New iPad Pro Lacks mmWave 5G and Ultra-Wide Camera

While the iPad Pro was updated with the M4 chip and more today, the latest 11-inch and 13-inch models lack two features that are available on some previous models, including mmWave 5G support and an Ultra Wide camera.

iPad Pro M4 Silver and Space Black Feature 1
Apple's comparison page confirms that cellular configurations of the new iPad Pro models are limited to sub-6GHz bands for 5G. mmWave 5G was supported on the previous two iPad Pro generations, but in the U.S. only and never elsewhere.

Apple has yet to explain why it removed mmWave support from the iPad Pro. mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that can provide very fast speeds at short distances, which is ideal for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.

The 10-megapixel Ultra Wide rear camera on the last three iPad Pro generations is also absent on the latest models, which only have a 12-megapixel Wide rear camera.

As we previously noted, cellular configurations of the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models also lack a physical SIM card slot, making them eSIM-only devices.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

hch720 Avatar
9 months ago
Also has one less microphone vs last gen
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Delgibbons Avatar
9 months ago
Tim giveth and taketh away
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DTphonehome Avatar
9 months ago
Very weird that the cellular upcharge was $129 back in the OG iPad days and is now $200. It would seem the cost to add that functionality is minimal, maybe $50 for licensing fees. Hell, "Pro" Apple Watches (Stainless and Ultra) include cellular... you'd think the Pro iPads would too.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SactoGuy18 Avatar
9 months ago
The lack of mmWave cellular connectivity--no big loss. Especially with T-Mobile USA using the former Sprint frequencies with real 3GPP NR 5G mode and both AT&T and Verizon now using C-band for 5G.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThemePro Avatar
9 months ago
That's a major fail - I'm not going to 'downgrade'
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dbwie Avatar
9 months ago
Most people who would buy the iPad Pro also have an iPhone with an ultra wide camera. I don’t mind a couple of trade-offs to keep the price down for an iPad with an M4 and a nice OLED display. I would use it for scanning documents and it looks like it is well suited to that purpose, and apple even demo this in their presentation.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)