Tech Tip — New iPads Have Arrived, Should You Get One?
Apple recently released a set of new iPads. The iPad Air and iPad Pro lines were due for an upgrade, as neither had seen changes for more than a year. The iPad Air line was last refreshed in March 2022 and the iPad Pro line in October 2022. That said, neither were out of date by any stretch, which makes you wonder if these upgrades were needed or necessary for users. Let’s take a look at the new features that come with the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro lines of tablets.
If you are a tablet user, casual or otherwise, it is hard to beat the Apple line up of iPads. While there are Android devices out there, only the Samsung Tab line would be considered competition in my opinion. If you are in the Apple ecosystem, then there is no other option to consider. There is continual debate, even in the Apple community, as to what the iPad is best for, is it a creation device or a consumption device. The answer is both, but it also depends on what you’re trying to do with it. Apple has, at times, positioned the iPad as a laptop replacement. That can be true if your use cases are primarily emailing, web browsing, and non-professional content creation such as audio and video files. And even then, the iPad has some decent options to produce meaningful video content. Too often, those at the extreme ends of the spectrum try to paint the iPad as hardware heavy, software light and therefore not a laptop replacement. I agree with that to a point and think the iPad is capable of doing most anything the typical, and even above average user would want a laptop to do. There are few things I cannot do on my iPad. However, I also find that there are certain things that are still easier to complete on a laptop.
That, in my opinion, does not take anything away from the iPad. I do not see an iPad as a replacement, but rather an alternative in many situations. In others, it is far superior. For content consumption, watching videos, reading articles, skimming through and managing emails, it is superior to any laptop or desktop computer. I almost exclusively watch YouTube videos on an iPad. I edit any video or audio files on a laptop. And, I handle core email management on my laptop as well, and use the iPad for scanning, quickly triaging, and organizing emails for later processing on my iPad (or even my iPhone).
iPad Pro
The 2024 iPad Pro line up had three big improvements. First was the upgraded chip inside. Apple moved to the new M4 processor, their newest and best chip to date. This was an unexpected move since new laptops were recently released with the M3 chip. It appears Apple is jumping right to the M4, likely to help support new AI features coming with the updates for the operating systems this fall. The second big update is the new OLED screen. Apple is calling this their Ultra Retina XDR screen with dual layer LED to provide the brightest screen, and providing true blacks. And finally, the third big update is the thickness, or lack thereof. The 13” iPad Pro is the thinest device Apple has ever made, and that includes the old iPod devices. The new iPad Pro 13” comes in at just 5.1 mm thin. It is incredible to hold it. And while it probably wasn’t necessary, I do love the feel of it.
So, what are the real takeaways with the iPad Pro updates? Both the 11” and 13” iPad Pro are now essentially the same. The general features and hardware align. The 11” now has the OLED screen and is slightly thicker at 5.3 mm thin. Other than that, they offer the same specs. That is a change from the previous model, where the larger iPad Pro had much nicer screen technology in the micro LED. This ensures anyone who is looking at the iPad Pro can choose truly on size and not worry about other spec differences.
Other Options
Apple is also offering a nanotechnology screen option for the largest capacity iPad pros. This provides a matte like texture to the screen to reduce glare when using in bright settings. For most, I do not think this is a feature worth investing in. This is only available when choosing the 1 or 2 terabyte storage options, so you are already paying a handsome sum to get into those iPads, plus you’ll pay an extra hundred dollars for the nano texture. You do also get an additional processing core and double the ram when you buy the highest end iPads. Outside a few true edge case uses, those who do almost all of their editing and video processing on an iPad would need these options.
Pricing
The pricing of the iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 256 GB 11” iPad Pro and ranges up to an all in $2,199 for a 2 TB cellular model. You can add $100 for the nano texture glass. For the 13” iPad Pro, it starts at $1,299 and ranges up to an eye-popping $2,499 for the 2 TB, cellular model. And, yes, you can still add that extra $100 for the nano texture here as well. That is a major investment in a thin piece of glass. At that level, you are definitely using this as your primary computing device. I have stayed at the base level 13” model and do not think I will regret it at all. My only thought was to upgrade the storage, but I haven’t pushed the 256 GB level yet. Since I keep so much of my work on cloud drives, I don’t end up with a lot on my device itself.
Final iPad Pro Thoughts
Overall, I think the iPad Pro update is worth it for those who regular use their iPads for productive work as well and consumption. I made the jump from my 2021 M1 13” iPad Pro and don’t regret it. Do I notice a lot of new power or speed? No. Was the screen bad before? No. Is this one better? Absolutely. And I know this iPad will last at least another three years and support the upcoming changes to AI processing that will be necessary. I do like the thinness, it feels futuristic. It is lighter, which is nice. And, for something that I use every day for both work and home productivity and fun, it is worth it. Apple (and others) do have trade-in programs to help offset the cost. At the time of purchase, I was still able to get more than $500 for my previous iPad Pro, which was close to 50% of the original purchase price more than three years after buying it.
iPad Air
If you liked the previous line-up of iPad Pros (from 2022), then the 2024 iPad Air might just be the best choice for you. Much of the technology from the former iPad Pro is now in the iPad Air. The big update for the Air line-up is the addition of the 13” size. I think this is great. Giving people the size option really helps to expand who will use these devices. It is a tough balance to pick between the two. I have chosen the 13” in the Pro line-up, but I have to say, with the 13” available in the Air, I was tempted to choose this instead of the Pro. And, I still debate whether the 11” screen would be good enough. There is a trade-off in the extra workspace and the weight. I also debate that also, but ultimately have stuck with the 13” for the extra productivity it provides. Plus, older eyes have a lot to do with that.
The iPad Air is now equipped with the M2 chip, which will be plenty powerful for most users for some time to come. Outside top-end gaming, and significant video processing, this chip is still among the most powerful of any computing device, not just tablets. I would select an M2 processor in this tablet over most PC laptops for processing and functionality. My not too old MacBook Air is running the M2 processor, and it handles almost anything I throw at it, as does an M1 MacBook Pro I use for work, which I do some audio and video processing on. The Apple M-series chips are powerhouses. So, don’t think of the iPad Air as a lesser processing device, it just isn’t the extreme high end.
I think the iPad Air is a perfect device for the vast majority of users who do a lot of content consumption, some content creation, and day to day productivity actions. If you are looking for a lightweight, highly portable device to manage some email, watch videos, play an occasional game, and keep track of notes and to-dos, the iPad Air is likely the best option available, and you can choose your size. This is still an incredibly thin device and lightweight.
Options
The iPad Air does offer an option that the iPad Pros do not, and that is color. For iPad Pro, you can pick from silver and space black (dark grey). The Air, though, lets you select from a few more whimsical colors. You can choose from blue, purple, starlight, and space grey. All of these are somewhat muted colors. But, it is nice to have options if you want your iPad to look a little different. The colors make it feel a little more consumer-like, versus just professional. But again, these are still powerful tablets that will get almost any job done for you.
Pricing
While compared to the Pros, these are cheaper devices, but they are not cheap in any way. Pricing starts at $599 for the 11” iPad Air with 256 GB of storage. The 13” model starts at $799, so there is a decent sized delta between the Air line up and the Pro. You can spec these things out also and run up the price. The top end 11” Air is $1,249 with 1 TB of storage and cellular connectivity options. There is no option for nano texture on the Air line up. The 13” tops out at $1,449. From a model comparison and cost standpoint, the iPad line now seems to make the most sense of any of the devices. The full line up begins with the iPad, which starts at $349, the iPad Mini comes in at $499, then the Air starting at $599, and finally the Pro starting at $999. You really can pick the right fit for your needs with the iPad options.
Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two other devices that were introduced at the same time as the new iPads, which are the new Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro line up. The Pencil pro will work with both the iPad Air and iPad Pro. The new Magic Keyboard is reserved for the Pro line.
The Apple Pencil is the best stylus device I have ever used, and the new Pencil Pro only enhances it. It is well-balanced, easy to use, and now offers a ‘squeeze’ gesture that allows you to make selections on screen. I am excited to see what developers will do with this over time, but even the initial options are great. This is best used when you want to change the type of function the pencil is doing. Moving from pen to eraser is as easy as a squeeze now. Plus, it provides haptic feedback (you feel it) when you make the selection. This is one you have to try or experience, versus have someone explain to you. It just works, and it feels like magic. Very Apple-like.
Speaking of magic, the Magic Keyboard is also an excellent upgrade. I had maintained my previous Magic Keyboard since my 2018 iPad Pro, so I got a lot of life out of that one. The new Magic Keyboard provides a larger, even better feeling trackpad built in. Plus, it adds a row of function keys at the top of the keyboard. This is certainly handy to access some quick adjustment items like brightness, volume, and playback controls. Overall, this is a nice step up from an already fantastic accessory.
It is hard to get too excited about small upgrades to a product that is already one of the best computing devices you can find. So many things get written on the Apple products, where people seem to want what just isn’t possible each time. I think these enhancements of the iPad Air and iPad Pro line-ups are solid. The reduced weight, the thinness, and the computing potential are pretty spectacular. It is remarkable what you can do with essentially a 5 mm piece of glass. Believe it or not, the iPad has been around for more than fourteen years now. It has come a long way, and still impresses me every time I use it. I may not pick it up as much as my phone, but I do think the iPad remains my favorite piece of technology I own.
Are you planning to upgrade to one of the new iPad models? Which one?
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