The iPad Pro has long been where Apple experimented with tech, but the 2024 model pushes the boundaries to a new degree. The release of the M4 chip, a revolutionary Tandem OLED display, and a thinner-than-ever design have helped Apple market this tablet as a productivity device and a demonstration of its best technology. But the alluring improvements come at a steep price, which begs the question: Is the 2024 iPad Pro worth its price?
In this article, we are going to look at the device through four major lenses: design, display, performance, and usability to provide you with a holistic picture of what the new iPad Pro has to offer.
A Premium and Stunningly Thin Design
Apple has been obsessed with thinness since the beginning, and the iPad Pro of 2024 is a testament to the fact that this obsession can occasionally work out brilliantly. It has been trimmed down to 5.3mm in the 11-inch and 5.1mm in the 13-inch models, making it feel like you are holding a sheet of glass. Structurally, this is a solid device. Although the body’s thinness is impressive, the frame is made of aluminium, and the front is made of glass, which looks and feels as high-quality as you would expect.
Interestingly, this time Apple has simplified the camera module. The camera bump is refined and smaller by eliminating the secondary ultrawide lens. This change may be disheartening to people who appreciated the additional lens, but in the view of most users, it is a purely aesthetic and functional upgrade.
Colours are minimal and standard with Apple’s professional design language: Silver and Space Black. Each feature, including the smooth edges and the buttons’ feel, supports this product’s high-quality status.
A Display That Sets New Standards
The one thing that the iPad Pro excels at, however, is the display. Apple created Tandem OLED technology. Two layers of OLED are combined to achieve unprecedented brightness and depth. Conventional OLED displays have problems with maintaining a balance between brightness and durability, and this new method resolves this by distributing the work between two layers.
The outcomes are stunning. The iPad Pro 2024 achieves a maximum sustained brightness of 1,000 nits and can go up to 1,600 nits with HDR content. This translates to inky blacks, rich colours and an excellent outdoor visibility.
The iPad Pro display stands out as one of the best TVs, like Samsung QD-OLEDs, a remarkable achievement considering it is a portable device. In a nutshell, it is one of the finest screens available in any consumer product.
M4 Chip: Sizzling Speed
The iPad Pro is the first Apple product to launch with the M4 chip, even before the Mac line. Benchmarks are very impressive, with a Geek Bench multi-core score of over 14,000. This is more rapid than most of the laptops available in the market.
This is an excess of power to the lay user. Browsing, streaming, and note-taking are just the tip of the iceberg of what the M4 can do. However, to professionals, it is a game-changer. Apps such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro can now be used efficiently. Video editors, musicians, and designers can utilise the iPad Pro as a bona fide workstation.
Then there is futureproofing. As Apple advances to include AI-powered capabilities in its ecosystem, more powerful devices will support them. Possession of the M4 iPad Pro might imply keeping up with the latest software in the coming years.
Accessories That Elevate the Experience
Apple has not only improved the iPad Pro itself, but the accessories have also been updated. The Magic Keyboard has gained keys to control functions, a larger tracking pad, and a slimmer colour palette. It is pricey, making the iPad Pro a near-laptop replacement for typing-intensive activities.
The new features also come with Apple Pencil Pro. New squeeze and roll gestures provide more control to artists and designers. It is natural and intuitive and fits into the tradition of Apple to give the best stylus experience in the market.
These accessories turn the iPad Pro into a much more capable device at a significantly higher price.
Cameras That Fulfil Their Function
Although the rear camera array was reduced to a single 12MP sensor with LiDAR, it is not a critical defect. Tablets are not used seriously by most people as a means of photography. Instead, the camera plays its part in video calls and instant shots.
The greater change is the front-facing camera, which has been moved to the long side of the device. This is far more intuitive when the tablet is in landscape mode during video calls. Add the Apple Centre Stage technology, and you have a front camera system that works as intended.
Battery Life and Charging
Although the design has been slimmed down, Apple has not compromised battery performance. The iPad Pro can still last approximately 10 hours of web surfing or video playback, sufficient for a day of work or entertainment. It was able to last long in productivity sessions in testing.
It still charges at 30W, which is okay but not great. Faster charging would have been nice, but with tablets, speed is not as crucial as with phones, so this is an easily ignored limitation.
The Price Dilemma
This is where it becomes complicated. The 2024 iPad Pro begins at $999 (11-inch model) and $1299 (13-inch model). Throw in the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, and you quickly top the $1,800 mark.
This puts the iPad Pro above most laptops, including the MacBook Air made by Apple. Although the performance, display, and design can explain most of this price, potential customers should take a closer look at the necessity of what the iPad Pro has to offer. Students, casual users or mere entertainment seekers can make do with cheaper iPads. However, the 2024 iPad Pro might be worth every penny to professionals in creative industries.
Conclusion: the best tablet ever made
The 2024 iPad Pro is not a simple upgrade but a declaration. The most potent and beautiful-looking tablet on the market with a Tandem OLED display, M4 chip, elegant design and improved accessories.
However, it is not affordable to everyone due to its high price. The iPad Air or even the entry-level iPad might be more appropriate for your use case. However, when you are a creative professional, power user or anyone who wants the best of the best, the iPad Pro offers an experience that no other tablet can come close to.
Ultimately, the 2024 iPad Pro is the redefinition of what a tablet can be. It is a companion device and a main one that many users can use as a substitute for laptops. And by doing so, it establishes a new standard for the whole industry.
