color display (DCI-P3 gamut)
Expands color saturation by 25% compared to standard sRGB, bringing cinematic color depth to the iPad line.
- Display
Ultra-low display reflectivity
Reduced screen reflectivity to 1.7% with a peak brightness of 500 nits (25% brighter than iPad Air 2, lowest reflectivity of any tablet at the time).
- Ports
Apple Pencil (1st generation) and Smart Connector in 9.7-inch size
Enabled active precision drawing and magnetic keyboard docking on the compact 9.7-inch form factor.
- Audio
Four-speaker audio system in 6.1mm chassis
Re-engineered the orientation-aware 4-speaker acoustic system to fit inside the ultra-thin 6.1mm enclosure.
- Camera
12MP iSight rear camera system
Major upgrade featuring Focus Pixels, f/2.2 aperture, dual-tone True Tone flash, Live Photos, 63MP panoramas, and 4K video recording at 30 fps (first iPad with 4K recording and rear flash).
- Display
5MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash
Upgraded front camera with f/2.2 aperture and display-based Retina Flash.
- Connectivity
Embedded Apple SIM
Cellular models included a built-in Apple SIM directly on the logic board in addition to a standard nano-SIM tray.
- Software
Rose Gold color option
First iPad offered in Rose Gold alongside Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
- Storage
256GB storage tier
Introduced a 256GB top storage tier across the iPad Pro family.
Changed
2- Silicon
Processor architecture
Moved the compact 9.7-inch flagship from the A8X generation to Apple A9X with the embedded M9 motion coprocessor; the Apple first-party sources used here do not publish RAM capacity.
- Camera
Camera design
Introduced a slight rear camera lens bump on an iPad chassis to accommodate the advanced 12MP optical system.
Retained
6- Display
Classic 9.7-inch Retina display (2048 x 1536 resolution at 264 ppi)
Classic 9.7-inch Retina display (2048 x 1536 resolution at 264 ppi).
- Connectivity
Form factor dimensions matching iPad Air 2 (240 mm x 169.5 mm x 6.1 mm
Form factor dimensions matching iPad Air 2 (240 mm x 169.5 mm x 6.1 mm; 437g Wi-Fi / 444g Cellular).
- Sensors
First-generation Touch ID capacitive sensor in the Home button
First-generation Touch ID capacitive sensor in the Home button.
- Ports
Lightning connector
Lightning connector; this first-party research file does not assign a USB controller speed beyond what Apple explicitly documents.
- Product
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
3.5mm stereo headphone jack.
- Power
10-hour battery life with a 27.5-watt-hour battery
10-hour battery life with a 27.5-watt-hour battery.
Technology DNA
Ideas carried by this generation.
Canonical predecessor
Starts a new branch