iPad Pro 2024: OLED Screen Upgrade

Apple has officially redefined its premium tablet lineup with the release of the M4 iPad Pro. If you have been waiting for a reason to upgrade your older tablet, this 2024 refresh offers a compelling argument. The new model features the company’s thinnest design ever and introduces a breakthrough in display technology that professional creatives have requested for years.

The Thinnest Apple Product Ever Created

When Apple announced the new iPad Pro in May 2024, the physical dimensions grabbed headlines immediately. The 13-inch model is just 5.1mm thick. For context, this makes it thinner than the legendary iPod Nano. The 11-inch version is slightly thicker at 5.3mm, but both models are significantly slimmer than their predecessors.

This reduction in bulk is not just for aesthetics. It solves a major complaint about the previous 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which felt top-heavy when attached to a keyboard. The 13-inch M4 model is nearly a quarter-pound lighter than the M2 model it replaces. This weight reduction changes the device from a stationary desktop replacement into a truly portable tablet you can hold comfortably with one hand.

The Ultra Retina XDR: A Leap in OLED Technology

The snippet mentioned a “stunning new display technology,” and this is the highlight of the 2024 refresh. Apple calls it the Ultra Retina XDR display. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch models now use this screen, finally bringing feature parity to both sizes.

Apple utilized a technology called Tandem OLED. Standard OLED panels sometimes struggle with brightness, especially on large canvasses like a tablet. To fix this, Apple stacked two OLED panels on top of each other. The combined light from both panels results in incredible brightness levels without sacrificing the perfect blacks OLED is known for.

Key Display Specs:

  • Brightness: 1000 nits full-screen brightness for SDR and HDR content.
  • Peak HDR: 1600 nits peak brightness for highlights.
  • Contrast: 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
  • Motion: ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz.

The Nano-Texture Glass Option

For users who work in studios with harsh overhead lighting or outdoors, Apple introduced a nano-texture glass option for the first time on an iPad. This matte finish scatters ambient light to reduce glare significantly.

However, there is a catch. This option is only available if you purchase the 1TB or 2TB storage configurations. It is not available on the base 256GB or 512GB models.

Skipping Straight to the M4 Chip

Apple surprised the tech industry by skipping the M3 chip entirely for the iPad Pro. Instead, these tablets are powered by the new M4 silicon.

This jump was necessary to support the new display engine required for the Tandem OLED screen and to maintain the thin chassis without overheating. The M4 is built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology, making it incredibly power efficient.

Performance benchmarks:

  • CPU: Up to 1.5x faster CPU performance compared to the M2 iPad Pro.
  • Graphics: The GPU features hardware-accelerated ray tracing for the first time on an iPad. Rendering performance in apps like Octane is up to 4x faster than the M2.
  • AI Processing: The Neural Engine is capable of 38 trillion operations per second. This powers AI features in Final Cut Pro for iPad and other creative software.

Usability Shifts: Camera and Accessories

Aside from the screen and chip, Apple fixed several long-standing usability issues with this release.

Landscape Front Camera

For years, the front-facing camera was on the short edge of the iPad. This meant that during Zoom or FaceTime calls, your eyes looked off-center if the iPad was docked on a keyboard. Apple has finally moved the 12MP Ultra Wide camera to the long “landscape” edge. When the iPad is attached to a Magic Keyboard, the camera is now perfectly centered.

The Apple Pencil Pro

Along with the tablet, Apple released the Apple Pencil Pro for $129. It includes a new sensor in the barrel that detects squeezes. Squeezing the pencil brings up a tool palette on the screen so you can switch brushes or colors without touching the display. It also features a gyroscope that allows you to roll the pencil to change the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools.

The New Magic Keyboard

The new Magic Keyboard ($299 for 11-inch, $349 for 13-inch) uses an aluminum palm rest, making the setup feel exactly like a MacBook Air. It also adds a dedicated function row of keys (brightness, volume, playback controls) and a larger glass trackpad with haptic feedback.

Pricing and Storage Configurations

The base price for the iPad Pro increased with this generation, but the base storage also doubled. The previous generation started with 128GB, which was often insufficient for “Pro” users. The 2024 models start at 256GB.

Wi-Fi Models Pricing:

  • 11-inch (256GB): $999
  • 13-inch (256GB): $1,299

If you require cellular connectivity (5G), add $200 to the price. Note that the cellular models no longer have a physical SIM slot; they rely entirely on eSIM technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my old Apple Pencil 2 work with the M4 iPad Pro? No. The magnets and charging system inside the M4 iPad Pro were redesigned to accommodate the landscape camera. Consequently, the Apple Pencil 2 is incompatible. You must buy the new Apple Pencil Pro ($129) or the USB-C Apple Pencil ($79).

Is the M4 iPad Pro durable since it is so thin? Despite the 5.1mm thickness, structural tests indicate the device is quite rigid. Apple designed a central rib (cowling) over the logic board that adds stiffness to the chassis. While you should treat any large sheet of glass with care, it does not bend easily under normal usage.

What comes in the box? The box includes the iPad Pro, a 1-meter USB-C woven charge cable, and a 20W USB-C power adapter. If you buy the Nano-texture glass version, Apple also includes a polishing cloth. Apple stickers are no longer included in the box to meet environmental packaging goals.

Do I need the 1TB model to get the full RAM? Yes. The 256GB and 512GB models come with 8GB of RAM and a 9-core CPU. The 1TB and 2TB models come with 16GB of RAM and a 10-core CPU. For most users, 8GB is sufficient, but heavy multitaskers may prefer the 16GB tier.