During Apple’s “Let Loose” event this Tuesday (05/07/24), the company unveiled significant updates to its tablet lineup and accessories. The focal points of the presentation included the introduction of the latest iPad Pro, featuring OLED displays for enhanced contrast and color accuracy. These displays also boast a variable refresh rate capability ranging from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, offering smooth performance across various tasks.
The iPad Pro’s OLED screen achieves a peak brightness of 1,600 nits in HDR content, labeled by Apple as “Ultra Retina XDR.” Additionally, improvements to the tablet’s rear camera include an adaptive flash for better document scanning and a landscape-oriented front camera placement.
Apple’s new tablets are powered by the M4 processor, showcasing a 9-core CPU in certain storage configurations and a 10-core CPU in higher-capacity models. The M4 chip also incorporates a new display controller to optimize performance on the OLED screen and a next-generation Neural Engine for advanced AI processing.
Connectivity options for the updated tablets include USB-C ports with Thunderbolt/USB4 compatibility and support for Wi-Fi 6E. Security features are provided by Face ID, while audio is delivered through four studio-quality speakers.
In conjunction with the new iPad Pro, Apple introduced the Apple Pencil Pro, a stylus pen with enhanced pressure sensitivity and haptic feedback capabilities. The pen is designed to complement the tablet’s functionality for content creators and supports Apple’s “Find” network for easy tracking.
Additionally, Apple unveiled the latest iteration of the Magic Keyboard, featuring a slimmer design, expanded trackpad, and haptic feedback support. The keyboard connects magnetically to the iPad via the Smart Connector, eliminating the need for Bluetooth pairing.
Rounding out the accessory lineup is the new Smart Folio, offering protection and stand functionality for the iPad. The accessories are available in various color options.
The new iPad Pro models (Space Gray and Silver colors) are now available for purchase, with prices starting at $999 for the 11-inch version (256 GB) and $1299 for the 13-inch variant (256 GB). Orders will start to be delivered on May 15th. The Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard are sold separately, priced at $129 and $299, respectively.