Introducing the M4 iPad Pro: Revolutionizing Creativity and Productivity
After spending two weeks with the new M4 iPad Pro, I've delved into its capabilities, pushing it through the paces of my daily routine. From watching YouTube videos and browsing the internet to answering emails and listening to music, my experience has been remarkably similar to my time with the M1 iPad Pro from three years ago. Despite this, there are some intriguing choices Apple has made with this new iteration, choices that weren't even in the rumor mills and didn't make it to the keynote. Here are the five most interesting decisions Apple made with the M4 iPad Pro.
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1. A Thinner Design
The new iPad Pro is noticeably thinner, moving from 6.4 mm to an astonishing 5.1 mm, just beating Samsung's Galaxy Tab Ultra in the thinness race. This change is evident when you hold it, especially without a case. Despite being thinner, Apple has managed to fit a larger battery in the 11" model, while the 13" version maintains nearly the same battery size as its predecessor. This results in excellent battery life, similar to what we've come to expect from Apple. While the thinness might not have been a top request, it's a notable change, and rumors suggest this trend might extend to next year's iPhones.
2. Missing Ultra-Wide Camera
In a move that Apple glossed over, the ultra-wide camera has been removed. The camera square now only houses a single camera, LiDAR, and a flash, despite its design suggesting a multi-camera setup. This change is minor for most users but noteworthy nonetheless.
3. Updated Speakers and Magnets
With a thinner body, the speakers have inevitably changed. Using magnet paper, it's clear that the iPad Pro now has circular quad speaker drivers instead of the previous rectangular ones. While still some of the best speakers on any tablet, they are slightly less bassy due to the reduced internal space.
4. Packaging Changes
Apple's commitment to environmental responsibility is evident in the new packaging. No more stickers and less plastic, though they still ship a white 20-watt charging brick and a USB-C cable with each iPad. Given the premium price of the iPad Pro, it would have been nice to see a more powerful charger included, but this might be nitpicking.
5. Stratification in Specs
One of the more surprising changes is the stratification of the new iPad Pro's specs. In the past, paying more primarily got you more storage. Now, it also gets you different amounts of RAM and CPU cores. The base model starts at 256 GB with an eight-core CPU, while the higher-end models feature a nine-core CPU and more RAM. The top-tier versions even get a 10-core CPU and a nano-texture display option, offering an anti-reflective finish for an additional cost.
Tandem OLED Display
The new Tandem OLED display is brighter and more contrasty, a step up from the already impressive displays of past iPad Pros. This change shines in HDR content with pitch-black blacks and vibrant colors. However, in regular tasks like browsing or watching SDR content, the difference is subtle unless you're in direct sunlight at max brightness.
Apple Pencil Pro
For artists, the new Apple Pencil Pro is a game-changer. It supports Find My, has a squeeze sensor for selecting tools, a haptic motor for tactile feedback, and barrel rotation for tool-specific changes. There's even a computer-generated shadow on the iPad's display that matches the tool you're using. However, to take advantage of these features, you'll need a new iPad, as the magnets and layout have changed to accommodate the new landscape camera placement.
Conclusion
While I'm not in the market for a new iPad Pro myself, if you don't have a relatively recent model, the M4 iPad Pro is better than ever. Its hardware advancements, though subtle, continue to push the boundaries of what a tablet can do. However, the true test will come at WWDC later this year, where we'll see if the new iPadOS unlocks any new capabilities that can truly take advantage of this powerful hardware.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments below. Catch you in the next one. Peace.