Background information
Tandem OLED and M4: the iPad as a springboard for new technology
by Samuel Buchmann
New iPads unveiled: iPad Pro gets OLED display, but no calculator app
7/5/2024
Translation: machine translated
Apple is updating two of its tablets. The iPad Pro gets the new M4 chip and becomes lighter. In addition to the 11-inch version, the iPad Air now has a 13-inch version and new colours.
The new iPad models were a little longer in coming. The last addition to Apple's tablet family was in 2022. In addition to a new iPad Pro and Air, the Apple Pencil family is also getting an exciting new addition. The much-desired calculator app is still missing.
iPad Pro: light, thin, OLED display!
This year, Apple has more than just overhauled the iPad Pro. In addition to a slightly different design, Apple has packed its brand new M4 chip into the device.
Source: Screenshot Apple keynote
Design
The two new models are lighter and thinner than their predecessors. The iPad Pro with 11-inch display is 5.3 millimetres thin and weighs 444 grams. The 13-inch model is 5.1 millimetres thin and weighs around 580 grams. They are available in silver and space black.
Display
The iPad Pro previously had a display with a mini LED. The iPad Pro now has not just one OLED panel, but two in combination. The upgrade promises better black levels and colours. The two OLED panels also give you a full-screen brightness of 1000 nits with HDR peaks of up to 1600 nits. That's enormous. You can get a deeper insight into the new technology in the article by our colleague Samuel Buchmann.
Apple also offers a version with nano-textured glass, but only for models with 1 TB and 2 TB of storage. This special design is intended to diffuse light better and thus reduce glare. This is particularly practical for bright workplaces.
Chip
After Apple equipped the Macbook Pro and the new iMacs with the M3 chip last autumn, the all-new M4 chip has found its place in the new iPad Pro. The M2 chip already coped well with performance-intensive creative applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Procreate (Dreams). Now up to 50 per cent more performance is possible. This power should make ray tracing possible in gaming, for example, which visually enhances games. You should also be able to work more smoothly with 3D rendering.
Source: Screenshot Apple keynote
Software
You will receive the iPad Pro with iPad OS 17 ex works. To fully utilise the new M4 chip, Apple is giving two important apps an upgrade: Final Cut Pro 2 and Logic Pro 2. The art apps Procreate and Procreate Dreams should also benefit from the new power and functions. Extensive tests will follow.
Price and availability
The 11-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB storage starts at an RRP of 1049 francs or 1199 euros. For the 13-inch iPad Pro, the RRP starts at 1349 francs or 1549 euros. They are also available with 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB storage.
iPad Air really big
The mid-range tablet doesn't get an OLED display, but a new size and more computing power.
Design and size
The iPad Air gets a fresh coat of paint. The aluminium housing is available in light blue, purple, polar star (beige) or space grey. According to Apple, half of all iPad Pro users opted for the 12.9-inch version. That's why the iPad Air is now also getting a 13-inch version in addition to the 11-inch tablet.
Source: Screenshot Apple keynote
Display
Not enough for OLED yet. Apple is sticking with the Liquid Retina Display for the iPad Air for the time being. In other words, LED without local dimming. The tablet achieves 500 nits of brightness at 11 inches and 600 nits at 13 inches. An anti-reflective coating is also included.
Hardware
The iPad Air comes with the M2 chip. According to Apple, this should allow games such as "Assasin's Creed Mirage" to be played smoothly - or even computationally intensive creative programmes such as Affinity Designer 2 would work well on it.
The 12 MP front camera is finally located on the long side. This makes much more sense for video calls. The rear camera also has 12 MP.
Apple specifies a battery of 28.93 watt hours for the 11-inch device and 36.59 watt hours for the 13-inch device. This should get you through 10 hours - the same as the predecessor, just with more computing power.
Price and availability
The price of the iPad Air with 11 inches and 128 GB memory starts at 629 francs or 699 euros. For 13 inches you pay 829 francs or 949 euros. The tablets will be available from next week.
Apple Pencil Pro
Apple also has new accessories in store. I was curious to see whether the new Apple Pencil would further complicate the line-up, as the last new addition. And I'm pleasantly surprised. Although the Apple Pencil Pro has now been added to the tangled tangle, it is compatible with the iPad Pro and iPad Air. It also brings some new features that offer great advantages for artists.
Source: Screenshot Apple keynote
Functions
- Gyro sensor: The Apple Pencil Pro recognises when you rotate it. For example, you can rotate an elongated brush tip in the Procreate art programme or rotate a 3D animation in the Procreate Dreams animation programme.
- Press gesture: The pen recognises when you press it together. This makes a tool palette appear or activates other shortcuts. You receive haptic feedback when you press
"Where-is?" function: You can use the "Where-is?" app to find your Apple Pencil Pro if you have misplaced it
The hover function is still available. This allows you to glide across the display and see the pencil displayed like a cursor. Double-tapping is also still included, for example to switch between two tools.
Price and availability
The Apple Pencil Pro is available for 129 francs or euros and works with both the new iPad Pro and the new iPad Air.
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.