Apple iPad Pro 12.9" Apple 2017, A10X, 4GB, 64GB, Space Grey

The 12.9-inch 120Hz display is the best thing about this tablet, ranking in the 92nd percentile of our database. The A10X chip is solid at the 73rd percentile, but battery life is rough at the 31st percentile. At $299-$327 refurbished, it's a great screen for the money if you get a good unit.

The A10X 6-core chip paired with 4GB of RAM handles most tasks without breaking a sweat. In our database, the CPU ranks at the 73rd percentile, which puts it comfortably above average for tablets. The GPU sits at the 71st percentile, so graphics work and gaming are both perfectly serviceable. You won't be editing 8K video on this thing, but for drawing, note-taking, media consumption, and light productivity, it's got plenty of headroom.

The 120Hz display deserves a second mention because it genuinely changes how the device feels. That high refresh rate, combined with the 2732x2048 resolution, makes the Apple Pencil experience feel responsive and immediate. Artists in our review data consistently praise this tablet for drawing work, and the numbers back that up. The 12MP rear camera and 7MP front camera are fine for scanning documents and video calls, nothing more.

Against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, this iPad Pro wins on display quality and refresh rate but loses badly on battery life and connectivity. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus offers newer internals and better battery, but you'll pay more for it. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Ed is a different beast entirely, a full Windows machine that costs significantly more but does more. The Xiaomi Pad 62779 undercuts this on price but can't match the 120Hz panel. If you want the best screen for the least money and can tolerate the battery gamble, the iPad Pro is the pick. If battery life matters more than display quality, look elsewhere.

At $299 to $327 USD, this is one of the cheapest ways to get a 12.9-inch 120Hz display with stylus support. The screen alone would cost you more in most competing tablets. But value here depends entirely on which unit you receive. A good refurb with a healthy battery is a steal. A unit with the battery issues that show up in roughly a third of the negative reviews is a headache. The EUR 380 price in France and Italy is less compelling, especially when you factor in the risk of getting a dud.

The screen is the star here. This 12.9-inch panel sits in the 92nd percentile of our tablet database, and it shows. 2732x2048 resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate means text looks razor sharp and scrolling feels like butter. The A10X chip lands at the 73rd percentile for CPU performance, which is solid but not earth-shattering by today's standards. For a refurbished unit priced around $299 to $327, that's a lot of display for the money.

But there's a catch, and it's a big one. User sentiment sits at just the 40th percentile, dragged down by a recurring pattern of battery failures and charging issues. Some buyers get a like-new tablet that runs beautifully. Others get a unit that arrives at 0% charge and never really recovers. The refurbished lottery is real here, and the 4.1-star average across 270 reviews hides a pretty wide gap between the good units and the duds.

If battery life matters to you at all, skip this. The 31st percentile battery ranking is not a fluke, it's a pattern that shows up repeatedly in user reviews. Charging issues, units arriving dead, and rapid drain are all common complaints. The 64GB storage at the 45th percentile is also limiting if you plan to store media locally. And if you need modern connectivity, the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 at the 33rd percentile will feel dated. Anyone who needs a reliable all-day device for work or travel should look at the Surface Pro or a newer iPad instead.

This is a screen-first tablet at a screen-first price. The 92nd percentile display and 120Hz refresh rate are genuinely excellent, and the A10X chip keeps things moving. But the 31st percentile battery ranking and the inconsistent refurbished quality make this a riskier buy than the specs suggest. If you're an artist or note-taker who values display quality above all else and you're willing to roll the dice on a refurb, this is a solid deal. If you need reliability and all-day battery, keep looking.