To say that Apple’s iPad is the best tablet is probably an understatement – it’s much more than that. It’s been the most popular tablet for years, making most Android tablets look amateurish when compared to it.
And recently the iPad has also become a portable computer that can easily outperform the Microsoft Surface Pro – a full-fledged Windows PC – thanks to the power of Apple’s M processor.
But Apple really knocked it out of the park with the latest iPad Pro for 2024. These are Apple’s first OLED tablets, and they feature the latest M4 processor and a fancy new Apple Pencil Pro to take productivity to the next level.
That sounds like a lot of praise, but as is often the case with Apple products, iPads are expensive and can skyrocket if you go the extra mile in terms of upgrades and accessories. So, if you’ve already decided to buy the latest model of the Apple iPad Pro, we’re telling you that this is the best option.
Is an OLED display necessary?
The new Ultra Retina Tandem OLED display is the most important reason you should buy the iPad Pro instead of the new Air. The Tandem in the name means that Apple has stacked two OLED panels on top of each other to achieve an impressive maximum brightness of 1,600 nits.
And, unlike the previous iPad Pro generation, where only the 12.9-inch Pro had a mini-LED display (which wasn’t that good to begin with), the 11-inch iPad Pro in 2024 will have the same OLED display as its larger counterpart.
OLED panels are leaps and bounds ahead of any LCD, and when you pick up the new iPad Pro you’ll immediately notice the huge difference.
Which display size – 11-inch or 13-inch?
We think the 11-inch iPad Pro is the better choice for most people. It’s easier to hold in the hand, which is important for a tablet – a challenge if you have to hold the iPad Pro 13 for more than thirty minutes.
And since the iPad is an amazing gaming device, and the 11-inch display is perfectly suited for corner control in most modern shooter or racing games.
Should I get nanotextured glass?
No – just get the standard glass version. It’s more legible and generally sharper. And we think the higher reflectivity is offset by better contrast and more vibrant colours.
Not to mention that the nanotextured glass is a €130 add-on that’s only available if you upgrade to the 1TB or 2TB storage option first – it’s not available on the 256GB or 512GB models.
Should I upgrade the storage? How about the M4 processor?
Just like the Mac, you can upgrade the M4 in the iPad Pro. It’s not quite as straightforward though, as it’s tied to the storage you choose. The base models 256GB and 512GB Pro get a 9-core CPU with 3 performance cores and 8GB of RAM, while the 1TB and 2TB Pro get a 10-core CPU with 1 more performance core and 16GB of RAM.
The best way to make this work is to get the base model with 256GB – it has the same 120GB/s memory bandwidth, the same 16-core Neural Engine, and the same 10-core GPU with ray tracing.
256GB is more than enough for most of the apps and games you use on your iPad. Not to mention that depending on network speeds these days, you can stream all your music and videos, while your personal photo and video library will be in the cloud anyway.
The way you use an iPad is generally different from an iPhone, so it makes sense to get the minimum amount of storage you can get. While getting a base iPhone will run out of storage space quickly, you won’t be able to capture as many photos and videos on an iPad.
Should you get the cellular model?
This is another largely unnecessary, but expensive upgrade. It’s just as easy to share your iPhone’s mobile network with your iPad as you do with your MacBook. And it’s almost certain that you’ll have your phone with you whenever you use your iPad, so you might as well save some money and get the Wi-Fi-only model.
Do you need an Apple Pencil? Should you get the Apple Pencil Pro?
The iPad is probably the best note-taking device in the world right now. Many students buy tablets for this specific reason. If you plan on taking notes or you are an artist and plan on drawing on your iPad – get the Apple Pencil 2. But then again you probably already knew you needed it before we told you.
If you’re short on money and really need the improved functionality, you can also get the new Pencil Pro. In all other cases, you’ll probably end up leaving the Pencil lying around somewhere, so you can do without it.
The Pencil Pro costs €149 on Apple’s website, which is the same as the second-generation Apple Pencil, but you can find it through some third-party retailers for around €100.
Do you need a keyboard?
Apple’s Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is amazing. It turns the tablet into a productivity machine, allowing it to stand on its own and featuring a full, backlit keyboard with 14 function keys and a glass trackpad with haptic feedback.
The price of 349 euros is steep, but the free-floating design is great, the keyboard is sturdy and made from quality materials, and it adds a new element of productivity to a device that is otherwise primarily a media consumption device.
If you plan on doing any kind of typing on the iPad, you should get the Magic Keyboard. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s the best keyboard for the iPad Pro and far superior to any third-party design. And if you’re buying the Apple Pencil, you’ll get a lot of use out of the keyboard.
Money not an issue? Buy the iPad Pro 13.
We think the iPad Pro 11 WiFi 256GB is the best value for money tablet for most users in 2024. However, if you are a creator and have the budget for it, you should definitely opt for the larger 13-inch model with more storage.
And if you pair the larger tablet with a keyboard, it now rivals the MacBook Air 13, with a faster M4 processor (as opposed to the Air’s M3) and a better display.
What about the iPad Air?
The 2024 iPad Air starts at €699 and does all the tablet work of the €1,199 iPad Pro 11. You can use the Apple Pencil with it, there’s a Magic Keyboard for it too, and while it doesn’t have an M4 processor, its M2 chip is fast enough for apps and games, and possibly even serious video editing.
The iPad Air’s Liquid Retina IPS LCD is also very sharp, bright, and perfectly fine on its own.
But the base model Air only has 128GB of storage, and the iPad Pro 11’s OLED panel is the best you can find on a tablet manufactured by Apple. We definitely think these upgrades are worth the price difference.
conclusion
We truly live in amazing times, with the iPad featuring an M4 processor that rivals the MacBook, the brightest OLED display on a tablet, and high-quality accessories that can transform it from a device for endlessly binge-watching Netflix into a serious productivity tool.
The 11-inch iPad Pro is the Goldilocks tablet in Apple’s lineup that’s capable of being fun as well as getting some real work done. We gave it a lot of praise in our full review, which you can read here or watch below, and we truly believe it’s the smartest choice in Apple’s current lineup.
