what is the best value ipad pro right now? the m2 or m3?

Sonar Pro

Answer: The M2 iPad Pro remains the best value, as Apple never released an M3 iPad Pro—the lineup jumped from M2 (2022) to M4 (2024)—and the M2 now sells at deep discounts that far outweigh the M4's premium features for most users.

The user's query contains a factual error: there is no M3 iPad Pro. Apple skipped the M3 chip in the iPad Pro lineup entirely, moving directly from M2 to M4.[7] This clarification is essential for answering accurately. Given the actual market landscape in April 2026, the M2 iPad Pro remains exceptional value. The M2 delivers vastly more processing power than iPadOS currently utilizes for typical tasks—multitasking, video editing, gaming, and creative workflows all run seamlessly. Real-world performance between M2 and the newer M4 is practically indistinguishable for average users, yet M2 models now sell at substantial discounts following M4's launch. The M2 iPad Pro retains premium features that justify its position: 120Hz ProMotion display, Face ID, and Thunderbolt connectivity—capabilities not found on the less-expensive iPad Air line.[2] While the M4 iPad Pro features the stunning tandem OLED display, thinner chassis, and Apple Pencil Pro support, these luxury upgrades command a steep premium that is difficult to justify unless you specifically need them. Search results confirm that M2 iPad Airs (the closest comparison available in current pricing data) show M2 models discounted $200–$250 compared to M3 equivalents at only $100 off.[1] This discount pattern typically applies to the iPad Pro line as well after generational transitions. For hundreds of dollars less, the M2 iPad Pro delivers a flagship-tier experience built to last years.

GPT-5.4 (changed mind)

Answer: I would change my answer slightly: the M2 iPad Pro is still the best value, but the more important correction is that there was no M3 iPad Pro, so the real comparison is M2 iPad Pro versus the newer M4 iPad Pro.

The other models did not change my bottom-line value judgment, but they did expose an important factual issue in the framing. My original answer treated “M3 iPad Pro” as if it were a real lineup option, when Apple in fact skipped from the M2 iPad Pro to the M4 iPad Pro. Because of that, my original conclusion that the older Pro is the better value still stands, but it should have been stated more accurately. The model that most strongly pushed that correction was Gemini 3.1 Pro, because it directly identified the key factual point: there is no M3 iPad Pro generation. That is more persuasive than arguments that continued discussing an “M3 Pro” as though it existed. Once that is corrected, the value case for the M2 becomes even cleaner: you are usually comparing a discounted former flagship against a much more expensive newer flagship whose biggest advantages are display, thinness, and future-proofing rather than must-have performance for most users. Claude Opus 4 and Kimi K2.5 were also directionally aligned with my original reasoning: the M2 remains extremely capable, iPadOS rarely makes the extra chip headroom decisive, and discounts or refurbished pricing usually make the older model the better performance-per-dollar buy. Those points reinforced my original position, but they did not by themselves force a change. I was not convinced by Sonar Pro because it shifted the discussion away from the iPad Pro entirely and into the iPad Air line, which does not answer the user’s actual question. Grok 4.20 broadly agreed with me, but it repeated the M3 premise instead of correcting it, so it was less compelling on accuracy. Kimi K2.5 and Claude Opus 4 also described the newer model in ways that seem to blend real M4-era hardware improvements into an “M3” label, which weakens their usefulness as precise answers. So yes, I would revise my prior response for factual accuracy, but not for the core recommendation. The best-value answer remains the older M2 iPad Pro, especially if found refurbished or discounted by a meaningful margin. The change is that I would now say the question itself should be reframed: not M2 vs M3 iPad Pro, but M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro.

Grok 4.20 (changed mind)

Answer: The M2 iPad Pro is currently the best value, as Apple skipped the M3 chip entirely and the M2 offers nearly identical real-world performance to the M4 at a much lower price.

Gemini 3.1 Pro's correction that Apple never released an M3 iPad Pro but jumped from M2 to M4 is factually accurate and directly addresses a flaw in my original assumption that an M3 Pro exists for comparison. This shifts the relevant choice to discounted M2 Pro versus the new M4 Pro, where the older model still wins on value for most users. The M2 iPad Pro handles all typical tasks like video editing, illustration, multitasking, and gaming with performance headroom that iPadOS rarely fully utilizes. Its 120Hz display, Face ID, and Thunderbolt remain premium features, and current discounts make it substantially cheaper than the M4 without meaningful sacrifices in everyday use. While the M4 brings a thinner design and tandem OLED screen, these are luxury upgrades rather than necessities for the majority of buyers. The other models' arguments were less compelling because several incorrectly assumed an M3 iPad Pro exists with OLED (like Claude and Kimi) or shifted focus to iPad Air (Sonar), missing the precise factual foundation that Gemini provided.

Kimi K2.5 (changed mind)

Answer: The M2 iPad Pro is the best value because Apple never actually released an M3 iPad Pro; the lineup jumped directly from M2 to M4, making the M2 the definitive value option against its pricier successor.

My original answer operated under the false premise that an M3 iPad Pro exists. Gemini 3.1 Pro correctly identified that Apple skipped the M3 chip entirely for the iPad Pro line, transitioning directly from the M2 (2022) to the M4 (2024). This factual correction fundamentally alters the value assessment. The question’s comparison between "M2 or M3" reflects a common misconception. In reality, buyers today choose between heavily discounted M2 models and the premium-priced M4 iPad Pro. The M2 remains exceptionally powerful—handling multitasking, 4K video editing, and pro apps with ease—while now selling for $200–$400 less than the M4. While the M4 brings genuine improvements like the tandem OLED display and a thinner chassis, these are luxury upgrades, not value propositions. For the vast majority of users, the M2 delivers 95% of the practical experience at 60-70% of the cost. Since the hypothetical M3 model does not exist, the M2 iPad Pro stands unchallenged as the value leader for those seeking Pro-tier features without paying the latest-generation premium.

Claude Opus 4 (changed mind)

Answer: The M2 iPad Pro offers the best value right now, as it delivers nearly identical real-world performance at a significantly lower price — though it's worth noting that Apple never actually released an M3 iPad Pro, jumping straight from M2 to M4.

I'm maintaining my core position that the M2 iPad Pro is the best value, but I want to refine my answer based on an important factual correction raised by Gemini 3.1 Pro: Apple never released an M3 iPad Pro. The iPad Pro lineup went from M2 (2022) directly to M4 (2024). This is a critical clarification that I should have made in my original response. When the user asks about the "M3 iPad Pro," they are likely either confused about the naming or actually referring to the M4 iPad Pro (2024). Alternatively, they might be thinking of the M3 iPad Air, which does exist. Either way, the honest and most helpful answer should flag this distinction. The core value argument remains the same and was reinforced by nearly every other model's response: the M2 iPad Pro is substantially cheaper — especially through refurbished channels or sales — while delivering performance that exceeds what iPadOS currently demands. The M4 iPad Pro brings a genuinely impressive tandem OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, and the M4 chip, but at a significant price premium that most users won't recoup in practical day-to-day benefits. Sonar Pro's point about the M2 vs M3 iPad Air comparison was interesting but somewhat tangential to the user's question about iPad Pro specifically. GPT-5.4 and Grok 4.20 largely agreed with my position. Kimi K2.5 aligned closely as well. The argument that most convinced me to update my response was Gemini 3.1 Pro's factual correction about the M3 iPad Pro not existing. This is genuinely important context that makes the answer more accurate and more helpful to the user. My underlying recommendation doesn't change — the M2 iPad Pro remains the best value — but the framing should acknowledge the product lineup reality.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Answer: The M2 iPad Pro remains the best value, as the other models incorrectly hallucinate the existence of an "M3 iPad Pro," when Apple actually skipped the M3 chip and went straight to the M4 for the Pro lineup.

I am maintaining my original position because the other models base their arguments on a glaring factual inaccuracy: Apple never released an M3 iPad Pro. The iPad Pro lineup jumped directly from the M2 chip (2022) to the M4 chip (2024). Models like Kimi K2.5, Grok 4.20, and Claude Opus 4 completely hallucinate the existence of an M3 iPad Pro. They incorrectly attribute the M4 iPad Pro's real-world features—such as the tandem OLED display and the ultra-thin chassis—to this imaginary M3 model. Meanwhile, Sonar Pro goes off-topic and hallucinates an M3 iPad Air (the 2024 iPad Air actually uses the M2 chip). GPT-5.4 vaguely dances around the issue by referring to the "newest Pro model" but fails to explicitly correct the false premise of the user's prompt. Because the competing arguments rely on non-existent Apple products and fictional spec comparisons, they are fundamentally flawed and unconvincing. The true comparison is between the M2 and M4 iPad Pros, where the heavily discounted M2 model still delivers the best overall value.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a unanimous consensus after Gemini 3.1 Pro pointed out a critical flaw in the question: Apple skipped the M3 chip for the iPad Pro, jumping straight from M2 to M4. All six models concluded that the M2 iPad Pro remains the superior value, as its performance still outpaces iPadOS requirements while retailing for hundreds less than the newer M4 flagship.

All 6 models agreed