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Should I get the 11-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro M4?
Choosing between the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro M4 comes down to how you'll actually use it day-to-day.
11-Inch: The Portable Champion
Perfect for:
- Reading books and articles
- Note-taking and sketching
- Travel and commuting
- One-handed use
- Casual browsing and media
Trade-offs:
- Cramped Magic Keyboard experience
- Less screen real estate for multitasking
- Smaller canvas for detailed artwork
13-Inch: The Productivity Powerhouse
Perfect for:
- Laptop replacement scenarios
- Professional creative work
- Video editing and complex tasks
- Better Magic Keyboard experience
- Multitasking with Stage Manager
Trade-offs:
- Less portable (132g heavier)
- $200+ more expensive
- Too large for comfortable handheld reading
The Decision Framework
Choose 11-inch if: You want the classic iPad experience—portable, versatile, perfect for reading and light work. Great for students and casual users.
Choose 13-inch if: You're replacing a laptop or doing serious creative work. The larger screen and better keyboard make productivity tasks much more pleasant.
Bottom line: Both have identical performance and features. The 11-inch is better as a tablet, the 13-inch is better as a laptop replacement.
Can the iPad Pro M4 replace a laptop for work?
This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is frustratingly complex: it depends entirely on what you do for work.
Where the iPad Pro M4 Excels
Creative workflows: Photo editing, digital art, video editing, music production, and presentations work beautifully. Apps like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Procreate are genuinely desktop-class.
Content consumption: Reading, research, media consumption, and note-taking are actually better on iPad than traditional laptops.
Portable productivity: Email, documents, and basic business tasks work well, especially with the Magic Keyboard.
Where It Falls Short
Traditional computing: No true file system, limited multitasking, and software restrictions make complex workflows frustrating.
Development work: Programming, terminal access, and developer tools are severely limited.
Browser limitations: Some web apps don't work properly due to Safari restrictions.
Multiple monitors: External display support is limited compared to real laptops.
The Bottom Line
If your work revolves around creative apps, media, and basic productivity, the 13-inch iPad Pro M4 with Magic Keyboard can absolutely replace a laptop.
If you need traditional desktop software, complex file management, or development tools, you'll still need a MacBook Pro alongside your iPad.
Pro tip: Many professionals use both—iPad for creative work and travel, MacBook for heavy lifting.
Is the Apple Pencil 2nd generation compatible with iPad Pro M4?
Here's some frustrating news if you're upgrading: your Apple Pencil 2nd generation won't work with the iPad Pro M4. At all.
Why This Happened
Apple moved the front camera from the side to the top of the iPad (which is great for video calls), but this completely messed up where the Apple Pencil charges and connects. It's not just a software issue—the physical design changed.
Your Options (None Great)
If you want to use a stylus with your new iPad Pro M4, you'll need to buy:
Apple Pencil Pro ($129) - The full-featured replacement with squeeze controls and haptic feedback
USB-C Apple Pencil ($79) - A cheaper option, but you lose pressure sensitivity and wireless charging
The Frustrating Reality
This means upgrading to the iPad Pro M4 costs more than you think. Even if you already have a perfectly good Apple Pencil 2, you're spending another $79-$129 just to keep drawing and taking notes.
Apple didn't provide any trade-in programs or discounts to ease this transition, which feels pretty rough for loyal customers who've invested in the ecosystem.
Silver Lining?
The Apple Pencil Pro genuinely has some cool new features if you spring for it. But it's still annoying to be forced into this purchase when your current pencil works perfectly fine—just not with your shiny new iPad.
What is the battery life like during real-world usage?
Let's be real about iPad Pro M4 battery life: Apple's 10-hour claim is optimistic for most real-world usage.
What You'll Actually Get
For casual stuff (reading, browsing, watching videos), you'll get pretty close to those 10 hours. The M4 is genuinely efficient for everyday tasks.
For mixed work (notes, email, light photo editing), expect 6-8 hours depending on brightness and how much you're multitasking.
For serious work (video editing, intense gaming, creative apps), you're looking at 3-5 hours tops. That gorgeous OLED screen is a battery hog when you're pushing it.
The Reality Check
Here's what drains the battery fastest:
- Cranking up that brilliant display to full brightness
- Video editing or 3D work that makes the M4 chip work hard
- Gaming with high frame rates
- Multiple pro apps running simultaneously
Pro Tips
If you're doing intensive work, just accept that you'll need to charge more often. Many professionals keep a fast charger handy or work plugged in during heavy sessions. The fast charging helps—you can get a decent boost during lunch breaks.
Bottom line: For typical iPad stuff, battery life is still excellent. It's only when you really push this powerful machine that you'll notice the drain.
How much RAM does the iPad Pro M4 have?
Here's something that might surprise you: the iPad Pro M4's RAM isn't the same across all models. Apple ties memory directly to storage, which is both smart and a little frustrating.
The Simple Breakdown
Choose 256GB or 512GB storage? You get 8GB of RAM. Go for 1TB or 2TB? You unlock 16GB of RAM.
This isn't arbitrary—Apple's unified memory design means the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine all share this RAM pool. Think of it as everyone sharing one really efficient workspace instead of having separate, smaller offices.
What This Means for You
If you're a casual user (browsing, reading, basic apps), 8GB is honestly plenty. You won't feel limited.
If you're a creative professional (video editing, complex photo work, 3D modeling), that jump to 16GB makes a real difference. You'll notice smoother performance when juggling multiple demanding apps or working with large files.
The catch? Getting 16GB means paying for at least 1TB of storage, even if you don't need that much space. It's Apple's way of segmenting the market, but the performance benefits are genuine for power users.
Pro tip: For most professionals, the 1TB iPad Pro M4 hits the sweet spot of ample storage and maximum RAM without overpaying for 2TB.
What are the exact dimensions and weight of the iPad Pro M4?
When Apple says the iPad Pro M4 is thin, they really mean it. We're talking about a device that's genuinely shocking to hold for the first time.
The 11-inch model clocks in at just 5.3mm thick and weighs less than a pound (444 grams). That's lighter than many paperback books! The 13-inch version is even more impressive at 5.1mm thick, weighing 1.28 pounds—still incredibly light for such a large display.
Why This Matters
To put this in perspective, the iPad Pro M4 is thinner than an iPhone and about half the thickness of older iPad Pros. When you pick one up, there's this moment where your brain has to adjust to holding something so substantial yet impossibly thin.
The 13-inch model being thinner than the 11-inch seems counterintuitive, but Apple's engineering made it possible. Both sizes feel perfectly balanced in your hands, despite weighing noticeably different amounts.
Bottom line: If you're coming from an older iPad, prepare to be amazed. If you're deciding between sizes, the weight difference (about 135 grams) is definitely noticeable but not deal-breaking for most people. For the ultimate portable experience, the 11-inch iPad Pro M4 hits the sweet spot.
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