Is The IPad Pro M4 Worth Buying In 2024?

The iPad Pro M4 is a beast of a device, no doubt, but whether it's worth buying really depends on how deep you're into the Apple ecosystem and what you plan to use it for. If you're a creative professional—say, a digital artist, video editor, or even a musician—the M4 chip's raw power and the ProMotion display's buttery smoothness are game-changers. I've seen folks who swear by Procreate or Adobe Fresco absolutely rave about how responsive the Apple Pencil feels on this thing. And if you're into video editing on the go, apps like Lumafusion or even Final Cut Pro (now optimized for iPad) run like a dream. But here's the catch: if you're just looking for a tablet to binge Netflix, scroll through social media, or take notes, the M4 might be overkill. The regular iPad or even the iPad Air could save you a ton of cash without sacrificing much performance for those tasks.

One thing that really stands out with the M4 model is its OLED display—it's the first time Apple's put OLED in an iPad, and the colors are just chef's kiss. Watching HDR content feels like you're peeking into another dimension. But, and this is a big but, the price tag is steep. You're looking at a premium that might make you pause, especially if you're not leveraging all that power. Also, iPadOS still feels like it's holding back the hardware. There are moments where I wish it could just fully embrace the potential of the M4, like proper multitasking or more desktop-class apps. So, unless you're all-in on Apple's vision or need that specific combo of portability and power, it might be worth waiting to see how software evolves to match the hardware. Personally, I love mine, but I also use it for work every single day—otherwise, I'd probably feel guilty about the splurge.