As you may already know, Apple announced the next-generation iPad Pro today, which packs in the M5 chip, N1 networking chip, and the C1X cellular modem, making the iPad Pro the most power-efficient iPad that Apple has ever made. Not only that, but there is one new feature that some of us may have overlooked, and that feature may be what we have been wanting for quite some time.
The 2017 iPad Pro models introduced ProMotion technology, which adaptively changes the refresh rate up to 120Hz depending on the display’s usage. But for years, Macs have been able to connect to monitors with refresh rates higher than 60Hz; this means that Mac users can take full advantage of higher refresh rates, especially when it comes to gaming where lower latency really matters. Apple brought ProMotion to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models starting in 2021, so you can get the same 120Hz refresh rates across both the built-in display and a capable external monitor.
So far, when connecting any iPad to an external monitor, that monitor would be capped at up to 60Hz, regardless of whether that monitor is capable of higher refresh rates (>60Hz). But with the M5 iPad Pro, it looks like that problem is now remedied, according to the press release, this iPad Pro is now capable of driving 120Hz monitors. One thing that’s important to mention is that if you look closely at the tech specs page, it states that the iPad Pro “supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz or up to 4k resolution at 120Hz.”
Overall, this upgrade is more than a welcome change for iPad Pro users who want to take full advantage of their 120Hz external monitors. iPad Pro is available for pre-order today, and it will be available on October 22.
