Apple's New iPad Pro Boasts an AI-capable M4 Chip, OLED Screen, a New Apple Pencil and More

Apple has a major series of new iPads and accessories coming soon, according to a livestream from the company on May 7. The new devices include a redesigned 11-inch iPad Air and an all-new 13-inch model, as well as new iPad Pro tablets in 11-inch and 13-inch models. 

While the iPad Air sticks with Apple's existing M2 chip, the iPad Pro moves up to a brand new M4 chip, leaping one generation beyond even the most recent Mac computers. 

Also new are a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad Pro and a new version of the Apple Pencil stylus, called Apple Pencil Pro. 

Photo: Apple

iPad Air 

The iPad Air sits in the middle of Apple's iPad lineup, between the entry level plain iPad and the fancier iPad Pro. The most notable change to the design is the introduction of a larger 13-inch display option alongside the traditional 11-inch model.

Photo: Apple 

iPad Pro with M4

The iPad Pro gets a new, thinner design for both the 11-inch and 13-inch models, which Apple says is the thinnest Apple device ever, at 5.1mm thick for the 13-inch model. 

The biggest addition is undoubtedly the new M4 chip, boasting a significant performance leap over its predecessor. Apple claims a 50% faster CPU and a staggering 4x faster GPU compared to the M2 chip. This translates to smoother performance for even the most graphically demanding tasks like 3D modeling, video editing, and high-fidelity gaming. While it didn't get into TOPS numbers, Apple says the neural engine in the M-series chips acts like the NPUs in current and upcoming PC chips, and can process 38 trillion operations per second, making it the most-powerful consumer-level AI PC hardware you can buy right now. 

The display has also received a major upgrade with the introduction of a new Tandem OLED display, essentially layering two OLED panels together for a brighter display on both SDR and HDR content at 1,000 nits at full-screen brightness, and 1,600 nits at peak HDR. The screen will also offer a nano-textured glass, which is an etched finish that cuts down on glare.  

Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard 

Alongside the new iPads, Apple also unveiled upgrades to its key iPad accessories. The new Apple Pencil Pro features haptic feedback that simulates the feel of writing on paper, making it an even more natural and immersive experience. Additionally, new gestures allow for enhanced creative workflows, including pressure-based commands for operating menus and brushes while hovering just above the screen. 

The Magic Keyboard also received a makeover, sporting a sleek aluminum palm rest and a thin design that fits the new iPad Pro bodies. It adds a function key row to the keyboard and haptics for responsive typing. 

Most of these new devices should be available around May 15. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 and 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299. The new Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the new iPad Pro and will cost $129. The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 13-inch version.