This M1 iPad Pro Is Still One of the Best Tablets for Creators on a Budget
The M1 iPad Pro still handles multitasking, creative apps, and video editing with ease.
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
The 2021 iPad Pro may not sound especially exciting in 2026, but this is one of those devices that aged unusually well. On sale for $399.99 refurbished on StackSocial, the 11-inch iPad Pro still makes sense for people who want a fast tablet for work, school, or creative apps without spending flagship iPad prices.
The biggest reason for its longevity is the M1 chip. Apple originally brought the same processor from its MacBooks into this iPad, and even five years later, it still handles multitasking, gaming, video editing, drawing apps, and demanding workflows without feeling slow. For someone upgrading from an older base-model iPad or an aging Android tablet, the jump in responsiveness is noticeable immediately. And since this is a Grade-A refurbished unit, it should arrive with little to no cosmetic wear.
The hardware still holds up surprisingly well today—the 11-inch Liquid Retina display supports ProMotion with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling, drawing, and animations feel much smoother than standard iPads. Colors look accurate, brightness reaches up to 600 nits, and the antireflective coating helps when using it outdoors or near windows. The quad-speaker setup is also better than what most tablets in this price range offer, especially for movies and gaming. Apple included a Thunderbolt and USB 4 port here too, which means the tablet works well with external drives, monitors, docks, and accessories in a way that cheaper iPads still don't. The front-facing 12MP camera remains solid for video calls, while the rear wide and ultra-wide cameras, along with the LiDAR scanner, are still useful for scanning documents, augmented reality apps, and creative projects. Battery life also remains dependable at around 10 hours for streaming, browsing, or general work (though your mileage may vary, depending on use).
This isn't the right iPad for everyone, though, as the 128GB of storage can fill up quickly for people editing large video files or storing massive game libraries, especially since there is no microSD 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 M1 iPad Pro is a great buy at this sale price.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh LiFePO4 Battery Portable Power Station — $429.00 (List Price $799.00) TCL Tab A1 Plus 128GB 12.2" Tablet With Expandable Storage — $239.99 (List Price $299.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $269.99 (List Price $289.99) Blink Outdoor 4 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core + Doorbell 2K+ — $129.99 (List Price $179.98) Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With Remote (2025 Model) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team