Overview
The Apple iPad Pro M4 is Apple's 2024 premium tablet, offered in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Both versions use a tandem OLED display, bringing deep blacks, strong HDR highlights, and adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Unlike the preceding generation, choosing the smaller model does not mean giving up the flagship display technology. The M4 chip provides ample performance for demanding creative apps, games, and multitasking, although the benefits depend heavily on the software you actually use.
Reviewers at The Verge and Engadget broadly praised the screen, thin design, and responsiveness while questioning how much that hardware changes everyday tablet work. The landscape-oriented front camera is a practical improvement for video calls with a keyboard attached. Four speakers, Face ID, and a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port round out a capable package. However, a keyboard and stylus are separate purchases, and the complete setup can cost as much as a well-equipped laptop.
Who it's for
This model makes the most sense for illustrators, photographers, video editors, and people who want a particularly good portable display. Apple Pencil Pro support adds useful drawing interactions, including squeeze controls and barrel roll in compatible apps. The 11-inch version is easier to hold and carry, while the 13-inch version provides more room for drawing, timelines, documents, and side-by-side apps. Neither size is automatically better: consider how often you will use it handheld rather than on a desk.
It is also an appealing premium entertainment tablet, but that alone is a difficult value argument. For browsing, streaming, handwritten notes, and schoolwork, an iPad Air can deliver much of the same practical utility for less. Buyers hoping to replace a laptop should check their exact applications and workflows first. Community discussions frequently separate enthusiasm for the hardware from frustration with software limitations, especially around desktop app compatibility and more complex file or peripheral workflows.
Things to know before buying
Compare listings by screen size, storage, and Wi-Fi versus cellular connectivity, not just the iPad Pro name. The M4 generation starts at 256GB, and higher-capacity versions also change memory and CPU configuration. Nano-texture glass is an optional extra limited to the 1TB and 2TB configurations; it is not the standard screen finish. Prices for remaining new stock can vary considerably, so verify that a bargain is not refurbished, open-box, or a different processor generation.
Accessory compatibility deserves special attention. This iPad supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C, but not the second-generation Apple Pencil. It also requires a compatible Magic Keyboard rather than the older iPad Pro keyboard design. There is no microSD slot, and cellular models use eSIM. Budget for accessories and any cellular service, and check the seller's return policy and warranty coverage before buying discounted stock.