THE FAB FOUR
APPLE had a bit of a surprise in store for the tech world when it revealed its 2024 iPad line-up this week – the pro version of the tablet will be powered by the all new M4 processor.
This comes just over six months after the company launched its M3 chips at an event called Scary Fast last October... like the chips themselves, they are not hanging around.
The bombshell silicon drop wasn’t the only news coming out of the special event held at the company’s UK HQ at London’s Battersea Power Station – I was there and these are the main headlines...
iPad Pro
As well as the new chip to power the new tablet, Apple has also made a couple of tweaks to its design, while keeping the two size options of 11in and 13in screens – both are much thinner for a start. Apple says they are the thinnest devices it has ever made.
After the event in Apple’s handson area, I picked one up and was pleasantly surprised by just how much heft they have shaved off it.
The tablets’ front-facing camera has also been moved to the horizontal edge rather than on the top... all the better for more natural eye contact in video calling.
Two other changes are the dropping of the ultra-wide camera on the back of the device, and a souped-up screen capable of more brightness and pop and also available with a new nano-texture coating which will reduce glare.
iPad Air
The Air is the mid-range iPad... not
quite as powerful as the Pro and lacking Face ID (you unlock it with your fingerprint on the sleep/wake button on the top of the device) as well as a few other bells and whistles. It’s still screaming fast, though, after being updated with the Apple M2 chip.
The headline news for the Air this year, though, is that it is being offered in a larger size for the first time – just like the Pro, you’ll be able to get your hands on the usual 11in Air, and a new 13in model too.
Accessories
Apple also used the event to launch its next-generation Pencil, which it is also calling the Pro.
It’s gained a few new sensors inside its sleek white body, which allows for new capabilities – for example, you can squeeze it to bring up an on-screen pen selection graphic, and twist it in your hand to rotate the on-screen brush – that makes for a much more natural feel when drawing or painting.
There’s a re-designed Magic Keyboard for the M4 Pro, too, with a lighter design and a bigger trackpad. The Air retains its compatibility with the original Magic Keyboard, but will work with the new Pencil Pro.
Pro apps
Apple also showed off some fantastic upgrades to its Pro video and music apps for iPad, Final Cut and Logic.
Both gain some AI superpowers – on-the-fly multicam support (there’s a new camera app for iPhone and iPad to support this) for Final Cut, and a “session musician” feature for Logic which allows you to direct a virtual bassist or keyboard player to play along to your tracks. Clever. And certainly not the last mention of AI we’ll hear from Apple this year.
■ The 2024 iPad Pro starts at £999 for the 11in model, and £1,299 for the 13in version. ■ The iPad Air Starts at £599. ■ All the new iPads can be ordered now and will hit the shops on Wednesday (May 15).
■ The Apple Pencil Pro costs £129 with the new Magic Keyboard starting at £299.
■ Logic Pro for iPad 2 will be available from Monday (May 13), with the new Final Cut for iPad coming later in the spring.