iPad and Apple Pencil
The codes in the pre-release versions of iOS 10.3 seem to indicate that Apple is launching a 10.5-inch iPad soon. Reuters/Stephen Lam

Apple launched a 9.7-inch tablet Tuesday, which it calls just the iPad. The new tablet is a budget device and costs $329 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only version. While the new device is a replacement for the iPad Air 2 and doesn’t have high-end features, Apple is expected to launch another, more premium tablet — the iPad Pro 2 — at the inauguration event of its Spaceship Campus in Apple Park on April 4.

Let’s compare the company’s recently launched tablet with its upcoming one and find out how they differ.

Display

The iPad comes with a 9.7-inch LED backlit display just like all Apple tablets, but it is going to be just a regular retina display with multi-touch support and oleophobic coating. The iPad Pro 2 is expected to come with a 10.5-inch True Tone display, which adjusts the color and brightness of the tablet to match its environment.

Read: iPad Pro 2: 7 Expected Features

Processor

The iPad comes with an Apple A9 processor, while the iPad Pro 2 is expected to come with an Apple A10X processor. The A10X is much more powerful — it scored 4,236 in single-core and 6,588 in multi-core tests on Geekbench, compared to A9’s 2,397 and 4,013 in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively.

Camera

The iPad comes with an 8-megapixel f/2.4 camera. It is a basic camera with autofocus, a 43-megapixel Panorama and full HD video recording. The iPad Pro 2 is expected to have a more premium 12-megapixel f/2.2 camera with features such as Live Photos, 4K video recording, 63-pixel Panorama, auto HDR and 4K recording.

Operating System

The iPad comes with iOS 10.3 out-of-the-box. The iPad Pro 2 is expected to come out with the same OS.

Read: New iPad vs. iPad Pro

Touch Bar

The iPad Pro 2 is expected to come with a secondary Touch Bar display similar to the one on the MacBook Pro 2016. The Touch Bar is supposed to act as a virtual function row and offers app shortcuts and access to emojis. The iPad has no such feature.

3.5 mm audio jack

The iPad Pro 2 is expected to ditch the 3.5 mm audio jack for a lightening port similar to iPhone 7, while the new iPad already has one.

Accessories

The iPad Pro 2 is expected to come with a new rechargeable stylus called the Apple Pencil 2, which is expected to come with a magnetic strip to help charge it easily and also double up as a dock for the accessory. The new iPad doesn’t have Apple Pencil support.

The iPad Pro 2 is expected to be priced at $799 and complete Apple’s range of tablets since it will now have high-end, mid-range and budget tablets on offer. Given that it might be priced more than double the new iPad, there will be significant differences between the two, and customers will be able to consider the one that suits their budget.