Apple upgraded its iPad line on Tuesday, upgrading its Air models with new silicon and adding a new M4 processor to its Pro editions. The display was also upgraded from LCD to OLED.
Rob Enderle is the president and principal analyst at Enderle GroupTechNewsWorld was told by an advisory firm based in Bend, Oregon.
Tim Bajarin is the president of Creative StrategiesA technology advisory firm located in San Jose, Calif.
The two OLED displays on the 11-inch Pro and 13″ Pro models, announced in an online prerecorded live event, provide exceptional brightness. Apple says that its Ultra Retina XDR screen can display 1,000 nits full-screen for SDR or HDR content as well as 1,600 nits HDR peak.
Apple’s new iPad Pro is available in two sizes: 11-inch and 13.2-inch. It features the thinnest Apple design ever. (Image Credit: Apple)
The display can also be ordered with nano-texture. Nano-textured glass is engineered for ambient light scattering and glare reduction.
Jim McGregor is the founder and principal analyst for Tirias ResearchPhoenix-based high-tech advisory and research firm. He told TechNewsWorld, “I’ve never seen a dual-layer OLED solution before.” The etched overlay is unique.
Enderle stated, “The display is breathtaking.” “I’m only concerned about the durability. OLED is beautiful, but it’s not very durable. They are also pushing a lot power through it. The display’s longevity could be an issue in the long run.”
Anshel Sag – a senior analyst for Moor Insights & StrategyA technology advisory and analyst firm located in Austin, Texas.
“However I am a bit surprised that they didn’t try and beef up the camera to really show off this display,” he said to TechNewsWorld.
Enter M4 Silicon
Apple’s new iPad Pro models are equipped with the M4 processor, a move that is unusual. Bajarin, a TechNewsWorld reporter, said that the Mac is usually where new chips are first introduced. Apple did this in order to demonstrate that they believe the iPad is a PC, as Jobs intended when he introduced it 14 years earlier. It’s a powerful tool for creativity that mimics PC functionality.
The chip was built using a newer, more energy-efficient technology called second-generation 3-nanometer. Apple claimed that the M4 chip could deliver the same performance and power consumption as the M2 chips in previous iPad Pro models.
Apple claims that the M4 silicon is 50% faster than Apple’s M2 silicon, and delivers four times more overall performance.
Apple’s new silicon version making its debut on an iPad is a departure from how it has been introduced in the past. Apple is positioning iPad as an all-in-one computer, but it’s consistent with this, said Ross Rubin. Reticle ResearchA consumer technology advisory company in New York City.
With the M4 processor, rendering performance in apps such as Octane is significantly improved. The chip is up to four-times faster than older iPad Pro models that were equipped with the old M2 chips. (Image Credit: Apple)
He told TechNewsWorld that the fact that Apple put its most advanced and highest-performance processor in the iPad lends credence to their claims about the iPad being the future of computers.
He continued, “They released their professional applications on the platform.” In some ways, this is a stronger endorsement for the iPad as a powerhouse of creativity. It sends out a strong message to developers like Adobe that this is the right platform for such applications.
He explained that Apple has had a difficult time in the past when it comes to demonstrating high performance. They have shown games on iPhones and iPads. “That’s a good visual, but if you have a product with a professional label and a price tag of more than $1,000, then it is important to demonstrate that there are productivity tools available.”
Mikako Kitagawa is a director, analyst and researcher with GartnerStamford-based research and consulting company agreed. She told TechNewsWorld, “I think Apple is trying hard to position iPad as the most suitable tablet for creative professionals.”
Play To Boost Sales
McGregor of Tirias argued that Apple’s M4 chip will likely be available in different versions for its various products, but the introduction of the M4 into the iPad Pro represents a major move.
He said: “Apple’s decision to release this version for the iPad Pro is a clear statement that it views the iPad not as an accessory, but a product critical for the market.” “For many users, the iPad is their primary computing device.”
Jitesh ubrani works as a researcher at IDCAccording to, a global research company, Apple’s decision to include the M4 in the iPad Pro shows that it is serious about the form factor, but still views it as a separate accessory.
It is not a MacBook Replacement. He told TechNewsWorld that it is a complement to the MacBook. “Beyond this, I also think that the timing of the M4 release puts pressure on Qualcomm because their comparisons with M3 are instantly outdated.”
Apple may have introduced the M4 as a response to the iPad sales figures. Felix Richter reported that in the first six-months of Apple’s fiscal 2020, which ends on September 30, iPad sales were down more than 20 percent compared to last year. Statista Tuesday.
Apple’s iPad revenue as a percentage of total company revenue
Will Kerwin is a technology equity analysts with Morningstar Research Services Chicago agreed. “We think this shows the company’s recognition that the iPad is underperforming, and deserves a priority to drive a return of growth,” he said in a TechNewsWorld interview.
The Palette and Pencils
Apple has introduced two iPad Airs in addition to its Pro models. One is an 11 inch model and the other, for the first, a 13 inch model. Both have M2 silicon inside. Apple’s iPad Air models begin at $599 each for the 11″ and $799 each for the 13″. The iPad Pro 11-inch starts at $999. While the 13-inch iPad Pro sells at $1299. Air and Pro models are available to purchase starting May 15.
Apple announced two new upgraded accessories: a “magic” keypad and a new pen. Apple has added function buttons to the keyboard. It also introduced an aluminum palm rest and a large trackpad with haptic input.
Apple pencils have a sensor, which when squeezed will bring up a tool palette on the iPad screen. The Apple pencil has a gyroscope that allows it to be used more accurately.
Apple Pencil Pro adds Find My support to Apple Pencil for the first-time, allowing users to locate Pencil Pro in case it is lost. The magnetic interface allows it to be charged, paired, and stored on the iPad Pro side. (Image Credit: Apple)
Mark N. Vena is the president and principal analyst of SmartTech Research San Jose, Calif.
“You can squeeze the stylus to use it on any iPad in their range,” he told TechNewsWorld. This is a time-saver. “I do a bit of digital editing on my iPad, and I find the ability to remove the masks or edit the screen with precision a great deal.”
He said that the Apple Pencil Pro was a major step forward for stylus capabilities to manage images and videos.
Rubin continued, “The hovering abilities and the ability of changing the orientation of your tools by squeezing a pencil before touching the iPad surface are both nifty features that add to the creativity experience.”
