iFixit Digs Into M1 iPad Pro in New XDR Display Teardown

iFixit has started one of its traditional teardowns on the 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro, which began arriving to customers on its May 21 launch date. iFixit's teardown delves into the new "XDR" mini-LED display, which is one of the iPad's major new features.


The ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ features new 5G antennas at the sides to enable 5G connectivity, and there's a 10566 mAh (40.33Wh) battery inside.

As for the display, it's slightly thicker than the Liquid Retina display from the prior-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ (0.5mm), and "quite a bit heavier." Unlike a traditional LED display, the mini-LED display in the ‌iPad Pro‌ features a giant grid of tiny LEDs that introduce the contrast and quality improvements seen in the 2021 ‌iPad Pro‌.

There are 2,596 local dimming zones in the ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌, and each one is a square with four tiny LEDs inside. The non-XDR ‌iPad‌ display, meanwhile, uses a single strip of LEDs along one side, so this inside look at the display gives a great explainer on what's different between the 2020 ‌iPad Pro‌ and the 2021 12.9-inch version.

iFixit shared a YouTube video opening up the ‌iPad Pro‌, and the full teardown with photos, writeup, and repairability score isn't yet available, but it should be coming in the future.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Apple Creator Studio

Apple's Next Launch is Today

Tuesday January 27, 2026 2:39 pm PST by
Update: Apple Creator Studio is now available. Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium...
apple silicon 1 feature

Apple Responds to Skyrocketing RAM and Storage Chip Prices

Thursday January 29, 2026 2:40 pm PST by
On an earnings call with equity analysts today, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to fast-rising RAM and SSD storage chip prices in the supply chain. Prices for RAM and NAND storage chips are surging lately due to high demand from companies building out AI servers, resulting in supply constraints. Cook said that rising memory chip prices had a "minimal impact" on Apple's gross margin in the...

Top Rated Comments

A MacBook lover Avatar
61 months ago
So I went and checked out an M1 iPad display in person. In dark mode, at its highest brightness, I couldn’t see any of the clouding people posted online. It looked identical to my iPhone 12 Pro display in dark mode on its highest brightness.

I hate how people intentionally lie, and photoshop images to make them look nothing like reality. It sickens me honestly.

It makes me sad, because I actually believed it until I saw it in person. This display is perfect.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
61 months ago

2017 12.9 is 677 grams (1.49lbs)
2021 12.9 is 682 grams (1.50lbs)
2020 12.9 is 643 grams (1.41lbs)

Dang the 2021 is marginally heavier than the 2017, although pretty much the same.

I would say you're splitting hairs there comparing weight of 2020 vs 2021, but... the 2017 was always heavy feeling so it seems it has returned
That’s a strange order you’ve put those in!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
61 months ago

So I went and checked out an M1 iPad display in person. I’m dark mode at its highest brightness I couldn’t see any of the clouding people posted online. It looked identical to my iPhone 12 Pro display in dark mode on its highest brightness.

I hate how people intentionally lie, and photoshop images to make them look nothing like reality. It sickens me honestly.

It makes me sad, because I actually believed it until I saw it in person. This display is perfect.
Just because you didn't see it in person, that doesn't mean everyone else was lying or purposefully exaggerating, although some may have done so.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
61 months ago

Any word on Wi-Fi 6E support ?

If I was AAPL, I'd include it & NOT specify it, so that it could be "Field Tested" by AAPL (& select others) BEFORE officially releasing products with it !

50/50 chance is includes Wi-Fi 6E support !
that's not how the FCC works.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
61 months ago

That’s a strange order you’ve put those in!
its sorta how my brain is operating today: making no sense
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
timerickson Avatar
61 months ago
I only buy products with a coolness factor of 10/10
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)