I wonder what made apple give the iPad Pro such an awful screen though, considering all the software optimisations that they do. I got the M1 iPad a month ago, and the screen has absolutely horrendous ghosting issues, like, what is this? An LCD from 2001? Just open the settings app, and quickly scroll the options up and down - white text on the black background leaves such a visible smudge, it bothers me massively when scrolling through websites or apps in dark mode, it honestly doesn't feel like an apple product to me. Honestly haven't seen this issue on any screen in the past 10 years, and here this brand new(and very expensive) iPad with 120Hz screen has something that looks like 50-100ms gray to gray refresh time.
This is a very interesting anecdote considering the m1 IPad Pro is supposed to have one of the best screens available on any device that form factor, the same XDR display technology as their $5000+ monsters. Every reviewer has mentioned the display as the selling point. I have looked at them in person and have debating buying one, but Next time I’m at an Apple Store I’ll want to see if I can replicate what you’re seeing.
You might be experiencing the mini-LED effect where the back lighting is regionalized, which isn’t ghosting but can be noticeable.
Edit: the parent commenter does not have a miniLED iPad.
If you have the 12.9” M1 iPad, the ghosting is likely due to the new miniLED backlight which was introduced with that model.
This backlight is not static, but tracks to content in order to increase effective contrast (similar to FALD backlights on higher end LCD TVs). If the backlight does not track the LCD content fast enough, there can be ghosting.
In addition, since the LEDs are large compared to pixels, you can sometimes see haloing, particularly in small bits of white on a black background.
Overall, while the display is great for video, especially HDR video, it has some problems with UI and (white on black) text.
I’m guessing it must be an issue with those new miniLED screens, or some other significant generational problem. I have two older 12.9” iPad Pros, one 1st generation and one 2nd generation (the first with the 120hz display). They are both excellent displays with no such issues with motion or ghosting.
I’m worried the upcoming upgraded MBP will only have this option. Although I read they released an update that should minimize this issue. Have you tried that?
To this note, I've noticed huge discrepancies in display quality in iPads. They were passed out in my last year of high school, and each one even appeared to have slightly different color grading. The whole thing was pretty funny to me, especially since I have no idea how artists would be able to trust a display like that.
