Let’s be real for a second. When Apple announced the iPad Pro M4 13-inch, they basically made a device that’s faster than most of the laptops sitting in people’s backpacks right now. It's incredibly thin. 5.1mm thin, to be exact. That’s thinner than an iPod Nano. But here’s the thing: everyone is so focused on the M4 chip and the "thinnest Apple product ever" marketing that they’re missing the actual day-to-day reality of living with this monster tablet.
Honestly, it’s a weirdly polarizing machine.
You’ve got professionals who swear it’s their new desktop. Then you’ve got people who bought it and realized they’re still just watching Netflix and sending emails on a $1,300 piece of glass. Is it the best tablet ever made? Yeah, probably. But after using it for a while, you start to notice the little things that the spec sheets don’t tell you.
The Tandem OLED Secret
If you’re looking at the iPad Pro M4 13-inch, you’re looking at it for the screen. Apple calls it "Ultra Retina XDR," but the tech behind it is called Tandem OLED. Basically, they stacked two OLED panels on top of each other because a single panel couldn’t get bright enough for Apple’s standards.
It’s bright. 1,000 nits for SDR content and 1,600 nits for HDR.
If you’ve ever used an older iPad Pro with the Mini-LED screen, you know about "blooming." That’s where white text on a black background looks like it has a blurry halo around it. On the M4, that’s gone. Completely. The blacks are so deep it’s hard to tell where the screen ends and the bezel begins. It makes watching a movie in a dark room feel like you’re holding a tiny, high-end cinema.
But there’s a catch.
The Nano-Texture Glass Trap
Apple offers a "nano-texture" glass option for the 1TB and 2TB models. It’s supposed to kill reflections. And it does! It’s great if you work under heavy studio lights or outside. But for most people? Don’t do it. I’ve seen side-by-side comparisons where the nano-texture glass makes the blacks look slightly grayish in bright light. It diffuses the light, which is the point, but it also kills that "inkiness" that makes OLED so good. Plus, you can only clean it with a special Apple cloth. If you lose that cloth, you’re basically babying your screen for the rest of its life. Standard glass is easier to wipe down and keeps that punchy contrast most of us actually want.
Is the M4 Overkill?
Yes.
The M4 chip in the iPad Pro M4 13-inch is a beast. We’re talking about a 9-core or 10-core CPU that benchmarks higher than the M3 in the MacBook Air. It’s built on a second-generation 3-nanometer process, which is technical jargon for "it’s fast and doesn’t get as hot."
But here’s the rub: iPadOS 18 still feels like a mobile operating system.
👉 See also: The Short History of Podcast Growth: How We Actually Got Here
- Multitasking: Stage Manager is better than it used to be, but it’s still not macOS.
- File Management: The Files app is... okay. It’s fine for basic stuff, but if you’re trying to manage a complex video project with hundreds of assets, it’ll make you want to pull your hair out.
- Software: Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad are amazing, but they’re still "lite" versions compared to the desktop.
The hardware is so far ahead of the software that it’s almost funny. You’re driving a Ferrari in a school zone. It’s smooth, sure, but you can’t really open it up. That said, if you’re doing heavy AI processing—like the new "Clean Up" tool in Photos or massive audio transcriptions—the 38 trillion operations per second on the Neural Engine actually start to make sense.
The "Lapability" Problem
The 13-inch model is big. It’s about the same size as a MacBook Air. If you pair it with the new Magic Keyboard (which has a function row now, finally!), it basically becomes a laptop.
But it’s a top-heavy laptop.
Because all the "guts" are in the screen and not the keyboard, it can feel a bit tippy on your lap. It works best on a table. If you’re someone who works on the couch or in bed, you might find yourself constantly adjusting it.
The new Magic Keyboard is a huge upgrade, though. It has a larger haptic trackpad that feels just like a MacBook. The aluminum palm rest makes it feel premium, not like the rubbery material on the old ones. It’s expensive, but if you’re getting the 13-inch, it’s almost a mandatory purchase.
Battery Life and Real-World Use
Apple claims 10 hours. In my experience, that’s pretty accurate for "normal" stuff.
Browsing Safari, writing in Notes, and some YouTube? You’ll get through a full workday. But if you’re using the M4 to its potential—editing 4K ProRes video or playing Death Stranding—that battery will drain in about 3 to 4 hours.
The good news? It charges fast. And because the M4 is so efficient, the iPad doesn't get screaming hot like the old M1 models did. It stays remarkably cool even under load.
Who Is This Actually For?
Let's cut through the fluff. The iPad Pro M4 13-inch isn't for everyone.
If you’re a digital artist, the combination of the 13-inch OLED and the Apple Pencil Pro (with that new squeeze gesture and barrel roll) is unbeatable. It’s the best drawing tablet on the planet. Period.
If you’re a "pro" user who wants to travel light and mainly uses web apps, Slack, and email, this is a great luxury. You’ll love the screen. You’ll love the weight.
But if you’re looking for a "computer" to do heavy coding, complex Excel work, or professional file management, you might be happier with a MacBook Pro.
Quick Buying Advice:
- Storage: The 256GB and 512GB models have 8GB of RAM. The 1TB and 2TB models have 16GB of RAM and an extra CPU core. Most people do NOT need 16GB of RAM on an iPad. Save your money.
- Size: If you use your iPad as a tablet (holding it in your hands), the 11-inch is much more comfortable. If it’s going to live on a desk or keyboard, get the 13-inch.
- Connectivity: Unless you’re always on the road, skip the Cellular model. Tethering to your phone is easy enough.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re on the fence about the iPad Pro M4 13-inch, go to an Apple Store and look at the screen. That’s the deciding factor. Compare the standard glass to the nano-texture if they have them side-by-side.
Check your most-used apps. If they don't have a "Pro" iPad version, you're paying for power you can't use.
For most people upgrading from an older iPad, the 13-inch is a massive jump in display quality and weight reduction. Just make sure you’re buying it for the screen and the portability, not because you think it’ll magically replace your Mac for every single task. It’s a specialized tool, and when used for the right things, there is nothing else like it.