At its highly anticipated “Let Loose” event on May 7, 2024, Apple unveiled a slew of updates to its iPad lineup and accessories. The star of the show was the next-generation iPad Pro, now powered by the M4 chip and featuring an OLED display. Apple also introduced a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air, a redesigned Apple Pencil, and a more durable Magic Keyboard case.
M4-Powered iPad Pro with OLED Display
The new iPad Pro models come in the familiar 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, but now sport an OLED panel instead of the previous mini-LED technology. Apple touts the switch to OLED will provide even better contrast, brightness, and power efficiency.
Under the hood, the iPad Pros are powered by the brand new M4 chip, making its debut ahead of the upcoming WWDC event in June. The M4 is expected to provide a significant performance boost and enable new AI capabilities.
The iPad Pro also gets a sleeker design and a landscape-oriented front camera, better suited for video calls and content creation.
Check: WWDC 2024: What to Expect, Event Date, and How to Watch It?
Larger 12.9-inch iPad Air
In a surprise move, Apple introduced a new larger 12.9-inch version of the iPad Air alongside the standard 10.9-inch model. Both are powered by the M2 chip from last year’s iPad Pro.
The larger iPad Air provides an option for those wanting a big-screen tablet experience without the premium price of the iPad Pro line.
Next-Gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
Alongside the new iPads, Apple debuted a next-generation Apple Pencil stylus. The new Pencil adds haptic feedback for a more tactile experience and improved precision.
The Magic Keyboard case also gets an upgrade, with a more durable aluminum construction, larger trackpad, and improved ergonomics to better position the iPad as a laptop replacement.
AI Developments
While hardware took center stage, Apple also highlighted its continued investments in clean energy and AI.
The company now powers its global operations with over 18 gigawatts of clean energy, a 3x increase from 2020. Apple also shared progress on its goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 and to replenish 100% of water used in its operations.
On the AI front, the new M4 chip in the iPad Pro enables new machine learning capabilities, but the company is expected to share more details on its AI strategy at WWDC in June.
Read: What Are New iOS 18 AI Features?
Analysis: iPad’s Continued Evolution
The new iPad Pro and Air models continue Apple’s push to position the iPad as a versatile laptop replacement. With the M4 chip, OLED display, and improved accessories, the iPad Pro is edging ever closer to MacBook territory in terms of performance and functionality.
The larger 12.9-inch iPad Air also provides a more affordable option for those wanting a productivity-focused big-screen tablet.
However, some argue the iPad’s software still lags behind its impressive hardware. As one analyst put it, “The iPad hardware is top notch, but iPadOS needs to evolve faster to fully take advantage of it.”
All eyes will be on Apple’s WWDC event in June to see if the company can close this software gap with the rumored iPadOS 18 update.
The new iPads and accessories are expected to be available for order starting May 21.