You’re probably looking at the tablet market and feeling a bit overwhelmed. It happens to everyone. Between the flashy OLED updates and the budget-friendly Air models, the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation occupies a weird, fascinating space in Apple’s lineup. It’s the M2 powerhouse that basically told the world "I can do everything your laptop does," even if iPadOS sometimes tries to argue otherwise. Honestly, most people buy this because they want the "Pro" experience without the massive footprint of the 12.9-inch behemoth.
It’s small. It’s light. It’s fast.
When Apple dropped this in late 2022, the big story was the M2 chip. We’d already seen it in the MacBook Air, so putting it in a thin slab of aluminum felt like overkill. But that’s the point of the Pro line, right? You aren't just buying a screen for Netflix; you’re buying overhead. You’re buying the ability to edit 4K ProRes video while sitting in a coffee shop with a device that weighs about a pound.
What actually makes the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation different?
If you put this side-by-side with the 3rd gen (the M1 version), you’d have a hard time telling them apart visually. They use the same chassis. The same four-speaker layout. The same USB-C (Thunderbolt) port. But the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation introduced the Apple Pencil hover feature.
Hover is one of those things you think is a gimmick until you use it. The screen detects the tip of the Pencil up to 12mm away. If you’re a digital artist using Procreate, you see a preview of your brush stroke before you even touch the glass. It’s like a cursor for your tablet. For designers, this was a massive quality-of-life upgrade that reduced the "undo" fatigue we all face when a stroke doesn't land quite right.
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Then there’s the Wi-Fi 6E. Most people don't have a 6E router yet, but if you do, the speeds are actually ridiculous. We are talking about lower latency and faster downloads in crowded environments. If you’re someone who moves massive files—think gigabytes of RAW photos or video projects—this actually matters. It’s not just marketing fluff; it’s about shortening the time you spend staring at a progress bar.
The M2 chip is the real engine here
Let’s talk specs for a second because the M2 isn't just a minor bump. It has an 8-core CPU that’s about 15% faster than the M1, but the real gains are in the GPU. The 10-core GPU provides up to 35% faster graphics performance.
Does that matter for browsing Safari? Nope.
Does it matter for Resident Evil Village or Stage Manager? Absolutely.
Stage Manager on the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation is where the 8GB of RAM (or 16GB if you splurge for the 1TB/2TB models) really earns its keep. You can hook this thing up to an external 6K display like the Pro Display XDR, and it handles the scaling and windowing without breaking a sweat. It feels like a real computer. Sorta.
One thing people often miss is the Media Engine. The M2 has hardware-accelerated ProRes encoding and decoding. If you’re a videographer, you can literally film a scene on your iPhone 15 or 16 Pro, AirDrop it to your iPad, and edit that ProRes footage natively. That used to require a heavy-duty workstation. Now, it happens on a device you can slide into a manila envelope.
The Screen: Liquid Retina vs. Liquid Retina XDR
This is where the controversy lives.
The 12.9-inch model gets the fancy Mini-LED (XDR) display with those deep blacks and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. The iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation sticks with the standard Liquid Retina display. It’s an LED-backlit IPS panel.
Is it a dealbreaker?
For most, no. The 11-inch screen still features ProMotion (120Hz), which makes everything feel buttery smooth. It has P3 wide color and True Tone. It hits 600 nits of brightness. Honestly, unless you are color-grading HDR video for a living, you probably won't care about the lack of Mini-LED. In fact, some people prefer this screen because it doesn't suffer from the "blooming" effect sometimes seen on the 12.9-inch model when white text appears on a black background.
It's also worth noting that the 11-inch size is much more comfortable for reading. Have you ever tried to hold the 12.9-inch Pro like a book for an hour? Your wrists will hate you. The 11-inch is the perfect "handheld" Pro.
Real-world performance: It’s more than just benchmarks
Benchmarks are fine for YouTube reviewers, but let's talk about what it's like to actually own this thing.
If you’re a student, the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation paired with a Magic Keyboard is a powerhouse. You can have a Zoom call going in a floating window, a Notability document open for handwritten notes, and a web browser on the side. The M2 handles this multitasking without the "reloading" lag you get on cheaper iPads with less RAM.
For gamers, this is arguably the best mobile gaming machine on the planet. With the M2, games like Genshin Impact or Death Stranding run at high frame rates that put the Nintendo Switch to shame. Hook up a PS5 controller, and you have a portable console.
- Battery Life: Apple claims 10 hours. In the real world? It depends. If you’re just writing and checking email, you’ll get that. If you’re editing 4K video at 80% brightness, expect closer to 5 or 6 hours.
- Cameras: It has a 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide on the back, plus a LiDAR scanner. Does anyone actually use an iPad for photography? Maybe not. But for scanning a room to create a 3D model or using AR apps for interior design, that LiDAR sensor is a game changer.
- The Selfie Camera: It’s a 12MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage. It’s still on the short edge of the device. This is the biggest gripe most people have. If you use it in landscape mode (which you do with a keyboard), you’re always looking off to the side during calls. It’s awkward, but you get used to it.
The Accessories: The "iPad Pro Tax"
You can't talk about the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation without talking about the hidden costs. The tablet itself is just the start.
- Apple Pencil (2nd Gen): Essential for artists and note-takers. It snaps magnetically to the side and charges. The hover feature we mentioned earlier only works with the M2 Pro models and newer.
- Magic Keyboard: It’s expensive. Like, "I could buy a whole budget laptop for this price" expensive. But it’s also the best typing experience you can get on a tablet. The trackpad support in iPadOS is surprisingly good.
- Smart Folio: If you don't need a keyboard, get this. It keeps it slim.
Many people wonder if they should just get the iPad Air instead. It's a fair question. The Air is cheaper and looks similar. But the Air lacks the 120Hz ProMotion screen. Once you’ve used 120Hz, going back to 60Hz feels like you’re looking at a flickering slideshow. The Pro also has better speakers (four vs two) and the Thunderbolt port for faster data transfer.
Common misconceptions about the M2 iPad Pro
A lot of people think the M2 is just for "pro" users. That’s not true. The M2 is about longevity.
Buying an iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation today isn't just about what it can do now; it’s about what it can do in five years. Apple is famous for supporting their silicon for a long time. This chip has so much headroom that it will likely receive iPadOS updates well into the late 2020s. You’re buying a device that won't feel "slow" for a very long time.
Another myth is that you need the 1TB version to get the most out of it. Unless you specifically need 16GB of RAM for massive 3D renders or huge Logic Pro projects, the 8GB of RAM in the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models is plenty. iPadOS is much more aggressive with memory management than macOS. It’s very efficient.
Is it still worth it with newer models out?
In the tech world, the "newest" is always the "best," but it's rarely the best value.
The M4 iPad Pro models have arrived with OLED screens and even thinner designs. They are incredible. They are also incredibly expensive. For a huge segment of users—students, office workers, casual creators—the iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation is the smarter buy. You can often find them refurbished or on sale, and the performance gap between the M2 and M4 for 90% of tasks is virtually imperceptible.
If you find a 4th gen Pro for a few hundred dollars less than the latest model, take it. You aren't losing out on the "core" experience. You still get the ProMotion, the Apple Pencil Hover, the Thunderbolt speeds, and the insane build quality.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re leaning toward picking up this specific tablet, here is how you should approach it to ensure you don't overspend:
Check your current storage usage on your phone or old tablet. If you use cloud services like iCloud or Google Photos, the 128GB or 256GB models are usually the "sweet spot." Don't pay for 1TB unless you know exactly why you need 16GB of RAM.
Look for "Apple Certified Refurbished" units. These come with a new outer shell, a new battery, and the same one-year warranty as a brand-new device. It’s basically a way to get a Pro for Air prices.
Think about the Pencil. If you aren't going to draw or take handwritten notes, save the $129. The iPad is a great consumption and productivity device even without the stylus.
Test the keyboard options. The Apple Magic Keyboard is great, but companies like Logitech make the Folio Touch which is much cheaper and offers more protection.
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The iPad Pro 11 inch 4th generation remains one of the most versatile computers Apple has ever made. It’s a tablet when you want to lean back, a laptop when you need to lean in, and a creative canvas when inspiration hits. It’s not just a gadget; for many, it’s the only computer they actually need.