Apple iPad Pro with M4: 50% Faster CPU, 300% Better GPU

On May 7th, Beijing time, Apple introduced its latest iPad Air and iPad Pro models, boasting major advancements in both hardware and software. The iPad Air now features an upgraded M2 chip and is available in 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes. The iPad Pro takes a leap forward with an OLED display and skips from the M2 processor to the new M4 processor, offering improved AI capabilities.

The new iPad Air includes a 13-inch version in addition to the existing 11-inch model, powered by the M2 chip that increases speed by up to 50%, according to Apple.

The iPad Pro 11-inch model has a thickness of 5.3mm, while the 13-inch model is just 5.1mm thick. Both models have aluminum bodies and are available in silver and space gray colors. The front-facing 1200W camera has been repositioned to the center of the horizontal orientation, making it more convenient for use with the Magic Keyboard.

In terms of hardware enhancements, the iPad Pro models benefit from significant updates. The switch to the M4 chip, based on TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, includes 28 billion transistors, 4 performance cores, and 6 efficiency cores. The chip supports hardware-based ray tracing, AV1 decoding, and AI acceleration.

Apple reports that the M4 processor boosts CPU performance by 50%, memory bandwidth by 20%, and GPU rendering performance by up to 300% compared to the M2-powered iPad Pro. The M4 chip also features a 16-core neural engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second, representing a 140% increase from the M2's 15.8 trillion operations per second.

The new iPad Pro's AI capabilities enable real-time audio-to-subtitle generation, advanced image recognition in videos and photos, and automatic sheet music creation in apps like StaffPad during live piano performances.

Another key hardware update in the new iPad Pro is the transition from mini LED technology to OLED screens. The OLED display employs a tandem stack structure that doubles brightness (1000 nits global brightness and 1600 nits peak brightness) and quadruples the lifespan of traditional OLED panels. This dual-layer OLED display also reduces power consumption by around 30%, allowing for smaller batteries and a slimmer body.

According to industry reports, Samsung, LG, and BOE are the only companies with tandem stack OLED production technology. BOE's screens are already featured in Honor Magic6 series products.

The new iPad Pro also includes a 12MP rear camera that supports ProRes video recording and Smart HDR 4, as well as four studio-quality microphones and a LiDAR scanner. Additional features include a new adaptive true-tone flash, AI functionalities, and a high-performance USB-C port.