Comparison and differences: iPad Pro M4 (OLED, 2024) vs iPad Pro M2 (2022)

iPad Pro M4 vs iPad Pro M2 and bref :

• better contrasts on the iPad Pro M4
• new chip
• iPad Pro M2s are cheaper
• the large model goes from 12.9 inches to 13 inches
• price increase

What is the difference between the OLED screen of the new iPad and that of its predecessor?

OLED screens (on iPad Pro M4) offerbetter contraststhan LCD screens (for their part present on the iPad Pro M2). This is a significant asset if you absolutely need to better distinguish shades of gray on the screen, especially when editing images in full screen.

For comparison, old iPads are not entitled to OLED but to mini-LED or LEDs with IPS. These are already high-quality systems, which offer visual comfort rarely matched on a tablet. But the panels of the 13-inch iPad Pro M4 can, for example, reach an SDR brightness of a thousand nits, whereas this is limited to six hundred nits with previous models (the 12.9-inch iPad Pro M2).

As a bonus, note that the new OLED iPad Pros can also be delivered with a nano-textured glass cover, better resistant to reflections. The Pro Display XDR is already entitled to it, but notthe iPad Pros of 2022.

The end of millimeter wave support is not annoying (for the moment)

The most curious may notice that when comparing the new iPad Pros to the old ones, support for millimeter waves (mmWave) has simply disappeared! If for the market across the Atlantic this may raise questions,in France, on the other hand, this type of 5G network is actually only in its infancy. This difference could, however, play tricks on users who connect in the United States, in particular, where this wireless network is much more developed.

Design: several differences

The colors

The colorspace grayis only available with the M2 iPad Pros, while the OLED iPad Pros have replaced this tint with anew “space black”. The difference is notable, since the second color is much darker.

Colorsilverhas been retained, and is therefore available on iPad Pro M2 and iPad Pro M4. Please note, however, that as the iPad Pro's chassis is made of aluminum, it is not recommended to leave it in the open air most of the time. The color should therefore not have too much impact on a purchasing decision, because a protective shell will be essential. AppleCare+ insurance certainly covers you against certain damages if you can afford it, but you might as well take the lead.

Dimensions : iPad Pro M4 vs iPad Pro M2

• Eleven-inch iPad Pro (M4): 24.97 centimeters long, 17.75 centimeters wide and 5.3 millimeters thick
• Eleven-inch iPad Pro (fourth generation): 24.76 centimeters long, 17.85 centimeters wide and 5.9 millimeters thick
• iPad Pro thirteen inches (M4): 28.16 centimeters long, 21.55 centimeters wide and 5.1 millimeters thick
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (sixth generation): 28.06 centimeters long, 21.49 centimeters wide and 6.4 millimeters thick

The iPad Pros of 2024 are like thismuch less thickthan their predecessors, with a record for the range headed by the most recent large model. This is a key benefit for those who don't have a lot of room in their backpack, such as students. The mass is also changing, with iPad Pro M4s significantly lighter than their predecessors. Good news for cabin baggage which must not exceed a certain weight, for example.

The new dimensions of the iPad Pro M4 will prevent you from reusing the protective case you previously purchased for an iPad Pro M2. This is good to know, if you are thinking of updating your equipment to the latest models.

Here is the exact mass compared of the iPad Pros:

• 579 g for 13-inch OLED iPad Pros over Wi-Fi
• 582 g for 13-inch OLED iPad Pros in Wi-Fi and Cellular
• 682 g for 12.9-inch fourth-generation iPad Pros over Wi-Fi
• 685 g for 12.9-inch fourth-generation iPad Pros over Wi-Fi and Cellular
• 444 g for 11-inch OLED iPad Pros over Wi-Fi
• 446 g for 11-inch OLED iPad Pros in Wi-Fi and Cellular
• 462 g for 4th generation 11-inch iPad Pros over Wi-Fi
• 462 g also for the fourth generation 11-inch iPad Pro in Wi-Fi and Cellular

Our opinion on the new M4 chip

The M4 presents itself as avery clear improvement compared to the M2. If you perform very power-intensive tasks like music production or video editing, then the M4 processor will undoubtedly prove to be your ally of choice for speed. The CPU is offered in nine cores for OLED iPad Pros with 256 GB or 512 GB of internal storage, but with ten cores for models that have 1 TB or 2 TB of memory. The GPU, on the other hand, is entitled to ten cores regardless of the model.

For comparison, the M2 chip in older iPad Pro models released in 2022 is only allowed eight CPU cores. It is this component that provides raw power to the device. The graphics card is still equipped with ten cores however, and the Neural Engine has sixteen as with the M4 iPad Pros.

TheRAM volume does not changeneither ; count eight or sixteen gigabytes depending on the configuration chosen when ordering.

Photo comparison

Front camera orientation

The camera dedicated to selfies or video calls is not installed in the same place on the iPad Pro M4 as on the iPad Pro M2. Thus, the 2024 model has a lens arranged in the direction of thelength, while it is the shorter side of the iPad Pro M2 that accommodates it. If you plan to use your iPad Pro M4 with a keyboard, installing the lens in this direction will be more practical on a daily basis, especially when it comes to quickly answering a FaceTime call.

One less photo sensor on the 2024 iPad Pros

On the other hand, and this is clearly not negligible, the OLED iPad Pros are entitled to one less photo sensor on the back! L'ultra wide-angle has indeed disappeared, so that the back module only includes the wide-angle and LiDAR. The latter is dedicated to augmented reality and was already present on iPad Pro M2.

We don't know why Apple made this change, but it must be admitted that few users use the iPad Pro to take photos or videos. Fans of mobile devices actually prefer the iPhone, it seems.

Compatibility with Apple Pencil and keyboards

The thirteen- and eleven-inch iPad Pro M4 are compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro and the Apple Pencil with USB-C connectivity. And you must use a Magic Keyboard dedicated to these two specific tablet models, if you want to take advantage of an Apple keyboard to control them. The main difference between this keyboard and the others is the integration of a new line of function keys.

For comparison, note that the sixth generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro is compatible with two ranges of Apple keyboards: the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard Folio. The latter does not have a touchpad, which proves impractical for those who appreciate this mode of control.

The fourth generation 11-inch iPad Pro Pros are compatible with the same keyboards and the same styluses as the large model released at the same time. Which includes the second generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil with USB-C port.

Proposed storage capacity

iPad Pro M4 (OLED)

• 256 Go
• 512 Go
• 1 To
• 2 To

iPad Pro M2 (2022)

• 128 Go
• 256 Go
• 512 Go
• 1 To
• 2 To

Why did you abandon the physical SIM card reader?

If Apple does not offer a physical SIM card reader on the OLED iPad Pros, it is because they are compatiblee.g.

Users who wish to benefit from mobile data will therefore have to go through this dematerialized standard to connect to the web. Please note, however, that most operators now offer compatible packages, but which sometimes require you to pay extra in order to benefit from them.

Prix des iPad Pro M4 (OLED, 2024)

• from 1,569 euros for the 13-inch iPad Pro in Wi-Fi
• from 1,819 euros for the 13-inch iPad Pro in Wi-Fi + Cellular
• from 1,219 euros for the 11-inch iPad Pro in Wi-Fi
• from 1,469 euros for the 11-inch iPad Pro in Wi-Fi + Cellular

Price of iPad Pro M2 (2022)

Official prices for the M2 iPad Pros are no longer in effect today as Apple has stopped selling the tablets.

However, you can find devicesunder a thousand euros, for the 2022 generation. Prices vary, as for the OLED iPad Pros, depending on the storage capacity.

Which one to choose?

The M4 iPad Pros present themselves as much better products than the 2022 iPad Pros. If your budget is unlimited for a tablet, then this is obviously the model for you. Many even compare it to the excellent Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. The iPad Pro OLED has the added bonus of an exceptional screen for graphics, drawing or light effects.

Still today, the iPad Pro M2 remains an excellent alternative if, for example, you cannot pay more than a thousand euros for a tablet. Be careful, however, because as these models are much older, they will no longer be supported before the iPad Pro M4. Somewill therefore prefer the iPad AirM2 unveiled at the same time, and which are also very well made even if less efficient than the OLED iPad Pros.

comp_table id=92 mode=universe]

• The iPad Pro M4s are available in 13 and 11 inches, compared to 12.9 inches and 11 inches for the iPad Pro M2s.
• An additional photo sensor is present on the back of the iPad Pro M2
• The M4 iPad Pros are much more expensive and equipped with an OLED panel with nano-textured glass
• M4 iPad Pros are thinner