Apple iPad Pro (2024) Review: The Best Kind of Overkill

Apple iPad Pro (2024) Review: The Best Kind of Overkill. Apple’s 2024 iPad Pro is a marvel of hardware design, combining power, style, and versatility into a single, sleek device. From its stunning OLED display to its M4 chip, the iPad Pro stands as a triumph in tablet design. However, its full potential is yet to be realized, as Apple’s restrictive software and expensive accessories remain the iPad’s Achilles’ heel.

Apple iPad Pro (2024) Review: The Best Kind of Overkill

This review dives deep into the features, performance, design, and value of the new iPad Pro, helping you decide if it's truly the best tablet for you.

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1. Overview of the 2024 iPad Pro

The 2024 iPad Pro is available in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches, with prices starting at $999. The device runs on Apple’s new M4 chip, making it one of the fastest tablets on the market. The 13-inch model, with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM, is priced at $2,099. Add Apple’s Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, and the total can exceed $2,500, placing it in high-end laptop territory. But the real question is: does this tablet justify such a hefty price tag?

The iPad Pro is perfect for those who need cutting-edge performance and value the versatility of a tablet. However, its power is often limited by the iPadOS operating system, which is designed for simplicity, making it difficult to take full advantage of the hardware’s potential.

2. Design: Sleek, Light, and Strong

Apple’s 2024 iPad Pro is nothing short of a design marvel. The device is the thinnest and lightest iPad Pro ever produced, measuring just 5.1mm in thickness for the 13-inch model. Weighing around a quarter-pound less than the 2023 model, it feels like a piece of glass in your hand — fragile yet sturdy.

One significant improvement is the relocation of the front-facing camera. Apple has finally placed it in the center of the long edge of the iPad, making it ideal for video calls in landscape mode. While the camera’s quality is acceptable, it doesn’t outshine the improvements in design and usability.

Key Design Features:

• Slimmer profile: 5.1mm for the 13-inch model.
• Lightweight: Easier to hold for extended periods.
• Repositioned camera: Better suited for video calls.

3. Performance: M4 Chip and the Power It Brings

The iPad Pro is powered by Apple’s new M4 chip, designed to handle intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. Benchmarks show a 50% performance improvement over the previous M2 model. While this may not translate to 50% faster real-world performance, users will notice apps opening faster, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile runs effortlessly on the iPad Pro, delivering console-level graphics without the device overheating. The M4 chip also enables faster rendering in iMovie and Adobe Premiere, making this tablet a powerhouse for content creators.

Key Performance Features:

• M4 Chip: 50% faster than the M2.
• Gaming: Handles high-end mobile games effortlessly.
• Multitasking: Faster app switching and smoother performance.

4. OLED Display: A Visual Delight

The 2024 iPad Pro is equipped with a Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display, which is a major leap in display technology. Apple’s new “Tandem OLED” setup delivers sharper, brighter visuals by layering two OLED panels together. The result is richer blacks, vibrant colors, and higher brightness, especially noticeable when watching HDR content.

However, the OLED screen does come with a minor drawback — it’s slightly more reflective than the previous LCD display on the iPad Air. This can be annoying when using the device outdoors, as you’ll need to crank up the brightness to compensate.

Key Display Features:

• Tandem OLED: Deeper blacks and brighter colors.
• HDR support: Enhanced video and gaming experience.
• Slight reflection: May be a nuisance in bright outdoor environments.

5. Accessories: Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard

Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro has received some upgrades this year, including a new squeeze gesture that allows you to bring up menus and commonly used tools quickly. Apple is also allowing third-party developers to customize what the squeeze gesture does, opening the door for more innovative app integrations. Additionally, the Barrel Roll feature allows artists to twist the Pencil to change brush or pen strokes in real time.

Magic Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro has been improved as well, featuring a larger trackpad and a row of function keys. The keyboard is slightly lighter than the previous version, and while it still wobbles a bit when you touch the iPad’s screen, it remains the most laptop-like experience for tablet users.

Key Accessories Features:

• Apple Pencil Pro: New squeeze gestures and improved precision for artists.
• Magic Keyboard: Bigger trackpad, function keys, and lighter design.

6. Software Limitations: Is It Holding the iPad Pro Back?

The most significant limitation of the iPad Pro is not its hardware, but its software. iPadOS, while powerful in some ways, is still designed for simplicity. It lacks the flexibility and multitasking capabilities of macOS, limiting the iPad’s potential as a laptop replacement.

While Apple promotes the iPad’s “versatility” as a selling point, the locked-down nature of iPadOS makes it challenging for power users who need more complex workflows. Without a more flexible operating system, the iPad Pro risks becoming overkill for most users, unable to fully utilize its impressive hardware.

Key Software Limitations:

• iPadOS: Designed for simplicity, limiting its power-user potential.
• Limited multitasking: Restrictive for users wanting a true laptop replacement.

7. The Role of AI: The Future of the iPad Pro

Apple is betting on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to future-proof the iPad Pro. The M4 chip is built with AI in mind, and Apple has hinted that future updates could leverage machine learning for smarter features like advanced photo editing, improved Siri functionality, and even AI-powered applications.

However, as of now, most of these features remain in development. Whether AI will truly revolutionize the iPad Pro experience remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Apple is positioning the device as ready for whatever AI advancements come next.

Key AI Features:

• AI-ready hardware: Built to accommodate future AI applications.
• Potential improvements: Smarter photo editing, improved Siri, and more.

8. Pricing and Value: Is It Worth It?

With prices starting at $999 and going up to over $2,500 with accessories, the iPad Pro is a serious investment. The device offers incredible power and versatility, but for many users, it may be overkill. If you’re primarily looking for a tablet for web browsing, email, and light work, the iPad Air or even the base model iPad will suffice at a much lower price.

However, for creative professionals, gamers, and those looking for a future-proof device, the iPad Pro is worth considering — especially with its incredible display and performance improvements.

Key Pricing Features:

• Starts at $999: For the 11-inch model with 256GB storage.
• Add-ons: Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro add to the cost.

9. Comparison with Other iPads

The 2024 iPad Pro sits at the top of Apple’s iPad lineup, but how does it compare to other models?

• iPad Air: At $599, the iPad Air is a great option for most users, offering solid performance without the OLED display or M4 chip.
• Base iPad: Starting at $329, the base model iPad is ideal for light users, but lacks the power and premium display of the Pro.

10. Final Verdict

The 2024 iPad Pro is a remarkable device. Its stunning OLED display, powerful M4 chip, and improved accessories make it the best tablet you can buy today. However, its software limitations and high price tag mean it’s not for everyone. If you need top-tier performance, the iPad Pro delivers in spades. But for most users, the iPad Air or base model offers a better balance of price and performance.