Apple launches 2024 iPad Pros with dual-layer OLED displays, M4 chipsets

The 2024 iPad Pros may be the biggest upgrades since the series was first introduced. Just about everything on them is new and better than what was available before. Let’s start with the Apple M4.

We have a separate post for Apple’s fourth generation chip, what’s interesting it that it makes its debut on an iPad. Previous chips were introduced with MacBooks, so this shows that Apple has a lot of faith in the new tablets.

Built on a second-gen 3nm node, the CPU is 1.5x faster than the M2, while graphics tasks can see a boost of up to 4x. Efficiency is doubled as the M4 can deliver the same performance as the M2 found inside the 2022 iPad Pros at half the power. Apple unveiled several new AI-powered features for Final Cut Pro and other apps and that is supported by the M4, which promises up to 38 TOPS. For comparison, the Snapdragon X Elite promises 45 TOPS.

Apple iPad Pro 2024 in Space Black and Silver

Anyway, these are the thinnest Apple products ever – thinner than even the 7th gen iPod Nano, which was a mere 5.4mm thick. The 11” model is 5.3mm and the 13” one is even thinner at 5.1mm. The aluminum bodies of the tablets (available in Silver and Space Black) are made out of 100%recycled materials.

Back to the displays, mini-LED is out, as is IPS LCD, both are replaced by OLED. Apple calls these “tandem OLED displays”, meaning that they are actually two OLED panels layered on top of each other to boost the brightness. They promise up to 1,000 nits full-screen brightness for SDR content and up to 1,600 nits for HDR.

The ProMotion displays can adjust their frame rate between 10Hz and 120Hz. Both have 264ppi pixel density, which for the 11” model means 2,420 x 1,668x resolution and for the 13” one 2,752 x 2,064px. Optionally, the protective glass can be etched with a nano-texture to reduce glare and to scatter less ambient light. Note that this is an extra that costs $100 and is available only with the 1TB and 2TB models (more on them later).

Apple is introducing a Pro version of its stylus – we detailed the Apple Pencil Pro in a separate post, but briefly, it has a new sensor that senses how hard you squeeze the stylus, which can be used to trigger actions (e.g. for quickly changing tools settings while drawing). Squeeze gestures will be confirmed by a custom haptic engine. Also, the Pencil Pro connects to the Find My network, so you can track it down if you lose it.

There are more new accessories – the all-new Magic Keyboard is thinner and lighter, matching the more slender design of the new Pro tablets. The keyboard now includes a function row and has a larger trackpad. Apple says that “the entire experience feels just like using a MacBook”. If you don’t need a full keyboard, there is also a new Smart Folio that also attaches magnetically to the tablet and can hold it at multiple viewing angles.

The 2024 Apple iPad Pros are available online in 29 countries starting today May 15 and in Apple stores from May 15. You will find a price breakdown below, but note that the 256GB and 512GB models come with 9-core CPUs (3 performance, 6 efficiency), while the 1TB and 2TB models get 10-core CPUs (4 performance, 6 efficiency). Both versions have the same 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, but the versions with more storage get double the RAM – 16GB instead of 8GB.

And a reminder that the nano-texture glass is an optional $100 extra for the 1TB and 2TB models. The prices below are for Wi-Fi tablets, if you want 5G, add $200.

A few more prices worth mentioning – the new Magic Keyboard is $300 for the 11” and $350 for the 13” tablet, the Smart Folio is $80 or $100, respectively. The Apple Pencil Pro is $130. There are discounts for education.

PS. Apple also unveiled new Apple iPad Airs today, coming in 11” and 13” sizes.

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