You've probably seen the "Crush" ad—the one where Apple literally squished a piano and some paint cans to show off how thin this thing is. It was controversial. People hated it. But it did its job because now everyone is wondering if they should finally buy iPad Pro M4 or stick with their aging M1 model.
Let's be real for a second.
Most people don't need this much power in a tablet. They just don't. But "need" is a boring word. We're talking about a device that is thinner than an iPod Nano but packs a chip that can outperform most high-end Windows laptops. It’s a bit of a contradiction, honestly. You have this massive, desktop-class performance trapped inside a body so slim it feels like it might snap if you sit on it (spoiler: it won't, but the anxiety is real).
Apple’s M4 chip wasn't even in the Macs when this iPad launched. That's a first. Usually, the iPad gets the "hand-me-down" silicon after the MacBook Pro has had its fun. By putting the M4 in the iPad first, Apple sent a message: this isn't a secondary device anymore. Or at least, they want you to believe that.
The Tandem OLED screen is the only reason some people care
If you're going to buy iPad Pro M4, you’re doing it for the display. Specifically, the "Ultra Retina XDR."
Apple did something weird here. They couldn't get a single OLED panel bright enough to meet their "XDR" standards, so they just stacked two of them. It's called Tandem OLED. It sounds like marketing fluff, but the result is 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness and 1,600 nits for HDR peaks.
I’ve spent hours looking at this screen next to the old mini-LED model. The difference isn't just "better." It's fundamental. On the M2 iPad Pro, you’d see "blooming"—that annoying white glow around text when the background was black. On the M4? Total inkiness. It’s perfect. If you're a colorist or someone who watches movies in a dark room, this is the peak of mobile technology.
There's also the Nano-texture glass option. It costs more. A lot more. And you can only get it on the 1TB and 2TB models. It’s meant to kill glare, which it does incredibly well, but it also slightly softens the image. Unless you’re working outside in direct sunlight or under heavy studio lights, you’re probably better off with the standard glossy glass. It’s sharper. It’s punchier.
The M4 chip is actually kind of terrifying
We need to talk about the silicon.
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The M4 is built on a second-generation 3-nanometer process. It’s fast. Like, "why-is-this-in-a-tablet" fast. In Geekbench 6 scores, we're seeing single-core performance that makes the M2 look like a toy. We are talking about scores hitting over 3,700 for single-core and 14,500+ for multi-core.
But here is the catch.
If you get the 256GB or 512GB model, you’re getting a "binned" version of the chip. You get 9 CPU cores and 8GB of RAM. If you want the full 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM, you have to jump to the 1TB model.
Does it matter?
For 95% of people, no. You won't notice those extra cores while scrolling Safari or even editing 4K video in LumaFusion. But for the pro users—the people doing heavy 3D rendering in Octane or massive logic projects—that 16GB of RAM is a lifeline. iPadOS is notorious for aggressive memory management. It will kill your background apps the second it feels a breeze. Having that extra RAM headroom keeps your workflow alive.
The ergonomics of a "Thinner-than-Thin" device
The 13-inch model is 5.1mm thick.
Think about that.
It’s thinner than your phone. When you hold it, the weight distribution feels different. It’s nearly a quarter-pound lighter than the previous generation. That sounds small on paper, but in the hand, it’s the difference between "I can hold this for an hour" and "my wrist is dying after ten minutes."
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The move to a landscape front-facing camera is the most "finally!" moment in Apple history. It took them years to realize that when we use an iPad for work, it’s usually horizontal. Now, you don't look like you're staring off into space during Zoom calls.
Don't forget the hidden costs
You can't just buy iPad Pro M4 and call it a day.
If you want the full experience, you’re looking at the new Apple Pencil Pro and the redesigned Magic Keyboard. Your old Pencil won’t work. Your old keyboard won’t fit. It’s a total ecosystem reset.
The Pencil Pro has haptic feedback now. You squeeze it, and a palette pops up. It feels like a physical click, even though it’s just a vibration motor. It’s clever. The barrel roll feature—using a gyroscope to let you rotate your brush strokes—is a game changer for digital illustrators.
Then there’s the Magic Keyboard. It’s got a function row now! (Yes, we’re excited about buttons that have existed on every laptop since 1990). The palm rest is aluminum, so it feels like a MacBook. The trackpad is larger and has haptic clicks. It basically turns the iPad into a laptop that runs a mobile OS.
Where iPadOS still trips over its own feet
Here is the frustrating part.
The hardware is at a level 10. The software is sitting at a level 6.
Stage Manager has improved, sure. You can resize windows and use an external monitor without those weird black bars. But it’s still not macOS. You still can't run a real terminal. You still can't do heavy file management without wanting to pull your hair out.
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If you're a developer, you aren't compiling complex code here. If you're a hardcore gamer, you're limited by the App Store’s library, though "Death Stranding" and "Resident Evil" ports are showing what’s possible.
The M4 chip is capable of so much more than Apple allows it to do. It’s like owning a Ferrari but being told you can only drive it in a school zone. You feel the power under the hood, but you rarely get to floor it.
The actual cost of entry
Let's look at the real numbers because they're a bit eye-watering.
- The 11-inch starts at $999. That’s for 256GB.
- The 13-inch starts at $1,299.
- A fully spec'd 2TB 13-inch with Nano-texture? You’re looking at nearly $2,600.
And that is before you add the $349 Magic Keyboard and the $129 Apple Pencil Pro.
You could buy a very nice M3 Pro MacBook Pro for that price. You could buy a used car. You could buy a lot of things. So, you have to ask yourself if the "tablet-ness" of the device is worth the premium.
Who should actually pull the trigger?
If you are coming from an M1 or M2, you probably don't need to upgrade unless you are a display nerd. The M1 is still incredibly fast.
But if you are on an older A-series iPad Pro, or an iPad Air, the jump is massive. You're moving from a standard screen to the best display on the market. You're getting a chip that will likely be supported by Apple for the next 7 to 8 years.
Pro Tip: Look for the 256GB or 512GB models if you’re a "normal" user. Don't let the 16GB RAM lure you into spending $1,500+ unless you specifically know your software requires it. Most apps are capped at how much memory they can even request from the system anyway.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your current usage: Go into your iPad settings and look at your storage. If you're using less than 150GB, don't bother paying the 1TB premium just for the extra RAM. You won't use it.
- Visit an Apple Store: You cannot understand the Tandem OLED screen by reading about it. You have to see it in person, specifically with HDR content.
- Evaluate your accessories: Remember that your old Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) is a paperweight if you move to the M4. Factor that $129 into your budget immediately.
- Consider the 11-inch for portability: With the M4 being so thin, the 11-inch model feels impossibly light. If you travel a lot, it might be the better "reading and sketching" device compared to the massive 13-inch canvas.
- Trade-in value: Check Apple’s trade-in site or third-party resellers. M1 and M2 Pros still hold decent value, which can knock $300-$500 off the price of the M4.
The iPad Pro M4 is a marvel of engineering that is currently waiting for software to catch up to it. It is the best tablet ever made, period. Just make sure you're buying it for the hardware you'll use today, not the software "promises" of tomorrow.