Apple iPad Pro 11 Space Gray 2022

The Apple iPad Pro 11 (4th Gen) is still one of the best tablets you can buy, with an M2 chip, 120Hz Liquid Retina display, and all-day battery life. Refurbished units between $431 and $600 USD offer serious value, though occasional cosmetic flaws and rare touchscreen issues are worth knowing about. For most people, this is the tablet to beat.

The M2 chip in this iPad Pro is the same silicon Apple put in the MacBook Air, and it shows. The 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU chew through everything from 4K video editing in LumaFusion to heavy multitasking in Stage Manager. Our benchmarks place the GPU in the 91st percentile, which means it's a standout for gaming and graphics work. The CPU sits at the 64th percentile, which sounds middling until you remember that this is a fanless tablet competing against laptops with active cooling.

In practice, apps open instantly, the 120Hz ProMotion display makes everything feel responsive, and the 8GB of RAM handles most workflows without breaking a sweat. The 128GB NVMe SSD is fast, though storage capacity itself lands in the 69th percentile, so power users who hoard media or large Procreate files might feel the squeeze. Battery life is rated for all-day use, and our data puts it in the 94th percentile, which is among the best you'll find in a tablet this thin.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the most direct Android competitor, and it's a beast in its own right with a larger display and included S Pen. But Samsung's tablet runs Android, which still lags behind iPadOS for pro-grade creative apps like Procreate and Final Cut. The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 runs full Windows, which makes it a better laptop replacement for people who need desktop software, but it's heavier, runs hotter, and costs more. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus and Xiaomi Pad 7 are solid budget alternatives, but they don't come close to the iPad Pro's build quality, display, or long-term software support.

If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the choice is obvious. If you need a true laptop replacement with desktop apps, the Surface Pro 13 is worth a look. But for most people who want a tablet that does everything well, the iPad Pro 11 is still the one to beat.

Here's where things get interesting. New iPad Pro 11 units are expensive, but the refurbished and renewed market is where the real value lives. We're seeing prices from $431 to $600 USD across four US listings, with Amazon's renewed units typically landing on the lower end of that range. That's a $169 spread, so it pays to shop around. For context, a new unit with the same specs would run you significantly more, and the M2 chip means you're not sacrificing much performance by going refurbished. If you're comparing against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra or Microsoft Surface Pro 13, the iPad Pro undercuts both on price while matching or beating them on display quality and app ecosystem.

The Apple iPad Pro 11 (4th Gen) sits at the top of the tablet food chain, and even a few years after launch, the M2 chip keeps it feeling absurdly fast. This is the 128GB Wi-Fi model with 8GB of RAM, and it's aimed squarely at people who want a tablet that can genuinely replace a laptop for creative work, note-taking, and media consumption. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display with ProMotion runs at 120Hz, which makes scrolling and Apple Pencil input feel buttery smooth.

If you're searching for "is the iPad Pro 11 good for drawing" or "best tablet for students," the short answer is yes, this thing crushes it. Our database puts it in the 96th percentile for features and 98th for social proof, meaning it's one of the most well-regarded tablets on the market. The M2 chip, Face ID, Thunderbolt support, and that gorgeous display all add up to a device that feels premium in every way.

Pricing is interesting here. New units typically run higher, but refurbished and renewed listings on Amazon and Best Buy are floating between $431 and $600 USD, which is a serious discount for this level of hardware. That spread matters, and we'll dig into it below.

Skip the iPad Pro 11 if you need a full desktop operating system for things like software development, advanced Excel work, or PC gaming. The Microsoft Surface Pro 13 is a better fit there. Also skip it if you're on a strict budget, since the Xiaomi Pad 7 or even a base iPad will cover casual browsing and streaming for much less. And if you're buying refurbished, be ready to deal with a possible return if you get a unit with a touchscreen issue or cosmetic damage that bothers you.

Should you buy the Apple iPad Pro 11? If you want the best tablet experience available and don't mind buying refurbished to save a few hundred bucks, absolutely. The M2 chip, 120Hz display, and all-day battery life make this a device that will stay relevant for years. It's especially good for students, artists, and anyone who wants a lightweight device for media consumption and light productivity.

But it's not for everyone. If you need a full desktop OS, the Surface Pro 13 is a better fit. If you're on a tight budget, the Xiaomi Pad 7 gets you 80% of the way there for a fraction of the price. And if you're buying refurbished, be prepared for the occasional cosmetic blemish or, in rare cases, a touchscreen issue that requires a return. Most buyers report excellent condition and near-perfect battery health, but the risk isn't zero.