Most of us don’t need an iPad Pro. That statement has been true for the last few generations of the device, which have all been exceptionally powerful and welldesigned tablets made for intensive creative work onthego.
So if we’re being reasonable, we know we don’t require the new iPad Pro (and the brilliant iPad Air). But putting aside “need” for one moment – do we want the iPad Pro? Of course we do.
Even after a short time with the Pro, it’s immediately apparent that this is a device on another level when compared to all other iPads. It has Face ID, it’s impossibly thin, its screen is much more crisp and vibrant, its animations are notably smoother, and it feels so much faster and more capable, even just for zipping between apps and multitasking with several at a time.
We’re won over, as you can tell, but is this terrific computer worth buying? Here’s our honest review.
What’s new about the iPad Pro (2024)?
Compared to its predecessor, it seems there are more upgrades to the new iPad Pro than there are to the iPad Air. This soupedup model features an ultrathin design — even thinner than the iPod Nano — with an 11inch and 13inch model at 5.3mm and 5.1mm respectively.
These iPads are the first to feature OLED display technology, which Apple calls “Ultra Retina XDR”, providing deeper blacks, vivid colours, and high brightness. The new iPad Pro also offers a nanotexture glass option for reduced glare, available at a higher cost and only on higher storage sizes.
The device features the first appearance of the upgraded M4 processor, providing faster performance for 3D object rendering, gaming, and ondevice AI (artificial intelligence) tasks.
The front camera is now placed in landscape orientation, and the rear camera has improved document scanning capabilities. The iPad Pro also supports the Apple Pencil Pro (like the Air) and the newly upgraded Magic Keyboard.
iPad Pro (2024): Accessory support
The upgraded iPad accessories got a lot of time in the spotlight at Apple’s launch event, and those help a lot with the versatility of the iPad Pro, whether you want to make it feel more like a laptop with the Magic Keyboard or are leaning into your artistic side with the new Pencil Pro.
The new keyboard is better than the previous one, but it’s an optimisation rather than a reinvention. We appreciate the solid aluminium palm rest, the bigger trackpad, and the function row of keys above the numbers – these make it much easier to multitask, search, and change the brightness and the volume.
Overall, it makes for a serious productivity upgrade. The downsides are about the same, though: you need to be aware that it’ll add bulk, it’s a little heavy, and it’s an investment at the high £299 starting price.
It’s also only compatible with the new thin iPad Pro models, and those models don’t work with the old keyboard. So you may need to upgrade your accessories at the same time as your tablet.
Apple’s Pencil lineup has ended up being a little confusing, but if you’re an artist or notetaker, you’ll get a lot of use out of the upgraded Apple Pencil Pro. This stylus packs in subtle haptic vibrations, squeeze controls, natural responsiveness to a “barrel roll” like a real drawing tool, and Find My support to help you locate it if you lose it.
We used it for jotting down notes and some rudimentary drawings, before passing it to somebody with artistic talent to create the drawing below in Apple’s brainstorming Freeform app.
The ability to quickly bring up a palette of controls with a squeeze makes the pencil far easier to use and the haptic feedback is natural. The slight barrel roll is going to be appreciated by professionals and we do not doubt that the Pencil Pro will now be the goto for digital artists, designers, students and notetakers.
iPad Pro (2024): Design and display
The design of the new iPad Pro is astonishing. It’s quite a marvel to look at and hold. It’s either 5.3mm or 5.1mm thick, depending on the screen size, and while that’s one thing for us to write, it’s quite another thing to witness. The Apple Pencil is thicker than the iPad itself and it’s slimmer than an Apple Watch. It’s Apple’s thinnest product to date, and you can tell.
It’s lightweight too, either 444g or 579g, so it’s easy to use onehanded and won’t come close to weighing you down. Whichever size you pick, it’s notably both thinner and lighter than the previous version.
Is it necessary for it to have this svelte design? Maybe. We’re not sure that it couldn’t have been a little bigger to fit in more battery or the additional rear camera that used to be on the old one, but it feels amazing and fun to use, and a big part of that may well be down to the sleek form factor.
The display is the other big area where we’re seeing an improvement in the new iPad Pro. It now has the first OLED panel ever in an iPad and still has the smooth refresh rate that you can’t get on the more affordable Air.
It’s more than just a single OLED, though, this tech combines two OLED layers for a brighter and more vibrant screen with better contrast and deeper blacks.
We notice the difference, and those working with photos, videos, animation projects, rendering and gaming will feel it too. Anything that requires rich detail and accuracy is going to work a lot better on the new iPad Pro.
iPad Pro (2024): Processor and battery life
Not only does this design feel as scifi as it gets, this iPad also runs on Apple’s newest processor, the M4 chip. This is a chip that hasn’t yet made its way to the laptop or desktop computer lineup, and it’s incredibly fast, with Apple advertising it as 50% speedier than the M2 chip it’s replacing in the iPad Pro lineup.
Given how that model was also exceptionally fast, you’ll find it hard to notice the sheer extent of this power increase, but it does feel quick. As we’ve already mentioned, animations are super smooth and fluid, nothing ever lags and it’s apparent that we’re only able to use a fraction of the capabilities of this computer.
The same may be true for almost any user, though. While iPadOS is fantastic for focus and creativity, a desktop operating system like macOS is likely still going to be the best choice for users needing to manage several windows at the same time. Yes, iPads are better at this than they used to be, but even with keyboards and trackpads, they’re not the same as laptops.
Impressively, while this iPad is far thinner than any other, it still packs in the same 10hour battery. Again, that’s not as much as many of Apple’s laptops, but when you consider the performance and portability of this pane of glass, it’s rather remarkable.
iPad Pro (2024): Software
The iPadOS software is highly capable and we’ve come a long way since the time these were viewed as just oversized iPhones. We’ve written the majority of this review on the iPad Pro, in addition to managing and editing photos, browsing for research, and talking with our colleagues over Slack and email.
We also used it for some light multitasking with two windows sidebyside too – it all works well, but we’re not quite the target audience for a tablet with this amount of power, and we haven’t managed to create any animated films or masterful artworks in the past few days.
The timing of the launch of the new iPads is notable because it’s before Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June. This is the event where the company unveils its latest software developments for iOS, macOS and iPadOS, so while we’re assessing this iPad right ahead of its launch, it’s likely that it’s set to gain many more features later this year.
What might those include? It’s possible that we might see more apps refreshed and more AI features built into the way that the system works. Whether this will make an iPad as versatile as a MacBook remains to be seen.
However, we think it’s clear these are devices for different tasks – an iPad is obviously going to be better for drawing, notetaking, creative jobs like editing and animation, and portability.
iPad Pro (2024): Storage
As it has with the new iPad Air, Apple has increased the base storage on the iPad Pro to 256GB, double what you’d previously get. You can also buy it with 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. It’s worth knowing that those 1TB and 2TB are even more powerful.
iPad Pro (2024): Price
It won’t shock you to learn this, but the new iPad Pro is a pricey proposition. At the base storage, the new 11inch iPad Pro begins at £999 and costs £1,199 for a model with cellular connectivity. Stepping up to the big size? The 13inch iPad Pro starts at £1,299, and goes up to £1,499 for cellular connectivity.
While initially this may feel like less than a laptop, it starts to get pretty expensive if you need the extras. If you’re an artist, you’ll definitely want to add the new Apple Pencil Pro (an extra £129) and if you’re wanting to get work done, the Magic Keyboard is an essential (so that’ll be an extra £299 or £349 depending on whether it’s the 11inch or 13inch version).
If you want a minimal cover as well, the new Smart Folio is excellent and offers loads of viewing angles, but that’ll be another £79 or £99. It’s easy to see how if you want the 13inch Pro and all the extras, the cost could end up being just under £2,000.
iPad Pro (2024): Verdict
It doesn’t take long with the iPad Pro to feel like it’s excessive for the computing needs of most people.
This is an impressive device designed for professionals who require exceptional power for demanding tasks such as intensive video and photo editing, design, and animation. Its ultrathin design is jawdropping, and it features a smoother, more vibrant and brighter display, high refresh rates, and compatibility with the latest Apple accessories.
However, as much as we love it, we think it may be too much for most users. The iPad Air offers a more sensible balance between power and affordability. Even if it’s tremendous to use, we can only recommend the iPad Pro if you need the most powerful iPad for professional work or serious creative projects… or if you can’t get by without the best iPad that money can buy.
iPad Pro (2024): Other models to consider
The iPad Air (now with the prolevel M2 processor) is a great alternative, offering a robust chip, the same cameras, support for the latest Apple Pencil and for the existing Magic Keyboard, a versatile USBC port, and a fingerprint reader, all at a more affordable price. It also comes in a variety of pastel colours and provides a highquality experience for work, entertainment, and creativity.
If you can’t do without the high refresh rate display and Face ID capabilities, it’s worth looking out for deals on the M2 iPad Pro from 2022 while it’s still available. Its specs rival those of the new Air while delivering a better display, and it should be possible to find it at a reasonable price now that the new model has arrived.
Simon Cocks is our Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Digital Spy and more.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, charging kit and smartphones.
Previously, Simon was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team, conducting price comparison research, writing detailed advice guides and editing thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks and on Twitter at @simoncocks.
