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Apple's iPads have been on the back burner since 2022—there have been plenty of iPhones and Macs since, even a mixed-reality headset, but it's been two years since we've seen a new tablet. Now the wait is finally over. During its virtual event today, Apple announced the next-generation iPad Pro and iPad Air, an all-new M4 chip, as well as updated accessories.
Here's everything Apple announced.
Updated June 4, 2024: An earlier version of this article stated the M2 powering the iPad Air was three times faster than the A12 Bionic chip. The company has since corrected this, confirming it's three times faster than the A14 Bionic chip. We've updated the article to reflect this.
All-New M4 Chip
Since 2020, Apple has exclusively launched its M-series processors alongside another Mac. That's no longer the case, as Apple unveiled the all-new M4 chipset debuting inside the new iPad Pro.
The new chip is built on a second-generation three-nanometer process, packing more transistors into a smaller space, enhancing both power efficiency and speed. The CPU has four performance cores and six efficiency cores, which Apple says delivers up to 50 percent faster CPU performance than the M2 in the previous iPad Pro. There's also a 10-core GPU for four times faster performance. As with the M3, it comes with features such as ray tracing, mesh shading, and dynamic caching.
The shift in strategy makes sense, seeing as how Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (which focuses on new software capabilities coming to its entire product line) is next month. In April, Bloomberg reported that iOS 18 will include “a new slate of generative AI features” and that Apple was currently in talks with OpenAI to incorporate some of the company's features into the next version of the iPhone operating system (this is in addition to reports that Apple is also talking to Google about licensing the Gemini assistant).
During its earnings calls, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been hinting at the company's incoming AI features as well—both in February and, more recently, earlier this month. Although Apple didn't get into AI-specific features, it's seemingly laying the AI groundwork with the new M4.
It's currently only available with the new iPad Pro, but we can expect Apple to implement the chip in the next-generation Macs.
An OLED iPad Pro
The last two versions of the iPad Pro haven't been all that innovative. In 2021, Apple added an M1 chip and a mini-LED display; in 2022, it came with an M2 chip, ProRes video capture, and support for Wi-Fi 6E. The latest iPad Pro, however, packs the largest number of notable upgrades we've seen in a while.
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You'll have the choice between a 13-inch iPad Pro and the standard 11-inch. For the first time, Apple is now employing OLED panels instead of mini-LED, but this isn't just any OLED screen. Apple says its new display technology is called Tandem OLED, which is comprised of two OLED layers fused together. This results in a brighter screen, which it calls Ultra Retina XDR. OLED screens typically don't get as bright as LCDs, but Apple says these new iPads can hit 1,000 nits and 1,600 nits in peak brightness.
These iPads are also the thinnest Apple products ever. The 11-inch model is 5.3 mm, and the 13-inch model is 5.1 mm, which is 0.8 and 1.3 mm thinner than the 2022 iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch models, respectively. They're also quite lightweight at 0.98 and 1.28 pounds.
You can choose between standard or nano-texture glass (as seen on the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR) that helps to reduce glare. This is a $100 addition that is available only on the 1- or 2-terabyte iPad Pro models. Speaking of, the base storage now starts at 256 GB.
On the back is a 12-megapixel camera, lidar scanner, and a new adaptive True Tone flash. The latter offers improved document scanning in harsh lighting conditions, and Apple says it employs AI and stitches multiple images to deliver a nicer scan. The front-facing camera has also been moved to landscape mode.
Apple also announced new updates for its Pro video- and audio-editing apps—Final Cut Pro 2 and Logic Pro 2. The former has more interesting features, such as live multicam support, which lets you connect multiple iPhones or iPads during a multicam shoot, and you can view all the feeds on one iPad and even control things like focus and white balance remotely.
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All of these new features come with an inevitable price increase. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, while the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299. It's currently available for preorder and will go on sale May 15.
A Bigger iPad Air
The sixth-generation iPad Air doesn't have as many significant upgrades as the iPad Pro, but it does now come in two sizes. As with the new iPad Pro, you'll now have the choice between an 11-inch and a 13-inch screen (for 30 percent more screen real estate). That way, you don't have to shell out for the Pro version if all you want is a bigger screen without the other features. (For example, it doesn't have Apple's ProMotion, which adds a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for more fluid interactions.)
Apple kept the same design it unveiled back in 2020, complete with slim bezels, a USB-C port, and Touch ID integrated into the top button. The only difference is the selfie camera placement. As with the iPad (10th gen) and the latest iPad Pro, the 12-megapixel sensor has been moved to the center of the iPad on the Air in landscape orientation. You'll get the same 12-megapixel rear camera as on its predecessors.
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Under the hood, Apple upgraded the M1 chip to an M2—the same silicon that powers the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (2022), and the sixth-generation iPad Pro. Compared to the M1, Apple claims the M2 is up to 50 percent faster and three times faster than the iPad Air with the A14 Bionic chip. But the increase in performance is likely incremental if you're coming from the M1. You'll likely only notice a difference if you come from an older iPad Air powered by one of Apple's A-series chips. Apple also doubled the starting storage with 128 gigabytes, and you can upgrade it all the way up to 1 terabyte.
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the 13-inch model starts at $799. It's available for preorder now and ships May 15.
The Apple Pencil Goes Pro
It seems as if Apple has always struggled to find the Goldilocks zone for the Apple Pencil. The first-generation version has a Lightning connector, so you have to remove the cap and awkwardly plug it into the iPad's charging port. The second-generation version is the most feature-packed, but it's pricey for what it is. Plus, it's also not compatible with all iPad models. And the USB-C version feels perplexing—it lacks pressure sensitivity and attaches magnetically, but it doesn't support wireless charging and also doesn't work on all iPad models.
The latest is the Apple Pencil Pro—everything is “Pro” these days. It looks identical to its predecessor, matte finish and all, but it also comes equipped with a few new features. There's now a “squeeze” capability that opens up a new tool palette (double tap is still available), and the new haptic engine inside offers you feedback as you squeeze. A built-in gyroscope sensor lets you change the orientation of the tools you're using as you twist the pencil, offering up even finer control. Additionally, anyone who tends to lose their Apple Pencil will be happy to know that the new version has support for Apple's Find My network. Now you can track the Pencil Pro on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac via the Find My app in case you misplace it.
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The third-generation Apple Pencil is currently available for preorder for $129. It starts shipping on May 15. It's only compatible with the new iPad Air and new iPad Pro models. It's a little ridiculous that there's no backward compatibility, not even for someone with an iPad Pro from 2022.
A New Magic Keyboard Case
The first-ever Magic Keyboard case hit shelves in 2020, but since then, third-party accessory companies like Logitech, Zagg, and Brydge have built better options that are more functional, more durable, and less expensive.
Apple's new refreshed version isn't all that different from its predecessor, but it does come with some noteworthy improvements (yet still a high price). It now includes a Function row (for access to controls like screen brightness), an aluminum palm rest, and a larger trackpad with haptic feedback—so it should feel a lot similar to a MacBook. According to Apple, it's also thinner and lighter.
It's available for both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro starting at $299 and $349, respectively. It's currently available for preorder and will go on sale May 15.
On a final note, Apple says it's lowering the price of the base 10th-generation iPad that it launched back in 2022 from $449 to $349. That means the 2019 9th-gen iPad will likely start disappearing from store shelves.
