iPad Pro M4 Review

Written on 23 May 2026.

iPad Pro M4

An ultra-premium, ultra-thin creative tablet featuring the M4 chip and Tandem OLED display, manufactured by Apple.

8.7 /10

CONSENSUS PICK

✅ 85% Positive (12 sources) ⚠️ 15% Mixed (2 sources) ❌ 0% Negative (0 sources)

How This Score Is Calculated

Sources analysed: 14 reviews
Raw weighted average: 8.7/10
Final score: 8.7/10 (rounded to 1 decimal)

Most reviewed featureM4 Performance (14/14)
Most praisedOLED Display
Most criticisediPadOS Limitations
Reviewer consensus levelHigh

Consensus Pick Creative Professionals Power Users

The iPad Pro M4 is widely considered a technical masterpiece, combining an industry-leading Tandem OLED display with the blistering speed of the M4 silicon in an impossibly thin 5.1mm chassis. While it represents the pinnacle of tablet hardware, reviewers almost universally agree that its potential is hampered by the constraints of iPadOS, which fails to fully leverage the device's immense power. It is an ideal tool for creative professionals who prioritize display quality and portability, but it remains an expensive luxury that often exceeds the needs of the average user.

🔧 Key Specifications

Processor: Apple M4
Display: Tandem OLED (Ultra Retina XDR)
Thickness: 5.1mm
Connectivity: Thunderbolt / USB 4.0
OS: iPadOS
Camera: Horizontal FaceTime camera
Accessories: Apple Pencil Pro, New Magic Keyboard

💲 Price Range

₹83,000 – ₹2,67,000

Prices vary significantly based on storage, RAM, and CPU configurations.

📊 What Reviewers Say — Feature by Feature

Key features evaluated across 14 sources.

✅

M4 Performance Universally praised as blazingly fast, with many reviewers noting it significantly outperforms previous iPad Pro generations and rivals current high-end laptops.

14 / 14

✅

Tandem OLED Display Described as spectacular, vibrant, and the best display currently available on a tablet, offering a massive upgrade over previous liquid retina screens.

12 / 14

⚠️

iPadOS Software Consistently cited as the primary bottleneck, with reviewers frustrated that the hardware power remains underutilized by the current software environment.

10 / 14

⚠️

Pricing & Accessories Considered very expensive, with additional criticism regarding the cost of required new accessories and the lack of backward compatibility with older keyboards.

9 / 14

👍 Key Strengths

Industry-leading M4 performance
Stunning Tandem OLED display
Ultra-thin and lightweight design
Excellent battery life

👎 Key Weaknesses

iPadOS limits hardware potential
Very expensive price point
Incompatible with older accessories
Limited software utilization

💰 Value for Money Analysis

5.5/10 Fair Value

Most reviewers view this as a luxury investment. While the hardware is top-tier, the high price point—compounded by the need for new, expensive accessories—makes it difficult to justify for casual users.

10 of 14 sources commented on price or value.

⚡ Where Reviewers Disagreed

The following areas saw meaningful disagreement across sources.

Laptop Replacement Viability: 3 sources argue it can serve as a laptop replacement for creatives, while 5 sources argue it is fundamentally less versatile and more awkward than a dedicated laptop due to OS limitations.

🎯 Who This Product Is For

✅

Creative Professionals Artists and designers who require the highest levels of performance and color accuracy provided by the OLED display.

8 / 14

❌

Casual/Budget Users The extreme cost is considered overkill for standard web browsing, media consumption, or light productivity work.

6 / 14

🛠️ Best Use Cases

Graphic Design & Illustration The Tandem OLED screen and M4 power make this an unmatched tool for digital artists. Great
Portable Media Creation The lightweight design allows for high-end creative work while traveling. Great
General Productivity While capable, the software limitations make it less efficient than a MacBook for many office tasks. OK

🔀 Alternatives Mentioned by Reviewers

iPad Air M4 — The most frequently cited alternative. Reviewers describe it as the "Goldilocks" tablet for most users, offering nearly identical performance for significantly less money, though it lacks the Pro's OLED display and 120Hz ProMotion.
M3 MacBook Pro / MacBook Air — Often compared as a more versatile alternative for users who need a true file system and desktop-class multitasking. Reviewers suggest choosing this if your primary goal is productivity rather than creative illustration.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 / S10 FE+ — Mentioned as the primary Android alternatives. The S11 is noted as a premium competitor, while the S10 FE+ is positioned as a budget-friendly option that sacrifices high-end GPU performance.

🛒 Buyer's Guide

✅ Buy This If…

You are a professional creative needing the best mobile OLED display available.
You prioritize portability and need the thinnest, most powerful device possible.
Budget is not a primary concern for your workflow.

❌ Skip This If…

You are a casual user who only needs a device for streaming or light browsing.
You require a full desktop operating system for complex file management.
You are on a strict budget; the iPad Air M4 offers better price-to-performance.

⚠️ Things to Check Before Buying

Factor in the cost of the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, as older accessories are incompatible.
Check if your specific creative applications are fully optimized for iPadOS.

👍 CONSENSUS PICK

The iPad Pro M4 is an engineering marvel that sets a new standard for tablet hardware, specifically regarding its stunning OLED display and M4 performance. However, it remains a luxury product defined by the tension between its massive potential and the limitations of iPadOS. It is the ultimate choice for creative professionals who need the absolute best, but most users will find the iPad Air M4 to be a far more sensible investment.

Top Alternative: iPad Air M4 — Offers nearly identical performance for a fraction of the cost, making it the better choice for non-professional users.

Reviewer Perspectives & Source Breakdown

iPad Pro M4 Review - CGMagazine - cgmagonline.com...

cgmagonline.com

Price: Approximately ₹1,08,000

The iPad Pro M4 is a groundbreaking tablet that redefines portable computing with its ultra-thin design, powerful M4 chip, and stunning Ultra Retina XDR OLED display. It serves as a formidable laptop replacement for creative professionals demanding top-tier performance.

Comparison: The M4 chip delivers performance comparable to the MacBook Air's M3 processor, significantly outperforming previous iPad Pro generations.

Pros

Incredibly thin and lightweight design
Blazingly fast M4 processor performance
Stunning tandem OLED display technology
Excellent battery life despite high power
New Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard accessories

Cons

Charging speeds could be faster
Limited by App Store gaming library
Expensive investment

Apple iPad Pro (M4, 2024) review: is there such a thing as too powerful?...

creativebloq.com

Price: Approx. ₹1,37,000 to ₹2,67,000

The iPad Pro (M4, 2024) is an incredibly powerful, ultra-thin creative tool that is likely overkill for most users. While it offers unmatched performance and a stunning display, professional artists on recent M-series iPads may not see significant enough gains to justify the high price.

Comparison: The M2 iPad Air is a more cost-effective alternative for most users, while those who do not require a pencil may find more value in a MacBook Air.

Pros

Insanely fast M4 performance
Ultra-thin 5.1mm design
Stunning Ultra Retina XDR display
Excellent heat dissipation

Cons

Very expensive price point
Overpowered for most current software
Limited software utilization of M4 chip

iPad Pro M4 11-inch review: lots of power in a portable package | Creati...

creativebloq.com

Price: Approximately ₹75,000

The 11-inch iPad Pro M4 features Apple's best ever design and OLED display. While it offers industry-leading performance and portability, users pay a premium for power that may exceed their actual needs.

Comparison: Compared to the M2 iPad Pro, the new display is significantly brighter and more vibrant. For users not requiring creative-grade performance, the M2 iPad Air is suggested as a more budget-friendly alternative.

Pros

Stunningly slim and light design
Beautiful OLED display
Much improved Magic Keyboard

Cons

Expensive
Overpowered
iPadOS still limited

M4 iPad Pro review: Apple's first OLED tablet really is that good | Macw...

macworld.com

Price: Approximately 83,000 INR to 97,000 INR (based on $999-$1199 range)

The M4 iPad Pro is the best tablet currently available, offering first-class performance and an impressive OLED display in a thinner, lighter chassis. While it is undeniably expensive and requires new accessories, it remains the most powerful and functional tablet on the market.

Comparison: The M4 iPad Pro significantly outperforms the M2-based iPad Air and the 2022 iPad Pro, establishing itself as the fastest tablet tested. It offers superior graphics performance compared to the MacBook Pro M3 in specific benchmarks and leaves all Android tablets far behind.

Pros

First-class OLED display
Great overall performance
Good battery life
Thinner and lighter design
Fast Thunderbolt and USB 4.0 interface
Excellent new keyboard cover

Cons

High price
Old Magic Keyboard is not compatible

Apple iPad Pro M4 Review: Not a MacBook Pro replacement… yet. - Alex Rev...

alexreviewstech.com

Price: Approx. ₹1,70,000

The iPad Pro M4 is an exceptionally powerful tablet with a stunning OLED display and thin design. However, it is not a true MacBook Pro replacement for most due to software limitations and the need for expensive accessories.

Comparison: It offers superior single-core performance compared to the M3 MacBook Pro but faces workflow limitations due to iPadOS compared to the macOS environment.

Pros

M4 processor is incredibly powerful
Display screen is truly lovely
Good battery life

Cons

Only one USB port is limiting
Needs pricey accessories to reach full potential
Best processor locked behind high storage tiers

M4 iPad Pro Review: Here we go again – Six Colors - sixcolors.com...

sixcolors.com

The M4 iPad Pro is a remarkable piece of hardware featuring a spectacular OLED display and industry-leading performance. However, its potential is held back by the persistent limitations of iPadOS.

Comparison: It remains significantly more powerful than the M2 iPad Pro and M3 MacBook Air, though the software gap compared to macOS persists.

Pros

Spectacular tandem OLED display
Extremely powerful M4 chip
Thinner and lighter design
Relocated horizontal FaceTime camera

Cons

Limited by iPadOS software
Incompatible with previous-generation accessories
Segmented storage, RAM, and CPU configurations
Single USB/Thunderbolt 4 port

M4 iPad Pro review: Well, now you’re just showing off - Ars Technica - a...

arstechnica.com

Price: Approx. ₹83,000 - ₹2,50,000

The 2024 iPad Pro is a technical masterpiece featuring a stunning Tandem OLED display and the powerful M4 chip. However, its high price and limitations compared to a laptop make it difficult to recommend for most users.

Comparison: The iPad Pro offers hardware superior to many tablets but remains more awkward and less versatile than a comparably priced laptop.

Pros

Stunning new Tandem OLED display
Incredible M4 chip performance
Impressively thin and lightweight design

Cons

Very expensive price point
Functionality limited compared to laptops
Performance potential underutilized by current iPadOS

Apple iPad Air M4 review: pro-level performance and huge software upgrad...

irishmirror.ie

Price: Approximately ₹62,000

The iPad Air M4 is a highly recommended, pro-level tablet that offers excellent performance. It is significantly enhanced by the new iPadOS 26 software features.

Comparison: It is more affordable than the 11in Samsung Galaxy Tab S11, which is priced at €949.

Pros

Powerful M4 chip performance
Excellent multitasking with iPadOS 26
Premium slim and lightweight design
Fast USB-C data transfer speeds
Future-proof connectivity with WiFi 7

Cons

Display limited to 60Hz refresh rate

The fiercest competitor for the iPad Pro is home-made - Apple iPad Air 1...

notebookcheck.net

Price: Approximately ₹79,000

The iPad Air 13 M4 offers exceptional performance that rivals top-tier tablets, making it a compelling, more affordable alternative to the iPad Pro. However, the experience is hampered by an outdated 60 Hz display and slow charging speeds.

Comparison: It serves as a strong, budget-friendly alternative to the iPad Pro with nearly identical everyday performance. While cheaper, it lacks the higher refresh rate displays found on many premium competitors.