Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The raw iPad Pro is the best tablet you may presently get . Its performance and range of mapping are first - class , while the unexampled OLED showing save on weight and makes a flatter chassis possible . The fresh Magic Keyboard is also a major highlighting . However , the price is very high .
Best Prices Today: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024)
The iPad Pro offer a simple-minded hatful : pay more , and get the best possible operation and the widest chain of functions . The new iPad Pro M4 also live up to this hope . It is entirely equipped with Apple ’s most modern chip and offer an impressive OLED display with HDR support for the first sentence .
I do n’t want to dwell on the question “ Can an iPad supplant a MacBook ? ” for long , as it ’s been discussed far too often . ( Many substance abuser long ago decided that it can . ) Complaining about the high price is also pointless ; it ’s only very expensive . The more interesting question is how much better the novel iPad Pro is than its precursor from 2022 and thenew iPad Air , and whether it free that gamey price .
We can say without booking that this is the best and fastest tablet we ’ve ever tested and that the new keyboard is better than all old Apple models . But for more details of our testing and rating , read on .
The gap to the older iPads is large.
M4 iPad Pro: Design and build quality
Since 2018 , the iPad Pro has impress with an attractive , if rather angulate design . Visually , slight has changed here , even if the tablet is now uncommitted in Space Black rather of Space Gray . ( This was a arguable stage for us since we were sent the silver version for our review . )
Thanks to the flat OLED presentation , Apple was able to make the devices around 1 millimeter thinner for this generation : the 13 - in poser is now only 5.1 millimetre thick instead of 6.4 millimeter , while the 11 - inch model has dropped from 5.9 mm to 5.3 mm . The low weight of 579g/444 g is also pleasing ; the forerunner weighed 682 gram and 466 g respectively . This makes the 13 - inch example in exceptional handier and more elegant . Another new feature is the missing SIM slot . If you choose the cellular manakin , mobile communication will only work via an eSIM , which contributes to the thinness .
unluckily , the design change means that many older protective cases are no longer suited , and the honest-to-god Magic Keyboard no longer suit precisely . A charger is no longer let in in the flavourless box , only a USB - C cable . Although Apple justifies this on environmental grounds , I still discover this a bit slaphappy for a equipment be so much .
The gap to the older iPads is large.
M4 iPad Pro: Processor and specs
Surprisingly , Apple has instal a completely newfangled processor chip , the M4 , in the raw iPads . This has never seem in any Apple product before now : not an iPad , an iPhone , or even a Mac . ( We ’ve come a disjoined article where you’re able to learn more about thespecs and feature of the M4 . )
By contrast , the M3 chip is used in therecently launched MacBook Air , while the Mac mini and the newfangled iPad Air still use the M2 we saw in the iPad Pro from 2022 . Note , however , that there are some variations here ; Apple is using an M2 chip with only 9 GPU cores in the iPad Air 2024 , whereas the erstwhile iPad Pro M2 had a chip with 10 cores .
Apple probably had good reasons for this leap forth on the Pro while other machines remain on Old atomic number 14 . It ’s probable that Apple ’s chip manufacturer TSMC can not produce many of these new splintering at the moment , while some of its strengths make it the perfect choice for the iPad Pro .
CPU benchmark performance in Geekbench 6.
Thanks to the new N3E lymph gland manufacturing unconscious process , for example , it offers better efficiency than M2 and M3 ; in other words , more performance per W . In the now slenderly thin chassis of the iPad Pro , this is a major reward over the M3 and M2 . In add-on , the iPad Pro allegedly postulate a peculiarly herculean display locomotive due to the two - level OLED display , which the M4 offers .
A fast Neural Engine with sixteen center should also make the iPad suitable for future AI role and apps . Last but not least , Apple probably wants to keep rival such as the Microsoft Surface Pro – which relies on AI and Snapdragon X – at a space .
Class-leading performance
As anticipate , results in our benchmarking cortege were excellent ; Geekbench examination revealed clear melioration in CPU carrying out compare to the M3 . However , Apple would prefer us to compare the M4 chip with the M2 , which is plant in the new iPad Air and iPad Pro 2022 . The company promise that the M4 will deliver one and a half times the processor performance of the M2 , and four times its artwork public presentation . Our examination reassert this .
The only devices that get anywhere even slightly close to the M4 Pro the right way now are iPads with an M1 or M2 silicon chip . iPhones and the tenth - gen iPad are a prospicient way of life behind , as are all tablets from the Android camp .
As promised , graphics carrying into action is also very impressive , as uncover in the Wildlife Extreme bench mark . The iPad Pro M4 scored a superb 8,516 points , beating even theMacBook Pro M3(which scored 8,030 ) . In our Solar Bay mental testing the Pro make an excellent 14,771 decimal point , whereas the iPad Pro M2 managed only 8,787 .
GPU performance.
With a fanless equipment like this , heat dissipation can be an event , but Apple says the young iPad Pro is 20 percent faster at this than its herald . The Apple logo is made of copper , while plumbago plates in the living accommodations ensure better high temperature dissipation .
The opening to the older iPads is large .
metalworks
Even under continuous load, CPU performance dips only slightly.
The iPad is also superb in term of uninterrupted performance . The novel 13 - column inch iPad Pro can render its high performance for a long time , with the so - call strangling effect – that ’s to say , throttling of public presentation to keep heat under ascendency – only slightly noticeable . In the APSI longsighted - full term Load test , performance dropped only to 90.62 percent , an outstanding effort . The heating dissolution patently works well .
IDG
GPU functioning .
The new keyboard cover works perfectly.
In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test , the computer graphic marrow are put under strain for 20 minute of arc instead of the CPU . Here , graphics functioning dropped to 79.5 pct : also an excellent note value . oodles of 31.187 in the Manhattan Offscreen test and 2,746,026 in Antutu reassert our estimable impressions of the Pro M4 ’s capability .
The tablet also glitter in our web browser app benchmarks , achieving 339,631 in the JetStream test and 44.8ms in SunSpider .
Even under continuous load , mainframe performance dip only slightly .
It ’s significant to remember that Apple use two version of the M4 buffalo chip . New iPad Pro model with 256 gigabyte or 512 GB capacity hold a version with nine alternatively of 10 CPU cores and only 8 GB instead of 16 GB RAM . In view of the high public presentation of the M4 chip , however , this should just be noticeable in praxis ; in the most demanding , central processing unit - intensive setting only . For our testing , Apple provided us with a 1 TB ( and 5 G ) 13 - inch unit , which therefore has 10 central processing unit cores and 16 GB of RAM . The bench mark figures above apply to this model .
High performance is not only ensure by the processor and GPU : the Neural Engine , which is important for AI , has also been better and the Media Engine of the M4 iPad suffer the professional video format ProRes , for example , which spend a penny act and editing such videos much easier . The AV1 codec is also underpin . The iPad Air does not bid this .
Like the M3 , the M4 also supports ray trace , which ensures good icon timbre and lighting effects in current game such as Diablo Immortal and Resident Evil 5 , and upcoming game such as Assassin ’s Creed Mirage . For mobile gaming , the Pro is clearly ranking to the Air .
Whether the iPad Pro really require this performance is debatable . However , it is not foreseeable what requirements future apps in the areas of VR / AR and AI will bring in . With an iPad Pro , you have little to revere in damage of future tense - proofing .
Super-fast USB-C
The Pro good example are also known for their fast USB - C interfaces , which we essay using an outside SSD .
A flying LaCie Rugged SSD was recognize immediately and we transferred a 13.1 GB test data file over USB - C. We measured a maximal transfer charge per unit of 2,220MB / s when channel to the iPad and 1,578MB / s when copying to the SSD : both excellent values for an iPad . ( The 10th - gen iPad , which also has a USB - C port but declare oneself a dim connection , managed just under 40MB / s in this test . )
The internal memory board of the iPad is also very fast . Using the Jazz Disk app we appraise speed of 3,362MB / s and 2,017MB / s for reading and write respectively .
M4 iPad Pro: Magic Keyboard
Since the Magic Keyboard usher in in 2022 is unluckily no longer compatible , the unexampled iPad Pro is accompany by an single unexampled keyboard . The manakin now called Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro ( M4 ) can be recognized by its metallic element inner surface , which powerfully resembles a current MacBook Air . you could prefer between the colors clean and black . the11 - inch versioncosts $ 299 , the13 - column inch version$349 .
I was impressed by the keyboard for the 13 - inch good example ( we did n’t test the minute 11 - inch version ) which feels like a good notebook computer keyboard when type texts and navigating using keyboard commands .
The new keyboard cover works perfectly .
There ’s been a large and obvious jump in quality from old iPad keyboard cases to this . I took out my old Smart Keyboard for compare , and it looks almost tatty next to the smart raw Magic Keyboard , while the tone of its typewriting is several family worse .
The atomic number 13 on the interior feel very high - quality , and the new taproom with fourteen function keys is a welcome improvement . And while the forerunner already had a trackpad , Apple has improved this input choice . It ’s now made of glass and works much more on the button and reliably than the one on the previous manikin .
Unlike a smooth MacBook , the 658 yard case is rubberized . This makes a lot of common sense , as it gives the iPad a much better bag and prevents it from slipping out of the hand so easily . However , this surface is unfortunately also more susceptible to shite than the Al of a MacBook , and the black cover song seems to magically pull junk . And there ’s one thing I had to get used to : opening the masking feel a minute wrong at first . This is because the top is thicker and heavier than the bottom and there is no notch to grab .
Is the Magic Keyboard too expensive for you?Logitech ’s Combo Touchis one alternative ( read ourLogitech Combo Touch review ) , but at $ 260 , the 13 - column inch model is no real bargain either . Furthermore , accord to Logitech , it ’s plain not suitable for the model with nano - textured glass . It ’s potential that these display variance are too sensitive or the fabric is too hard . See our circle - up of theBest Keyboards for iPadfor more information about iPad keyboards .
M4 iPad Pro: Apple Pencil Pro
ThePencil Prois completely new , and offers a new rock sensor that allow for more originative usage options . Also novel : you’re able to call up function by squeezing the penitentiary , such as apalette in the Procreate drawing app .
A adept pencil or stylus is key for those who use their iPad for design and illustration . However , I do n’t think that a Pencil is obligatory or useful for every iPad owner . Not even the more expensive Pro translation .
See our daily round - up of theBest styluses for iPadif it is something you need .
M4 iPad Pro: OLED Display
The of the essence change in the screen department is that OLED is now being used for the first time instead of an IPS venire . This is a serious decision . The screen has a better contrast and black levels , and it ’s advantageously at exhibit HDR message ( such as Apple TV+ films ) .
OLED presentation are considered superior for wandering devices as they are flatter and probable to consume less baron . If you use dark manner with lots of black sphere , for example , the OLED display can simply switch off the corresponding pixels and save top executive . This consequence was obtrusive in our barrage mental test .
what is more , thanks to the use of a so - ring Tandem OLED exhibit , the screen is able-bodied to achieve a very high brightness of 1,000 nits . Brightness was antecedently a weakness of OLED displays .
TV fans will be proud of to hear about support for Dolby Vision , HDR10 , and HGL ( as will creative professionals who produce such videos ) as HDR displays can even accomplish up to 1,600 nits . swarm devotee should not underestimate this either ; my impression is that more and more Netflix serial publication are being optimized for HDR displays . Blooming , when you see blurred edges on object , also does not occur . This was a point of literary criticism with the mini LED display of the old Pro .
Another new screen choice was fulfill with great enthusiasm at the product launching . ply you buy a manikin with at least 1 TB of storage , you could choose to get a variation with nano - textured glass , which is less reflective . And one thing is certain : if you use the dark mode , which in most respects is ideal for OLEDs , the reflections can be quite annoying in the recollective run . However , bear in mind that the nano - textured screens are more vulnerable to scratch damage . The YouTuberJerryRigEverything , know for his moolah electrical resistance tests , report that on a scale of measurement of one to ten ( found on the Mohs rigour standard ) , scratch happen at level four for the nano - textured screen , whereas the traditional model only starts to suffer scratches at stage six .
Another advantage over the 13 - in iPad Air is the ProMotion single-valued function . The system can dynamically adjust the refresh charge per unit between 10 and 120Hz to ensure smooth screen yield , while saving battery ability when eminent rates are not required . In world-wide there was little to criticize in terms of color reproduction , which is somewhat fond that on older Pro good example , although we did note a few color error on some HDR content . Apple has enjoin it ’s work on asoftware updateto remediate this issue .
For colour - critical tasks , there is a “ reference musical mode ” in which the iPad employ reference point colors for vernacular color standards and picture formats . In this mode , disruptive color alteration such as Night Shift and True Tone are mechanically switched off . standardisation with an external gadget is also potential .
For technological rationality , the OLED display is not wholly free from PWM ( pulse - width inflection ) , a flitter thatcan cause headaches and eye problemsfora few users . However , the force is very slight on this twist and should bother very few user .
M4 iPad Pro: Camera
The camera and sensor setup is one of the areas where Apple ’s Pro models differentiate themself from the cheaper line . They ’re the only iPads to get LiDAR scanners and Face ID , for example .
There ’s little fresh to cover about the tooshie - facing camera . Since 2018 , iPad Pros have all had a wide - angle camera with a decent ( f/1.8 ) sensor and 12MP resolution , capable of immortalize videos up to 4 chiliad and 60fps . In fact we ’ve lose something for this propagation : the ultra - wide-cut - angle lens that ’s sit on the hind end since 2020 . This was apparently quite popular with designer and craftsmen , and it ’s a disgrace to see it go .
One new feature is that the flash has been optimise for glance over documents . Several shots are now mechanically combined when scanning , which improves the image quality and avoids unwanted shadows .
Pleasingly , the front camera is now more suitable for video recording chats because Apple has moved it to the long right - helping hand bound of the screen . ( This variety was first made on the10th - gen iPadin 2022 , and this class come to the Air and Pro modelling . ) This provides a more lifelike viewing angle during video recording conferences , as almost everyone prop up up their iPad on its side , in all likelihood in a holder or keyboard case , for such situations .
free-base on former impressions , the front camera does n’t save a noticeably good characterization than you get with other iPads . figure of speech tone can also be impress by poor lighting condition . However , thanks to digital soar and the Center Stage feature of speech , you always persist mechanically in the picture during television calls . By tap a small arrow icon on the left - bridge player side , you’re able to activate the aboriginal all-embracing - slant mode and show a much wider viewing slant , for model to show the whole office or the whole syndicate .
Should you pick the 11-inch or 13-inch model?
As telling as I find the 13 - in iPad Pro , the form factor has disadvantages for a tablet . In quotidian consumption , it ’s significantly heavier and more gawky than an 11 - inch model . If you ’re watching a long video , you ’ll find you want to put it down somewhere because of the weight . The 11 - inch model is therefore probably ideal for most habitation substance abuser .
The larger screen makes sense , however , if you apply your iPad a lot in landscape mode , for model with a keyboard case . The large screen is also valuable if you use it for professional task such as plastic film editing and image processing .
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4, 2024)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024)
M4 iPad Pro: Battery life
The 13 - column inch iPad Pro is powered by a large barrage specced at 10,210mAh or 38.99 James Watt - hours , while the 11 - inch model is scab at 31.29 watt - hours . Despite this disparity , Apple throw the same claim for assault and battery life history for the two devices : 10 minute of web browse or video playback . Our benchmark support this , with our limited review unit of measurement even outperform Apple ’s appraisal for video playback .
For this trial , we put a television receiver sequence on a continuous loop . And the results were spectacular : a full 14 hours of video at full brightness . electric battery performance was also full when channel-surf the web , at just under ten hours .
There is one important ingredient that we should point out . With an LCD showing , it does n’t really matter what depicted object is spiel ; the energy consumption depends quite foursquare on the gadget ’s brightness setting . With an organic light-emitting diode , on the other hand , the black level of the capacity showing on the screen are a decisive factor . A blue Scandinavian investigator dramatic play puts far less breed on the battery than a bright summery comedy . you may also significantly increase battery public presentation when surf the vane and working with apps by activating gloomy mode . Nevertheless , regardless of the dark / scant factor , the iPad Pro should be able to manage a full working sidereal day of normal activities .
But how do we delineate ‘ normal ’ activities ? Well , that depends on how much you desire to labor that super - fast M4 chip . At maximum CPU and graphics performance , the shelling drain much quicker than on an iPad with a slow CPU . In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test , stamp battery levels drop by 20 point after 20 minutes of maximal load . So playing very need biz or running exceptionally high - oddment apps may result in a shelling aliveness that ’s considerably below the 10 - 60 minutes Saint Mark .
On the positive side , the iPad Pro models can be charged quicker than their cheaper sib . If you could get your hands on a40W power supply , a full charge is possible in two hour . With a20W unit , it takes almost three .
take down that charging speeds are not consistent across the full 100 - point spectrum . After just 15 minutes with a powerful charger , you should have reached around 15 percent capacitance , and that rate go along up to around 75 percent . From that pointedness , however , charge slows down to conserve the battery ’s long - term health . After 100 moment , we ’d only got to 86 percent , and it hire another half an hour or so before the equipment was to the full charge .
Incidentally , Apple has expanded the battery options page on the new Pro models a little , enabling you to see the figure of charging cycles and the barrage fire ’s twelvemonth of product for the first time . Here you could also limit the maximum commission to 80 per centum to protect the shelling .
Should you buy the M4 iPad Pro?
The iPad Pro is impressive , and for all of Apple ’s creative - focused advertising , you do n’t have to be a moving-picture show manufacturer or artist to enjoy it . The majority use their professional for Netflix , photograph , and emails , and as a oeuvre gimmick for Outlook , Excel , and Word . The iPad Pro M4 is expensive , but it ’s just the best tablet on the market aright now . It ’s playfulness to work with , and many people are quite rightly prepared to pay a little more for it .
For advice about which iPad to buy read : ourguide to the Best iPadwe also have a guide to thebest iPad for bookman , best iPad for kidsandbest iPad for the elderly .
This clause in the beginning appeared on our sis publicationMacweltand was translated and localize from German .
