Everything Apple Announced at Its Big IPad Event
It may not have been as big an event as WWDC or the annual fall iPhone event, but Apple’s ” Let Loose ” event on May 7 was still an exciting event. In particular, the company made some highly anticipated announcements about the iPad, introducing new versions of the iPad Pro and iPad Air, as well as introducing updated accessories for both.
Don’t forget about Apple Vision Pro and the new MacBook Air
Apple briefly moved away from Vision Pro , highlighting the device’s use by companies like Porsche, filmmakers like Jon M. Chu, and doctors using the headset in healthcare. Tim Cook also highlighted the MacBook Air M3 , saying it became the world’s best-selling laptop in both 13-inch and 15-inch models.
Oh, looking for actual Vision Pro or Mac news, not just marketing ones? Sorry.
The new iPad Pro is very thin
In pure Apple form, the new iPad Pro is even thinner than before. The Pro comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with thicknesses of 5.3mm and 5.1mm respectively. Apple says it’s even thinner than the iPod Nano. The previous iPad Pro design was already quite thin, so will this iPad feel… too thin? Either way, you can still choose Silver or Space Black.
As expected, Apple has added OLED displays (Apple calls this technology “Tandem OLED”) to both iPad Pro models, the first time the company has used the display technology in any type of iPad. Previously, the 11-inch display used an LCD with a single large backlight, while the 12.9-inch used a mini-LED that uses local dimming zones, giving more precise control over which areas of the display are lit at the same time. With OLED, individual pixels can be lit up or turned off completely, making it the best display format in terms of contrast: dark parts of an image or video can be completely black as the display turns them off completely. The iPad Pro’s typical peak brightness is 1,000 nits, and its HDR peak brightness is 1,600 nits.
The rumors about the iPad Pro SoC also turned out to be true: these professionals are using the M4, the first Apple devices with this chip. The M4 has four performance cores and six efficiency cores, and Apple says it can achieve 50% of the processor performance of the M2. (Apple likes to go back two generations to compare its chips.) It has a 10-core GPU with support for ray tracing, a demanding process that provides realistic lighting in video games and other graphics-intensive programs. Apple has also touted the M4’s energy efficiency, but hands-on testing will show how those specs apply to real-world use.
Apple also wants you to know that it’s taking artificial intelligence seriously: while the company hasn’t revealed any of the generative AI features it’s reportedly working on , it’s focusing on the M4 Neural Engine (NPU), which is designed to artificial intelligence. It has a 16-core processor capable of 38 trillion operations per second. (Apple says it’s 60 times faster than their first NPU.) The company also says the thermal performance of these iPads is better, even despite the thinner design.
Interestingly, the new iPad Pros only have one rear camera. This time around, there’s a more powerful LiDAR scanner that can use artificial intelligence to better detect documents. A nice change is the fact that the front-facing camera is now in the landscape portion of the iPad, where you’d expect. This matches where the camera is located on the 10th generation iPad. No more weird angles during video calls.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 (Wi-Fi) and $1,199 (cellular). The 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299 (Wi-Fi) and $1,499 (cellular). Both models come in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacity configurations. You can order today , and the tablets will be available from May 15th.
iPad Air will receive a MacBook-level chip
Two years after its last update, Apple’s new iPad Air is finally here. This year’s model upgrades Apple’s smallest iPad (not the Mini) to the same M2 chip found in the 2022 MacBook Air, and also introduces a new larger size.
For the first time, iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. While making the iPad Air larger may seem counterintuitive, the idea is to give users the same extra screen real estate as on the Pro without requiring them to pay much more for it. Specifically, Apple promises “30% more screen real estate” on the 13-inch iPad Air. (In contrast, the new iPad Pro line introduces an 11-inch model alongside the existing 13-inch model—Apple wants you to be happy with the size of your device, no matter how much you spend.)
Those hoping for OLED displays in the new iPad Air will have to keep waiting. While the iPad Pro finally gets OLED, the iPad Air sticks with the tried-and-tested Fluid Retina display found on previous models.
What you do get is an M2 chip, which, while a generation behind what’s available on the latest MacBooks, still promises to be powerful enough to run AI features in programs like Photoshop as well as modern games , such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The M1 chip in the previous model isn’t that bad, but Apple claims the new iPad Air has 50% improved performance, which is three times faster than the 10th generation iPad with the A14 Bionic chip.
Video calling should also get a little better, with the camera and speakers finally moving to the edges of the landscape.
The new iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. There are four color options available: Blue, Purple, Starlight (Gold) and Space Gray (Cream Black). Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. You can order them today and they will be available from May 15th.
10th generation iPad gets cheaper
The 10th generation iPad will remain the same, but the price will drop. The entry-level iPad now starts at $349 , down $100 from the previous price.
Final Cut Pro 2 and Logic Pro 2 get artificial intelligence features
Apple also introduced new versions of its iPad apps, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. These apps focus on some of the new AI features that take advantage of the M4 chip in the new Pros.
Apple says the new Final Cut Pro renders the end result twice as fast on the iPad M4 iPad Pro. The new Live Multicam feature lets you connect and view up to four cameras simultaneously, and the new Final Cut Camera app also lets you control all of those cameras remotely, including features like exposure. Finally, you can edit projects from an external hard drive.
Logic Pro 2 also gets some new features: There’s “Session Players,” which expands the app’s Drummer option with new bass players and keyboard players. “ChromaGlow” allows you to use artificial intelligence to add “ultra-realistic” sound to your tracks. Stem Splitter splits one merged track into different components, at least drums, bass, vocals and other instruments.
Logic Pro 2 will be available on May 13th as a free upgrade for existing users and remains available for $4.99 per month or $49 per year. Final Cut Pro 2 has the same pricing scheme but will be available “later this spring.”
Apple Pencil Pro has new sensors and haptic feedback.
Apple has finally added “Pro” to the Apple Pencil. The updated Apple Pencil features a new sensor that lets you squeeze the pencil to reveal a new palette of tools. The Pencil is rumored to have a haptic haptic feedback motor, so you’ll feel a slight vibration when you squeeze it. You can also tilt the pencil to adjust your strokes in real time.
Apple Pencil also supports Find My, so the next time you’re curled up under the couch, just open Find My on your iPad or iPhone to find it.
Apple is charging $129 for the new Apple Pencil Pro , and it will be available starting May 15.
Magic Keyboard will provide ease of use with your laptop
In addition to its new iPad Pro, Apple has updated the Magic Keyboard to give users a laptop-like experience. Most notably, the trackpad is slightly larger, there’s now a full row of function keys, and the palm rest is now made of aluminum.
Apple’s site doesn’t mention specific trackpad dimensions, but it does confirm that the new trackpad will have full haptic feedback, which will help it maintain parity with the MacBook. Unfortunately, the new Magic Keyboard won’t work with the new iPad Air models, meaning only Pro users will have access to the aluminum palm rest and the new 14-key feature row.
The 11-inch Magic Keyboard will cost you $299 , and the 13-inch will cost you $349 . It is available in two colors: black and traditional Apple grey. You can order today and it will be available from May 15th.