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Apple / arranged by Business Insider
Apple launched new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, as well as new iPad accessories, during its video-streamed online event on May 7.
The iPad Air and iPad Pros got significant updates, including a brand new iPad Air with a larger display, and iPad Pros with a brand new Apple processor, a focus on AI, OLED display panels, and a thinner design.
Apple also revealed a new Apple Pencil Pro that can register squeezes and rolls to enable customizable functions, as well as a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pros with a sturdier design and laptop-like controls.
All products are set for release on May 15 and are available to order now from Apple and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
New iPad Pros with AI and OLED displays
Apple
The new iPad Pros come with several significant updates. Of them, the most notable is a previously unreleased Apple M4 processor and a focus on AI for creative work with updates of the Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps, as well as third-party apps.
Almost as exciting are the OLED 11-inch and 13-inch displays for the Pro models. Apple is using its own "Tandem OLED" panels, which the company says are essentially two OLED panels layered together to achieve a high brightness level that a single panel couldn't. Apple calls its new OLED iPad display "Ultra Retina XDR." There's also a nano-textured glass option designed to reduce glare.
We haven't yet tried the OLED displays on the new iPad Pros, but they have the potential to bring dramatic improvements to viewing videos and whatever you do on an iPad that uses the display.
An unfortunate consequence of the superior displays is even higher price tags than the previous iPad Pro series, which started at $799 and were already the most expensive devices among the best iPads. The new 2024 iPad Pros start at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model.
Apple
Beyond a totally new display, the new iPad Pros have noticeably thinner designs at 5.3mm for the 11-inch iPad Pro, and an even thinner 5.1mm for the 13-inch iPad Pro. Apple says the 2024 iPad Pros are their "thinnest" products to date, and they're just as strong despite their new thin design.
The front-facing cameras have also been moved to the horizontal long edge for a more centered video of yourself while on a video call.
As mentioned above, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch iPad Pro at $1,299. Both are available to order now from Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, with full availability on May 15.
New iPad Airs and a first-ever large model
Apple
Apple announced not one but two new iPad Airs, including a fairly typical 11-inch model and a brand new 13-inch model with 30% more screen space. Anyone who's wanted a larger iPad but couldn't justify the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's previous $1,100 price should rejoice at the news.
Like the 2024 iPad Pros, Apple also moved the front-facing camera to the horizontal long edge on the new iPad Airs for a more frontal and centered video calling experience. The new iPad Airs also feature landscape stereo speakers, and the 13-inch iPad Air has twice the bass as the 11-inch model.
The 2024 iPad Air models are upgraded from Apple's M1 processor to Apple's M2 processor, which was introduced in 2022 for various Mac laptops, like the 2022 MacBook Air and 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro. It's a welcome upgrade for professionals using the iPad Air for creative visual work, but it's unlikely to make much of a difference for basic iPad use, like video streaming, social media scrolling, web browsing, emailing, or even playing games.
Apple
Base storage for the iPad Airs also starts at 128GB — double the 64GB storage of the previous iPad Air.
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at the same $599 price as the previous generation, and the 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799. You can order both now, with availability on May 15.
An Apple Pencil 'Pro' you can squeeze
Apple
The brand new Apple Pencil Pro contains a new squeeze sensor for novel interactions with the 2024 iPad Pro and Air models, like bringing up a new tool palette while drawing.
The Apple Pencil Pro delivers a haptic response when you squeeze it to give you control and feedback while using the feature. Third-party app developers will be able to add squeeze controls to their apps to offer various functions for their apps, too.
Apple
The Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My tracking and a new control feature called Barrel Roll that uses a gyroscope to let you roll the Pencil for more control, like changing the angle of the Pencil's input on the iPad display.
The Apple Pencil Pro starts at $129. It's available to order now, with full availability on May 15.
An upgraded Magic Keyboard
Apple
The new Magic Keyboard designed for the 2024 iPad Pros has an aluminum palm rest and a larger trackpad. It also features a new function row for controls similar to what you'd find on a Mac laptop, like screen brightness and playback.
The Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $299, and $349 for the 13-inch iPad Pro. You can order both now, and they'll be available on May 15.