Apple iPad Pro 2024 Review: How It Redefined the Tablet Experience
When Apple unveiled the iPad Pro 2024, it didn’t just release a new tablet — it reset the bar for what a tablet could be. Powered by the groundbreaking M4 chip and featuring Apple’s thinnest device ever made, the iPad Pro 2024 made a statement that combined raw power with elegant portability. Here’s a full retrospective on what made it so significant and whether it lived up to the hype.
Design and Display: Elegance and Immersion
The iPad Pro 2024 was a masterclass in hardware design. Apple made it the thinnest Apple product ever built at just 5.1mm — thinner than an iPod nano. Despite its impossibly slim profile, it maintained structural rigidity and premium build quality throughout.
The display was equally impressive. For the first time in iPad history, Apple switched to an Ultra Retina XDR OLED display (tandem OLED), delivering true blacks, peak brightness of 1,600 nits for HDR content, and a ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling and Apple Pencil responsiveness. It was, by most accounts, the best display ever put in a tablet.
Power Under the Hood: The M4 Chip
The iPad Pro 2024 was the first Apple device to ship with the M4 chip — beating even the Mac to the punch. The M4 delivered a generational leap in both CPU and GPU performance, with Apple claiming up to 50% faster performance than the M2-powered predecessor.
The M4 also introduced a next-generation Neural Engine capable of 38 TOPS (trillion operations per second), positioning the iPad Pro as a powerhouse for on-device AI tasks — a direction that aligns with the broader future of artificial intelligence in consumer devices. Whether editing ProRes video, running complex 3D renders, or multitasking across demanding apps, the M4 handled everything without breaking a sweat.
Connectivity for the Always-On Lifestyle
Apple equipped the iPad Pro 2024 with a full suite of modern connectivity options. The Thunderbolt / USB 4 port supported external displays up to 6K, high-speed storage transfers, and professional audio equipment. Wi-Fi 6E and optional 5G cellular connectivity ensured fast, reliable connections wherever users worked.
The addition of the Apple Pencil Pro — launched alongside the iPad Pro 2024 — brought new capabilities including squeeze gestures, barrel roll support, and haptic feedback, making it the most capable stylus Apple had ever shipped. Combined with the Magic Keyboard with a built-in trackpad and function row, the iPad Pro 2024 genuinely blurred the line between tablet and laptop — echoing the broader trend of technology transforming how we work and create.
Cameras and Audio: Capture and Create
The iPad Pro 2024 featured a 12MP Wide rear camera with LiDAR scanner, capable of capturing stunning photos and ProRes video. Apple also moved the front-facing camera to the landscape edge for the first time — a long-requested change that made video calls far more natural during horizontal use.
Audio was handled by a four-speaker system tuned for spatial audio, delivering impressive stereo separation whether consuming content in portrait or landscape orientation. For creators, the combination of cameras, display, and audio made the iPad Pro 2024 a truly self-contained production studio.
iPad Pro 2024 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Why the Apple iPad Pro 2024 Stands Out in the Tablet Market
In the battle of premium tablets, the iPad Pro 2024 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra remained the two flagship options. The iPad Pro pulled ahead decisively in raw chip performance, display quality, and the depth of its creative app ecosystem. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra offered a larger 14.6-inch display, a more open Android experience, and a competitive S Pen stylus at a somewhat lower price point. For professionals and creatives deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Pro 2024 was the clear winner — for Android users, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra remained a compelling alternative.
Should You Still Consider the iPad Pro 2024?
Even now, the iPad Pro 2024 remains one of the most powerful tablets ever made. The M4 chip still handles virtually every task thrown at it, and the OLED display has yet to be matched by any competing tablet. If you can find it at a reduced price as newer models arrive, it represents exceptional value for power users, creative professionals, and students who want a premium tablet experience. For a broader look at how AI chips like M4 are reshaping our devices, check out our piece on AI trends that defined 2024.
Conclusion
The Apple iPad Pro 2024 delivered on nearly every front — the thinnest design, the fastest chip, the best tablet display ever made, and accessories that pushed creative workflows to new heights. It set a new benchmark for what a tablet could achieve and cemented Apple’s dominance in the premium tablet segment. Whether you’re a professional, artist, or tech enthusiast, the iPad Pro 2024 was a landmark device worth knowing about.