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Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Gen.)

5th Generation. Released in 2021

Storage:

Memory:

Connectivity:

Cosmetic Condition:

Functionality:

Charger Included?

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) was announced April 20 and went on sale May 21, 2021, and it remains one of the most valuable used tablets we buy. This was the generation that put the Apple M1 chip into an iPad for the first time, introduced the Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display that Apple has only ever used on a handful of products, and added a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port running at up to 40Gb/s that no earlier iPad had. It shipped in five capacities from 128GB to 2TB, in 8GB or 16GB of memory depending on capacity, under Apple model numbers A2378, A2461, A2379, and A2462. Many people do not realize how much a five-year-old iPad Pro is still worth — these retailed between $1,099 and $2,399 new, and the high-capacity configurations continue to command strong resale prices, partly because the M1 keeps them eligible for Apple Intelligence. GadgetSalvation has bought used tablets directly from consumers since 2008: our iPad trade-in service pays cash rather than store credit, with free insured shipping, no listing fees, and no meeting strangers. Pick your configuration and condition above for an instant offer, or see the full process on our how it works page.

Confirm you have the 5th generation before you quote

Apple's iPad Pro generations look nearly identical from across a room, so please do not go by appearance alone. No technical knowledge is required for this — it takes about fifteen seconds:

  • On the iPad, open Settings → General → About.
  • The Model Name line spells out the generation in plain English. It should read iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation).
  • The Model Number line first shows a long part number such as MHNG3LL/A. Tap it once and it flips to the short Apple model number beginning with A. That is the number that matters.
  • The Capacity line on the same screen tells you the storage size you need for the tool above.

If the iPad will not power on, the same A-number is engraved in fine print on the aluminum back, below the Apple logo.

✅ A2378 — Wi-Fi

  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), Wi-Fi only
  • Model identifier iPad13,8
  • No SIM tray anywhere on the frame
  • No GPS — location comes from Wi-Fi only

✅ A2379 — Cellular (US, mmWave)

  • Wi-Fi + Cellular with 5G mmWave (bands n260, n261)
  • Model identifier iPad13,9
  • This is the variant sold in the United States
  • Nano-SIM tray on the right edge, plus eSIM

✅ A2461 — Cellular (global, sub-6)

  • Wi-Fi + Cellular, sub-6 GHz 5G only — no mmWave
  • Model identifier iPad13,10
  • Sold in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and much of Asia
  • Turns up in the US regularly as an imported or resold unit

✅ A2462 — Cellular (China mainland)

  • Wi-Fi + Cellular variant for China mainland
  • Model identifier iPad13,11
  • Same core hardware, different cellular certification
  • No eSIM support on this variant

❌ Not the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th gen)

  • The 2022 M2 successor: A2436 / A2764 / A2437 / A2766
  • Physically indistinguishable from this model — same size, same weight, same cameras, same finishes
  • The A-number is genuinely the only way to tell them apart
  • It is worth more and belongs on its own page, so please check

❌ Not the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th gen)

  • The 2020 predecessor on the A12Z chip: A2229 / A2069 / A2232 / A2233
  • Standard Liquid Retina screen — no mini-LED, no XDR
  • Plain USB-C, not Thunderbolt
  • Thinner at 5.9mm versus 6.4mm here — and worth noticeably less

❌ Not the iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd gen)

  • Released the same day with the same M1: A2377 / A2459 / A2301 / A2460
  • Apple numbers the 11-inch line separately, so 2021's 11-inch is the third generation
  • Smaller screen and a standard Liquid Retina panel, not XDR
  • Same year, same chip, different page and different price

❌ Not the iPad Air (5th gen)

  • Also called "5th generation," also runs the M1 — a genuine naming trap
  • Model numbers A2588 / A2589 / A2591
  • 10.9-inch screen, one rear camera and no LiDAR
  • Unlocks with a fingerprint on the top button, not Face ID

The visual check, if you cannot power it on: this generation has a square three-lens camera bump with a small black LiDAR circle in the corner, a 12.9-inch screen (the larger of the two Pro sizes that year), four speaker grilles, and no Home button — you unlock it with Face ID. That rules out every iPad Air and every standard iPad, but it will not separate this from the 4th or 6th generation Pro. For that, you need the A-number.

Core hardware

Chip

  • Apple M1 — the first Apple silicon chip Apple put in an iPad
  • 8-core CPU: 4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores
  • 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
  • Still qualifies for Apple Intelligence, which is a real part of why this model holds value

Memory (RAM) — read this before quoting

  • 8GB on the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations
  • 16GB on the 1TB and 2TB configurations
  • Memory is soldered and permanently tied to the storage tier you bought. It cannot be changed, and no other pairing was ever sold
  • The tool above lists Storage and Memory separately, so match them: 128/256/512 GB → 8GB, and 1TB/2TB → 16GB. Confirm yours under Settings → General → About

Storage

  • 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
  • Soldered internal flash — no memory card slot of any kind and no way to expand it after purchase
  • Check yours under Settings → General → iPad Storage; total capacity is listed at the top
  • Capacity is the single largest factor in your offer on this model

Security & sensors

  • Face ID via the TrueDepth camera system
  • No Touch ID sensor and no Home button anywhere on this generation
  • LiDAR Scanner for depth sensing and augmented reality
  • Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass

Cameras & LiDAR

Rear Pro camera system

12MP Wide (ƒ/1.8) plus 10MP Ultra Wide (ƒ/2.4, 125° field of view), with 2× optical zoom out, up to 5× digital zoom, a brighter True Tone flash, sapphire crystal lens cover, and Smart HDR 3. Records 4K video at 24/25/30/60 fps and 1080p slo-mo at 120 or 240 fps. Note: this generation plays ProRes video but does not record it — ProRes capture arrived with the M2 model.

LiDAR Scanner

A dedicated depth sensor sitting as a small black circle inside the camera square. It measures distance using reflected light for augmented reality, room scanning, and faster low-light autofocus. Its presence is one of the quickest ways to rule out an iPad Air, which has no LiDAR.

TrueDepth front camera

12MP Ultra Wide with a 122° field of view (ƒ/2.4), supporting Center Stage auto-framing, Portrait mode with Depth Control, Portrait Lighting with six effects, and 1080p video at up to 60 fps. This is also the sensor array that powers Face ID.

Display & audio

Liquid Retina XDR display

12.9-inch mini-LED backlit IPS panel at 2732 × 2048 (264 ppi), built on a 2D backlighting system with 2,596 full-array local dimming zones and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. SDR brightness tops out at 600 nits; XDR brightness sustains 1000 nits full screen with 1600 nits peak on HDR content. Fully laminated, antireflective at 1.8% reflectivity, with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. This panel is the single biggest reason this generation still commands the price it does — and the reason screen damage is costly here.

ProMotion & color

Adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz ProMotion, P3 wide color gamut, and True Tone ambient color matching. Supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C). Apple Pencil hover is not supported on this generation — that feature arrived with the M2 model.

Audio

Four-speaker audio that reorients automatically as you rotate the iPad, plus a five-microphone studio-quality array. Playback supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack — audio is over the Thunderbolt port or wireless only.

Ports, connectivity & what is missing

The Thunderbolt port is the cleanest hardware divider between this generation and everything that came before it, so it is worth confirming while you identify your device. The right-hand column matters just as much when pricing, because people routinely assume this model has features it never shipped with.

Ports, controls & wireless
  • 1× Thunderbolt / USB 4 connector (up to 40Gb/s, charging, native DisplayPort out, one external display up to 6K at 60Hz)
  • 1× Smart Connector on the back for the Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
  • 1× Magnetic edge for pairing and charging the Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
  • 1× Top button, plus volume up/down
  • 1× Nano-SIM tray, right edge (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only)
  • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 on every unit
  • 5G, LTE, eSIM, and GPS/GNSS on cellular models
Not on this model
  • No 3.5mm headphone jack
  • No SD or microSD card slot — storage cannot be expanded
  • No Lightning port
  • No Touch ID and no Home button
  • No Wi-Fi 6E — that arrived with the M2 model
  • No Apple Pencil hover and no ProRes video recording
  • No mmWave 5G on the A2461 or A2462 variants
  • No eSIM on the China mainland A2462 variant

Apple M1 8GB or 16GB RAM (fixed) Thunderbolt / USB 4 40Gb/s Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR 120Hz ProMotion Face ID LiDAR Scanner Center Stage Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 5G (cellular models) Apple Intelligence capable

Battery, build & more

Battery & charging

Built-in 40.88-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, rated by Apple at up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi and about 9 hours over cellular. Charges over the Thunderbolt port from the bundled 20W adapter. Batteries in units this age commonly hold noticeably less than they did new — that is expected and does not disqualify a trade-in.

Dimensions & weight

280.6 × 214.9 × 6.4 mm (11.04" × 8.46" × 0.25"). Wi-Fi models weigh 682 g (1.50 lb); cellular models 685 g (1.51 lb). That 6.4mm thickness is why some Magic Keyboards made for the 5.9mm 4th generation fit this model tightly.

Finishes

Silver and Space Gray only. Color has no effect on trade-in value on this model, so you do not need to select it anywhere.

In the box & software

Shipped with the iPad Pro, a 1-meter USB-C charge cable, and a 20W USB-C power adapter. Launched on iPadOS 14.5 and has taken several major iPadOS releases since. Which iPadOS version you are running does not affect your offer — we reset every device on arrival regardless.

Accessories

Works with the Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and Apple Pencil (2nd generation). These were sold separately and are not required for a trade-in, but including them in good condition can improve your total payout — ask us through a custom quote.

Original retail pricing

Launched at $1,099 for 128GB Wi-Fi, $1,199 for 256GB, $1,399 for 512GB, $1,799 for 1TB, and $2,199 for 2TB. Cellular added $200 at every tier, topping out at $2,399. High-capacity units cost far more new and remain worth substantially more today.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I find my iPad's model number, storage, and memory?
No technical knowledge needed — it is four taps. Open Settings, tap General, then tap About. Three lines on that screen give you everything the quote tool asks for:

Model Name spells out the generation in plain English, so it should read "iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation)." Model Number shows a long part number at first — tap directly on it and it flips to the short Apple model number starting with A, such as A2378. Capacity gives you the storage size.

For memory, you do not need to look it up separately: it is fixed by capacity on this model. 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB units have 8GB; 1TB and 2TB units have 16GB. If the iPad will not power on, the A-number is printed in small text on the aluminum back near the bottom. Our device model finder walks through it visually, and if you are still unsure, send us a custom quote request and we will identify it for you.
02 Mine says M1 — how do I know it isn't an iPad Air, an 11-inch Pro, or the newer M2?
The M1 appears in three different Apple tablets and Apple reused the phrase "5th generation" across two of them, which is exactly why this trips people up. Here is the quick sort:

iPad Air (5th generation) — A2588, A2589, A2591. A 10.9-inch screen, a single rear camera with no LiDAR dot, and it unlocks with a fingerprint on the top button rather than Face ID. Same chip, very different tablet.

iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) — A2377, A2459, A2301, A2460. Same three-camera array and Face ID as this one, but the smaller screen and a standard Liquid Retina panel instead of mini-LED XDR.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) — A2436, A2764, A2437, A2766. This is the one that catches people out, because the 2022 M2 model is physically indistinguishable from this generation: same dimensions, same weight, same cameras, same finishes. There is no visual tell at all. If your number is in that range you have the newer model, it is worth more, and it belongs on its own page.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) — A2229, A2069, A2232, A2233. The 2020 A12Z model, near-identical externally but 5.9mm thick instead of 6.4mm, with a standard Liquid Retina screen and plain USB-C rather than Thunderbolt.

Quoting the wrong generation means the offer you accept will not match the device we receive and we have to requote it. Two minutes on the About screen prevents that. We buy every model listed here — start from our tablet trade-in page if yours turns out not to be the 5th generation.
03 Can I sell an iPad Pro with a cracked screen, a weak battery, or a previous repair?
Cracked glass, a battery that no longer lasts an afternoon, dents in the aluminum, a Face ID sensor that stopped working, dead pixels or backlight blooming, a bent chassis, or an iPad that will not charge at all — we buy all of it. Select the matching cosmetic grade and functionality above, tick any issue boxes that apply, and your quote adjusts accordingly. If the unit was previously repaired or refurbished, use the Refurbished device checkbox, since aftermarket displays and batteries change what it is worth.

Be aware that screen damage takes a larger deduction on this model than on most tablets, because the mini-LED XDR panel is unusually expensive to replace. The trade-off is that a cracked unit still returns real cash instead of sitting in a drawer.

One hard exception: an iPad still signed in to an Apple Account with Find My active carries Activation Lock and cannot be resold by anyone, so it has almost no value. See FAQ 05 for how to clear it. If you cannot sign in to disable it, please contact us before shipping — we would rather help you unlock it first than send it back.
04 What raises my iPad Pro 5th generation trade-in value the most?
Storage capacity is by far the biggest factor, and many people underestimate why. The 1TB and 2TB units also shipped with 16GB of memory instead of 8GB, so they are genuinely more capable machines, not merely roomier ones. That gap was worth $700 at retail and it still shows up clearly in resale.

After that, in order: cellular models outvalue Wi-Fi-only ones, and there is a Connectivity selector above for exactly that reason. Screen condition matters more here than on almost any other tablet because the XDR panel is so costly to replace. Battery health and a straight, undented chassis round it out. And here is one people miss constantly: there is a Charger Included question in the tool, and a surprising number of sellers box the tablet alone and leave money in a drawer — the original 20W adapter and cable affect your offer.

What many people do not realize is that a 2021 iPad Pro still feels current. The M1 keeps it eligible for Apple Intelligence and the 120Hz XDR display has not been beaten by much since, which is precisely why our offers on this model stay strong rather than collapsing the way older tablets did.

If you have only ever considered marketplaces, this is the part worth knowing: our iPad trade-in service pays cash, not credit locked to one retailer. The number you see above is locked in before you ship, shipping is free and fully insured, there are no listing fees or seller commissions, and there is no chargeback risk. For a fuller comparison, read our guides on selling a used iPad for maximum profit, where to sell an iPad for cash, and the best places to sell a used iPad online. Have several devices? We also handle bulk buybacks, corporate buybacks, and school device buybacks.
05 How do I erase my iPad and clear Activation Lock, and when do I get paid?
Do these in order before you ship:

1. Back up to iCloud or a computer if there is anything you want to keep. 2. Unpair your Apple Pencil and any Bluetooth accessories under Settings → Bluetooth. 3. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPad → Erase All Content and Settings and enter your passcode and Apple Account password. That single action signs you out of iCloud, switches off Find My, and clears Activation Lock automatically. Leave the iPad on the "Hello" setup screen; do not set it up again. 4. On cellular models, remove the nano-SIM from the right-edge tray and contact your carrier to cancel or transfer the line. Remove any eSIM plan while you are in Settings. 5. If the iPad was issued by an employer or a school, ask their IT department to release it from Apple Business Manager, Apple School Manager, or their MDM system — otherwise it stays supervised and locked no matter what you erase.

Our step-by-step guide to erasing an iPad Pro before reselling covers each screen, and every device we receive also goes through certified sanitization on our end regardless — see our data erasure protocols page.

Shipping and payment: once you accept your offer we email a free, fully insured prepaid label; packing guidance is on our shipping instructions page. When your iPad arrives and passes cosmetic and functional testing, payment is approved within two business days, by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, or a mailed paper check.