It’s been a very, very, long time coming but Apple has finally rebooted its popular iPad lineup with all-new Air and Pro models. These latest tablets will hit UK stores next week and ahead of their global release Express.co.uk has had the chance to get up close and personal.
Having seen them in the flesh during the firm’s “Let Loose” event there’s plenty to like in this long-overdue update – especially if you want to go Pro.
Apple’s new flagship tablets – which include 11-inch and 13-inch models – now come powered by the ludicrously quick M4 processor which has been built especially for these premium devices.
It makes the new iPad Pro supremely powerful with Apple promising serious gains when tackling the toughest of digital tasks. To put it into perspective, the new Pros are around 1.5 times faster than Apple’s last M2 models – those are tablets that were already regarded as the fastest on the market.
Having seen 3D graphics render in seconds, 4K video editing performed with undeniable ease and gaming that looks as good as a console there appears little doubt that the M4 is an absolute beast.
It’s also super efficient with Apple promising the same 10-hour battery life as previous models. In fact, Apple is confident that its M4 can deliver the same performance using just a quarter of the power of a similar-sized PC laptop.
It’s no surprise that Apple has boosted the performance of the Pro but what is totally mind-boggling is how they’ve managed to squeeze that impressive speed upgrade into such a thin form factor.
The 2024 13-inch iPad Pro is officially Apple’s thinnest ever device and it really does have to be seen to be believed. Get one in your hand and you instantly feel the difference between old and new.
The 11-inch model is now just 5.3mm thin (was 5.9 mm) whilst the 13-inch model is even thinner at just 5.1mm (was 6.4 mm)
Despite slimming things down, the new iPads still feel super premium and they should have no problem surviving life in your backpack – Apple is promising the 100 percent recycled aluminium enclosure is just as tough as before.
The final upgrade that really impressed me during my short time with the iPad Pro range is the display. Both now feature an Ultra Retina XDR screen with tandem OLED technology that uses two panels and combines the light from both to provide impressive full-screen brightness.
Having seen photos and videos beamed on this screen it really is very impressive with colours popping, blacks appearing dark and rich and whites so bright they almost hurt your eyes.
The previous Pro with its Liquid Retina panel was already good but, on first impressions, this upgrade seems to take things to a whole new level.
Along with a standard screen, Apple is also offering the Pro with a Nano-texture glass that reduces glare – it works well and stops the distractions of spotlights above your head. Sadly, it’s only available on the 1TB and 2TB versions which start from £1,599 and it will cost £100 extra on top so only opt for it if you think you really need it.
There are other useful changes on these machines including better cameras, improved connectivity, impressive speakers and a new position for the front-facing camera – it now sits on top when in landscape mode which is far better than before especially when making video calls.
I only had a short time with the new iPad Pro devices but this is clearly another stellar update from Apple.
With Pro prices starting from £999 they certainly aren’t cheap and, don’t forget, there’s now an enticing cut to the 10th Gen model which now costs just £349 – that’s £150 less than before.
Another model to watch out for is the new M2-powered iPad Air which will ship next week in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes.
I have a feeling the larger Air could prove hugely popular as it’s now as powerful as the previous Pro models but doesn’t come at such a high price.
Express.co.uk hopes to bring you a full iPad Pro 2024 review soon so watch this space.
