The M4 is built on a 3-nanometer process that offers a boost in processing speed and significantly enhances AI capabilities — all without sacrificing battery life. It also includes a new display engine that powers the iPad Pro’s new Ultra Retina XDR display.
The upgraded GPU also adds new capabilities like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which should be great news for game developers wanting to bring more realistic graphics to the iPad Pro. However, with Apple claiming this chip contains “the most powerful Neural Engine chip the company has ever built,” we of course have to highlight how the AI will be the area where the M4 will really shine. This could be a game-changer for creatives wanting to tackle tasks like isolating objects in videos, transcribing music, or running other AI-powered features.
Source: Apple
Apple also highlights the M4’s incredible power efficiency, as it is said to deliver better performance while using just half of the power of its predecessor. The M4 also includes a powerful media engine that provides more efficient video streaming with support for popular formats, including the high-quality AV1 codec. And let’s not forget that all this extra power is packed into the new slimmer and lighter design.
All of this means the new iPad Pro will be a powerful device for creative professionals and those who use their tablets for demanding tasks. However, all of these advancements come with a slightly increased cost. The 11-inch model starts at $999, while the 13-inch version starts at $1,299. While more expensive, the price increase is relatively modest considering the extent of the upgrades. We’ll need to go hands-on with the new iPad Pro to determine if the higher price tag is justified.