Apple touts the beautiful OLED screen and speedy M4 processor in the latest iPad Pro, but some other features quietly disappeared.
And more that had been rumored or just hoped for simply never appeared.
Benchmarks giving an early look at the performance of the Apple M4 processor in the 2024 iPad Pro reveal that the new chip is 21% faster than its predecessor.
The processor launched in the latest iPad but is expected to make its way to Mac later this year.
Apple unveiled the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air on Tuesday, and third-party accessory-makers were prepared. Logitech, Otterbox, Zagg, Pitaka and ESR have all already unveiled peripherals for the new tablets.
There are keyboard cases, cases, screen protectors ands more.
Following the iPhone’s footsteps, Apple has switched entirely to eSIM on the 2024 iPad Pro and Air. The two tablets’ cellular models lack a physical SIM slot altogether.
With this move, Apple has transitioned two major product categories to eSIMs.
Today’s “Let Loose” Apple event overhauled the iPad lineup. Apple unleashed a new iPad Pro and iPad Air, the refreshed Apple Pencil Pro, a sleek new Magic Keyboard, and lowered the price of the regular iPad. The iPad mini was acknowledged, too.
If you don’t have time to sit through the 38-minute presentation, here it is in just 90 seconds.
Those who want the most powerful 2024 iPad Pro available need to choose one with at least 1TB of storage. Going with lots of capacity brings a faster version of the new M4 processor and twice as much RAM.
The high-storage versions also have the option of a nano-texture display glass.
Getting all these adds considerably to the price tag, though.
Apple just took the wraps off the 2024 iPad Pro, the first with an OLED screen rather than a traditional LCD. If that wasn’t enough, a brand-new Apple M4 processor powers the tablet, which Cupertino says is the “thinnest Apple product ever.”
“We’ve always envisioned iPad as a magical sheet of glass,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, during Tuesday’s prerecorded “Let Loose” event. “And with this new design, that vision is brought to life more than ever.”
Apple gave the iPad Air a significant size increase at its “Let Loose” event Tuesday. You can get the new 2024 model with a 13-inch display in addition to the familiar smaller size, now 11 inches instead of 10.9. But no matter the size, the tablet runs an Apple M2 processor and features a front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera on the landscape edge and beefed-up speakers.
“Inspired by iPad Pro, where about half the users choose a larger screen, we created a 13-inch model of the new iPad Air, as well,” said Melody Kuna, Apple’s director of iPad Product Design. “[It] has 30% more screen real estate than the 11-inch Air.”
An AI-powered “Clean Up” feature reportedly coming soon to the Apple Photos app could let users eliminate unwanted objects from images. If true, Apple could showcase the rumored image-editing feature Tuesday at its “Let Loose” event.
During the prerecorded product launch, Apple should show off new iPads alongside some updated accessories, like Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
Gorgeous new iPad Pro and iPad Air models are expected to be the highlights of Apple’s “Let Loose” product event on May 7. Tablet accessories are on the agenda, too.
But there also could be big news for those who don’t use an iPad. Apple might surprise us with the M4 processor, a first glimpse at upcoming AI features, and maybe even a Mac Studio upgrade. Plus more.
Apple shined a light on LGBTQ+ communities Monday with its new Pride Collection. It includes a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop plus a matching watch face and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers. In a first, you can customize the watch face and wallpapers by choosing colors.
You can order the new Apple Watch band starting May 22. The watch face and dynamic wallpapers for iOS and iPadOS arrive with an upcoming software update, Apple said.
iPad shipments declined 8.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of the 2024, according to a market research firm. The drop can be partially chalked up to the complete lack of new models for the last 18 months.
But it demonstrates Apple’s dominance of the global tablet market that it’s still on top despite a hefty decline during winter quarter.
You can change the name of your Apple devices, whether you have an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, AirPods or Apple TV. By default, it’s just “[your name]’s iPhone.” But you can give your iPhone its own unique name, like Kit-Kat or Magic Rectangle.
Also by default, when you set up a new iPhone, the name is transferred. This can get confusing if you keep old phones around because you’ll see “John’s iPhone,” “John’s iPhone (2),” maybe even “John’s iPhone (3)” and more. The same is true for Apple Watch, Mac, iPad and AirPods.
The name of your device shows up among a bunch of Apple features like AirDrop, Find My, Personal Hotspot, AirPlay and more. If you use these features often, giving it a unique name will make it easier to identify.
Here’s how to fix this mess on all your Apple devices. Keep reading or watch our video.
Ukraine’s Air Force needs to launch modern U.S.-made missiles from Soviet-era fighter jets in combat. The surprise solution to the disconnect? iPad.
Apple tablets reportedly give the vintage aircraft the ability to control a variety of weapons systems supplied by Western countries after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
With new iPads expected right around the corner at Apple’s May 7 “Let Loose” event, you can expect discounts on older models. Check out Monday’s great deal at Best Buy — the lowest price on M1 iPad Air 5 (64GB, Wi-Fi) at $399. That’s a whopping $200 off.
And that’s not the only iPad deal at Best Buy going on right now. See others below.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
The iPad joined the European Union’s list of “gatekeeper” platforms Monday. The designation requires Apple to make the same sorts of sweeping changes to iPadOS that the company already made to iPhone, including allowing sideloading of applications.
Apple has six months to implement the modifications.
Delta, the all-in-one retro game emulator for iPhone, will soon be available on the iPad. Riley Testut, the game emulator’s developer, confirmed its imminent launch on the App Store.
Apple recently changed the App Store guidelines, opening the platform to retro game emulators.
Apple’s upcoming OLED iPad Pro reportedly will begin the company’s shift into AI hardware. The new tablets could sport the next-gen M4 chip to power all the AI features.
If this report proves accurate, Apple will skip bringing its existing M3 SoC to its flagship tablet lineup.
We know new iPads are on the way, but the one thing we don’t expect at Apple’s May 7 event is a price cut. If you want a budget tablet, a refurbished iPad is the way to go. For a limited time, you can get a refurbished sixth-gen iPad for only $154.97, accessories included.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The surprise Apple event on May 7 looks like an iPad and Apple Pencil extravaganza. What’s on Cupertino’s agenda? We discuss all the latest iPad rumors.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
The analyst who predicted last week that the first 12.9-inch iPad Air would include a mini-LED display has now walked it back.
The upcoming super-size version of the tablet will instead apparently use a standard type of screen.
In a long overdue move, Apple will reportedly integrate a Calculator application into the iPad operating system. The change — which is somehow both minor and monumental — will supposedly come when iPadOS 18 launched this autumn.
In the mean time, there are already several calculators hidden in the iPad.
Apple just invited the world to a May 7 product-launch event with the theme “Let Loose.” As an Apple Pencil is prominently included in the invitation’s image, there’s no doubt that two much-rumored new iPad models are on the agenda.
What is surprising is that there’ll be an event to announce the products, not simply a press release.
Want an iPad at a rock-bottom price? You can get a refurbished 9.7-inch iPad Pro for just $159.97 — but only through April 21 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
This pro tablet from 2016 might be on Apple’s vintage list, but it’s still quite capable for certain tasks. Plus, it comes with some handy accessories. And at this price — less than half the retail price of the current regular iPad — it’s still a deal!
Apple’s new iPad Pro could launch in early May with updated internals and a refreshed design. All rumors surrounding Apple’s next premium tablet indicate it will feature OLED displays.
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta seems to confirm this, as it contains four new display firmware for unreleased iPad models.