Honestly, the iPad Pro 3rd Gen 12.9 is a bit of a ghost in Apple's lineup. It’s that one device that everyone recognizes as "the one that changed everything," yet most people can't actually remember what makes it different from the three versions that came after it.
I remember when this thing dropped in late 2018. It was a massive deal. Apple basically killed the home button, thinned out the bezels, and gave us that flat-edge design that they’re still using today. But in 2026, the question isn't about how cool it looked at the Steve Jobs Theater. It's about whether that A12X Bionic chip can actually keep up with a world obsessed with AI and M-series silicon.
The Liquid Retina Reality Check
Let’s talk about that screen. You’re getting a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It’s huge. It’s beautiful. But here is the thing: it is not the mini-LED "XDR" display found in the 5th or 6th gen models. You aren't getting those deep, inky blacks or the 1,600 nits of peak brightness.
Does it matter? For most of us, probably not.
You still get ProMotion. That 120Hz refresh rate is the "secret sauce" that makes an iPad feel like a Pro. If you’ve ever used a base-model iPad and felt like the screen was "laggy" when scrolling, that’s the lack of ProMotion. On the 3rd gen, everything is buttery smooth. You get P3 wide color and True Tone, which basically means your eyes won't hurt as much after staring at a spreadsheet for four hours.
Performance: The A12X Bionic in 2026
The iPad Pro 3rd Gen 12.9 was the first time Apple really flexed its muscles on mobile silicon. The A12X was so far ahead of its time that it actually embarrassed some MacBook Pros back in the day.
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- Processor: A12X Bionic with 8 cores.
- RAM: Most models have 4GB, but the 1TB version actually has 6GB.
- GPU: 7-core Apple graphics.
Here’s the catch. We are now in the era of iPadOS 26. While this tablet technically supports it, you are going to miss out on the heavy-hitting features. Specifically, Apple Intelligence. Because the A12X doesn't have the same Neural Engine "oomph" as the M1 or M2, you’re mostly getting the interface updates and security patches, not the crazy AI image generation or advanced Siri features.
It still handles Procreate like a champ. You can edit 4K video in LumaFusion without it screaming. But if you’re trying to run twenty apps at once using Stage Manager on an external monitor? You're going to feel those 4GB of RAM starting to sweat.
The USB-C and Battery Longevity Problem
This was the first iPad to ditch Lightning for USB-C. It was a revolution. Finally, you could plug in a thumb drive or a camera without a ridiculous dongle.
But there’s a dark side to this specific generation. The USB-C ports on the 2018 models are known to be a little... finicky. I’ve seen plenty of these units where the port just gives up after a few years of heavy use. If you're buying one used, check that connection. A common workaround is using the Magic Keyboard, which has its own pass-through charging port on the hinge. It’s a pricey "fix," but it works.
As for the battery, you’re looking at a 9720 mAh cell. When it was new, Apple promised 10 hours. In 2026, a used 3rd gen is likely sitting at 80% capacity. You’ll probably get 6 or 7 hours of actual work done before you're hunting for a wall outlet.
Common Hardware Quirks
- Bendgate 2.0: These things are thin. Like, 5.9mm thin. If you put it in a backpack without a hard case and sit on it, it will bend.
- Unresponsive Touch: Some users report "dead zones" on the screen where touch just stops working for a few seconds. Usually, a quick lock and unlock fixes it, but it’s annoying.
- Face ID: It works in any orientation—landscape or portrait—which is still better than how the iPhone handles it.
Why it Still Matters (The Price Factor)
You can find the iPad Pro 3rd Gen 12.9 on the used market for a fraction of what a new M4 model costs. We’re talking $300 to $400 depending on the condition.
For a student or a digital artist on a budget, that’s an insane value. You get the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil support (the one that sticks to the side and charges magnetically), the four-speaker audio which honestly still sounds better than most laptops, and that massive canvas.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re looking at picking one up or deciding whether to keep yours, here is what I’d suggest:
- Check the Serial Number: Make sure it’s not a refurbished unit with a third-party screen. Non-genuine screens often break ProMotion and Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity.
- Invest in a Rigid Case: Do not rely on a slim folio. Get something with some structural integrity to prevent the chassis from warping over time.
- Limit Multitasking: If you’re on a 4GB RAM model, try to keep your open tabs in Safari under 20. It sounds like a lot, but iPadOS is aggressive about killing background apps to save memory.
- Monitor Battery Health: Use a tool like iMazing on a Mac or PC to check the actual cycle count. If it’s over 800 cycles, factor in the cost of a battery replacement.
The iPad Pro 3rd Gen 12.9 isn't the powerhouse it once was, but it’s far from obsolete. It represents the "peak" of Apple’s old-school tablet design—reliable, beautiful, and just powerful enough to stay relevant in 2026.