Buying or upgrading to the 2024 Apple iPad Pro or iPad Air totally depends on you as a digital user.
Apple just rolled out the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air with major hardware upgrades, which also means a price hike. So, is it worth buying any of these? What will you get if you upgrade from the last model?
Apple iPad Air Key Upgrades
The latest Apple iPad Air 11” and 13” aren’t just simple tablets. These are powered by the Apple M2 chipset, suggesting MacBook performance.
You can throw anything on either device and nothing will stop them. Be it games, photo and video editing, and other demanding tasks, the iPad Air 2024 models will deal with incredible ease.
They are also bigger compared to their predecessors and come with 10-core graphics for smooth graphics rendering. Besides having bigger screens, both iPad Air models have larger internal storage than previous models.
A few more improvements are apparent, including stereo speakers with spatial audio and support for the keyboard of previous models.
Apple iPad Pro Key Upgrades
Let’s move to the alpha of the 2024 iPad lineup. The Apple iPad Pro 11” and 13” aren’t just delivering MacBook performance. These two can dish out next-generation and almost future-proof capabilities.
The Apple M4 chipset is powering the two iPad Pro 2024 models and it can easily handle every game, editing, image retouching, and whatever else you think possible on the platform. It will be a rare sight to slow these two down.
Additionally, the latest iPad Pro sports an OLED screen – the first ever. You can now enjoy true black and better contrast on an Apple iPad!
Apple iPad Air 2024 vs. Previous Generation
Considering the price, the upgrades are not super when compared to the previous generation; unless you don’t mind the cost.
The Apple iPad Air 2024 has the same screen variants as the iPad Pro 2024. It means the same large viewing experience as the premium lineup. Though, the display panel is different.
From M1 to M2 chipset, you’re upgrading from 2020 to 2024 and that represents around 50% faster performance. The M2 is what powers the 13.6” M2 MacBook Air and 15” M2 MacBook Air.
Finally, the new position of the front-facing camera. The previous generation had it at the top bezel, which forces you to place or hold the device in an upright position.
The iPad Air 2024 has its webcam at the right size, giving you a flexible choice between portrait or landscape orientation.
Apple iPad Pro 2024 vs. Previous Generation
The M2 chipset is already top-notch but Apple took things to the next level with the M4, which is about four times faster than the former. On top of that, the M4 sports a fresh neutral processing unit for AI-related features and tools.
Besides giving true black and better contrast, the new OLED display panel also made the iPad Pro 2024 slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The 2024 model is only 5.1 millimeters, compared to the 6.4 mm of the previous model. It’s even lighter at only 582 grams for the 5G variant versus the 685 g of the previous 5G model.
Similar to the iPad Air 2024, the iPad Pro 2024 has its selfie camera at the right bezel for portrait and landscape video calls. Say goodbye to that awkward upright position when video conferencing.
Final Thoughts
Should you upgrade or not? The answer depends on what type of digital user you are. If you’re into drawing and designing, the performance upgrades and accessories of the iPad Air and iPad Pro 2024 models are worth it.
But if you’re thinking of replacing your existing laptop, you may want to rethink. The upgrade is very costly for those who are just using their computers for typing and document processing.
The upgrade, however, is fair for a combined usage of document processing, photo and video editing, video calls, gaming, and entertainment.
Open-world games are more enjoyable on very large screens and typically demand a mouse and keyboard combination, though. Even the Magic Mouse may not fit because its design isn’t ergonomic enough for hours of hardcore gaming.
Videographers will also find difficulty using the new iPads than operating professional cameras. Plus, the ultrawide lens has been removed from this year’s lineup.
But heck, if you’ve the money, go buy the latest iPad and enjoy those improvements!
