Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) with M2 Chip Review: A Powerhouse for Professionals and Creatives

There was a time when my creative workflow felt disjointed and limited. I was constantly juggling between a traditional sketchbook, a clunky laptop, and a smaller tablet that just couldn’t keep up with my ambitions. The frustration of needing to capture an idea, edit a photo, or sketch a design on the go, only to be met with performance bottlenecks or an inadequate display, was a real problem. This inefficiency truly hindered my productivity, and without a robust, portable solution, I knew I’d continue to miss opportunities and face creative roadblocks.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation): with M2 chip, Liquid Retina XDR Display, 128GB, Wi-Fi 6E,...
  • WHY IPAD PRO — iPad Pro is the ultimate iPad experience, with the astonishing performance of the M2 chip, superfast wireless connectivity, and next-generation Apple Pencil experience. Plus powerful...
  • IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share...
  • FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6E gives you fast wireless connections. Work from almost anywhere with quick transfers of photos, documents, and large video files.

Key Considerations Before Your iPad Pro Purchase

The tablet category exists to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops, offering a versatile device that excels in portability, touch interaction, and often, creative tasks. People seek tablets for various reasons: content consumption, light productivity, digital art, or as a secondary computing device. The ideal customer for a high-end tablet like the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) is someone who needs serious power and a large, high-quality display for professional or intensive creative work. This includes digital artists, photographers, video editors, students taking extensive notes, or business professionals who need a powerful, portable device for presentations and fieldwork.

Conversely, this specific iPad Pro might not be the best fit for someone primarily looking for a simple media consumption device or a budget-friendly option for casual browsing. For those users, a standard iPad Air or even a basic iPad would offer sufficient functionality at a much lower price point. Before investing in an iPad Pro, consider your primary use cases: do you truly need the M2 chip’s raw power, the stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, or advanced features like Apple Pencil hover and ProRes video recording? Factor in the additional cost of essential accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, which significantly enhance the Pro experience but also add to the total investment.

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Introducing the Apple iPad Pro

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) is Apple’s flagship tablet, promising an ultimate iPad experience powered by the astonishing M2 chip, superfast Wi-Fi 6E, and a next-generation Apple Pencil experience. It aims to deliver desktop-class performance in a portable tablet form factor, making it ideal for creative professionals and power users. When purchased, it typically includes the 12.9-inch iPad Pro itself, a 20W USB-C Power Adapter, and a USB-C Charge Cable (1 meter).

Compared to its predecessor, the M1 iPad Pro, the 6th Generation brings the M2 chip, offering incremental performance gains, especially in graphics, and introduces the Apple Pencil hover feature. While still an exceptional device, the leap from M1 to M2 is less dramatic than previous generation shifts, meaning users of the M1 iPad Pro might not find a compelling reason to upgrade purely for performance unless specific new features are critical. This iPad Pro is explicitly for those who push their devices to the limit with demanding applications like video editing, 3D rendering, or complex digital art, and for whom screen real estate and raw processing power are paramount. It’s not for the casual user who simply wants to browse the web or watch videos; there are more affordable and equally capable options within the iPad lineup for that.

Pros:
* Unmatched Performance: The M2 chip delivers desktop-class speed for any task.
* Stunning Display: The Liquid Retina XDR display offers incredible brightness, contrast, and color accuracy.
* Advanced Camera System: Excellent cameras with LiDAR Scanner for AR and ProRes video.
* Superfast Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E ensures blazing-fast wireless speeds.
* Robust Ecosystem: Seamless integration with Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Magic Keyboard.

Cons:
* High Price Point: A significant investment, especially with necessary accessories.
* Incremental M2 Upgrade: Performance jump from M1 is not revolutionary for most users.
* Front Camera Placement: Still on the short edge, which can be awkward for landscape video calls.
* iPadOS Limitations: Despite advancements, iPadOS still holds back the full potential of the M2 chip for some professional workflows.
* Accessory Costs: Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are sold separately and add substantially to the overall cost.

Deep Dive into iPad Pro Capabilities

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) is truly a marvel of modern engineering, and having used it extensively, I can attest to its transformative power in various aspects of my daily work and creative endeavors. Let’s break down its core features and the tangible benefits they provide.

The Astonishing M2 Chip: Unrivaled Performance

At the heart of the iPad Pro experience is the M2 chip. This isn’t just an incremental upgrade; it’s a statement about Apple’s commitment to bringing desktop-level performance to a tablet. With an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, the M2 chip delivers blistering speed and efficiency. In practical terms, this means that every app, from the most demanding video editing suites like DaVinci Resolve or LumaFusion to complex 3D modeling programs, runs with remarkable fluidity.

For me, the benefit is clear: I no longer experience frustrating lags or crashes, even when working on multi-track 4K video projects or rendering intricate designs. This level of performance is crucial because it eliminates technical barriers to creativity. When an idea strikes, the iPad Pro can keep pace, allowing me to focus on the content itself rather than waiting for the device to catch up. The powerful M2 chip ensures that professional workflows are not only possible but enjoyable on a portable device, making the iPad Pro an indispensable tool for anyone who relies on their device for serious work.

12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display: A Visual Masterpiece

The 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is, quite simply, breathtaking. With 1000 nits of full-screen brightness, 1600 nits of peak brightness, and a staggering 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, viewing content on this screen is an immersive experience. Features like ProMotion (adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz), True Tone, and P3 wide color support further enhance the visual fidelity.

For artists and photographers, this display is a game-changer. Editing HDR photos and videos feels incredibly precise, as the colors pop with vibrancy and the details in shadows and highlights are clearly discernible. As a digital artist, the display makes drawing feel incredibly natural, almost like working on a physical canvas. The sheer amount of screen real estate is perfect for detailed work, allowing me to zoom in without losing context. For anyone consuming media, watching movies or shows on this display is pure joy, with stunning clarity and deep blacks. This display doesn’t just show images; it brings them to life, which is paramount for any visual professional.

Advanced Cameras with LiDAR Scanner: Capture and Create

The iPad Pro features a versatile camera system: a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, and a 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide back camera setup with True Tone flash and ProRes video support. The inclusion of a LiDAR Scanner enhances AR experiences by accurately mapping depth in any space.

While an iPad Pro isn’t typically your primary camera, these advanced sensors are incredibly useful for professionals. The back cameras capture surprisingly high-quality photos and 4K video, making it suitable for on-site documentation, quick video clips for social media, or even B-roll footage. ProRes support is particularly valuable for video creators, offering higher fidelity and more flexibility in post-production. The LiDAR Scanner, combined with AR apps, has opened up new possibilities for architectural visualization, interior design planning, and interactive educational content. The Center Stage feature on the front camera is brilliant for video conferencing, keeping you perfectly framed even if you move around, which is a small but significant detail for remote collaboration. The only slight drawback is the front camera’s placement on the short edge, which can feel off-center during landscape video calls.

Superfast Wi-Fi 6E: Uninterrupted Connectivity

Connectivity is often overlooked but is crucial for a professional device. The iPad Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E, providing incredibly fast wireless connections. This translates into rapid transfers of large files, seamless cloud synchronization, and buttery-smooth streaming or online collaboration, even in congested network environments.

For someone who works from various locations – a coffee shop, a client’s office, or their home studio – reliable and fast internet is non-negotiable. Wi-Fi 6E ensures that whether I’m uploading massive project files to a cloud server, downloading high-resolution assets, or participating in a video call, my connection remains stable and quick. This eliminates the frustrating delays that can hamper productivity and allows me to work efficiently from almost anywhere, making the iPad Pro a truly mobile workstation.

iPadOS + Apps: Intuitive and Versatile Productivity

iPadOS continues to evolve, making the iPad Pro more productive and versatile than ever. Features like Split View, Slide Over, and especially Stage Manager, allow for efficient multitasking with resizable, overlapping apps and external display support. The App Store boasts over a million apps, ranging from professional-grade creative tools to essential productivity suites.

The ability to run multiple apps at once, such as having a reference image open in Procreate while sketching, or taking notes in GoodNotes while watching a lecture video, significantly boosts efficiency. Stage Manager, in particular, offers a more desktop-like multitasking experience, especially when connected to an external monitor, allowing me to manage complex workflows more effectively. The seamless integration of the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) with features like Scribble, which allows writing in any text field, truly blurs the line between digital and analog input. The sheer breadth of high-quality apps available means there’s a tool for virtually any task, making the iPad Pro an adaptable hub for all my professional and personal needs.

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) and Magic Keyboard: The Essential Duo

While sold separately, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Magic Keyboard are almost indispensable for unlocking the full potential of the iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil transforms the iPad Pro into an immersive drawing canvas and the world’s best note-taking device, with features like pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and the new hover functionality for the M2 chip. The Magic Keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, a built-in trackpad, and doubles as a protective cover.

For me as an artist, the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is nothing short of magical. The precision and responsiveness are unparalleled; it truly feels like drawing on paper. The hover feature, in particular, is a game-changer, allowing me to preview brush sizes or highlight elements without touching the screen, which is incredibly useful for detailed work and keeping the screen free of smudges. The strong magnetic attachment keeps the pencil secure and charged, so I never lose it. The Magic Keyboard turns the iPad Pro into a legitimate laptop replacement for typing-heavy tasks like writing reports or emails, with the trackpad offering precise cursor control. Together, these accessories elevate the iPad Pro into a versatile workstation capable of handling a vast array of tasks.

All-Day Battery Life and Face ID: Reliability and Security

The iPad Pro boasts all-day battery life, allowing you to work or create for extended periods without constantly searching for an outlet. Coupled with Face ID, which provides secure authentication with just a glance, the device offers both endurance and robust security.

Having a device that lasts through a full day of intense usage – from morning lectures to evening study sessions or back-to-back client meetings – is incredibly liberating. I don’t have to worry about running out of power mid-project. Face ID adds a layer of convenience and security that quickly becomes second nature. Unlocking the iPad Pro, authorizing purchases, or logging into apps is instant and effortless, ensuring my data is protected while maintaining a smooth user experience. These features, though sometimes taken for granted, are fundamental to making the iPad Pro a reliable and trustworthy daily driver.

Hearing from Happy Owners: User Testimonials

I’ve scoured the internet and found numerous user reviews that overwhelmingly echo my own positive experiences. Many users, especially digital artists, rave about the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) with the M2 chip. They consistently highlight its exceptional performance with apps like Procreate, praising the incredible detail, tool selection, and the expansive screen that makes drawing feel like working on a traditional sketchbook. The seamless integration with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), including its magnetic charging, is frequently mentioned as a major convenience. Students also find it invaluable, particularly for its split-screen multitasking capabilities and robust performance for note-taking and studying. While some acknowledge the investment, the common sentiment is that it’s “worth every penny” for those who push its capabilities, transforming their workflow and artistic output.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The initial problem of a fragmented, underpowered creative workflow is definitively solved by the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation). Without a powerful and portable device, the complications of limited productivity, missed creative opportunities, and constant frustration would persist. This iPad Pro stands out as a phenomenal solution for several key reasons. First, its M2 chip delivers unparalleled performance, ensuring that even the most demanding professional applications run smoothly. Second, the stunning Liquid Retina XDR display offers an immersive visual experience, crucial for any creative or visual work. Finally, with its robust iPadOS, fast connectivity, and seamless integration with accessories like the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Magic Keyboard, it truly transforms into a versatile and powerful mobile workstation. If you’re ready to elevate your productivity and creative potential, this device is a fantastic fit. Click here to check the product out and see how it can transform your workflow!

Last update on 2025-09-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API