Review: Two Weeks With the M4 iPad Pro

[chmania]

An obvious improvement to the iPad, without compromises, would be to allow dual boot of iPadOS and MacOS.

Why should there be 2 OSs, macOS would be enough.👌

MacOS would not need to accept touch input,

MacOS has the touch ability, monitor manufacturers had shown that.

iPadOS for lighter use when on the go, or drawing, etc.

MacOS is light too, and most importantly a fully fledged OS!

 

[stinksroundhere]

An obvious improvement to the iPad, without compromises, would be to allow dual boot of iPadOS and MacOS.

That's the definition of compromises. You will be booting into a desktop operating system that is compromised in many ways on the tablet. With macOS will see users complaining about hot displays, heat damaging the display, useless in portrait orientation, too hard to touch menu items without scaling the interface to fat size etc.

They want you to buy both an iPad and Macbook.

Because they are different tools. You don't use an iPad as a mobile smartphone either, even though the software and hardware should be capable. The form factor of a device determines how a device should be used and how to optimise software for it.

 

[stinksroundhere]

MacOS is light too, and most importantly a fully fledged OS!

The size of my user/library folder is 94.7GB right now after I deleted 98GB from the cache that was created by After Effects.

macOS is not light and the applications can consume not only a lot of space themselves but a lot more space in the cache and library directories.

MacOS has the touch ability, monitor manufacturers had shown that.

Nonsense and misinformation. Those panels have translation layer which translate the gesture input. The OS has no native touch driver.

YouTube reviewer and artist Brad Colbow, who reviews every tablet and drawing tablet, has stated in his reviews that macOS is not optimised for touch and doesn't support it natively (we already know that) so performance can be jerky in the translation layer.

 

[chmania]

I bought the M4 iPad Pro 13 inch 1TB model because of the thinner/lighter form factor, the OLED screen, and most importantly, the fact that it definitely feels more responsive than my 2018 12.9 inch iPad Pro. Handwriting seems more responsive and so does the track pad. Handwriting response is good enough that I might actually be able to use it to take notes in real time, ideally in cursive (haven't been able to do that with any prior iPads).

Aside from those features, it doesn't do anything my 2018 model can't in my use-cases--I'm not an artist nor a video editor.

So, yes, I don't NEED it, but I WANT it. Typical Apple junkie. 🤪😎🤣.

But I really do think that for a device with tech this advanced and a price this stratospheric, Apple really does need to provide us with REAL windows management and a really intuitive file system--not Stage Manager and the Files app, both of which feel like cobbled-together messes.

Do you pick M4 iPad Pro 13" up from a corner, or from one side? How does it feel, if you pick it up from a corner?

 

[Doc Robby]

They haven’t dropped the folio case. I’m using one on my 13 inch iPad M4 in fact they’ve made it better. They’ve put more magnets somewhere so now instead of the phone case just being at one angle you can have it almost vertical and all the way back to 45°, so it’s still 99 quid which is a ridiculous price for a case but it is much better.

Are you using the Smart Folio Case or the Smart Folio Keyboard as mentioned in the comment you responded to?

 

[Harry Haller]

MacBook screen is too thin to be a touch enabled. And, then there is that smudging effect on those screens, if by. chance you touch it. So, the idea that an iPad can act like a tablet. The iOS became iPadOS, maybe on the way to become macOS on a tablet. The thing is, macOS can work with a touch, there are quite a bit touch enabled external monitors that work with macOS. Maybe, in the near future, we might get a touch enabled MacBook and/or iPad with macOS. That would be the day!

Windows is a touch enabled even in the XP time. There are 100s of manufacturers, who make touch enabled Windows laptops, 2 in 1s, convertibles, and simply tablets. MS never failed that area.

Why is the smudging effect not an issue with iPhones and iPads?
Because it isn’t.
A 5 second wipe with a microfiber cloth once a day and you’re good.
The only reason Apple don’t offer MacOS on iPad or touch screen MacBooks is to force you to buy both. I did that and am fine with it. But the excuses on Apple’s behalf for why they don’t are disingenuous and enable their greedy behavior.

 

[chmania]

A 5 second wipe with a microfiber cloth once a day and you’re good.

Imagine doing that on a touch enabled screen, there won't be enough 5 seconds per day.

 

[mpetrides]

Do you pick M4 iPad Pro 13" up from a corner, or from one side? How does it feel, if you pick it up from a corner?

I pick it up from the side, initially one, then both to stabilize it. I’d worry that my klutzy fingers would drop it if I picked it up from a corner.

I tried picking it up from the corner for you and it does feel heavier that way. But I have very, very small hands with very little grip strength.

 

[chmania]

I pick it up from the side, initially one, then both to stabilize it. I’d worry that my klutzy fingers would drop it if I picked it up from a corner.

I tried picking it up from the corner for you and it does feel heavier that way. But I have very, very small hands with very little grip strength.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Harry Haller]

Imagine doing that on a touch enabled screen, there won't be enough 5 seconds per day.

I do it once a day on my 12.9.
Call it twice a day on a 16” MBP.
Apple wants you to buy both.

 

[aevan]

I bought it and it is indeed "whatever". Have compared it to my 2018 iPad Pro and it's barely any lighter or thinner. The 2018 does everything just as well. M4 is definitely getting returned.

Genuine curiosity - what did you expect when you bought it? I mean if you didn't buy it for the OLED screen or new Pencil features - why did you?

 

[aevan]

The only reason Apple don’t offer MacOS on iPad or touch screen MacBooks is to force you to buy both. \

No. Apple is known to cannibalize their own devices. I believe they don't offer macOS on iPad because, agree with them or not, they genuinely believe it wouldn't be a good experience.

 

[Wando64]

They haven’t dropped the folio case. I’m using one on my 13 inch iPad M4 in fact they’ve made it better. They’ve put more magnets somewhere so now instead of the phone case just being at one angle you can have it almost vertical and all the way back to 45°, so it’s still 99 quid which is a ridiculous price for a case but it is much better.

Great, but I am interested in the Smart Folio Keyboard, as mentioned in my post.

 

[sdm1985]

Yes, but combined, the M4 and MK are not much lighter.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Still see no reason to upgrade from my
3rd gen 12.9 Pro.

 

[tadhgk]

I’m sure it’s great but I just don’t see anything compelling. My current Pro is several years old but works great.

 

[mpetrides]

Still see no reason to upgrade from my
3rd gen 12.9 Pro.

I thought that too—until I played with one on display at Best Buy. The improved responsiveness convinced me even before I had a chance to assess the improvements in weight and thinness (BB had the iPad tethered to the MKB, so I couldn’t assess how much lighter it was.)

I’ve had my 13 inch M4 iPP for a week now and that impression remains the same. For me, it’s a keeper.

 

[adamus]

I think I've held or touched just about every Apple product made since the late 1990s... I got hands on with the new M4 iPad Pros at my local apple store a few days ago. Stunningly thin. Without seeing it in person you might think "whatever". I have an M2 Pro... picking this up, without even turning it on, was enough to make me want to upgrade. I'm not going to because there is no reason beyond the svelte aesthetics, I barley make use of the capabilities of the M2 iPad Pro, and I'd just put a case on it anyway...

Stunningly thin for sure.

Edward Bernays 😉

 

[NVDA]

I'm guessing you own the 11" size of your current 2018 model and went with that size again for this newest one? Because if so then yeah I agree the difference in weight/thickness isn't exactly earth shattering... However, I have been rocking the 12.9" M1 myself for a little under 3 years now and when I went into my local Apple Store last week to check out the new version, holy smokes... I could definitely notice a major improvement thanks to those dramatic physical reductions.

Yes you’re correct. But if I was going to spend the money on the 13 inch and keyboard I would rather upgrade my MacBook Pro. Do you use it without a keyboard?

 

[Tempor_aka]

For some the software will feel limited, for me it’s all I use, I do all my work with it, it’s fast, gorgeous display … I use Webex/Teams/Keynote/Mail/Calendar/PowerPoint/Excel/Slack/… and after hours a lot of media consumption … Yes there are some frustrating corners like the windowing on external screens and sometimes the file app can act up, but I’m sure they will eventually be ironed out, those pesky bugs / dumped down features. When I did the switch 3 years ago, it was a difficult month, but after that, every time I pick up my mac, macOS feels dated 🤷‍♂️

 

[mpetrides]

When I did the switch 3 years ago, it was a difficult month, but after that, every time I pick up my mac, macOS feels dated 🤷‍♂️

I wish that were the case for me because I love the concept of the iPad. However, I’m still annoyed at every turn by the workarounds I need to use to get basic file and window management tasks done.

So I’m stuck using my Mac for real work (mostly text-based and easily amenable to getting done on an iPad) and my iPad for fun. Not a terrible choice for sure, just a very expensive one!

 

[cwwilson]

It really is crazy my new iPad is gonna have better and I mean way better specs than my M1 MBA. I hope at some point that Apple fundamentally overhauls iPadOS to be more than just a blown up iOS and transitions it to be more desktop caliber I mean the hardware is so unbelievably outstanding and overpowered to be running such a light and dinky operating system. There’s no doubt it could easily run a touch oriented MacOS at this point.

 

[stinksroundhere]

There’s no doubt it could easily run a touch oriented MacOS at this point.

It's almost like a campaign to mess with Apple user's minds.

 

[Wando64]

MacOS is … most importantly a fully fledged OS!

Would you mind explaining what specific characteristics belong to a ‘fully fledged OS’ which are, presumably, lacking in IpadOS?

 

[FineWoven]

I guess the “awkwardness” of the experience depends a lot. Even if I’m a heavy Mac user, I’m used to the phone paradigm, where interaction is much more direct, and I find it much easier and enjoyable for everyday and creative tasks. Using an iPad is much more natural than a traditional PC to me.

Regarding the second paragraph: I think it’s much, much harder than it sounds. The iPad would need to run two OS, switch on the fly whenever you connect some accessory, reboot, and suddenly you end up loosing the context of what you were doing before. And now the touchscreen can’t be touched. What happens if you disconnect the MK by mistake, for example? There are many compromises made to end up with a bad experience, awkwardly switching between OS that look completely different on the same device, which is not designed for macOS in terms of battery, size, thermals, trackpad size, etc. I think it’s an idea that sounds good in theory but wouldn’t work in practice.

Oh don't get me wrong I've loved my iPads over the years, and my new 11" M4 Pro is incredible. They certainly do serve their intended purpose of filling that sweet spot between my Mac and my iPhone, but to have as much power as they do now under the hood and it still not be even close to fully utilized by Apple in terms of the OS decisions they've made (or not made) is so annoying. I'm sure Apple could come up with a clever solution if they really wanted to while not cannibalizing Mac sales. We've seen hints of this with features like Sidecar, which I love.

I'm definitely eager to see what they unveil at WWDC this year. I think iPadOS is the most interesting update now when they run through all of them.