2024 iPad Pro: Best New Features

[MacRumors]

Apple finally refreshed the iPad Pro, and the new feature set was worth the wait. From new OLED display technology to the M4 chip, the 2024 iPad Pro is undeniably impressive. We've rounded up some of the most notable changes worth considering when deciding rather to upgrade.

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• OLED display - Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models have an Ultra Retina XDR display that uses tandem OLED technology, which is basically two displays stacked on top of one another. You can expect brighter highlights, deeper true blacks, and better detail in shadows and low light content, plus there's an option for matte nano-texture to cut down on glare.
• M4 chip - The M4 is built using a second-generation 3-nm process with three or four performance cores and six efficiency cores. CPU performance is up 1.5x compared to the M2, and the GPU has hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. The M4 also has the most powerful Neural Engine ever that's capable of 38 trillion operations per second.
• Thin design - Measuring in at 5.1mm, the 13-inch iPad Pro is the thinnest device that Apple has made to date, thinner even than the iPod nano. The 11-inch model isn't much thicker at 5.3mm, and both have slim bezels for maximum screen space. The 11-inch model weighs under a pound, and the 13-inch model is just over.
• Camera - Apple moved the front camera to the landscape side of the iPad Pro, so it's in the right position for FaceTiming and video calls when it's attached to a keyboard.
• Accessories - There's a new Magic Keyboard and an Apple Pencil Pro that go along with the iPad Pro. The keyboard has a larger trackpad with haptic feedback, an aluminum palm rest, and a function row for brightness and volume control. The Apple Pencil Pro has a squeeze gesture for selecting tools, haptic feedback, and a gyroscope that adds support for rolling the Apple Pencil for more precise control.
• Removed features - Apple did drop some options from the latest iPad Pro models. There's no more mmWave 5G chip and it's limited to sub-6GHz, plus there's no SIM slot so it's eSIM only for cellular models. Apple also removed the Ultra Wide camera, so there's just a single-lens 12-megapixel camera and LiDAR sensor in the new models. Sticker fans are out of luck too, because Apple isn't including them in the box.

If you have an M2 iPad Pro, the M4 probably isn't worth the update, but for anything older, it's a major upgrade that adds a slew of new features.

Article Link: 2024 iPad Pro: Best New Features

 

[paulgpetty69]

So I know this is nit picky, but Apple wins when they say 5.1mm (or use the "thinnest ever” for just about all of their devices). I kinda find it annoying. At it’s thinnest for a majority of the device … sure: 5.1mm.

Is the camera bumpout detachable? No. Can I slide this through a mail slot that’s 5.2mm wide? No.

This is kinda like expecting a McDonald’s burger to look like the one pictured in the ad. Except the burgers generally do lie flat on a table.

 

[jbattan]

It's definitely worth an upgrade from my M2, because it's brighter and it has the antiglare screen, which has always bothered me. I use mine outside a lot.

 

[hch720]

Wallpaper is nice too, its going onto my MacBook once I find it online

 

[lovehateapple]

Sorta surprised you can't shoot spatial photos and video for the Vision Pro with it, unless I'm wrong about that...

 

[macduke]

The best new features are the removed features?

 

[FkCombustion]

It's definitely worth an upgrade from my M2, because it's brighter and it has the antiglare screen, which has always bothered me. I use mine outside a lot.

Keep in mind the cheapest iPad with the anti-glare is $1700.... And the Studio display Apple sold with similar/same anti-glare feature required being cleaned with a specific microfiber cloth, seemed delicate for a display, never mind a touch-screen!

 

[Randomii]

It's definitely worth an upgrade from my M2, because it's brighter and it has the antiglare screen, which has always bothered me. I use mine outside a lot.

The antiglare messes up sharpness and black levels pretty bad though

 

[Neil Harrison]

Landscape camera is worth the update alone

 

[Macalway]

If you have an M2 iPad Pro, the M4 probably isn't worth the update, but for anything older, it's a major upgrade that adds a slew of new features.

Considering that no one has used them yet, and it looks to me to have some major design changes along with the major accessories, this seems a little surprising. Then again, I get that the M2 is good enough.

 

[Putzi360]

My main iPad Pro 10.5 from 2017 is getting long in the tooth a bit. Did its job lecturing, teaching, enjoying stuff for probably more than 5h each day for almost 7 years.

This new one will be a hefty upgrade next week.

 

[btrach144]

Sorta surprised you can't shoot spatial photos and video for the Vision Pro with it, unless I'm wrong about that...

Historically that has required two cameras, so yes, that seems like something they are moving away from and hurts the Vision Pro future viability story.

 

[breather]

Got a 2nd gen iPad Pro. Will buy this one.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Why would I want a thin design?

Apart from weight reduction

 

[jayducharme]

I'm surprised that Apple is restricting the 256 GB and 512 GB models to 8 GB of RAM. The 1 and 2 TB models get 16 GB. That's not very "pro" of them. Memory shouldn't be hamstrung to storage, since they already jacked up the price by $200 on the base model. I'm sure the OLED screens are more expensive to produce, but even so it's a bit of sticker shock. I guess they figure if people are willing to spend that much on iPhones, they'll be fine spending it on iPads.

 

[jazz1]

The antiglare messes up sharpness and black levels pretty bad though

I wish there was a removable anti-glare screen built into a removable frame.

 

[citysnaps]

I'm surprised that Apple is restricting the 256 GB and 512 GB models to 8 GB of RAM. The 1 and 2 TB models get 16 GB. That's not very "pro" of them. Memory shouldn't be hamstrung to storage, since they already jacked up the price by $200 on the base model. I'm sure the OLED screens are more expensive to produce, but even so it's a bit of sticker shock. I guess they figure if people are willing to spend that much on iPhones, they'll be fine spending it on iPads.

I think it's to reduce the number of SKUs with vendors (and Apple) not wanting to keep a lot of different models in stock. 8GB of RAM will be plenty for the overwhelming majority of Apple customers. People who use their iPad professionally (as part of their job) will simply pay more for more RAM.

Regarding the price increase... for sure costs have gone up for Apple over the years just as they have for everyone else. Add in TWO OLED displays, the M4, etc. and the price increase makes sense.

 

[GDF]

The best new features are the removed features?

I could care less of the removed features. Never used them. Think the iPad Pro is a great upgrade over the 5th Gen iPad Pro 12.9. Excited!

 

[GDF]

Why would I want a thin design?

Apart from weight reduction

Love the thinner design and lighter weight. Apple nailed it, at least for me! iPad 12.9 is too thick and too heavy.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Love the thinner design and lighter weight. Apple nailed it, at least for me! iPad 12.9 is too thick and too heavy.

But how does thickness bothers you ? If anything it helps with préhension . Unless you got cute little hands ?

 

[Uofmtiger]

But how does thickness bothers you ? If anything it helps with préhension . Unless you got cute little hands ?

The main thing is weight, and thinness reads as being lighter in commercials.

Although I doubt Apple cares, I have docks that have issues fitting my 12.9 iPad with its Logitech cover. I have to detach the keyboard for it to fit rather than just turning the keyboard around. This will help with the many docks that are built around a bare iPad rather than one with a cover.

No idea how this will feel in the hand, though. I would use a cover which should help if it is hard to grip because of its thinner design (not saying that will be an issue...but it could be an issue).

 

[klasma]

Is the camera bumpout detachable? No. Can I slide this through a mail slot that’s 5.2mm wide? No.

I don’t know if somebody already tried, but you can probably sand off the camera bump.

 

[MarkMoseley1]

With this thin design, I want to know how the battery life will be?

 

[klasma]

Why would I want a thin design?

Apart from weight reduction

So that it’s still reasonably thin with the Magic Keyboard.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

So that it’s still reasonably thin with the Magic Keyboard.

Good point !