Apple iPad Pro 10.5 2017, A10X Fusion, 4GB, 512GB, Cellular, Space Gray

The iPad Pro 10.5 has a killer 512GB of storage in the 90th percentile and a feature set in the 92nd percentile, but the 1900mAh battery is in the 1st percentile, one of the worst we've seen. The A10X Fusion chip and 4GB of RAM are both middle of the pack at best. At $700, you're paying a lot for storage while the battery and RAM hold everything back.

The A10X Fusion 6-core chip was a beast when this thing launched, and it still handles everyday tasks without much drama. In our database, the CPU lands in the 60th percentile, which puts it firmly in the middle of the pack. That means web browsing, email, streaming, and even some light photo editing are all fine. But don't expect it to keep up with anything modern. The GPU is also in the 60th percentile, so casual games run okay, but anything demanding will make this thing sweat.

The 4GB of RAM is where things get a little tight. That's the 31st percentile, which is mediocre by today's standards. You'll notice apps reloading more often than you'd like, especially if you're juggling a few things at once. The 512GB of storage is the real flex here, sitting in the 90th percentile. That's more space than most laptops ship with, and it means you can load this thing up with movies, photos, and apps without thinking twice. The 12MP rear camera shoots 4K video, which is still respectable for a tablet, and the 7MP front camera is fine for FaceTime calls.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra with its 14.6-inch display, this iPad Pro looks tiny and underpowered. The Samsung has a much larger screen and newer internals, though it'll cost you more. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus and Xiaomi Pad 7 both offer newer chips and better battery life at competitive prices, and they don't have the 1st percentile battery problem. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 runs full Windows, which makes it a more capable productivity machine if that's your thing. The VekfulPC T60 Pro is the budget wildcard, but even it likely beats this iPad on battery. The iPad Pro 10.5's only real advantage here is that 512GB of storage and the Apple ecosystem, but that's a lot of money for storage when the rest of the hardware is showing its age.

At $700 USD for a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished unit, this is a tough sell. You're paying a premium for that 512GB of storage and the Apple name, but the battery alone makes it hard to justify. A 1900mAh cell in the 1st percentile means you'll be tethered to a charger more than you'd like, and that's a fundamental problem for a portable device. The 90-day warranty is also pretty thin for a refurb. If you can find this thing cheaper, maybe it makes sense as a dedicated drawing tablet or a secondary device. But at $700, you're in territory where newer tablets with better batteries and more RAM are within reach.

The iPad Pro 10.5 is a weird mix of old-school Apple charm and some seriously dated internals. The storage is the headline here: 512GB puts it in the 90th percentile of all tablets in our database, which is wild for a device this old. The feature set also holds up surprisingly well, landing in the 92nd percentile thanks to Apple Pencil support, a fingerprint reader, and that keyboard connector. But then you look at the battery and it's a different story entirely. A 1900mAh cell puts this thing in the 1st percentile. Dead last. That's not a typo.

So what you're getting is a tablet that can hold a ton of files and do a lot of things, but you'll be hunting for a charger constantly. The A10X Fusion chip and 4GB of RAM sit right around the 60th percentile for CPU and GPU, which means it's fine for basic tasks but won't impress anyone in 2025. The 10.5-inch Retina display with its 2224x1668 resolution is solid, landing in the 73rd percentile. It's a capable screen, just not a standout anymore.

Skip this if you need a tablet that lasts all day. The 1900mAh battery in the 1st percentile is a dealbreaker for students, travelers, or anyone who doesn't want to carry a charger everywhere. Also skip it if you're a heavy multitasker, the 4GB of RAM in the 31st percentile will frustrate you with constant app reloads. And if reading is a priority, the 38.6/100 reading score is the weakest area of this device, so ebook lovers should look elsewhere. At $700, you can find newer tablets with better battery life and more RAM for the same money.

The iPad Pro 10.5 is a classic case of great bones, tired body. The 512GB storage and feature set are genuinely impressive, but the 1st percentile battery and 31st percentile RAM make it hard to recommend as a daily driver in 2025. If you're an artist who wants a dedicated Apple Pencil canvas and you don't mind staying near an outlet, this could work. For everyone else, there are better options at this price point. The battery alone is a dealbreaker for most people.