Today, Apple held a brief 30-minute event, where they unveiled a range of new iPad offerings. It was their longest gap between iPad updates, which heightened anticipation for some big announcements. Despite the significant advancements in power thanks to the M-series chips, the core essence of the iPad remains unchanged. So, simply boosting the specs might not be enough after such a long wait. But let’s dive into what they revealed.
First up is the new iPad Air. It follows the trend of borrowing a few features from the previous iPad Pros while keeping the price reasonable. The upgrade from the M1 to the M2 chip is quite notable, and now it starts with 128 GB of storage. They’ve also shifted the webcam to the landscape bezel, which just makes sense. Plus, there’s faster Wi-Fi. And for the first time, you have two size options: the 11-inch and the 13-inch iPad Air. Although the naming might be a bit confusing since the last one was 10.9 inches. But yes, they’ve made it a bit bigger. Other than that, it’s pretty much what you’d expect – a typical spec upgrade. Hand someone the latest iPad Air, and they probably wouldn’t notice much difference from the old one, except for maybe the size if you’re holding the larger version. Oh, and there are some new colors to jazz things up: Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray. Prices start at $599 for the smaller model and $799 for the larger one.
But then, let’s talk about the iPad Pros – they really outdid themselves this time. It’s like Apple’s way of saying, “Watch us show off.” And boy, did they deliver. If we just put aside the software for a moment and focus on the hardware, these new iPads are just mind-blowing. First off, they proudly announced that both the 11-inch and the 13-inch models are the slimmest Apple devices ever made. I’m talking thinner than iPhones, thinner than even those classic iPods we all used to love. The 11-inch is a mere 5.3 millimeters thin, while the 13-inch takes it even further at 5.1 millimeters – that’s thinner than the iPod Nano ever dared to be. It’s insane. Just holding one feels like you’re holding a futuristic metal sheet. Now, I don’t think anyone was necessarily clamoring for a thinner iPad, but hey, Apple went ahead and did it anyway. What could possibly go wrong, right?
Here’s a fun tidbit: with these new iPad Pros, the iPad Air suddenly feels a bit chunky. Apple’s just keeping us on our toes with their iPad lineup chaos. Now, let’s talk about what’s under the hood. The new Pros come equipped with a spanking new chip and a dazzling screen. Apple introduced us to their latest creation, the M4 chip, exclusively for these iPads. And let me tell you, it’s a beast. Built on a more power-efficient 3-nanometer process compared to its predecessor, the M2, this chip packs some serious punch. The CPU cores are about 50% faster than the M2, and don’t even get me started on the GPU – it’s up to four times faster. Plus, they’ve managed to achieve the same performance as the M2 while using half the power, thanks to this chip’s efficiency. It’s got an upgraded neural engine, better cooling – they really went all out. Again, I’m not sure who was asking for a thinner iPad, but you can’t deny that it’s an impressive piece of tech. And it’s all made possible by this sleek M4 chip.
Now, you might be wondering about the battery life. Despite being thinner, Apple claims it’ll be on par with the previous iPad Pro models. How? Well, it seems the efficiency of the M4 chip compensates for the reduced physical battery capacity. It’s a bold move, but it shows Apple’s confidence in their technological prowess.
Let’s delve into the new display feature, which owes its prowess to the M4 chip. While it may sound like marketing spiel, there’s truth to it. The latest iPads now sport OLED screens, available in both sizes and boasting identical features. This levels the playing field somewhat in terms of the $300 price gap between the two models. OLED technology isn’t a novelty; we’ve marveled at its capabilities in smartphones for years. The deep blacks, precise pixel illumination, and vibrant colors are well-established. It’s a thrill to witness these attributes on a larger canvas like an iPad. However, engineering a large OLED panel that’s also incredibly bright presented its own set of challenges, necessitating innovative solutions. Enter the tandem OLED display, arguably the highlight of the tablet event. Picture two OLED layers stacked atop each other, both driven simultaneously by the new display driver on the M4 chip. This setup achieves remarkable local brightness, boasting 1000 nits for full-screen content and a staggering 1600 nits for HDR material on an iPad-sized screen. In person, the display captivates with its rich colors and deep blacks, even in less-than-optimal hands-on conditions. While final judgment awaits a thorough review, initial impressions are undeniably positive.
So, guess what? They just announced a new version of the iPad Pro with a Nano texture matte display, making it a matte Pro display XDR. It sounds cool, right? Well, I’d advise you to think twice before jumping on it. Sure, it handles reflections better, which is great, but it sacrifices a bit of sharpness and contrast, kind of like the desktop version. Even straight on, the blacks aren’t as deep. And let’s talk about durability – just like the Pro display XDR, it’s super picky about the type of microfiber cloth you use. You could actually mess it up if you’re not careful. Plus, I can feel the contrast between the soft-touch Nano texture and the glossy bezels, which makes me think you’ll need to stick to the cloth they give you. Oh, and did I mention it’s an extra $100? And it’s only available on the priciest 1 terabyte and 2 terabyte models. They’re clearly not targeting the average buyer here. So yeah, just be cautious if you’re thinking about getting it.
You know what really caught everyone’s attention from today’s announcements? It’s the upgraded Apple Pencil. They’ve introduced the new Apple Pencil Pro, and at first glance, it’s pretty much identical to the previous model, except for the sleek “Pencil Pro” branding on the back. Unfortunately, they still haven’t added that much-desired eraser feature. But here’s the kicker: the new Apple Pencil Pro comes packed with a haptic motor, which means it now supports Find My. And there’s more—the addition of a squeeze sensor on the barrel allows for activating tools in various apps, and thanks to a new gyroscope, it’s now rotation sensitive. I got my hands on it and was genuinely impressed by its precision—it’s a real game-changer for artists, unlike someone like me. Whether you’re doodling or mastering calligraphy, the $129 price tag might just be worth it. But here’s the downside: the Pro Pencil is only compatible with the latest iPad Pro or iPad Air models. Apparently, they had to rejig the magnets for alignment and charging due to the webcam shift to the longer side. So, why they didn’t opt for an easier charging solution is beyond me. Maybe simplicity wasn’t high on their list of priorities.
There’s also this new magic keyboard, but man, it’s still crazy expensive. But hey, if you spring for the latest one, it’s lighter than before, the trackpad’s bigger, and they’ve added a whole function row at the top, which is actually pretty neat. Plus, the pass-through charging is lightning fast now; they say it’s 60 watts through those back pins. But, gotta be real, despite all these bells and whistles, what we’re left with are just more souped-up iPads. They’re still those sleek metal slabs with tons of power and efficiency, but at the end of the day, they’re just iPads. And let me tell you, making use of all that power feels like trying to move a mountain. There’s only a handful of apps that really justify upgrading. My old M1 iPad Pro seems to handle almost everything these new ones do. Not that the hardware isn’t impressive—it’s actually pretty mind-blowing. That bright OLED display with those pitch-black blacks, that M4 chip with its insane power and efficiency, the new CPU, GPU, and neural engine… It’s all top-notch stuff. And even though I never really thought about wanting a thinner iPad, that whole idea of it feeling like this magical sheet of glass kinda hits different with this model, even if it feels like it might snap in half any second. But you wanna know what really makes this whole thing awkward? It’s the timing. WWDC is right around the corner, and you just know they’re gonna drop a bomb with all those software updates—new iOS, new iPadOS (probably version 18), you name it. So, yeah, sure, these new iPads are shipping next week, but who knows what the new software’s gonna bring? That could be a game-changer. Summer’s looking like it’s gonna be huge for these iPads, with Apple likely doubling down on AI features and all that jazz to make these babies even more of a powerhouse. So, yeah, here we are with these insanely powerful spec-bumped iPad Pros, the thinnest Apple devices ever made, but at the end of the day, they’re still doing the same stuff as my trusty old M1. Crazy times we’re living in, huh?
Hey, guess what? Ridge and I have just launched our very first product together! Yep, we’re kicking things off with the Ridge Wallet, you know, that cool, minimalist wallet that’s all about quality and style? It’s the modern way to carry your cash and cards.
So, earlier this year, I joined forces with Ridge as their chief creative partner, and now, we’re finally dropping our first MKBHD gear! Our main goal was to put an MKBHD spin on some of their existing products. It seemed like the obvious move, but hey, sometimes the obvious is what works best, right?
Now, if you know anything about me, you’ll know I’m all about carbon fiber and matte black. So, naturally, those were my inspirations for these two wallets. First up, we’ve got the MKBHD Carbon Fiber 3k—basically a bunch of lightweight, super tough carbon fiber with our logo on it. And then, there’s the Matte Black Everything Wallet. It’s made of aluminum but has this slick black oil-filled engraving print. It’s seriously awesome.
But that’s not all! These wallets also come with a debossed MKBHD money clip or a cash strap. And get this—you can attach or detach them however you like. Plus, there’s an attachment for an AirTag so you never lose your wallet again. Or, you can opt for a Find My card for that extra peace of mind.
And hey, if my designs aren’t your thing, no worries. Ridge has a ton of other designs in their catalog—over 50, to be exact. They even have officially licensed NFL team stuff if you’re a fan. Seriously, the options are endless.
Now, here’s the really cool part. Right now, you can get 30% off the new gear when you buy a wallet and a key holder together. Yup, just those two items and boom—30% off. And if you want 10% off anything else on ridge.com/mkbhd, just use our special link. You’re welcome!
I’m so pumped about this launch, and we’ve got even more stuff in the works for later this year. But hey, I don’t want to give away too much just yet. If you want to stay in the loop and get updates on our latest products, sign up at the link. Don’t worry, we’ll only email you about the good stuff if you opt in.
Alright, switching gears here—what do you think of the new iPads? They’re thinner than ever, right? Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Thanks for hanging out, and I’ll catch you in the next one!
