Apple's M4 chip debut, iPad's large size is coming
On May 7, 2024, Apple unveiled a new generation of iPad series products at its annual "Let Loose" launch event, featuring the M4 chip and a large screen. This series of upgrades will undoubtedly inject new vitality into the iPad and enhance its competitiveness in the tablet market.
The new iPad Pro is the highlight of the event. It uses Apple's self-developed M4 chip, which has a 50% higher CPU performance than the previous generation M2 chip, and a 4x higher GPU performance. This leap in performance will give the iPad Pro excellent computing power in areas such as graphics rendering, video editing, and 3D modeling. The M4 chip also has a built-in neural network engine designed by Apple, which can support various AI applications, such as real-time speech recognition, computer vision, etc. This will undoubtedly bring more innovative features to the iPad Pro.
In addition to the powerful chip, the new iPad Pro also features an OLED display. Compared to previous LCD screens, OLEDs can provide higher contrast ratios, wider color gamuts, and better black point performance. This will lead to a better viewing experience for the display of image and video content. The bezels of the new iPad Pro have also been further narrowed, and the screen-to-body ratio has been higher, giving it a more stylish appearance.
To go along with the new hardware, Apple has also introduced an upgraded version of the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. Apple Pencil Pro adds features such as a squeeze gesture selection tool, haptic feedback, and gyroscope to give users a more natural and fluid handwriting experience. The new Magic Keyboard features a larger trackpad, aluminium palm rest, and a row of function keys to improve typing and productivity.
In addition to the iPad Pro, Apple also unveiled the new iPad Air, which adds a large 12.9-inch model to its lineup, which is equipped with the M2 chip alongside the existing 10.9-inch model. The larger iPad Air may feature a Mini LED screen that offers excellent contrast and HDR performance. Targeting the mid-range segment, this product may appeal to those who are looking for a big-screen experience but are on a budget.
While the hardware upgrades at this launch event are exciting, there are some shortcomings. Despite the M4 chip's powerful AI capabilities, Apple has not introduced major AI innovations at the software level. This is in stark contrast to other tech companies that are aggressively promoting AI. An iPad ad launched by Apple has sparked controversy. The advertisement shows the squashed image of creative tools, which is accused of alluding to the artist's creative process, which has caused dissatisfaction among many artists.