With the iPad Pro 2021 now available for pre-order, Apple has updated its Apple Service and Repair table to highlight the price of official repairs should the new tablet break during use

The repair price for the 11-inch iPad Pro model remains unchanged from the previous generation at $499, but the 129-inch version has increased another $50 to $699 This is almost certainly due to the brand new mini-LED technology that drives the screen, given that the 11-inch model has not suffered the same inflation

Screen technology aside, the two new iPad Pro models feature the same upgrades: an improved TrueDepth camera, optional 5G support, Thunderbolt compatibility, and increased performance with the M1 processor

On one front, it is not surprising that repair costs will rise with MiniLED technology It appears that each panel requires more than 10,000 LEDs, which is an enormous increase over the 72 used in previous versions On the other hand, $699 is a huge expense for a device that can be purchased new starting at $1,099

Of course, one can avoid the high cost by purchasing AppleCare+ with the device; AppleCare+ costs $149 for two years and can be extended indefinitely for $799 per month Obviously, that's an expense most people want to avoid, but given that it brings the cost of out-of-warranty repairs to $49 a pop, it certainly offers peace of mind to the accident-prone, with Apple offering two accidental damage repairs every 12 months

If you plan to purchase the new 129-inch iPad Pro, you have time to mull over your options The current delivery date for the iPad Pro 129-inch has been pushed back from late June to early July; the delivery date for the 11-inch version is still listed as May, so again, the complicated mini LED screen appears to be behind the delay

With longer wait times and increased repair costs, one might wonder if the upgrade to mini LED technology is worth it We won't know until we actually benchmark it, but in theory, mini-LEDs should be a gamer changer, providing richer visuals for both media and games