Apple has previously launched new iPads at intervals of one to two years, but never before has it taken so long between two generations of iPad Pro. The current and fifth generation iPad Pro has been on the market since April 2021. In it sits the then ground-breaking Apple-built processor M1.
But now it is finally ready for a new and sixth generation iPad Pro. Apple launched the tablet on Tuesday afternoon Norwegian time, and it comes with the brand new M4 processor!
New iPad Pro: – Breaks the limits of what it can do
iPad Pro is now ultra-thin. The tablet comes in two versions, 11- and 13-inch, but it’s the thickness that really stands out.
The new generation iPad Pro is only 5.3 and 5.1 mm thick. It is noticeably much thinner than previous models.
For the first time, the iPad Pro is equipped with OLED screens (Apple calls it OLED Tandem). The screens are called Ultra Retina XDR. This is a significant upgrade with near perfect black levels, richer colors and improved contrast compared to the previous generation.
The OLED panels can reach 1000 nits of brightness across the screen and an impressive 1600 nits for HDR content.
A big advantage is that both screen sizes now offer the same high quality, where the 11-inch previously lagged a little behind. This is good news for those who prefer the smaller, more manageable model.
Apple confirms (and shocks) that the iPad Pro is indeed equipped with the new generation system chip, M4.
This was a pre-launch rumor that seemed so unlikely that most experts didn’t believe it was true.
The new chip must be enormously efficient and lightning fast, without demanding much from the battery. According to Apple, it is twice as fast as the previous generation iPad Pro. And not least: It should be specially designed for artificial intelligence, without Apple going into that further.
Here is a summary of the most important updates in M4:
The new M4 processor allows a workflow that is not possible today. With a CPU that is 50 percent faster than the previous generation M2, demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling and multitasking will be performed noticeably faster and more smoothly.
At the same time, the M4 is twice as efficient, which means it delivers the same performance as the M2 with half the power consumption. This can provide longer battery life and less heat even with demanding tasks over time.
Apple also highlights an improved gaming experience compared to before.
Apple also knows how to get paid:
- The price of the new iPad Pro starts at NOK 14,490 for the worst-equipped 11-incher with 256 GB of storage and no mobile network.
- If you go for the top model of 13 inches, 2 TB storage, glass with nano-texture and mobile network, we are up to NOK 37,190.
New Apple Pencil Pro
Apple is not giving up on the cameras on the iPad, which have now been updated somewhat compared to the previous generation. We are talking about a 12 MP main camera, four microphones and a lidar scanner.
More important is one brand new Apple Pencil. A new sensor enables new functions, including a gyroscope that allows you to turn the pen and the brush follows suit. There is now also “Where is?” support for those of you who misplace your pen here and there. The new pen can also be used on the new generation iPad Air.
Here are all the updates to the Apple Pencil:
Price: Apple Pencil Pro costs NOK 1,799.
New iPad Air
The company also announced a new generation of iPad Air, which now comes in two screen sizes, 11- and 13-inch. Both are equipped with Liquid Retina displays, which means a backlit LED display with Multi-Touch and IPS technology.
The 13-incher has a resolution of 732 x 2048 pixels and a maximum brightness of 600 nits, while the 11-incher has to make do with 500 nits.
A major disadvantage of the Air compared to the Pro is that it is missing . This means that you will experience “chocking” in text and images when you scroll.
On the inside is the somewhat dated M2 system chip, but it is a clear upgrade from the previous generation.
In terms of design, it is quite similar to the previous model, but the camera and sensors have now been moved to the long side of the screen.
It also has faster Wi-Fi, and the mobile network models have 5G, so users can stay connected on the go.
Price: iPad Air starts at NOK 8,490 for the 11-incher with 128 GB and without mobile network (10,590 with mobile network). For the 13-incher, the starting price increases to NOK 11,290 and ends at NOK 20,390 for 1 TB of storage and mobile network.
All the new iPads are available from 15 May 2024.
Apple and artificial intelligence
Based on the information from Apple, it is clear that the company has a strong focus on artificial intelligence in the new M4 chip used in the iPad Pro. They highlight in particular that the M4 has their most powerful “Neural Engine” ever, which can execute a whopping 38 trillion instructions per second. This is 60 times faster than their first Neural Engine.
In combination with machine learning accelerators in the CPU, an efficient GPU and faster memory, Apple says the M4 will be an extremely powerful chip for AI tasks. They mention AI functions in iPadOS such as real-time subtitling of audio and visual search that can identify objects in images and video.
Furthermore, the new M4 chip will ensure that the iPad Pro solves demanding AI tasks such as isolating subjects from the background in 4K video and automatically notating music in real time. Apple claims that the M4’s Neural Engine is more powerful than any neural processing unit in today’s AI PCs.
So even if they don’t reveal all the plans, it seems clear that Apple is betting heavily on integrating powerful AI technology into its products going forward, with the M4 and iPad Pro being an important step along the way.
