After a long wait, Apple finally unveiled its latest iPads, introducing two new Pros and two new Airs, alongside a redesigned Pencil and Magic Keyboards.
Apple just launched new iPads at their virtual event titled “Let Loose”. This marks the first release since 2022. The lineup includes two iPad Airs and two iPad Pros, coming in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Notable improvements include relocating the FaceTime cameras to the long edge, a change many users have been waiting for.
With their new Ultra Retina XDR OLED displays, the iPad Pros now reach up to 1,600 nits brightness in HDR and 1,000 nits in SDR, mirroring the capabilities of the desktop Pro XDR Display. Notably, the introduction of the M4 chip on the iPad Pro has attracted attention, with a starting price of $999.
The price of the older 10th-gen iPad has been slashed to $349. You can preorder the new iPads right now, and they’ll be shipped out next week.
The all-new Apple Pencil Pro, priced at $129 (£129, AU$219), boasts an upgraded sensor. It now includes haptic feedback and responds to both squeezing and twisting actions. With the twist feature, known as Barrel Roll, users can reshape brush tools.
Squeezing the Pencil brings up context menus, and it also supports Find My. While the new Airs and Pros are compatible with this Pencil, unfortunately, it doesn’t function with older Pros, as indicated on Apple’s site. Grr.
These new iPads mark the first upgrade since the 2022 iPad Pro M2 model. With the FaceTime camera now positioned on the long edge, gone are the awkward sideways looks during calls, replaced by a more natural Face ID setup. Until now, only the 10th-gen iPad had this layout.
The updated Pros are now slimmer. They come in both 11 and 13-inch sizes with OLED displays. These screens shine super bright, up to 1,600 nits, by combining two OLED panels, called Tandem OLED.
Apple dubs this setup Ultra Retina XDR. Additionally, there’s an option for Nano Texture to reduce glare. Prices start at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,399 for the 13.
The Pro model now features the M4 chip, skipping the M3. It’s faster and includes new display tech for OLED screens. While it shares M3’s technology, it’s enhanced with more cores for better performance and a new display controller. Plus, improved cooling. The colors remain silver and space black.
The new rear camera is a standout feature. It boasts 12 megapixels and f1.8 Smart HDR, along with lidar for enhanced capabilities. Document photography benefits from a superior TrueTone flash, effectively eliminating shadows.
Storage capacity in the Pro model extends up to 2TB, and users can opt for a 5G-enabled version for enhanced connectivity.
The new iPad Air models resemble the previous iPad Pros in many ways. They are available in 11-inch and new 13-inch sizes. However, they lack the advanced screen technology found in the Pros. The 11-inch version features landscape speakers with spatial audio, while the 13-inch offers enhanced bass.
Both models are equipped with the M2 chip. Additionally, they introduce new color options in blue and purple. Moreover, customers can opt for higher storage capacities, with prices starting at $599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the 13-inch.
The fresh Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro maintains its sleek floating design but now boasts added function keys and a larger trackpad with haptic feedback. Priced at $349 (£349, AU$579), it’s an enhanced companion for your iPad Pro.
At 3:01 p.m. PT, an update: The previous version of this article had a mistake about the chip in one of the new iPad Air models. It’s clarified now: Both new Airs feature M2 chips.
