Published: May 27, 2024
Apple's 'Let Loose' event on May 7, 2024, introduced the most significant iPad Pro redesign in years. The 2024 iPad Pro, powered by the new M4 chip, promises to blur the lines between tablet and laptop even further. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, it claims to be Apple's thinnest product ever. After spending time with both models, here's our comprehensive review.
Design and Build: Featherweight Marvel
At just 5.1mm thick for the 13-inch model (5.3mm for 11-inch), the iPad Pro is astonishingly slim—thinner than an iPhone 15 Pro. Weighing 444g (11-inch) and 579g (13-inch), it's lighter than its predecessor despite packing more power. The all-aluminum unibody feels premium, with flat edges and a USB-C port supporting Thunderbolt speeds.
The big upgrade is the optional nanotexture glass finish ($100 extra), which cuts glare by up to 45%—ideal for artists or outdoor workers. No more fingerprint smudges ruining matte perfection. Colors include Silver and Space Black. Durability holds up with IP-free water resistance, but the thin profile demands a case like the new Magnetic Folio.
Display: Tandem OLED Revolution
The headline feature is the Ultra Retina XDR display using tandem OLED technology—the first in a tablet. Stacking two OLED panels delivers 1000 nits full-screen brightness (outdoor SDR) and 1600 nits peak HDR. Blacks are infinite, colors pop with 1,000,000:1 contrast.
ProMotion 120Hz refresh ensures buttery scrolling, and Reference Mode nails Hollywood color accuracy (P3 gamut). The 11-inch hits 2420x1668 resolution (264 ppi), 13-inch 2752x2064 (264 ppi). Viewing angles are flawless. In tests, it outshines the M3 iPad Pro's mini-LED, with no blooming and superior motion handling for video editing.
Performance: M4 Chip Dominance
The M4 chip is a beast: 10-core CPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine (38 TOPS). Built on second-gen 3nm, it's 50% faster CPU than M2, 4x faster rendering than M1. In Geekbench 6, single-core scores 3,800+; multi-core 14,500+. GPU crushes 3DMark Wild Life Extreme (12,000+ score).
Ray tracing debuts on iPad, shining in games like Resident Evil Village. Final Cut Pro exports 4K timelines 2x faster. No throttling under load—sustained 30W draw. Storage starts at 256GB ($999/11-inch, $1,299/13-inch), up to 2TB. 16GB RAM standard (vs. 8GB on base M2). Multitasking with Stage Manager flies; no crashes in 20+ apps.
Cameras and Audio: Pro Tools Perfected
Rear: 12MP Wide (f/1.8, 4K60 ProRes), LiDAR for AR. Ultra-wide landscape selfie camera on front (12MP) is game-changing for FaceTime calls. Audio: Four-speaker system with adaptive bass; spatial audio beams to your position.
Accessories: Magic Keyboard and Pencil Pro Elevate It
The $299/$349 Magic Keyboard has a 14-key function row, larger haptic trackpad, and aluminum palm rests. It's not a MacBook replacement but closes the gap—typing feels snappy, trackpad multitouch precise.
Apple Pencil Pro ($129) adds haptic feedback, squeeze gestures, barrel roll gyroscope for tool rotation. Find My integration too. Pairing is magnetic; charging seamless.
Battery Life and iPadOS 17.5
13-inch lasts 12+ hours video playback, 10 hours heavy creative work. 11-inch similar. Fast charging to 50% in 30 mins (30W adapter separate).
iPadOS 17.5 (updating to 18 soon) supports external drives, better Files app. Apps like Affinity Photo, LumaFusion leverage M4 fully. No macOS, but that's the point—optimized tablet experience.
Software and Ecosystem
Apple Intelligence teases (beta later 2024) will supercharge Siri, but M4's NPU is ready. Continuity with Mac/iPhone seamless. Gaming: Apple Arcade titles like Fantasian Neo Dimension run flawlessly.
Pricing and Value
11-inch: $999 (256GB) to $2,299 (2TB+nanotexture). 13-inch: $1,299-$3,499. Base M2 Air ($599) for casuals; Pro for pros. Trade-ins save $200-600.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning OLED display
- Insane M4 performance
- Slimmest, lightest Pro ever
- Best accessories yet
- All-day battery
Cons:n- High price, especially maxed out
- iPadOS limits desktop ambitions
- No headphone jack
- Pencil/Keyboard extra cost
Verdict: 9.5/10
The 2024 iPad Pro M4 isn't incremental—it's transformative. For creators, designers, and power users, it's unmatched. If you need a laptop, get MacBook; for portable power, this reigns. Apple's tablet future is brighter than its OLED glow.
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