Current technology often has a big problem: somehow everything looks and feels pretty much the same. A slim rectangle with a screen and a camera – the innovations are usually hidden inside.
It is really refreshing that Apple introduced a new iPad last Tuesdaywhich will delight you the first time you pick it up, without you having to know anything about its inner workings. Because the new iPad Pro is the thinnest iPad that Apple ever built – and you can feel it.
Noticeable improvement in the millimeter range
On paper, it doesn't sound like much at first: the new 13-inch iPad Pro is 5.1 mm thin. The previous model was also only 6.4 mm. But these 1.3 mm are a noticeable difference. The new iPad Pro feels significantly lighter in the hand, high-quality and elegant.
On the left is the iPad Pro of the previous generation, on the right is the new model: The new iPad Pro is about two 1-euro coins high, the old device is three coins thick
If you then switch on the screen, you will see the new OLED display, which is now installed for the first time in an iPad. According to Apple, this was made possible by the brand new M4 chip that the Pro iPads are equipped with. The successor to the less than a year old M3 chip is also intended to prepare the new iPad Pro for new AI functions, which Apple plans to present at its developer conference WWDC in the summer.
The new iPad Pro is available in silver and space gray (photo)
The new display completes the very high-quality impression: the colors are strong and the black is particularly rich thanks to the OLED technology.
Everything about this iPad screams “premium” – but so does the price. The smaller 11-inch version starts at 1,199 euros, and if you want the 13-inch version, you'll have to reckon with at least 1,549 euros.
Fundamentally an iPad
You have to be willing to pay for it, because as impressive as the new iPad Pro is, only very few people will be able to exploit its technology to its full potential. If you are not planning on using it for professional video editing or audio production, you will not be able to exploit the limits of this device.
Like an iPhone, an iPad Pro can be unlocked with Face ID, so it recognizes the owner’s face
And in terms of functionality, Apple has offered few arguments as to why this new iPad generation is absolutely necessary when the old iPad is still working. It is faster, more stylish – but fundamentally an iPad like its predecessors.
In addition to the new iPads, Apple also introduced the new Apple Pencil Pro (149 euros): It is primarily aimed at artists who draw on the iPad and can now also detect the rotation of the pen
Three things separate the iPad Air from the Pro
Many customers should not consider the iPad Pro due to its high price and should instead look directly at the iPad Air. This starts at 699 euros for the 11-inch version and is now also available as a new 13-inch version starting at 949 euros.
There are three main things that distinguish the Air models from the Pro iPads: They are not quite as flat. The chip used is the M2, so it is not quite as fast as the new M4, but still delivers more than enough power.
And the most important difference: The built-in display remains the so-called Liquid Retina Display, which means it uses LED technology. That's not a problem in itself, but it's a real shame that the Air doesn't get a screen with a high refresh rate of 120 Hz in this generation either. Especially in a direct comparison with the Pro Motion display of the Pro models, you can see the much jerkier scrolling.
The new iPad Air is available in four colors: Space Gray, Violet, Polar Star and Blue (photo)
This seems like a missed opportunity to clearly differentiate the new iPad Air from the previous generation.
Conclusion
Apple has done one thing damn right with its new iPad Pro: It is finally an Apple product with a wow factor. Everyone who picks it up is amazed: so thin, so light, so stylish. But also: so expensive!
Therefore, the vast majority of customers should think carefully about the purchase – and after all the enthusiasm, they are more likely to opt for the iPad Air.