Honestly, I’ve seen so many people look at the m4 ipad pro 11 and think it’s just a "smaller version" of the 13-inch powerhouse. They’re wrong. Well, mostly.
It's actually a completely different animal.
If you’re standing in an Apple Store in 2026, staring at that silver or space black slab, you're looking at what might be the most "iPad-y" iPad ever made. It’s thin. Scary thin. Like, 5.3mm thin. That is thinner than the old iPod Nano, which feels like a weird physics glitch when you actually hold it. But there’s a lot of noise about the M4 chip being "overkill" or the Tandem OLED being "too much."
Let’s cut through the marketing fluff and talk about what this thing is actually like to live with after the honeymoon phase ends.
That Tandem OLED screen is a bit of a flex
People call it the "Ultra Retina XDR." Fancy name. Basically, Apple took two OLED panels and sandwiched them together because a single OLED wasn't bright enough for their standards.
🔗 Read more: Why a Realistic Robot Dog That Walks is More Than Just a High-Tech Toy
The result? 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness.
If you’re watching a movie in a dark room, the blacks are so black the screen effectively disappears. No "blooming" like the old mini-LED models. You've probably noticed that annoying halo effect around white text on a black background on older Pros? Gone. Completely.
But here’s the kicker: the 11-inch model doesn't get the "mini-laptop" respect the 13-inch does. Yet, for reading or actual tablet stuff, it’s vastly superior. It’s about 0.98 pounds. You can actually hold it with one hand without your wrist screaming at you after ten minutes.
Why the m4 ipad pro 11 feels different in your hand
The weight distribution is just better.
On the 13-inch, the center of gravity feels like it’s constantly trying to pull the device out of your grip. The 11-inch stays put.
The M4 chip: Is it actually doing anything?
Let’s be real. If you’re just scrolling through Reddit or watching Netflix, the M4 chip is basically a Ferrari engine inside a golf cart. You aren't using it.
However, there’s a catch.
The M4 isn't just about raw speed (though with a 10-core CPU on the 1TB+ models, it’s a beast). It’s about the Neural Engine. We’re talking 38 trillion operations per second. In 2026, as iPadOS 19 and 20 lean harder into local AI processing, that overhead actually matters.
- Basic Storage (256GB/512GB): You get 8GB of RAM and a 9-core CPU.
- Pro Storage (1TB/2TB): You get 16GB of RAM and the full 10-core CPU.
Most people don't need 16GB of RAM on an iPad. Honestly, you don't. But if you're editing 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro for iPad, or working with massive layers in Procreate Dreams, that 8GB ceiling is real. I’ve seen apps refresh more often on the base models. It's subtle, but it's there.
The Thermal Reality
Apple put a graphite sheet behind the logo to help with heat. Does it work? Sorta.
Under heavy load—think Resident Evil 4 Remake or export sessions—the back gets warm. Not "burn your lap" warm, but you’ll feel it. The thinness of the chassis means there isn't much places for heat to go. It's a trade-off. You want the thinnest device in the world? You're going to feel the heat a bit more.
The Magic Keyboard and the "Laptop" Lie
We have to talk about the keyboard. The new Magic Keyboard for the m4 ipad pro 11 has an aluminum palm rest and a function row. It makes the iPad look like a tiny MacBook.
It’s cute. But it’s cramped.
If you have large hands, the 11-inch keyboard is a struggle for long-form typing. The keys are just a tiny bit smaller than standard. You’ll find yourself hitting the wrong keys for the first three days.
But for travelers? It’s a dream. It fits on an airplane tray table even when the person in front of you reclines their seat into your personal space. You can’t do that easily with a 13-inch Pro or a MacBook Pro.
What about the Apple Pencil Pro?
This is the hidden gem. The Pencil Pro only works with the M4 (and the newer M2 Airs). It has a "squeeze" gesture and haptic feedback.
When you squeeze the barrel, a palette pops up on the screen right under the tip. It feels like magic. There’s a gyroscope too, so you can roll the pencil to change the orientation of shaped brush strokes. If you’re an illustrator, this is probably the only reason you need to upgrade. If you’re just signing PDFs? Stick with the USB-C Pencil and save some cash.
The Battery Life Controversy
Apple still claims "up to 10 hours."
They’ve claimed that since 2010.
In the real world, with the screen at 70% brightness and a 5G connection, you’re looking at more like 6 to 7 hours of "real" work. If you’re doing heavy AI processing or video editing, that number can drop to 4.
The 11-inch has a smaller battery than the 13-inch (31.29 watt-hours vs. 38.99). It’s simple math. If you need a device that lasts a full trans-Atlantic flight while you're working the whole time, you might be disappointed unless you have a power bank.
Is the Nano-Texture glass worth it?
You can only get the "matte" nano-texture glass on the 1TB and 2TB models. It costs extra.
Is it worth it?
Only if you work outside. It kills reflections better than any screen I’ve ever seen. But it also slightly—and I mean slightly—softens the contrast of the OLED. It makes the screen look a bit more like paper. If you’re a color purist who works in a dim studio, stay with the standard glass. The standard glass is already incredibly anti-reflective anyway.
Practical Steps: Should you actually buy it?
If you’re coming from an M1 or M2 iPad Pro, the jump isn't as massive as the specs suggest, unless you crave that OLED screen. But if you’re on an older A-series iPad or a base model Air, the m4 ipad pro 11 will feel like jumping from a bicycle to a rocket ship.
- Check your storage needs first. If you want the 16GB RAM for future-proofing, you have to pay the "Pro tax" for the 1TB model.
- Test the keyboard in person. Don't buy the 11-inch Magic Keyboard sight unseen if you plan on writing a novel.
- Look for deals. Since the M5 models launched recently, the M4 prices have been slashed at retailers like Costco and Amazon. You can often find the M4 Pro for hundreds less than the latest flagship, and the performance gap is negligible for 99% of tasks.
- Consider the Air. If you don't care about ProMotion (the 120Hz smooth scrolling) or OLED, the M2 iPad Air does most of this for much less money.
The m4 ipad pro 11 is basically the peak of "tablet" design. It’s not a laptop, and it shouldn't try to be. It’s a super-powered, ultra-portable canvas that finally has a screen worthy of the "Pro" label. Just don't expect it to replace your MacBook if you're a heavy multitasker—iPadOS is still the limiting factor there, not the hardware.