iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2016
iPad Pro (9.7")
A pocket-friendlier Pro in the classic 9.7" size, debuting the ambient-adjusting True Tone screen that every Apple display now uses.
iPad Pro (9.7"): key facts
When was the iPad Pro (9.7") released?
The iPad Pro (9.7") was released in March 31, 2016. Apple discontinued it in June 2017.
How much did the iPad Pro (9.7") cost?
The iPad Pro (9.7") launched at $599 in 2016 — about $785 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iPad Pro (9.7")’s specs?
The iPad Pro (9.7") used a Apple A9X running at 2.16 GHz, with 2 GB of memory and 32 GB of storage. It ran iOS 9.3.
Why does the iPad Pro (9.7") matter?
Introduced True Tone and a wide colour (DCI-P3) display.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A9X · 2.16 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 (True Tone, wide colour) |
| GPU | PowerVR (12-core) |
| Ports | Lightning, Smart Connector |
| Weight | 437 g |
| Dimensions | 240×169.5×6.1 mm |
| Operating system | iOS 9.3 |
| Released | March 31, 2016 |
| Discontinued | June 2017 |
| Launch price | $599 |
How the iPad Pro (9.7") compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.16 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.5× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 8,190 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $599 in 2016 — about $785 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
It had a quad-speaker system that genuinely impressed reviewers.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad Pro (9.7") in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25