I bought the new M4 iPad Pro with its stunning OLED display, slimmer design, updated Magic Keyboard, and Apple Pencil Pro, but the question I’ve kept returning to when thinking about it is: Why would anyone spend this much for an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard when you could get an iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard, or even a MacBook Air for much less? After spending 6 months with this thing, I think I know the answer to whether or not Apple’s most powerful tablet is worth its premium price tag.
What Stands Out About the M4 iPad Pro?
The OLED display is the first thing that grabs your attention. Coming from the Mini LED display, the difference was obvious immediately. No blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds, stunning contrast, and a crazy amount of brightness—1,600 nits for HDR content and 1,000 nits for SDR. Everything just looks incredible on this screen. For watching content or viewing photos, it’s hands down the best display I’ve ever used on a portable device.
The next big win is weight reduction. The 13-inch iPad Pro, combined with the Magic Keyboard, weighs about the same as my M3 MacBook Air. The new Magic Keyboard is 34g lighter, and the iPad itself is 103g lighter than the last version. Carrying it around feels much easier now.
Speaking of the Magic Keyboard, it’s seen some nice upgrades too. There’s finally a function row, the keys feel good (even though they have slightly less travel), and the larger trackpad now has haptic feedback. The aluminum construction is premium, but beware—it loves collecting fingerprints and dust. If you’re choosing between the black and white versions, go with black. The white one is way more prone to stains.
How I’ve Been Using It
For travel, the iPad Pro has been amazing. On flights, I always grab it over my MacBook Air because the display is just unbeatable for watching movies. While I think the MacBook’s keyboard and trackpad are slightly better, the Magic Keyboard is solid enough for writing.
In my studio setup, it’s been a handy teleprompter and a great tool for jotting down musical ideas in GarageBand. The new camera placement finally works well in landscape orientation, which is a relief. And Face ID? Super convenient for quickly unlocking the iPad.
I’ve also used it for scanning and signing documents, though I didn’t notice much improvement with the updated flash—it was already good on the last iPad Pro.
What I’m Not Using
The Apple Pencil Pro? Meh. I’m not an artist, so I can’t really speak to its drawing features. As someone who takes digital notes, I still prefer writing on e-ink screens like the Kindle Scribe. It just feels more natural and less distracting, especially without notifications popping up. You can get screen protectors for the iPad to mimic that feel, but I don’t want to sacrifice the display quality for other uses.
As for Apple Intelligence, besides the flashy new Siri animation and smart replies in Messages, I haven’t found much else to use. Apple promises more features in future iPadOS updates, but right now, it hasn’t really changed how I use the iPad.
What Doesn’t Work
Let’s talk about the downsides because, oh boy, there are some.
- Compatibility Issues:
The new camera placement meant Apple had to move the Pencil charging magnets, so this iPad doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil Gen 2. It also doesn’t work with older Magic Keyboards because the size is slightly different. - The Price Is a Gut Punch:
Let’s break it down:- iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard (8GB RAM, 256GB storage): $1,648.
- Add the Apple Pencil Pro, and it jumps to $1,777.
- Battery Life Isn’t Great:
Apple says 10 hours of web browsing or video playback, but in real use, it’s noticeably worse than the MacBook Air, especially in standby mode. - iPadOS Is Still Limiting:
This is the big one. You can’t download apps from the web, and multitasking is still frustrating compared to macOS. Want browser extensions or apps like Xcode? Forget it. No multi-user support either, which feels like Apple’s way of forcing you to buy another iPad for your family.
Who Should Buy the M4 iPad Pro?
Honestly? Most people should skip it. If you don’t need the touchscreen or that stunning OLED display, a MacBook Air is a much better deal. For note-taking, you could grab a Kindle Scribe along with an M3 MacBook Air and still spend less than this setup.
The iPad Pro is really for people with specific needs—maybe you run iPadOS-exclusive apps, love the touchscreen, or just want the best display out there.
Final Thoughts
The M4 iPad Pro is a weird device for me. I use it every day, but I can’t shake the feeling that it could be so much more. Apple’s restrictive App Store policies hold it back, and iPadOS just doesn’t take full advantage of the incredible hardware.
If you’re still curious, check out the product links in this post for current prices. And if you already own an iPad Pro, let me know what you’re using it for. Would you buy it again? Share your thoughts!