Apple unveiled the highly-anticipated new iPad Pro at its latest press conference, which is equipped with Apple's self-developed M4 chip, which has greatly improved AI performance and sparked heated discussions in the industry. Will this bring back to life the once-glamorous tablet?
1. The selling point of the new iPad Pro
1. The AI performance of M4 chips has skyrocketed
Apple uses its self-developed M4 chip in the new iPad Pro, which has an AI computing power of 38 trillion operations per second, more than double the previous M3 chip. With powerful AI performance, the new iPad Pro will have breakthrough performance in video editing, image recognition, and more. The M4 chip not only has more AI cores, but is also optimized at the CPU and GPU level to efficiently handle a variety of AI tasks. As a result, users will have an unprecedented and productive experience when using the new iPad Pro to create, work and more.
Available in 2.11" and 13" sizes
The new iPad Pro is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, which are suitable for different use cases. The 11-inch version is easy to hold in one hand and is very portable; The 13-inch version provides users with more room to operate, which will provide a better experience in office and multimedia entertainment. The screen resolution also differs between the two sizes, with 2420x1668 for 11 inches and up to 2752x2064 for 13 inches, guaranteeing a detailed and clear image.
3. OLED screen is adopted, and the display effect is outstanding
The biggest highlight of this generation of iPad Pro is the OLED screen for the first time. Apple uses its self-developed "Tandem OLED" dual-layer OLED screen technology on the new product, which superimposes the brightness of the two layers of OLED screens, thus achieving a peak brightness of 1600 nits and a contrast ratio of 1 million:1, with excellent display results. OLED screens not only have higher contrast and color saturation, but also consume less power, which is conducive to extending battery life.
4. The body is thinner and lighter, and the portability is improved
The body of the new iPad Pro has been significantly slimmed and weight-reduced. The 11-inch version weighs only 0.98 pounds (about 444 grams), and the 13-inch version also weighs only 1.28 pounds (about 579 grams, which is nearly 1/4 lighter than the previous generation). At the same time, the body thickness of the two versions is only 5.3mm and 5.1mm, respectively, making it the thinnest Apple product ever. With such a slim body design, the portability of the new iPad Pro has been greatly improved, and it can be used wherever you go, whether in the office or outdoors.
2. In-depth analysis of M4 chip capabilities
1.AI computing power has been greatly improved
The biggest highlight of the M4 chip is the leap in AI computing power. Its Neural Network Engine (NPU) is capable of 38 trillion operations per second, which is more powerful than the NPU of any current AI personal computer. This is due to Apple's innovation in chip design, which integrates more transistors and AI-specific cores into the M4.
2. Optimization of energy efficiency ratio
Despite the significant increase in AI computing power, the M4 chip's energy efficiency is equally good. According to Apple, the M4 chip consumes half the power while delivering performance comparable to the M2 chip; And compared to the latest laptop chips, the M4 only needs 1/4 of the power consumption to achieve the same level. It's all thanks to Apple's optimization of the chip manufacturing process and architecture.
3. Support a variety of AI applications
Powerful AI capabilities bring endless possibilities to the new iPad Pro. For example, in a video call, it can perform real-time and tracking of the user's face and voice; In terms of taking pictures, it can intelligently identify the content of the image; In office scenarios, it can also assist in text input and document editing. Apple said that in the future, it will deeply integrate AI at the software level to fully realize the potential of the M4 chip.
Third, the development prospects of tablet computers
1. The demand for mobile office is increasing
In recent years, the demand for mobile work has been increasing day by day. Whether it's at home, in a coffee shop, or in an airport lobby, people want to be productive, which is why tablets are in demand. The power and portability of the new iPad Pro make it the perfect choice for mobile work.
2. Upgrade the entertainment consumption scene
In addition to the office, tablets also have a broad future in the field of entertainment consumption. The new iPad Pro features the industry's top-of-the-line OLED display for an immersive viewing experience. And the strong chip performance also brings it excellent gaming performance. At home or on the go, the new iPad Pro is a great entertainment companion.
3. It is widely used in the field of education
Tablets have always been an important tool in the field of education. Compared to laptops, tablets are smaller and lighter, making them easy to carry; Compared to traditional paper textbooks, tablets can provide a more vivid and interactive learning experience. The new iPad Pro, with its outstanding hardware capabilities, will further promote the use of tablets in the field of education.
4.AI boost productivity
The development of AI technology has breathed new life into tablets. Relying on the powerful AI capabilities of the M4 chip, the new iPad Pro will have breakthrough performance in text recognition, image processing, voice assistance and other aspects, thereby greatly improving users' work efficiency. In the future, tablet computers will become an important carrier for artificial intelligence applications.
Fourth, challenges and opportunities coexist
1. Competition with mobile phones and laptops
Despite the promise of the tablet, it also faces stiff competition from mobile phones and laptops. The rise of large-screen mobile phones has met people's mobile office needs to a certain extent; Laptops, on the other hand, maintain an edge in terms of productivity. Tablets must further tap into their unique value to stay ahead of the competition.
2. Ecosystem construction
The construction of the ecosystem is the key to the development of tablet computers. Hardware is important, but software and services are also needed to get the most out of your tablet. For Apple, the optimization of iPadOS and the richness of ecological applications will directly determine the user experience of products such as iPad Pro.
3. Innovative application development
For tablets to be successful, the development of innovative applications is the way to go. With the powerful AI capabilities of the M4 chip, developers are expected to launch new applications in areas such as image processing and speech recognition, thereby opening up more use scenarios for tablets.
4. Price positioning
Price is also an important factor influencing the development of tablets. The starting price of the new iPad Pro is $999, which is an increase from the previous one, which may increase the barrier to entry for users. Manufacturers need to find a balance between performance, experience, and price to attract more users to the tablet camp.
The new iPad Pro has breathed new life into tablets with the powerful AI capabilities of the M4 chip. Whether tablet PCs can play a unique role in multiple scenarios and lead the trend again is worth paying attention to in the industry.