This IPad Pro With the M1 Chip Remains One of the Best Tablets for Content Creators on a Budget.
The 2021 iPad Pro may not seem particularly impressive in 2026, but it’s one of those devices that has held up remarkably well over time. Available refurbished on StackSocial for $399.99 , the 11-inch iPad Pro is still a smart choice for those who need a fast tablet for work, school, or creative apps, but don’t want to spend the money on flagship iPad models.
The main reason for its longevity is the M1 chip. Apple originally used the same processor in its MacBooks in this iPad, and even after five years, it still handles multitasking, gaming, video editing, graphics apps, and resource-intensive workflows without slowing down. For those upgrading from an older base model iPad or a legacy Android tablet, the improved responsiveness is immediately noticeable. And since this is a Grade A refurbished unit, it should ship with virtually no cosmetic defects.
The hardware has performed remarkably well so far—the 11-inch Liquid Retina display supports ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling, drawing, and animations much smoother than on standard iPads. Colors look accurate, brightness reaches 600 nits, and the anti-glare coating helps when using outdoors or near windows. The quad-channel speaker system is also better than most tablets in this price range, especially for watching movies and playing games. Apple has also included Thunderbolt and USB 4 ports, meaning the tablet works well with external drives, monitors, docks, and accessories, something cheaper iPads still lack. The front-facing 12-megapixel camera remains reliable for video calls, and the rear wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle cameras, along with the LiDAR Scanner, remain useful for document scanning, augmented reality apps, and creative projects. Battery life also remains solid, lasting around 10 hours when streaming video, browsing the web, or performing general work tasks (though battery life may vary depending on usage).
However, this iPad isn’t for everyone, as the 128GB of storage can quickly fill up, especially if you edit large video files or store extensive game libraries, especially since there’s no microSD card expansion. And while Apple Intelligence support is included, newer iPads with M-series chips will likely receive software support longer. But for most people, the iPad Pro M1 is a great buy at this price .