The 2024 iPad Pro (starting at $999 for the 11-inch version) is the top of Apple's refreshed iPad lineup and a higher-end counterpart to the iPad Air (starting at $599). It's an impressive piece of hardware, with a new OLED display, a next-generation M4 processor, revised cameras, and a fresh selection of accessories. For creators who need the power to render music or video, the iPad Pro easily handles heavy-duty apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Photoshop, and more. The latest iPad Air is all most everyday users need in a tablet, but the iPad Pro's potent performance earns it our Editors' Choice award for professionals who demand the most.
Design: Beyond Thin
Apple has updated half of its iPad lineup with new iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, both of which are available in 11- and 13-inch versions. The biggest differences between them are the displays and the processors. Apple left the iPad mini ($499) and standard iPad ($349) untouched for now.
The iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch one. Unlike with previous generations, the two Pro tablets share every spec apart from battery size, screen size, and overall dimensions. The 11-inch model measures 9.83 by 6.99 by 0.21 inches (HWD) and weighs 0.98 pounds. The 13-inch model is bigger at 11.09 by 8.48 by 0.20 inches and 1.28 pounds. For comparison, the 13-inch iPad Air (11.04 by 8.46 by 0.24 inches, 1.36 pounds) is nearly identical to the 12.9-inch 2022 iPad Pro (11.04 by 8.46 by 0.25 inches, 1.50 pounds). I tested the 13-inch version.
Non-Apple tablets with similar screen sizes are comparable in size and weight. The 12.9-inch Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (starting at $999) comes in at 11.30 by 8.20 by 0.37 inches and 1.95 pounds, while the 12.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (starting at $999) measures 11.23 by 7.30 by 0.22 inches and weighs 1.28 pounds.
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Many people believe thinner and lighter things are better. In this case, they're right. The thinner and lighter iPad Pro indeed feels better to use day in and day out. After a week of testing, the iPad Pro's 0.22-pound reduction in weight (compared with the 2022 model) proved the biggest change in everyday use. It doesn't seem like a lot, but I found the 13-inch model significantly more comfortable to use when sitting on the couch.
In terms of size, the 11-inch model fits well in small bags and some purses, while the 13-inch model requires something more like a backpack or messenger bag for transport.
The iPad Pro sports an aluminum chassis that forms the flat rear panel and side edges, while an all-glass front nestles into the frame. Apple doesn't specify what type of glass it uses. It's an elegant design and manufactured with the highest degree of precision. Apple also doesn't make any claims about the durability of the tablet. For reference, the Galaxy Tab S9 carries an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water.
Plenty of functional elements line the sides. If you hold the tablet in a landscape orientation, the power button rests at the top of the left side and the volume buttons are nearby on the top edge. All three buttons have excellent travel and feedback. The short sides also host an array of four speakers that produce stereo sound. It's a pleasure to use the iPad Pro to listen to music or watch movies. The single USB-C (Thunderbolt 3 and USB4) port is on the right edge. Four microphones are scattered about, as well. Apple ditches the physical SIM card tray in favor of eSIM. Three copper pogo pins on the rear provide power and connectivity for accessories.
The rear camera module is in the same spot, but the user-facing camera is now on the top long edge (huzzah!) for an improved video chatting experience. The standard iPad made this change back in 2022, so it was long overdue on the Pro models.
Apple sells the iPad Pro in Silver or Space Black. I received the latter for testing. It's a darker black than the previous-generation iPad, though I still wish it came in a true deep black. If you prefer brighter colors, opt for the cheaper iPad Air.
Display: Just Gorgeous
Apple has relied on LCD technology for iPad displays dating back to the original 2010 tablet. Sure, the 2022 iPad Pro adopted mini-LED, but that's still a variant of LCD. For 2024, Apple updates both the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pros with OLED technology—and the difference is night and day.
The smaller iPad Pro carries over the screen size from its predecessor but boosts the resolution slightly from 2,388 by 1,668 pixels to 2,420 by 1,668 pixels for the same effective pixel density of 264 pixels per inch (ppi). The larger Pro screen increases in size from 12.9 inches to 13 inches, and from 2,732 by 2,048 pixels to 2,752 by 2,064 pixels (also at 264ppi). Both screens retain an adaptive refresh rate that dynamically changes from 10Hz to 120Hz to balance power needs and performance (Apple calls this ProMotion). Apple boosts the maximum brightness of SDR content from 600 nits to 1,000 nits but keeps the maximum brightness of XDR content at 1,600 nits. However, in keeping with one of the major benefits of OLED technology, contrast doubles from 1,000,000:1 to 2,000,000:1. (Samsung's Galaxy Tab S tablets have relied on OLED for years, so Apple's playing a bit of catch-up here.)
To construct these screens, Apple pairs two OLED panels (tandem OLED). This makes for an OLED display that's twice as bright as a single panel. OLED screens are better at displaying black levels than LCDs, so they look more dynamic overall. Nowhere is the difference more obvious than when you watch HDR content on Apple TV+ or Netflix, edit ProRes footage, or tweak HDR photos. The improved color depth is simply outstanding. Apple says the new screens include P3 color and True Tone for auto-adjusting white balance.
Other standard features apply, including a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, an antireflective coating, and a fully laminated coating. If you care to spend an extra $100, you can upgrade to the nano-texture glass on the 1TB and 2TB models. This micro-etched glass scatters light to create a near-matte appearance with almost no reflections. I didn't test a nano-texture model but did view one in person. The reflection-muting power is impressive, though the overall experience has a little less wow factor than the standard display, which is more dazzling. If you often work outdoors or in bright spaces, the nano-texture might be worth the upgrade.
For comparison, the iPad Air tablets have screens with 2,360 by 1,640 pixels (11-inch) and 2,732 by 2,048 pixels (13-inch), both at 264ppi. They feature most of the same coatings as the Pro models but use LED-backlit IPS LCD panels that max out at 500 and 600 nits for the 11- and 13-inch models, respectively.
Performance: Nothing Beats It
Apple gives the revamped iPad Pros an entirely new processor. Whereas the 2022 model shipped with Apple's M2 chip, the 2024 tablets skip over the 2023-era M3 in favor of the redesigned M4. There are two slightly different variants of the M4.
iPad Pro models with 256GB or 512GB of storage get an M4 with 9 CPU cores (3 performance, 6 efficiency), 10 GPU cores, 16 NPU cores (neural engine), 120GB/s of memory bandwidth, and 8GB of RAM. iPad Pros with 1TB or 2TB of storage gain a 10-core CPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency) and more RAM at 16GB. Other processor specs remain the same.
Apple doubles the base storage in the Pro models from 128GB to 256GB. The other options (512GB, 1TB, and 2TB) remain the same at additional cost. I tested a 1TB model with a 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM.
The M4 is a powerful processor that easily surpasses the M3 and older Apple chips, as well as many other SoCs on the market. In terms of everyday use, the iPad Pro simply flies. It performs everything in a blink, including OS updates, app updates, media downloads, and much more. Simple apps like Safari, Gmail, and Slack are no chore at all for the iPad. Multitasking with Stage Manager poses no threat to performance either.
I tested a prerelease version of Apple Logic Pro 2 and found the M4 was more than capable of handling complex music tracks with multiple instruments and voices. When I tried RAM-intensive apps like Lightroom and Photoshop, it managed on-device and cloud-based photo libraries with ease.
Beyond my anecdotal experiences, I ran a number of benchmarks to quantify the performance. The iPad Pro achieved scores of 3,679 and 14,647 on the single- and multi-core tests for Geekbench 6; 8,597 total frames at 51.5fps for 3DMark; 3,858 total frames at 60fps for GFXBench Aztec Ruins High Tier; and 2,746,950 for AnTuTu.
Those figures compare well with the M2 iPad Pro, which scored 2,502 and 9,496 on Geekbench 6; 6,914 on 3DMark, and 2,197,677 on Antutu. For further comparison, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra scored 2,069 and 5,408 on the single- and multi-core tests in Geekbench 6.
It's worth pointing out here that the latest iPad Air relies on the same M2 chip as the old iPad Pro and performs well in its own right. It tops out at 8GB of RAM and comes with either 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.
Battery: Good, But Apple Can Do Better
The story of the iPad's battery life is one of a broken record. Since the original iPad debuted in 2010, Apple has marketed 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web over Wi-Fi. That remains unchanged. You get a bit less (9 hours) if you surf over 5G or a bit more if you watch locally stored videos.
On PCMag's standard battery test, in which we stream 1080p video over Wi-Fi with the screen at full brightness, the Pro hit 7 hours and 43 minutes. That's a significant improvement over the 2022 model's 6 hours and 31 minutes, but still not quite 10 hours. For comparison, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra lasts far longer at 9 hours and 30 minutes.
The iPad Pro supports 20W wired charging and takes close to two hours to fully recharge. Apple includes a charger and USB-C-to-USB-C cable in the box. It doesn't support wireless charging or reverse charging.
It's somewhat shocking that the iPad's battery life has not benefited at all from Apple's advancements in processor efficiency over the last 14 years. Apple's MacBooks, for example, can run for more than 20 hours. There's no reason the iPad Pro (particularly the larger 13-inch model) can't push through 12 or more hours per charge. That said, out in the real world, I had a hard time running the iPad Pro's battery down in a day.
Connectivity: Quick and Reliable
The iPad Pro comes with most of the right radios. The 5G version costs $200 more than the Wi-Fi model, a significant premium that doesn't include the required monthly data fees.
For an unknown reason, Apple dropped support for mmWave 5G, though the iPad Pro retains most sub-6GHz 5G bands, including C-band. This change means the Pro iPads can no longer reach the fastest peak download speeds over cellular networks (around 2Gbps) but can still deliver fast enough service for most users (up to about 600Mbps). Of course, it's backward compatible with LTE 4G.
In real-world tests on Verizon's 5G network in the New York City area, I saw good speeds. In an area with Verizon Ultra Wideband coverage, download and upload speeds respectively reached 391Mbps and 129Mbps. For reference, the 2022 iPad Pro hit comparable speeds of 354Mbps and 133Mbps under the same circumstances.
The iPad carries over the same Wi-Fi 6E radio from the previous generation. I was hoping for an upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, but it appears as though Apple is holding off on the latest Wi-Fi for the moment. When I tested over a 1Gbps home internet connection, the iPad Pro reached top speeds of 569Mbps down and 140Mbps up near the router and 222Mbps down and 97Mbps up at the network's edge. That compares well with the M2 iPad Pro, which posted 535Mbps down and 143Mbps up, and 207Mbps down and 93Mbps up, respectively, in the same spots.
Apple doesn't update the Bluetooth radio. The new iPad Pro runs version 5.3, the same as the M2 iPad (the latest version is 5.4). It works well with a range of wireless earphones and headphones, including AirPods.
With support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB4, the USB-C port is as powerful as ever. For example, it can handle incredible data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. Thunderbolt support also means the iPad Pro is compatible with plenty of third-party accessories. Moreover, the iPad Pro can drive external displays at resolutions of up to 6K as well as support read/write to external storage. This latter function means Pro users can work on files stored on hard drives rather than the internal storage.
The latest iPad Air models have the same wireless connectivity suite and I expect to see similar performance, though their USB-C ports are limited to USB3 and speeds of 10Gbps.
Cameras: Better Than Most
Tablets, in general, make for terrible cameras. The iPad Pro is an exception to that generality, despite the sheer awkward nature of its size for the task.
Critically, Apple moves the TrueDepth/FaceID camera from the short edge to the long edge. This is vital for frequent FaceTimers, Zoomers, and Google Meeters. It means you appear centered in your video chats rather than low and off to the side. It's a change long-sought by iPad users and a welcome update to the Pro. It also improves the experience of authenticating your face to unlock the iPad or make purchases. FaceID is the iPad Pro's lone biometric security tool. The iPad Air still relies on a fingerprint reader built into the power button.
The 12MP camera itself is quite good. Its f/2.4 aperture could be a bit brighter, but the camera does a great job with depth control and bokeh effects. You get a nice suite of video features as well, including 1080p HD capture with extended dynamic range, cinematic stabilization, wide color, and lens correction. My coworkers didn't notice when I switched from my normal Logitech HD webcam to the iPad Pro for our morning meeting, which is all the validation I need about the camera's quality.
The Pro drops the ultra-wide camera from earlier models in favor of a single 12MP rear camera. It has an aperture of f/1.8, digital zoom to 5x, an adaptive True Tone flash, a revised autofocus module, and support for Smart HDR 4. It captures wide color and Apple's Live Photos, and includes stabilization.
As far as tablet cameras go, it's a winner. You won't find one that takes sharper, richer photos. While some people may bemoan the loss of the ultra-wide lens, the standard camera is more than capable for your tablet photography needs.
This is doubly true when it comes to video. Few tablets can capture 4K60 video or ProRes at 4K30. The Pro also includes features like audio zoom, slow-motion capture in 1080p, time-lapse, and well as stabilized capture at 720p, 1080p, and 4K. It's simply a top-tier device for video capture.
Software: iPadOS Is Still Clunky
The iPad Pro ships with iPadOS 17.5. Apple hasn't introduced too many new software features for the iPad, at least not yet. It certainly hasn't shown off any type of AI for the tablet. I expect to see a full list of new capabilities once Apple debuts iPadOS 18, which won't reach the new hardware until fall 2024. While you wait, you can be comfortable knowing that you have years of OS and security updates on deck to keep the M4 iPad Pro in step.
Apps aren't a problem. iPadOS has more customized apps for its screen size and power than any other tablet platform. You can find everything you need in the App Store, including hardcore productivity tools, advanced games, and more.
The problem is moving things between apps. Though a basic file manager is on board, finding the file you need and opening it in the app you want is often more challenging than it should be. The built-in share sheets work fine, but invariably something is missing or incompatible. Further, while Stage Manager helps you manage multitasking between a handful of apps at a time, it's still not the best window-management tool available. I'm not asking Apple to make the iPad a Mac, but to at least give us a simple desktop environment for controlling app windows and files.
Samsung tablets have had a feature like this, called DeX, for years. It's not perfect, but it can be a boon to productivity in some cases.
Accessories: The Pencil Writ Large
New iPads mean new accessories, and Apple updates the two most important iPad tools: the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.
The $129 Apple Pencil Pro works with both the iPad Pro and iPad Air, but not older iPads. It gains a handful of new tools for artists to put to creative use. For example, Apple adds a pressure-sensitive area just above the tip. Squeeze it to bring up the Pencil's toolbar, which includes alternate brushes, an eraser, and more. A built-in gyroscope makes the Pencil more sensitive to movement, like a rolling motion. By rolling the Pencil between your fingertips, you can alter the angle of the tip to ensure it's facing the right way for certain fonts. The Pencil also includes a haptic engine that vibrates to provide feedback and adds support for Apple's Find My network, which can help you find it if you lose it. I plan to fully review the Apple Pencil Pro soon.
The Magic Keyboard ($299 for the 11-inch, $349 for the 13-inch) is new for the iPad Pro, but the Folio Keyboard has gone away. The keyboard is thinner and lighter than the previous version (believe it or not, this makes a huge difference), includes a row of function keys, adds aluminum to the palm rests, and enlarges the trackpad. After using it for a week, I can safely say it's a better keyboard all around.
Beyond Apple's first-party offerings, the iPad benefits from a universe of compatible third-party accessories.
Verdict: The Total Tablet
The M4-powered Apple iPad Pro is likely overkill for most people given its tremendous power and high starting cost. But we can't deny that it has one of the best screens of any tablet, a thin, light, and attractive design, speedy wired and wireless connectivity, top-flight cameras, satisfactory battery life, and outstanding first-party accessories. Overall, it's our Editors' Choice winner for creatives who want a slim, light tablet that can handle practically anything. Just keep in mind that the iPad Air is more than sufficient if you stick to GarageBand, iMovie, and other lightweight creative apps.
Apple's M4-powered iPad Pro is a highly capable tablet with an impressive display, leading performance, and enough storage for a lifetime, though iPadOS still has some limitations.
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