Apple recently announced the release of its new iPad Pro 2024 which features a powerful M4 chip, a sleek and lightweight design, a redesigned display, and an array of impressive AI capabilities. This new device is expected to deliver faster and smoother performance, improved graphics, and enhanced user experience.
iPad Pro 2024 Design
The new iPad Pro has been designed to be the thinnest Apple product ever, while still retaining the same level of robustness as the previous model. Apple claims that both models are thinner than their predecessors. The 11″ model has a thickness of 5.3mm, while the 13″ model is even thinner at 5.1mm. Additionally, the new 11″ model weighs approximately 450 grams, while the 13″ model is around 110 grams lighter than the previous model. Both models come in two color options, Silver and Space Black. The shell of the iPad Pro is made entirely of 100% recycled aluminum, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
Display Ultra Retina XDR
The latest displays incorporated in the 11″ and 13″ models offer the highest quality standards. The Retina We Ultra display technology brings deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and more shadow detail to both models. The tandem OLED technology allows customization of color and luminance for each pixel at sub-millisecond intervals, providing unparalleled XDR precision. The specular highlights in photos and videos are brighter, while the shadows and low-light areas showcase richer details.
The display’s response is even smoother when viewing moving images. Additionally, users can choose the nanotexture option to reduce reflections and work in difficult-to-control light conditions. However, the nanotexture option is only available for the 1TB and 2TB sizes.
Performance
Apple has announced the arrival of the new M4 chips, which will be integrated into the latest iPad Pro models. These chips are built using 3-nanometer technology and offer up to 1.5 times faster performance compared to the M2 models found in the previous iPad Pros.
Some of the key features of the M4 chips include 4 high-performance cores, 6 high-efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU with Dynamic Caching, Mesh Shading, and Ray Tracing, along with hardware acceleration. The chips also come with a Display Engine to better manage the advanced display, improved thermal management, and a Media Engine with AV1 decoding.
The M4 chips are highly optimized for efficiency, delivering the same performance as the M2 models while using only half the energy. Additionally, the chips offer an extra 50% of performance for more demanding tasks.
One of the most important features of the M4 chips is the new Neural Engine, which is designed to support machine learning and AI applications. For example, with Final Cut Pro, it’s now possible to isolate a subject from a video and superimpose a second layer directly on the iPad in just a few moments.
It’s worth noting that the Cellular version of the new iPad Pro no longer supports physical SIM cards.
Pro-level applications
Apple has announced significant improvements to professional apps dedicated to iPad Pro with updated versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.
With Final Cut Pro, directing is now improved and supports Live Multicam with up to four cameras with real-time adjustments. They have introduced the Final Cut Camera, which allows iPhones and iPads to be connected to manage Live Multicam directing in real-time, making it perfect for live production and video editing. Support for external drives is also improved via Thunderbolt 4 connection, and significant improvements have been made in the management of ProRes RAW streams and performance in general.
Logic Pro for iPad has improved the workflow for artists and music producers with new players for many instruments and newly designed effects with Machine Learning support. Among the new features coming soon are Session Player options, which extend Logic Pro’s popular Drummer feature by adding Bass Player and Keyboard Player, and ChromaGlow.
Moreover, there are also very interesting functions for remixing songs with a set of tools available for this specific job (Stem Splitter). iPad Pro can easily isolate various instruments and vocals from songs to create high-profile multitrack remixes.
Built-in cameras and microphones
The rear camera of this device has a 12MP resolution and supports Smart HDR technology. With this feature, you can expect richer colors, sharper textures, and better details even in low-light conditions. Additionally, the newly added adaptive flash helps you work on images more effectively, without any intrusive shadows. To complete the multimedia capture input, this device has four studio microphones and LiDAR scanners that enhance the overall quality of the captured content.
Accessories: here is the new Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard
Apple recently announced a line of new products, including a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, which is perfectly suited to the thinness of the new model. The keyboard features a larger trackpad and is available in two colors: black and white. Additionally, the keyboard has a new row of function keys and an aluminum palm rest.
The new Apple Pencil Pro has also been completely redesigned, offering new pressure gestures such as squeeze that enable new interactions. The built-in gyroscope helps improve stroke accuracy, while the latency of the Pencil is reduced and its sensitivity is improved overall. Moreover, the new Pencil also comes equipped with the Find My feature.
A new sensor, which detects when the pencil barrel is pressed with the fingers, has been added to the Pencil, which opens a palette that allows you to change tool, line thickness, and color, without interrupting the creative process. The special haptic engine makes the user experience extremely intuitive, producing a slight confirmation pulse when the user presses the pencil, double taps, or uses the Smart Shape function. Thanks to the gyroscope, by rotating the Apple Pencil Pro, users can more precisely control the tool in use and change the angle of the stroke or brushstroke, just like when writing with pen and paper. Additionally, the remote pointer (hover) function allows you to see the exact orientation of an instrument even before using it.
During the event, a demo was conducted with Procreate, thanks to the intervention of the CEO of the software house. The demo showcased a lot of interesting new features that are sure to excite creative professionals.
iPad Pro 2024 availability and pricing
Apple has announced that the latest iPad Pros will be available from May 15th. The prices will start from $999 for the 11″ model and $1299 for the 13″ model. There are four memory sizes available: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. Additionally, the new Apple Pencil Pro is priced at $129 and the new Magic Keyboard starts at $299. The pre-orders for the iPad Pros are open from today.