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 (Caution)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.5 With New Wallpaper, Screen Time Changes, Carrier Satellite Support for iPhone 13 and More

Monday May 12, 2025 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, the fifth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 come a little over a month after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 18.5 update has a...
tvOS 18 Feature

Apple Releases tvOS 18.5

Monday May 12, 2025 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 18.5, the latest version of the tvOS operating system. tvOS 18.5 comes a little over a month after the launch of tvOS 18.4, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.5 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌Apple TV‌ owners who have...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

WSJ: Apple Weighing Price Hikes for iPhone 17 Lineup Without Blaming Tariffs

Monday May 12, 2025 3:36 am PDT by
Apple is considering raising prices for its upcoming iPhone 17 models set to release this fall, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal. The company reportedly aims to pair the potential price hikes with new features and design changes to justify the increased cost to consumers, rather than attributing them to U.S. tariffs on goods from China. The...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Expected This Week With These New Features

Monday May 12, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple is expected to release iOS 18.5 to the general public this week. While the software update is relatively minor, it still includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones. Below, we recap everything new in iOS 18.5. Pride Wallpaper Apple recently announced its 2025 Pride Collection, including a new Apple Watch band, watch face,...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.5

Monday May 12, 2025 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.5, the fifth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched last September. macOS Sequoia 15.5 comes a little over a month after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.4. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia 15.5‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run ...
Mayday Calendar

Apple Acquisition Hints at Upgraded Calendar App on iOS 19 or Beyond

Friday May 9, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple acquired Canadian startup Mayday Labs in April 2024, according to a European Commission listing, spotted by French blog MacGeneration. The acquisition had not received widespread attention from tech publications until now. Apple is legally required to report certain acquisitions to the European Commission, under the terms of the EU's Digital Markets Act. Mayday Labs founder Jeremy...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

20th Anniversary iPhone Will Be Mostly Glass With All-Screen Design

Monday May 12, 2025 2:52 am PDT by
Apple will mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone X in 2027 by launching a mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said the all-screen device will arrive later in 2027, suggesting a fall release. The model will be preceded by Apple's first foldable iPhone, claims the reporter....

Top Rated Comments

A MacBook lover Avatar
52 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
52 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
52 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
52 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
52 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
52 months ago
I only buy products with a coolness factor of 10/10
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)