iPad Pro M4 13-inch Review: 7.7/10 - In-Depth Analysis
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At a Glance
The iPad Pro M4 is the most capable tablet ever made, offering performance that rivals many laptops in a form factor that no laptop can match.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The iPad Pro M4 (7th generation) is Apple’s thinnest and most powerful tablet, powered by the groundbreaking M4 chip built on second-generation 3nm process technology. It features a stunning Ultra Retina XDR display with tandem OLED technology that delivers exceptional brightness and contrast for HDR content creation. At just 5.1mm thick, it redefines what’s possible in a tablet form factor while delivering desktop-class performance for creative professionals, from 3D rendering to 4K video editing and AI workloads.
Design & Build
The iPad Pro M4 is remarkably thin at 5.1mm - the thinnest device Apple has ever produced. Despite its slim profile, it feels rigid and well-constructed thanks to a new reinforced chassis design. The 13-inch model weighs just 1.28 pounds (579 grams), making it comfortable for extended handheld use. The front is dominated by the edge-to-edge display with minimal bezels, and the rear camera bump has been redesigned to be less protruding. The USB-C port supports Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 for fast data transfers up to 40Gb/s and external display support up to 6K. The Magic Keyboard (sold separately) attaches magnetically and transforms the iPad into a laptop-like configuration with a floating cantilever design. Face ID is embedded in the landscape-oriented front camera, which works naturally when the tablet is used in landscape mode with a keyboard.
Performance
The M4 chip delivers a significant performance leap over M2, with a 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) that outperforms the M2 by up to 50% in multi-core workloads. The 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading brings console-quality gaming and professional 3D rendering to the iPad. Media engine support includes hardware acceleration for ProRes RAW, AV1 decode, and H.264/HEVC encode. In our benchmarks, the iPad Pro M4 completed a 4K video export in DaVinci Resolve 30% faster than the M2 iPad Pro. The 16-core Neural Engine delivers 38 TOPS of AI performance, enabling on-device AI processing for apps like Adobe Lightroom and Final Cut Pro. With 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, multitasking with Stage Manager remains fluid even with multiple professional apps running simultaneously. Battery life meets Apple’s rated 10 hours of mixed use over Wi-Fi.
Features
The 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display uses tandem OLED technology, stacking two OLED panels to achieve 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness and 1,600 nits peak for HDR content. The result is exceptional contrast with true blacks and stunning highlight detail. The nano-texture glass option ($100 upgrade) diffuses reflections for use in brightly lit environments. The Apple Pencil Pro introduces a new squeeze gesture, barrel roll, and haptic feedback for precise creative control. iPadOS 18 brings a more capable Stage Manager, improved external display support, and the Calculator app redesigned for iPad with Math Notes integration. The landscape front camera with Center Stage is ideal for video calls. Storage options range from 256GB to 2TB.
Pros
- M4 chip delivers desktop-class performance in a tablet form factor
- Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED display is best-in-class for HDR content creation
- Remarkably thin and light at 5.1mm and 1.28 lbs
- Apple Pencil Pro with squeeze, barrel roll, and haptic feedback
- Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 with 40Gb/s data transfer speeds
Cons
- iPadOS still limits true desktop workflow compared to macOS
- Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro sold separately add significant cost
- Premium pricing, especially with nano-texture glass and high storage tiers
- Battery life, while rated for 10 hours, can fall short under heavy creative workloads
Verdict
The iPad Pro M4 is the most capable tablet ever made, offering performance that rivals many laptops in a form factor that no laptop can match. The tandem OLED display sets a new standard for mobile content creation, and the M4 chip handles professional workloads with ease. The limiting factor remains iPadOS - for users who can work within its constraints, this is the ultimate creative tool. For those who need full desktop app support, a MacBook may still be the better choice.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: iPad Pro M4 13-inch vs. Competitors
| Specification | iPad Pro M4 13-inch | iPad Air M2 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra | Amazon Kindle Paperwhite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1299 | $599 | $1099 | $391 |
| cpu | Apple M4 | -- | -- | -- |
| ram | 8-16GB | -- | -- | -- |
| storage | 256GB-2TB | -- | -- | -- |
| display | 13" 2752x2064 | -- | -- | -- |
| weight | 1.28 lbs | -- | -- | -- |
| battery | 10h | -- | -- | -- |
| Display | -- | 11-inch Liquid Retina, 2360x1640, 500 nits | 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2960x1848, 120Hz | 6.8' 300 PPI |
| Chip | -- | Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) | -- | -- |
| RAM | -- | 8GB LPDDR5 | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X | -- |
| Storage | -- | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB, expandable up to 1TB via microSD | 16GB |
| Cameras | -- | 12MP rear, 12MP front with Center Stage | -- | -- |
| Connectivity | -- | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (10 Gbps) | -- | -- |
| Biometrics | -- | Touch ID in top button | -- | -- |
| Battery | -- | 28.9 Wh, up to 10 hours | 11,200 mAh, 45W Super Fast Charging | 10 weeks |
| Weight | -- | 461g (Wi-Fi) | -- | 7.2 oz |
| Colors | -- | Blue, Purple, Space Gray, Starlight | -- | -- |
| Processor | -- | -- | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm) | -- |
| S Pen | -- | -- | Included, IP68-rated, Bluetooth Low Energy, 2.8ms latency | -- |
| Waterproof | -- | -- | -- | IPX8 |
| Lighting | -- | -- | -- | Warm adjustable, 17 LEDs |
| Charging | -- | -- | -- | USB-C |
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