APPLE HAS CONSISTENTLY released new iPad Pro hardware since its original launch way back in 2015, apart from a brief hiatus in 2019, but after the 6th generation iPad Pro came out in 2022, Apple put the brakes on. That’s not a complete surprise: with an M2 chip it was already powerful enough, possibly too powerful for some, so releasing an almost identical version with a slightly faster M3 chip probably wouldn’t have done much good for sales. People tend to hold on to their iPads for a long time, and unlike a MacBook, which is arguably a more essential device, Apple needed to do more to win over customers.
So the new 7th generation iPad Pro, announced earlier this month in Apple’s “Let Loose” event, does just that. It features an all–new ultra–thin design, which Apple says makes it the thinnest device ever. I was actually somewhat disappointed that Apple didn’t produce the new device from an even thinner envelope than Jobs did when he revealed the original MacBook Air to the world. It also boasts an array of upgrades such as the Tandem OLED display, the world–first next–gen M4 processor, and new Apple Pencil Pro. When added up it actually feels like the iPad Pro has moved on significantly —at least, enough to persuade prospective buyers who already own an iPad Pro, or who’ve considered purchasing one, to part with their coin.
Although the iPad Pro will always hog the limelight, down to it showcasing all the latest tablet technology, the iPad Air, which Apple also announced at this month’s event, will probably be the device that you’re more likely to purchase. The latest model, which now also comes in a much more usable 13–inch screen size, now features the M2 chip, and comes with a pretty user– friendly price tag to boot. If you’re thinking of looking for a cut–price, previous generation 12.9–inch iPad Pro M2, which is superior to the new 13–inch iPad Air in several respects, don’t forget that this outdated model doesn’t support the Apple Pencil Pro. You can find out more about the new models on p4, and we’ll have in–depth reviews of them both next issue.