As much as we imagine it, the premium iPad Pro tablet cannot be said to be underpowered. With an all-new chip that’s next-generation to anything in a Mac, Apple hopes to boost sagging iPad sales by launching a device that’s not only Apple’s thinnest yet but also packs incredible power.
And with a new Apple Pencil Pro, it’s a major upgrade. And those who use an iPad Pro for any type of art or design work will benefit from the new Pencil.
We’re testing the 13-inch model (which replaces the 12.9-inch), but there is an 11-inch model and both are available in 256GB (a new starting size), 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions.
This time both sizes have the same spec sheet; the only difference is the size.
Design: the thinnest of all
What’s particularly surprising is how thin the iPad Pro is. It was pretty thin anyway, but the new 13-inch (no, not 12.9 anymore but 13) measures just 5.1mm.
It’s the thinnest product Apple has ever made, even thinner than the iPad nano; You probably already know this, even if it may have to do with a poorly received marketing campaign. The 11-inch model is slightly thicker at 5.3mm.
Some are concerned about the flexibility of this design and time will tell if this will be an issue.
Our 13-inch model certainly didn’t seem to have any flexibility, and of course, in a case like the Smart Folio (now with more viewing angles), this will offer some protection.
In a practical sense, it is not thinness that attracts, but the weight gain that is achieved. The latest iPad Pro wasn’t the lightest and adding a keyboard meant it weighed more than the MacBook Air. If you add the new Magic Keyboard to the tab, it’s noticeably lighter. the 13-inch model weighs 579 g, while the 11-inch model weighs 444 g. For the 2022 update, these figures were 682 and 466 g.
Apple has moved the camera to the top edge of the tablet. This is much more useful than on the top edge, partly because our finger kept obscuring the camera unit for Face ID on our 2022 model.
Screen: with incredible impact
The OLED screen (labeled Ultra Retina XDR) is a true marvel. It will be an incredible tool for viewing high-contrast content even though the maximum brightness of 1600 nits has not increased from the previous generation.
There’s also a nano-textured glass option ($100/£100 extra) for the 1TB and 2TB models if you want; Although we haven’t seen it outside of the launch slot, it’s stunning to see in super low-key images. reflectivity even in a bright room.
Performance and key specifications
The reworked slab has Apple’s M4 chip on board instead of the expected six-month-old M3 and has more graphics capability. It’s again 3nm, but it’s a “second generation” manufacturing process. It’s surprisingly powerful for a tablet chip, even if multi-core performance doesn’t live up to expectations. However, the single-core performance scores are pretty incredible, even beating Intel’s top-of-the-line Core i9-14900KS.
Naturally, there’s a step up across the board from the M3, but this time there’s a redesigned CPU with extra efficiency cores (6), as well as the Neural Engine that’s 60 times faster than Apple’s first Neural Engine in the A11 Bionic from 2017. We think there have to be more reasons why Apple has stepped up to M4 instead of using M3 and we think we’ll hear more about that at Apple’s developer conference next month.
Software: there needs to be more soon
We can’t help but think we’re only getting half the story in terms of the software side with the iPad Pro and Apple surely has to act here. Apple isn’t willing to bring macOS to the iPad, even though that’s actually what many people want (or say they want). Instead, we are faced with a device with software in the form of iPadOS that is still a smartphone or tablet operating system with some multitasking features added.
Let’s take an example. I received some files via email, some in Google Drive and some in OneDrive, that I need to get into Dropbox. On Mac, I simply open both links in the browser, download them, and drag them to Dropbox. On the iPad, I need to export each one through the relevant apps and then share it to the Dropbox app in many more steps. It’s not even about multitasking or power: it’s more about the logic of working in multiple applications.
We know there will be new AI-powered elements from Apple’s software side and it’s interesting to hear Apple use AI terminology during the launch of the iPad Pro (like Intel’s favorite ‘AI PC’ slang) to replace the AI label. machine learning that you have used for years.
Apple says the M4’s neural engine is capable of up to 38 trillion operations per second, “which is faster than the neural processing unit of any current AI PC… The M4 turns the new iPad Pro into a tremendously powerful device for artificial intelligence.” We feel like there will be more coming here.
Connectivity and camera: one plus one
Naturally, it also supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard as well as 5G eSIM mobile models. There is no physical SIM slot. Or a headphone jack, since if you want wired headphones you can simply plug them into the USB-C port with an adapter.
In terms of cameras, both the front and rear are 12MP (rear: wide, front: ultrawide). There’s now a single camera on the back, but it’s joined by a LiDAR scanner and a new True Tone flash designed to better scan documents.
Audio playback has always been a strong point of the iPad Pro thanks to the four speakers and that hasn’t changed here despite the slimmer design.
Apple Pencil Pro: a welcome addition
The Apple Pencil Pro is also a new and somewhat impressive partner. It’s only compatible with the new iPad Air and Pro and has a new charging architecture, but in reality that capability works very similarly to the existing Pencil 2 (which isn’t compatible with the new devices).
It can be found using Apple FindMy, which is great news for those who lose them regularly – it can detach from its magnetic base all too easily.
The powerful thing is that there is a new sensor on the barrel that you can squeeze. This displays a tool palette on the screen, meaning you can change brushes/tools as well as select line weights and colors.
You can also press twice to invoke the eraser. There’s also a smooth haptic motor with a light touch that also provides confirmation; This all works very well and we found that on the second try, we had gotten used to it.
Rotating the barrel changes the orientation of the selected tool and you can see it on the screen with the Apple Pencil Hover. If you want a cheaper pencil, you can also choose the Apple Pencil USB-C, but due to the lack of pressure sensitivity, we wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s just for taking notes.
The Magic Keyboard has also been redesigned this time and looks much better than last time, which was easily dialed in and generally didn’t feel like it cost $299/£299. This time around it’s still priced at an eye-watering $349/£349, but you get a Mac-like quality keyboard with a large trackpad to boot.
Verdict on Apple’s iPad Pro
As expected, the 2024 iPad Pro makes a profit. But the performance gains here are pretty amazing. But the question is why has Apple updated the Pro so much? Is it to get people away from their Macs? Is it to discourage others from even trying to develop tablets? To reactivate iPad sales? Is it all of the above?
Also, whisper it quietly, but we’re at a stage where the iPad Air now also has an M2 chip and even the entry-level iPad has a lot to offer, now at a cheaper price (RIP the home button). The iPad Pro now offers a level of power that most people will never need – it’s for the 1% who design or draw with the Apple Pencil, and as such, the Pencil Pro is an important upgrade for them too.
Apple is also targeting Pro users who haven’t upgraded from much earlier models, but there has to be more to come in the iPadOS department at Apple’s developer conference next month. Surely the software needs to be boosted to match the fantastic power shown here.
Apple iPad Pro technical specifications
| Platform | apple m4 |
| Show | 13 or 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED, 2732 x 2064, 120 Hz |
| Cameras | Rear: 12 MP wide-angle camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture Front: 12 MP ultra-wide camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture |
| Models | Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and 5G cellular (eSIM) |
| Ability | 256, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 11 inch: 250 x 178 x 5.3mm, 13 inch 282 x 216 x 5.1mm |
| Weight | 11 inches: 444 g or 446 g, 13 inches: 579 g or 582 g |
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