Apple has announced the new iPad Pro. However, it has a hidden upgrade option that the tech giant did not announce during its recent presentation.
For $600, the RAM doubles from 256GB to 1TB, and the CPU speeds up from a nine-core M4 chip to a 10-core one.
Apple has never offered a tablet-specific CPU upgrade before. Previous tablet devices used the same processor regardless of configuration.
According to The Verge, RAM doubles from 8GB to 16GB, continuing the pattern of RAM improvements accompanied by storage upgrades. Those wanting maximal iPad Pro performance should choose the 1TB or 2TB variant.
Continuing with 256GB and 512GB of storage will not significantly reduce processing power. Both chips have a 10-core GPU, 120GB/s memory bandwidth, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Each tablet has six efficiency cores that handle daily tasks, making performance differences difficult to detect. This allows flexibility in performance and power consumption.
It is also important to note that the new iPad will cost users $100 to add Apple's glare-fighting nanotexture glass, which is unavailable on lower-tier models.
Meet the new iPad Pro: the thinnest product we’ve ever created, the most advanced display we’ve ever produced, with the incredible power of the M4 chip. Just imagine all the things it’ll be used to create. pic.twitter.com/6PeGXNoKgG
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 7, 2024
Apple iPad Pro: Slimmer, More Powerful
As reported by Axios, Apple launched a more powerful iPad Pro with a next-generation M4 CPU and more screen options for the midrange iPad Air series on Tuesday.
Apple highlighted the tablets' AI capabilities without revealing new functionality. In a pre-recorded product presentation on Tuesday morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook called it "the biggest day for the iPad since its introduction."
The newest 10-core CPU, with its tiny 3-nanometer circuitry, debuts with the iPad Pro, but it may also be included in the Mac range. Apple claims it can match the performance of an M2 chip with half the power.
The firm also touted an enhanced neural engine that can do 38 trillion operations per second for AI processing.
In addition to its upgraded processor, the revamped iPad Pro is slimmer and lighter than its predecessors. It also features new display technology that uses two OLED screens.
Apple also introduced the $129 Apple Pencil Pro and updated its Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro.
Meanwhile, the 2024 iPad Air has a 13-inch screen in addition to the 11-inch. The base configuration has double storage and an M2 CPU (upgraded from M1).
New iPad Air models start at $599 for the 11-inch device and $799 for the 13-inch model, providing improved performance and choices. The latest iPad Air and iPad Pro will debut next week. Apple has lowered the entry-level iPad price to $349.
2024 iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: Which One is Better?
In terms of features, the Pro beats the Air. According to a Mashable review, the 2024 iPad Pro has additional features, as implied by its pricing and better hardware.
However, the 2024 iPad Air's products remain important. Powered by Apple's M2 processor, the Air has AI features like Live Text, which recognizes and interprets text in photos.
The article noted that the iPro surpasses these abilities and expands. A new version of Final Cut Pro, the iPad Pro, integrates several camera perspectives from different devices.
It also uses AI to simplify rear-facing camera document scanning; even though neither gadget has breakthrough features, the Pro has more capabilities.
