The new iPad Pro range has received incredible design and hardware improvements, with the inclusion of the M4 chipset and Tandem OLED making these premium tablets a cut above the rest, particularly the M2 models. Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest models and see what sets them apart from their own predecessors and the competition.
New M4 iPad Pro models ship with what Apple calls Ultra Retina XDR; the largest tablet is the thinnest product from the technology giant
The two M4 iPad Pro models are available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with both versions getting treated to Tandem OLED technology that not only increases the panel’s maximum brightness but also upgrades color accuracy and overall lifespan. Apple says that both slates can reach a full-screen brightness of 1,000nits, with peak HDR brightness reaching 1,600nits. Called Ultra Retina XDR, Apple’s OLED panel is marketed as the ‘world’s most advanced display,’ with the option of a nano-texture glass that is similar to the one offered with the highly-expensive Pro Display XDR.
Thanks to the OLED upgrade, which does not require a backlight to illuminate the individual pixels, Apple successfully reduced the thickness of each M4 iPad Pro model. The 11-inch model is incredibly thin at 5.3mm, but the 13-inch version takes it to the next level, measuring just 5.1mm, becoming Apple’s thinnest product yet by putting the iPad nano to shame and weighing a quarter pound less than the M2 iPad Pro. Despite the reduction in thickness, the M4 iPad Pro lineup is expected to deliver better thermal performance thanks to the addition of graphite sheets in the primary housing and copper in the Apple logo.
To deliver unrivaled performance in its weight class, both iPad Pro models are fueled by the M4, which is mass produced on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process and delivers 50 percent better CPU performance than the M2. The chipset is also the first from the company to support hardware-accelerated mesh shading and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. When it comes to camera configuration, the 12MP wide unit makes a return at the back, along with a LiDAR sensor. Unfortunately, the ultrawide-angle camera has been removed from the package. As for the front, the 12MP TrueDepth camera touts a 122-degree field of view and supports depth-mapping technologies.
For connectivity, the M4 iPad Pro models are equipped with a single USB-C port that supports the Thunderbolt 3 or USB 4 standard, reaching a maximum throughput of 40Gb/s. Wi-Fi 6E and 5G return to the mix, with the cellular versions capable of getting activated using an eSIM connection. As for the price, contrary to what the rumors clamored, Apple did not raise the prices of its M4 iPad Pro family, as the 11-inch model starts from $999, with the 13-inch variant setting you back by $1,299. Both models feature 256GB of storage for their base versions, with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations offered by Apple.
If you want the ‘Wi-Fi + Cellular’ models, you have to add a $200 premium to the total, and if you want the Apple Pencil Pro and revamped Magic Keyboard to turn the new iPad Pro into a capable laptop alternative, you will have a hefty bill on your hands. As for the pre-orders, those will kick off on May 7, with shipments starting on May 15.
