Apple iPad Pro (M4) review: Best in class tablet

Deciding which model out of Apple’s iPad range is best for you is arguably more difficult now than it was before the 2024 models launched. Previously if you wanted an iPad with a large display, you had to opt for the iPad Pro 12.9 (6th generation), with the iPad Air only available in a 10.9-inch model. That was it, end of discussion. Similarly, if you wanted all the power of the Pro but in a smaller size, you would have to sacrifice the excellent Mini-LED display that was reserved only for the iPad Pro 12.9 (6th generation).

Now, the iPad Air (M2) comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, like the iPad Pro, but the smaller iPad Pro also has the same display technology as the larger iPad Pro. It means at the Pro level, there are no more compromises to make, with the decision between the two models only about size rather than capability. I’ve spent my time working on the iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) since it was announced at the beginning of May and here’s why you might consider buying it, and equally why you might think twice.

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The Disconnekt Downlow

You don’t need the Apple iPad Pro (M4) but take one look at it and use it for a matter of hours and you will want it. There is more power here than many will ever be able to fully utilise, the screen is absolutely glorious and the slim and light design is really something you have to see and experience to appreciate. It’s without a doubt a luxury and certainly unnecessary for most, but that doesn’t stop it reigning supreme as the best in its class.

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The reasons you should choose Apple iPad Pro (M4)

It would be easy to say the iPad Pro design hasn’t changed all that much since 2018 and you wouldn’t be wrong. The uniform bezels around the display, the aluminium unibody, the Smart Connector on the back and USB-C are nothing new. But small adjustments have been made for the iPad Pro (M4) and those adjustments make a difference.

The Space Black is gorgeous, as it is on the MacBook Pro that first introduced the colour, and the repositioning of the front camera to the landscape orientation makes a lot more sense for video calls. Face ID is within that camera system too of course, making authenticating passwords and using Apple Pay effortless, while eSIM on the Wi-Fi & Cellular models allows for simple and speedy 5G connectivity.

But it’s the slimmer build (5.1mm in the 13-inch and 5.3mm in the 11-inch) that makes the biggest difference. No iPad in the range is what you would consider thick, but the iPad Pro (M4) is noticeably slim – slimmer than the iPod Nano was back in its day and just over half that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max – and it’s really rather lovely. It’s lighter too at around 445g for the 11-inch and around 580g for the 13-inch model, making the iPad Pro (M4) lighter than the iPad Air (M2) equivalents and perfect for travelling or commuting.

It’s not all about looks of course. Given many of the iPads appear similar, save for a couple of small details here and there, there has to be another reason to spend almost double on the iPad Pro, or triple if you have considered the iPad (10th generation). While I would maintain it’s the entire package of the iPad Pro (M4) that offers a reason to invest, the display and power top the list. 

The display – now called Ultra Retina XDR – is made up of two OLED displays (called Tandem OLED) using the brightness of both to deliver what is a superb experience overall. Personally, I always found the Mini-LED display of the previous iPad Pro 12.9 more than adequate – gorgeous in fact – but there’s a notable difference with the iPad Pro (M4).

OLED panels are known for their ability to offer vibrant and punchy colours with plenty of pop, alongside bright whites and deep blacks and those attributes are all evident in the iPad Pro (M4). Side-by-side with the iPad Pro 12.9 (6th generation), the iPad Pro (M4) is quite significantly brighter, which in turn increases the punch and pop of the colours. You may only notice if you had the models next to each other like I did, but if you’re looking for the iPad with the best display, the iPad Pro (M4) is definitely the one. It executes a genuinely fantastic viewing experience, inside or outside and whether looking at the crisp and vibrant Home Screen or watching a HDR movie. 

In terms of power, the iPad Pro (M4) delivers in abundance. I edited images, drew (or tried to) various pictures, fiddled around with Logic Pro for iPad 2 and wrote this entire review, all of which the iPad Pro (M4) managed without breaking a sweat. It delivers an incredibly slick performance, seamlessly switching between apps and there was zero lag in everything I was using it for. In all honesty, it offers more power than many will be able to fully utilise, with Apple’s M4 processor powering it, making it more capable than the MacBook Air to some degree.

What Apple iPad Pro (M4) could do better

There are very few things to complain about when it comes to the iPad Pro (M4), but that’s to be expected at this price point, unless it’s the price you complain about of course. The biggest problem that the iPad Pro has is the iPad Air, because that iPad is coming for its crown, especially with its larger model. 

Ultimately, there’s almost an excess of power with the iPad Pro, and that power makes for a very expensive device (it’s impossible to ignore that £1,000 starting price), especially if you’re talking about an extra to a laptop rather than instead of. This amount of power is also not necessary for many people. The iPad Air (M2) has the same processor found in the older iPad Pro from 2022 and while the M4 chip in the new iPad Pro is noticeably faster, the iPad Air (M2) is by no means slow and will be more than sufficient for most. 

There will be some people (and apps) that benefit from the extra speed – video editors who want to edit on the move for example, as well as games like Diablo Immortal later this year that will take advantage of the M4 chip’s ray tracing capabilities. There’s also a chance that Apple will announce a number of AI-related features at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June that will ‘need’ the M4 chip, but for the most part, the iPad Air is more than capable. 

Can the iPad Pro replace your laptop? Yes, I would say it can now with the support for external SSD, more base storage and what is a really lovely experience overall. You will need the new Magic Keyboard, and you will need to be able to accept the limitations of iPadOS because there are still some compared to macOS, but there’s nothing stopping the iPad Pro being able to do everything a laptop can – sometimes it just takes a few extra clicks.

What I would say is the battery on the iPad Pro isn’t as capable as the MacBook Air. Not even close in fact – I got around 6 hours when connected to the Magic Keyboard, while the MacBook Air would give me over 10 doing the same thing – so that is something to keep in mind. But in terms of power and portability, there’s hardly anything to moan about. 

The only other thing I think Apple could have done better with the iPad Pro is offer the nano-texture glass option on all models rather than just the 1TB and 2TB models. The nano-texture glass is gorgeous, probably my favourite feature of the iPad Pro (M4), offering no reflections and that’s a really nice change when it comes to a tablet, very much going against the norm. Apple isn’t the first to offer what is effectively a matte screen – Huawei has done it too on its MatePad – and it probably won’t be the last either, but it is executed brilliantly here.

A couple of extra details about the iPad Pro (M4)

Usually I’d talk about iPadOS when we come to this part of the review, but there’s nothing new to say on that front at the moment so I’m going to mention a couple of things and move swiftly on. The iPad Pro (M4) currently offers the same software features you’ll find on the iPad Pro 12.9 (6th generation), and that will remain true until iPadOS 18, which we will likely hear more about at WWDC, including whether some features will be limited to the M4 processor and therefore the new iPad Pro. There are a few apps that make use of the power here – like Logic Pro for iPad 2 and Final Cut Pro – but the overall software experience remains the same at the moment.

In general, I’d still like to see user profiles and further improvements to Stage Manager that make using an iPad just as fluid as using a Mac when it comes to overlaying apps, but I expect there will be a range of new features added.

For now, Profiles on Safari is one of my favourite iPadOS 17 features, enabling you to separate work and personal browsing and passwords on Apple’s native browser, and I’m particularly fond of the interactive widgets too. Multi-tasking is also handy on iPad, allowing you to split the screen or have one app running in a smaller column on the side. Perfect when you’re trying to copy a Snoopy drawing for example.

And, as if I planned it, that leads me beautifully onto the Apple Pencil Pro – a device that is exclusive to the iPad Pro (M4) and the iPad Air (M2). I am by no means even a semi-decent artist, but I have really enjoyed using the Apple Pencil Pro whilst testing the iPad Pro and iPad Air. In some ways it’s no different to the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), with the same design, same latency, pressure sensitivity and generally the same feel, but it adds a couple of extra gestures and features. 

The first is the squeeze gesture which will bring up a menu, such as the various pen options in Notes, with double tap changing between the options and a further squeeze selecting. It’s a very natural gesture and one that you’ll adopt in a matter of seconds and wonder how you ever managed without it. 

The second is the roll gesture, allowing you to move between a thick and thin mark for example, without having to lift the pencil off the screen. Again, it’s fluid and I now wish calligraphy was a skill I possessed as it would be perfect for that. Still, drawing Snoopy wasn’t a bad indicator. As you might expect, the two gestures are compatible with a number of apps from the likes of Procreate and Procreate Dreams to Adobe Fresco and Goodnotes 6. I suspect more will gradually support it too, like Photoshop hopefully.

The last thing I’m going to mention here is the new Magic Keyboard. The typing experience is excellent and the finish is great overall, much more premium than its predecessor. I wrote this entire 2,500-word review on it and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I didn’t enjoy it. The keys are a little noisier and click more than the MacBook Air, and it’s a little top heavy when using on soft surfaces like a pillow on the sofa, but use it on flat table and you’re golden.

The new trackpad with haptic feedback is lovely and responsive and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to have function keys and not have to use the Control Centre to turn the brightness of the screen up. The aluminium base is much nicer too, and it’s surprisingly lighter overall, with the iPad Pro 11-inch and Magic Keyboard weighing 1.03kg compared to the iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) and older Magic Keyboard that weigh 1.09kg together.

Should I buy the Apple iPad Pro (M4)?

An easier question to answer would be why shouldn’t you buy the Apple iPad Pro (M4) because frankly, I could be here all day telling you the reasons to buy it. The new slim design is delightful, the Tandem OLED panel is absolutely stunning and there’s nothing left to be desired when it comes to power. The iPad Pro will give you everything you need on that front, and then some. 

It’s the ‘then some’ that also doesn’t favour the iPad Pro (M4) however. This is an incredibly powerful tablet – far more powerful than day-to-day tasks, watching movies and even image editing warrant. The biggest reason not to buy the iPad Pro (M4) is therefore the iPad Air, because it too is capable of all those things and it does them for less money resulting in little need for the iPad Pro.

And therein lies the fundamental point. Very few people will need the iPad Pro (M4) but take one look at it and use it for a matter of hours and you will want it. There is more power here than many will be able to ever fully utilise, the screen is absolutely glorious and the slim and light design is really something you have to see and experience to appreciate. It’s without a doubt a luxury and certainly unnecessary for many, but that doesn’t stop it reigning supreme as the best in class.

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