Apple Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M4 chip Built for Apple Intelligence Wi-Fi 512GB with OLED - Space Black Review
The 13-inch iPad Pro M4 has the most stunning screen we've ever seen on a tablet and outrageous performance. But is iPadOS enough to justify its sky-high price?
The 30-Second Version
The 13-inch iPad Pro M4 has the best screen and fastest chip in any tablet. It's also wildly expensive and held back by iPadOS. Buy it for the display, not for replacing your laptop.
Overview
The new 13-inch iPad Pro with the M4 chip is the best tablet screen you can buy, full stop. It's also the most powerful tablet on the planet. But here's the one thing you need to know: you're paying a premium for that stunning OLED display and Apple's brand of AI-ready power, and you're buying into an ecosystem that still treats the iPad like a giant phone when it comes to getting real work done. Our data shows it's a powerhouse for entertainment and media, but it stumbles on the productivity front compared to full-fledged laptops.
Performance
The M4 chip is a monster. With CPU and GPU performance landing in the 92nd and 90th percentiles respectively, this thing flies through apps and games. But the real story is the screen. That 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display is in the 98th percentile, and it shows. Everything from movies to photos looks incredible. What surprised us was the middling battery life score, sitting at the 49th percentile. For a device this thin with an OLED screen, maybe we shouldn't be shocked, but it's a trade-off.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong screen (97th percentile) 97th
- Strong cpu (94th percentile) 94th
- Strong gpu (92th percentile) 92th
- Strong storage (89th percentile) 89th
Cons
- Below average connectivity (21th percentile) 21th
- Below average feature (27th percentile) 27th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 10 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Display
| Size | 13" |
| Resolution | 2752 |
| Panel | OLED |
Physical
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs |
| OS | Apple iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
Worth it? Only if your wallet is deep and your needs are specific. You're paying for the pinnacle of tablet hardware and the Apple ecosystem. If you just need a great screen for media and light tasks, there are much cheaper options. This is a luxury item, not a practical necessity.
Price History
vs Competition
The most direct competitor is the Microsoft Surface Pro. For a similar price, you get a full Windows laptop experience with that OLED screen and the new Snapdragon X Elite chip. It's a better productivity machine out of the box. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and just want the biggest, best iPad screen, the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro is a more portable and slightly cheaper option with the same core power. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers a fantastic Android tablet experience for hundreds less, though it can't touch the M4's raw performance.
| Spec | Apple Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M4 chip Built for Apple Intelligence Wi-Fi 512GB with OLED - Space Black | Apple iPad Pro Apple 11" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 512GB, | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung 12.4" Galaxy Tab S10+ 256GB Multi-Touch | Lenovo Yoga Tab Series Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus | HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | M4 | Apple M5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek 9300 | Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3, QCM8650 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 16 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 512 | 1000 | 256 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 13" 2752x2064 | 11" 2420x1668 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 10.1" 1920x1200 |
| OS | Apple iPadOS | iPadOS | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | false | true | true | true | false | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 512GB storage enough?
For most people, yes. 512GB is the sweet spot. You can store a ton of apps, photos, and even some 4K video projects. Only go for 1TB or 2TB if you're a pro video editor working directly on the device.
Q: Should I get the Magic Keyboard?
If you plan to type a lot, absolutely. It transforms the iPad into a quasi-laptop. But it's another $300+, so factor that into the already high cost. It's essential for productivity, optional for pure media consumption.
Q: How is the battery life really?
Our data puts it in the 49th percentile, which means it's average. You'll get a full day of use, but not much more. Heavy screen-on time with that bright OLED will drain it faster.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a laptop replacement to do serious multitasking, coding, or complex file management, this isn't it. iPadOS will frustrate you. Go get a Microsoft Surface Pro or a MacBook Air instead. They're better tools for actual work.
Verdict
We recommend the 13-inch iPad Pro M4 if you're an artist, designer, or media consumer who values the absolute best display and needs Apple Pencil Pro integration, and money is no object. For everyone else—especially if you need to get real work done on the go—the Microsoft Surface Pro or even a MacBook Air offers more versatility and better value. This iPad is a breathtaking piece of engineering that feels like it's waiting for software to catch up.