Apple recently held a short event approximately 38:30 Minutes long to showcase its newest iPad lineup. While there are some impressive upgrades — an incredibly thin iPad Pro with the powerhouse M4 chip and a gorgeous OLED display, the question remains: can these powerful machines finally replace the traditional laptop, or are they just more spec bumps on an iPadOS-constrained device?
Well, here is the thing. The new iPad Air follows the predictable path of inheriting features from the previous iPad Pro — Familiar Specs in a New Body.
It boasts the M2 chip, a larger starting storage capacity, and a relocated front camera to the landscape bezel. Size options include 11-inch and a new, slightly larger 13-inch model. The slightly larger 13-inch model caters to users who crave more screen real estate.
While these are welcome improvements, the overall design remains quite similar to the previous generation Air.
Ultra Thin and Supercharged iPad Pro
The main highlight of the show is none other than the new iPad Pro. It takes the crown for the thinnest Apple device ever made, even surpassing iPhones and old iPods.
This is made possible by the all-new M4 chip, which Apple claims delivers significantly faster performance and improved efficiency compared to the M2.
All other things and a stunning OLED display elevate the visuals on this device to a whole new level. However, the new design factor is a concern here. The pursuit of a thinner iPad might compromise battery life and durability.
JerryRigEverything is a well-known YouTuber for his intense durability tests. Pushing each device he can lay his hands to its breaking point. iPad Pro 5 years and 3 years ago wasn’t at his mercy.
Mostly all the iPads he has ever tested failed his durability tests. The 2024 iPad Pro is the thinnest iPad yet, which is a red flag!
TheAwkward Waiting Game: Powerful Hardware Meets Limited Software
Despite the impressive hardware upgrades, the iPad Pro’s biggest hurdle might still be iPadOS. These powerful machines are underutilized due to software limitations.
With WWDC (Apple’s developer conference) just around the corner, there’s hope that iPadOS 18 might bring significant improvements to unlock the true potential of these iPads.
The new iPads are undeniably powerful and showcase Apple’s engineering skills—however, the question of whether they can truly replace laptops will depend on the upcoming iPadOS update.
Until the software matches the hardware, these iPads might remain impressive spec bumps in a new body rather than true laptop replacements.
