I don't recall previous non iPad Pro users having issues with the other iPads being too heavy? I wonder too, how many iPad Pro M4 users do not use a cover, because they add too much weight?
But anyway, I looked at various video reviews, and was surprised at the results.
Firstly least the 13" M4 gets 18% better battery life than the 11".
You've been (I think) debating that weight is the main issue - but in fact, battery life of the iPad M4 is much much better than it was ... and its likely due to the duel OLED display, plus also the M4 is the most efficient processor yet.
The iPad Pro M4 13" has 50% more endurance than the M2 Air.
The 11" Pro M4 is about 30% better than the Air.
The 13" iPad Pro M4 has 18% more endurance than its 11" little brother.
If Apple had added 50 grams - which is about the weight of a good protector - then the battery life of the 11" could have got to 16 hours by my calculations, and adding maybe 75 grams (guessing here) to the 13" they may cracked 20 hours.
This is also complicated by user desires to increase battery life, which means not fully charging the battery (over 85% charging diminishes battery life cycles quite a lot).
I have now changed my mind - I think the iPad Pro M4 has made a huge improvement in battery life than before, and best of all, its an easy battery to replace. But it would have been possible for Apple to achieve notebook endurance in an iPad Pro by increasing the iPad's Pro M4's weight by maybe 10%.
It makes me ponder the battery life of an M5 Macbook Pro with a twin OLED display might achieve if Apple maintains the battery size of the current Macbook Pros.
