β‘οΈ Quick Verdict - APPLE iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
- Best For: Creative professionals, media consumption, and users demanding cutting-edge portable performance.
- Strengths: Unprecedented performance, stunning display, remarkably thin design.
- Drawbacks: Software still limits full desktop replacement for some, premium accessory costs.
- Verdict: A powerful, premium tablet setting new standards.
βοΈ Pros & Cons Explained
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Users frequently report the M4 chip delivers desktop-class performance, handling demanding tasks like 4K video editing and complex 3D rendering with ease and no noticeable lag. Many find it future-proof for years to come. | While the hardware is incredibly powerful, some users feel the iPadOS software doesn't always fully leverage the M4's capabilities, particularly for advanced multitasking or specific professional desktop applications. |
| Display | The Tandem OLED (Ultra Retina XDR) display receives widespread praise for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, high peak brightness, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for visual work and media consumption. | A few users have noted that the highly reflective nature of the optional nano-texture display glass can sometimes be more noticeable in bright, direct light than anticipated, despite its anti-glare properties. |
| Design & Portability | Its exceptionally thin and lightweight design makes it highly portable and comfortable to hold for extended periods, especially the 13-inch model which is surprisingly slim. | The extreme thinness raises concerns for some users regarding potential fragility, prompting them to invest in robust protective cases. |
| Accessories | The new Apple Pencil Pro's hover, barrel roll, and squeeze gestures enhance workflow efficiency significantly for artists and note-takers. The redesigned Magic Keyboard also improves typing comfort. | The high cost of the essential accessories (Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard) adds substantially to the overall investment, making the total package quite expensive. |
| Battery Life | Users generally find the battery life to be sufficient for a full day of moderate to heavy use, consistent with Apple's claims, especially for tasks like browsing, streaming, and light productivity. | For highly intensive tasks such as continuous video editing or gaming with maximum brightness, some users report quicker battery drain than anticipated, necessitating more frequent charging. |
π§ Whatβs Included? & Why It Matters
| Component/Technology | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Apple M4 Chip | The M4 chip provides next-level performance and power efficiency, enabling faster professional workflows, advanced AI capabilities, and superior gaming graphics. It's designed to handle the most demanding tasks with ease. |
| Ultra Retina XDR Display (Tandem OLED Technology) | This dual-layer OLED technology delivers unparalleled brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, making it ideal for HDR content, professional color grading, and an immersive viewing experience. It's a significant upgrade for visual fidelity. |
| Thinner and Lighter Design | The thinnest Apple product ever, it enhances portability and comfort for extended use, making it easier to carry and handle whether for creative work, presentations, or entertainment. |
| Apple Pencil Pro Compatibility | Offers new interactive features like barrel roll, squeeze, and haptic feedback, providing a more intuitive and precise creative experience for drawing, writing, and navigation. |
| USB-C with Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Ensures high-speed data transfer, external display support up to 6K, and broad accessory compatibility, expanding the iPad Pro's utility as a portable workstation. |
π° Is It Worth It? β Value & Cost Efficiency
| Aspect | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Performance | The M4 chip is significantly more powerful than previous generations, suggesting excellent longevity and future-proofing for demanding applications and operating system updates. Users can expect it to remain highly capable for many years. | The initial investment is substantial, and for users who only need basic tablet functions, the advanced capabilities of the M4 chip might be overkill, not fully justifying the premium cost. |
| Ecosystem Integration | Seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem (iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch) offers unparalleled continuity features like Handoff, Universal Control, and AirDrop, enhancing productivity and user experience for existing Apple users. | Users new to the Apple ecosystem or those heavily invested in other platforms might find the walled-garden nature less flexible, potentially requiring additional purchases for specific software or peripherals. |
| Versatility | Combines the portability of a tablet with the power for pro-level creative tasks, making it a highly versatile device for artists, designers, video editors, and students. Its unique blend of capabilities is unmatched by many competitors. | While versatile, it doesn't fully replace a traditional laptop for all users, especially those reliant on specific desktop-only software. The cost-to-utility ratio for a laptop replacement might still be high for some professionals. |
π Apple Comparison β How This Version Improves Over Previous Models
| Aspect | iPad Pro (M2, 2022) | APPLE iPad Pro (M4, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M2 chip | Apple M4 chip |
| Display Technology | Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED for 12.9-inch) / Liquid Retina (LED for 11-inch) | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) |
| Design & Thickness (13-inch equivalent) | 6.4 mm | 5.1 mm |
| Weight (13-inch Wi-Fi) | 1.5 lbs (682 grams) | 1.28 lbs (579 grams) |
| Neural Engine Performance | 15.8 trillion operations/sec | 38 trillion operations/sec |
| Front Camera Location | Top bezel (portrait orientation) | Landscape edge |
| Compatible Pencil | Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
βοΈ Alternatives vs APPLE iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
| Aspect | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 | APPLE iPad Pro (M4, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android | Windows 11 | iPadOS |
| Primary Use Case | Large screen Android tablet, DeX desktop experience | Full laptop replacement, traditional computing | Premium tablet for creative professionals, portable powerhouse |
| Display Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | PixelSense Flow Display (LCD) | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) |
| App Ecosystem | Android app store (varied tablet optimization) | Full Windows desktop applications | Highly optimized tablet apps for creative work |
| Stylus Experience | S Pen (included with device) | Surface Slim Pen 2 (sold separately) | Apple Pencil Pro (sold separately), industry-leading low latency |
| Portability | Very thin, but large footprint | Laptop-like weight with keyboard cover | Remarkably thin and light for its size |
π‘ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Can the iPad Pro M4 truly replace a laptop for professional use?For many creative and media-focused professionals, the iPad Pro M4 offers comparable or superior performance for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and music production. However, users reliant on specific desktop-only software or extensive file management systems found only on macOS/Windows might still find it challenging to fully replace a traditional laptop.
- What is special about the new Ultra Retina XDR display?The Ultra Retina XDR display is the first to use Tandem OLED technology, which layers two OLED panels to achieve significantly higher full-screen brightness and extended dynamic range. This results in incredibly deep blacks, vibrant colors, and exceptional contrast, making it ideal for HDR content and professional visual work.
- Is the new Apple Pencil Pro compatible with older iPad models?No, the Apple Pencil Pro is exclusively compatible with the iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4) models. Its new features, like barrel roll and squeeze gestures, require specific hardware in these new iPads.
- How much thinner and lighter is it compared to previous models?The 13-inch iPad Pro (M4) is the thinnest Apple product ever at 5.1 mm, significantly thinner than the previous 12.9-inch iPad Pro (M2) which was 6.4 mm. The 13-inch model is also lighter, weighing 1.28 lbs compared to 1.5 lbs for its predecessor.
π Positive Reviews - What Users Love
- The screen is simply breathtaking. Colors pop, blacks are truly black, and it's incredibly bright, even outdoors. It's the best display I've ever seen on a tablet.
- I can render 4K video clips faster on this iPad than on my desktop computer. The M4 chip is absolutely insane, it just handles everything without breaking a sweat.
- The new design is stunning. It's so thin and light that holding the 13-inch model for drawing feels comfortable, unlike previous large iPads.
- The Apple Pencil Pro's new features are a game-changer for my workflow. The squeeze function for tools and barrel roll for brushes feel natural and intuitive.
- Battery life has been solid for my daily tasks. I can work on documents, browse, and stream videos for hours without needing to grab the charger.
π Negative Reviews - What Could Be Better
- While the hardware is amazing, iPadOS still feels restrictive for true pro use. I still need my Mac for serious file management and some specific software.
- The cost of the iPad itself is high, but then you add the very expensive Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, and the total package becomes incredibly pricey.
- I chose the nano-texture glass, and while it reduces glare, it also makes the screen appear slightly less vibrant and clear than the standard gloss finish.
- The new landscape front camera is great for video calls, but the rear camera setup feels less capable than previous models, especially with the loss of the ultrawide lens.
- It feels almost too thin. I'm constantly worried about bending it or breaking it, so a strong case feels mandatory, which adds bulk to the slim design.
π Key Details & Specifications
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4 chip (up to 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
| Display | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) with ProMotion technology 11-inch: 2420 x 1668 pixels at 264 ppi 13-inch: 2752 x 2064 pixels at 264 ppi Up to 1000 nits full-screen brightness, 1600 nits peak (HDR) |
| Storage Options | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| RAM | 8GB (256GB/512GB models), 16GB (1TB/2TB models) |
| Cameras | Rear: 12MP Wide (Ζ/1.8 aperture) with Adaptive True Tone flash Front: 12MP Ultra Wide (Ζ/2.4 aperture) in landscape orientation with Center Stage |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, 5G cellular (optional) |
| Ports | USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4) |
| Operating System | iPadOS 17 (at launch) |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or video playback |
| Dimensions (13-inch) | 281.6 mm x 215.5 mm x 5.1 mm |
| Weight (13-inch Wi-Fi) | 579 grams (1.28 pounds) |
π Summary β Is This the Right Choice for You?
- The Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) stands as a monumental leap forward in tablet technology, primarily driven by its groundbreaking M4 chip and the stunning Ultra Retina XDR display. It offers performance that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, many traditional laptops, making it an excellent choice for demanding creative professionals in fields like video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering. Its incredibly thin and light design enhances portability and makes it a joy to use for extended periods.
- However, it's important to consider its limitations. While the hardware is undeniably powerful, iPadOS, despite its advancements, still presents certain constraints for users accustomed to a full desktop operating system, particularly concerning complex file management or niche professional software. Furthermore, the total investment, especially when factoring in essential accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, places it firmly in the premium segment.
- If you are an existing Apple ecosystem user seeking the absolute pinnacle of tablet performance, an artist or designer looking for the most responsive and vibrant digital canvas, or someone who values cutting-edge display technology and portability above all else, the iPad Pro M4 is likely the right choice. For those seeking a budget-friendly option, or a device that offers a full desktop experience without compromise, alternatives might be more suitable. Ultimately, itβs a powerhouse designed for those who can truly leverage its extraordinary capabilities.
