Honestly, picking an iPad used to be a lot easier. You either wanted the cheap one for Netflix or the expensive one for "work," whatever that meant at the time. But the iPad Pro M4 11-inch has complicated things in a really interesting way. It’s no longer just the "small version" of the giant 13-inch canvas. With the jump to the M4 silicon, Apple basically put a supercar engine into a chassis the size of a legal pad.
It’s thin. Scary thin.
At 5.3mm, it's actually thicker than its 13-inch sibling (which is a ridiculous 5.1mm), but in the hand, the 11-inch model feels more like a sheet of glass than a computer. People worry about it bending. I get that. But after months of real-world use being reported by users and reviewers like JerryRigEverything, the structural integrity seems to hold up remarkably well thanks to a new internal "cowling" or spine that runs down the center.
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The Tandem OLED Screen is the Real Story
If you’ve used the previous 11-inch Pros, you know we always got the short end of the stick. The big 12.9-inch model had the fancy Mini-LED XDR display, while the 11-inch was stuck with standard LCD. It was fine, but it wasn't pro.
That’s dead now.
The iPad Pro M4 11-inch features what Apple calls Tandem OLED. They basically stacked two OLED panels on top of each other to get the brightness high enough to meet HDR standards without burning out the pixels too fast. It hits 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness. If you’re watching a movie in a dark room, the blacks are ink. There’s no "blooming" around white text like you see on the older Mini-LED models.
But here’s the thing: it’s almost too good for just scrolling Twitter.
You notice the quality most in the highlights. Specular highlights—like sunlight reflecting off water in a 4K video—pop with a literal intensity that can make you squint. If you’re a colorist or a photographer using Capture One, this is the first time the 11-inch form factor hasn't felt like a compromise. You’re getting the exact same pixel density and technology as the big one.
Does the M4 Chip Actually Matter?
It’s a fair question. The M2 was already faster than 90% of the laptops people carry into Starbucks. So why the M4?
Efficiency and thermals.
The M4 is built on a second-generation 3nm process. In plain English, it does more work while sipping less battery and generating less heat. If you're rendering 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro for iPad, the 11-inch stays surprisingly cool. Most tablets turn into hand-warmers the second you start a heavy export. This one doesn't.
Gaming is the other area where this chip flexes. With hardware-accelerated ray tracing, games like Resident Evil Village or Death Stranding look spooky-good. Are people actually playing AAA console games on an 11-inch tablet? Maybe not many. But the overhead means the tablet will likely still be fast in 2030.
One weird quirk: the base 256GB and 512GB models have 8GB of RAM and a 9-core CPU. If you want the full 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM, you have to sell a kidney for the 1TB or 2TB models. For most people, that's total overkill. Don't buy the 1TB model just for the "extra core" unless you’re literally processing massive datasets or 3D renders all day.
The Accessory Tax is Getting Ridiculous
We have to talk about the Magic Keyboard. It’s been redesigned with a function row and a larger haptic trackpad. It makes the iPad Pro M4 11-inch feel exactly like a tiny MacBook.
But it’s expensive.
And your old Apple Pencil? Toss it. Or sell it. It won't work here. Because Apple moved the FaceTime camera to the landscape edge (finally!), they had to move the charging magnets for the pencil. You need the Apple Pencil Pro now. The haptic feedback and the "squeeze" gesture are cool, sure, but it’s another $129 on top of an already pricey tablet.
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The landscape camera is a godsend for Zoom calls, though. No more looking like you're staring off into space while you're talking to your boss. You actually look like a normal human being.
The Portability Argument
Why choose the 11-inch over the 13-inch?
Weight.
The 11-inch weighs less than a pound (about 444 grams). When you snap it out of the keyboard case, it’s the perfect size for reading. The 13-inch is a beast; it’s a "table" tablet. You use it on a desk. The 11-inch is a "couch" tablet, an "airplane tray" tablet, and a "tote bag" tablet.
I’ve seen writers choose the 11-inch specifically because the keyboard is just slightly cramped. That sounds like a downside, but it forces a certain kind of focus. It’s a specialized tool.
Software: The Eternal Bottleneck
It’s impossible to talk about this hardware without mentioning iPadOS. It’s the elephant in the room.
We have M4 power. We have 1,600 nits of peak brightness. We have Thunderbolt 4 ports. And yet, the file system still feels like it’s trying to hide files from you. Stage Manager has improved, and being able to resize windows is nice, but it’s not macOS.
If you’re a developer, you still can’t run Xcode. If you’re a heavy multi-tasker, you’ll still find yourself hitting walls that don’t exist on a $1,000 MacBook Air.
However, for a specific niche of creators, the iPad Pro M4 11-inch is the peak. Illustrators using Procreate Dreams love the 11-inch because they can hold it in one hand and draw with the other for hours without fatigue. The M4 handles those thousands of layers without a stutter.
What You Should Actually Check Before Buying
Don't just look at the specs. Think about your hands.
Go to a store. Type on the 11-inch Magic Keyboard. If you have large hands, you might find the 11-inch version a bit tight for long writing sessions. The keys are slightly smaller than a standard laptop.
Also, consider the Nano-texture glass. It’s only available on the 1TB and 2TB models. It kills reflections, which is amazing if you work outside, but it also slightly softens the contrast of that gorgeous OLED screen. Most people should stick with the standard glossy glass. It’s punchier.
Practical Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re on an M1 or M2 iPad Pro right now, honestly, you’re probably fine. The screen is the only "must-have" upgrade. But if you’re coming from an iPad Air or an older A-series Pro, the jump is massive.
- Check your storage needs. Since you can’t upgrade it later, and the M4 chip's RAM is tied to the storage tier, choose wisely. The 512GB is usually the sweet spot for pros.
- Budget for the Pencil Pro. If you're a student or artist, the new squeeze gestures for switching tools are genuinely faster than tapping the screen.
- Look at the refurbished M2s. If you don't care about the OLED screen, an M2 11-inch Pro is still a powerhouse and costs significantly less.
- Test the keyboard. If you plan on using this as your main "laptop," ensure the 11-inch footprint doesn't feel too cramped for your typing style.
The iPad Pro M4 11-inch is easily the best tablet ever made in this size. It’s an over-engineered marvel that most people won't fully utilize, but for those who want the absolute best display and most portable power available, there isn't even a close second. It’s expensive, it’s overpowered, and the screen is nothing short of breathtaking.
Just don't expect it to replace your Mac for everything—it's still an iPad, for better and for worse.
Actionable Insight: Before purchasing, verify your most-used apps are optimized for M4. While most are, specialized apps in CAD or heavy video editing see the most significant gains from the new architecture. If you primarily use web-based tools, an iPad Air might save you $400 without a noticeable loss in daily performance.