Apple held a rather important Spring event on May 7th, where it unveiled the brand new iPad lineup. That includes the iPad Air 6, with an M2 CPU and two diagonal versions, as well as the iPad Pro 2024, that finally sports an OLED screen. Also the brand new potent M4 CPU.
The 2024 iPad Pro comes with an Ultra Retina XDR display. It features a technology called “Tandem OLED Display Engine,” which essentially uses two OLED layers to deliver precise color reproduction and top-tier brightness. The new iPad Pro is also Apple’s thinnest device to date, measuring just 5.3mm (11 inch) and 5.1mm (13 inch) in thickness, making it even slimmer than the iPod Nano.
Under the hood, it packs a new generation Apple M4 processor, and the base configuration starts with 256 GB of storage. The CPU varies depending on the model chosen. Models with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage get a 9-Core CPU, with 3 cores dedicated to performance, while the 1 TB or 2 TB versions have a 10-core M4 chipset, with 4 performance cores. As for RAM, there are options of 8 GB or 16 GB.
There’s also a 16-core Neural Engine and a 10-core GPU. These tablets are capable of running the most demanding games, high-end photo/video editing, and feature additional AI functions. The new Apple M4 CPU is up to 50% more powerful, and the GPU delivers four times the performance compared to the Apple M2.
While cameras are not usually the focus for tablets, this time there is a True Tone flash similar to the one integrated on the iPhone. Using AI, document scanning becomes much easier, with shadows being instantly eliminated.
There is a 12 MP wide camera on the back offering 5X digital zoom, and a LiDAR sensor for 3D scanning. The tablets can record in 4K at up to 60 FPS, feature Audio Zoom, and slow-motion up to 240 FPS. The ultrawide camera has 12 MP and is also used for portrait capture. At the front, there’s a sensor with the Center Stage option, allowing free movement within the frame, perfectly centered during video conferences. The tablets feature Face ID for facial recognition and unlocking, come with four stereo speakers, and support WiFi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G for the Cellular versions.
As for accessories, a new generation keyboard offering more space for typing and an Apple Pencil Pro with support for multiple productivity-enhancing gestures and Find My for easy location are available. It charges magnetically, with users able to place it on the side of the iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro 11 (2024) starts at $999 in the USA, while the 13-inch version starts at $1,299. It is expected to arrive in Europe in the coming weeks.
