Hands-on with the new iPad Pro: yeah, it’s really thin

New iPad Pro impresses with thin design, OLED screen, and M4 chip.

: Apple's latest iPad Pro boasts a thinner design, making it more comfortable to hold and use compared to previous models. The device features a new OLED screen for crisper display and is powered by the M4 chip, catering to intense use cases. It also introduces new accessories, including an upgraded Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro, enhancing functionality.

During a watch party in New York City, reporters had the opportunity to experience the new iPad Pro firsthand, with its thinner and lighter design standing out immediately. The 2024 iPad Pro comes in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, both featuring reduced thickness at 5.3mm and 5.1mm, respectively. Despite concerns over potential fragility due to its slim profile, the device felt rigid and durable. To complement the sleek design, the new Pro also features a 'Tandem OLED' screen, which promises a bright and vibrant display, though the crowded environment made it difficult to fully assess its quality.

Apple's M4 chip powers the new iPad Pro, suggesting a focus on high-intensity uses such as multicam editing in Final Cut Pro and advanced artistic creations in Procreate. This raw power is an indication that Apple intends to maintain the iPad's performance edge, giving users little reason to worry about lag or stutter during demanding tasks. Alongside the hardware improvements, Apple unveiled two new accessories: the Apple Pencil Pro and an upgraded Magic Keyboard. The new keyboard boasts an aluminum body, a larger trackpad, and a row of function keys, aiming to provide a MacBook-like typing experience.

Priced at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch version, the new iPad Pro targets the higher end of the market, distancing itself from more casual consumption devices like the iPad Air. Apple continues to invest in its high-end hardware, offering significant upgrades that enhance productivity, creativity, and portability. With iPadOS improvements potentially on the horizon, the new iPad Pro could redefine the limits of what's possible on a tablet.