At its “Let Loose” virtual event on May 7, 2024, Apple revealed the latest iPad Pros, boasting the company’s thinnest design ever and the long-awaited switch to OLED displays. These flagship tablets, available in both 11-inch and 13-inch models, offer enhanced performance, sleeker profiles, and significant display upgrades that set a new standard for Apple’s premium tablets.
The most noticeable change is the transition to OLED screens, providing perfect blacks, richer colors, and increased contrast. The 13-inch model measures just 5.1 millimeters thick, while the 11-inch comes in at 5.3 millimeters, making them the thinnest iPads yet. The new OLED technology delivers 1,000 nits of peak full-screen brightness and 1,600 nits for HDR content, ensuring a visually stunning experience.
The new iPad Pros also feature Apple’s latest M4 chip, which the company claims is 50% faster than the M2 found in previous models. Apple also notes that the M4 can deliver the same performance as the M2 with only half the power consumption, thanks to improved thermal performance and efficiency gains. This makes the new iPad Pros more capable of handling intensive tasks, solidifying their position as potential laptop replacements.
The iPad Pros come with base storage of 256GB and start at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model. Customers can pre-order starting today, with the tablets set to hit stores on May 15th. For those looking to fully kit out their device, the 13-inch model with 5G and nano-texture glass coating reaches $2,599, edging into high-end laptop pricing.
Apple has also repositioned the front-facing camera to landscape mode, addressing a longstanding complaint for video calls and FaceTime sessions. The rear camera has also been upgraded to a 12-megapixel f/1.8 lens, improving document scanning capabilities and adaptive flash technology.
Accessories for the new iPad Pros have also received an update, with a redesigned Magic Keyboard featuring an aluminum palm rest and a function key row. The Apple Pencil Pro now supports squeeze gestures, Find My location tracking, and a gyroscope for advanced drawing techniques.
Apple’s switch to OLED is expected to offer improved viewing experiences, especially for those who work with multimedia content or enjoy high-quality streaming. With these changes, the iPad Pros are poised to set a new benchmark for premium tablets in 2024.
For a comprehensive overview of the new iPad Pros and their features, check out The Verge’s report.