M4 iPad Pro Review: Wasted Potential

Summary

The video script reviews the new M4 iPad Pro, highlighting its impressive display technology and powerful M4 processor. Despite its sleek design and enhanced features like the Nano-texture glass and new Apple Pencil Pro, the device faces criticism for its high cost, software limitations, and inefficient multitasking capabilities. The script questions the iPad Pro's viability as a laptop replacement, suggesting it may be better suited as a supplementary device for specific tasks or a companion to a MacBook.

Takeaways

• 📱 The new M4 iPad Pro is thinner than the iPhone that started 'bendgate' and features a completely new display technology.
• 🔆 The iPad Pro's display uses a stacked OLED technology to achieve high peak brightness and full-screen brightness, but it doesn't provide a 'wow' factor over regular OLED on iPhones.
• 📝 The Nano-texture glass option on the iPad Pro provides a smooth writing experience and better handling of micro-specs compared to plastic screen protectors.
• 💻 The M4 processor in the iPad Pro is significantly faster than the M3, but the performance is not fully utilized due to a lack of optimized Pro apps.
• 🖌️ The new Apple Pencil Pro with its squeeze function is a significant upgrade for artists and students, making it easier to switch tools.
• 💰 The cost of the iPad Pro, especially with the Nano-texture option, is high, and the device requires stepping up to a 1TB model for this feature.
• 🖥️ The iPad Pro's attempt to function as a computer replacement is hindered by iPadOS limitations and a touch-first operating system that doesn't work well with a keyboard and cursor.
• 📚 For students, the iPad Pro can be a great tablet for note-taking and drawing, but it's not a full computer replacement, especially for power users.
• 🎨 The iPad Pro is particularly appealing to artists due to its powerful processor and the new capabilities of the Apple Pencil Pro.
• 🔋 The battery life of the M4 iPad Pro is not as impressive as the M3 MacBook Air, even with the new processor.
• 🛒 The M2 iPad Pro offers similar benefits to the M4 model at a lower price, making the upgrade to M4 less justifiable for most users.

Q & A

What is the main issue the author has with the new M4 iPad Pro despite its impressive hardware?

The author finds that despite the impressive hardware, they couldn't use the M4 iPad Pro extensively due to various problems they encountered, particularly with the software and overall user experience.

How does the new display technology on the M4 iPad Pro compare to the previous generation's mini LED display?

The new display technology on the M4 iPad Pro uses a tandem style OLED with two layers to achieve high brightness levels, similar to the mini LED display. However, it doesn't provide a noticeably better visual experience compared to regular OLED found on iPhones.

What is special about the Nano texture option on the M4 iPad Pro?

The Nano texture option on the M4 iPad Pro features a matte glass that feels smoother than regular glass and provides a better writing experience with more consistent pen feel. It also handles micro-specs better than plastic screen protectors.

How does the M4 processor's performance compare to the M3 in terms of speed?

The M4 processor is around 20% faster for both single and multi-core performance compared to the M3, making it a significant upgrade in terms of speed.

Why does the author believe the iPad Pro is not yet a viable replacement for a traditional computer?

The author believes the iPad Pro is not a viable replacement for a traditional computer due to the limitations of iPadOS, such as inefficient multitasking, lack of cursor support in some areas, and the absence of full desktop app features.

What is the author's opinion on the new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro?

The author finds the new Magic Keyboard to be nice, with a good aluminum deck and haptic trackpad, but also feels it is too expensive for what it offers.

What is the main drawback of the iPad Pro's aspect ratio when watching content?

The iPad Pro's 4x3 aspect ratio makes it more square than other devices, resulting in a smaller viewing area when watching 16x9 videos compared to a 13-inch MacBook Air.

How does the battery life of the M4 iPad Pro compare to the M3 MacBook Air?

The M4 iPad Pro's battery life is not as good as the M3 MacBook Air, with a noticeable difference in remaining battery percentage after 4 hours of video watching.

What is the author's suggestion for students who need a tablet for note-taking and occasional use?

The author suggests that a Windows 2-in-1 device might be a better solution for students who only need a tablet for a small portion of their tasks, offering a more versatile one-device solution.

What are the author's thoughts on the new Apple Pencil Pro and its compatibility with the M4 iPad Pro?

The author appreciates the new Apple Pencil Pro's squeeze function for switching tools but notes that it is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pro, requiring users with the second-generation Apple Pencil to upgrade.

Why does the author believe the M4 iPad Pro might not be worth the upgrade for some users?

The author believes the M4 iPad Pro might not be worth the upgrade for some users due to the marginal efficiency and battery life improvements, and the fact that many of its benefits can also be found in the M2 iPad Pro at a discounted price.