The new Apple iPad Pro and iPad Air debut with new accessories and systems

Apple iPad Air and iPad Pro have just debuted in a new edition - the latter boasts an efficient M4 chip with a 3-nanometer architecture. New applications for music and video production also debuted with the devices.

iPad Pro

The processors used by Apple tablets so far debuted first in MacBooks, but the new iPad Pro uses a completely new 10-core M4 processor made in 3nm technology, with a graphics system supporting dynamic caching and hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, and the Neural Engine system performing 38 trillion operations per second. The M4 also offers a CPU with machine learning accelerators and greater memory bandwidth.

In addition to performance, the new iPad Pro will also offer a better audiovisual experience, thanks to four microphones and an 11- or 13-inch OLED Ultra Retina XDR display. Particularly demanding users can additionally purchase nanostructured glass, ensuring even better image quality in any lighting. The device is available in black and silver colors with aluminum frames, and is thinner and lighter than the previous generation. The 11-inch iPad Pro is 5.3 mm thick and weighs less than half a kilogram, and the 13-inch iPad Pro is 5.1 mm thick and over 100 grams lighter than its predecessor. The main 12 Mpx camera has also been improved, equipped with functions useful for tablets - the True Tone adaptive flash automatically detects photographed documents and merges a series of photos taken to eliminate shadows.

Apple iPad Pro (2024)
photo: Apple

The possibilities of the new iPad Pro are also enriched by new accessories. Now, instead of the standard Apple Pencil, you can buy the advanced Apple Pencil Pro, with wireless charging, a locator and additional touch functions activated by pinching and rotating. The Magic Keyboard now attaches magnetically to charge and transfer data without Bluetooth, and the Smart Folio allows you to conveniently position the tablet and keyboard at multiple angles.

iPad Air

The main novelty of this year's cheaper tablet is the presence of two size variants - similarly to iPad Pro, iPad Air is now available in a standard 11-inch version and a 13-inch version with a 30% larger screen area. The 12 Mpx front camera has been moved to the longer side, which is especially useful when using the tablet with a keyboard. The tablet has two microphones and two speakers in a horizontal orientation, and the 13-inch variant offers twice as much bass.

Apple iPad Air (2024)
photo: Apple

iPad Air will also use the M2 processor, known so far from more expensive tablets and MacBooks, which, according to the manufacturer, offers almost 50% faster operation than an iPad with an M1 processor and three times faster operation than an iPad with an A14 Bionic processor. The new iPad Air will also benefit from faster Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, as well as the above-mentioned Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard accessories.

iPadOS 17 and new software

The new tablets also debut a new operating system, i.e. iPadOS 17. The lock screen will be enriched with interactive widgets and moving wallpapers, and the messaging application now has shortcuts to the most frequently sent content, search filters that make it easier to find content in previous conversations, as well as automatic convert voicemails into text. In turn, the new music application Logic Pro 2 will help in artistic endeavors, equipped with, among others, the Stem Splitter function that extracts instruments from a single recording and the ChromaGlow function that gives a warmer sound. The Final Cut Pro film application will allow you to simultaneously connect the device to four iPhones or iPads to conveniently record live from multiple angles.

New versions of Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro, iPadOS 17 z widżetami
photo: Apple

Prices and availability of new Apple tablets

As usual, Apple devices cost a lot, but this time we managed to stay at familiar prices, also outside the US. The 11-inch model has gone up in price and the 13-inch model has gone down in price, but overall prices have remained similar. This year's price list is as follows: