San Francisco, CA – Apple held its highly anticipated ‘Let loose’ event today, unveiling the latest iPad hardware in a 38-minute presentation that showcased the company’s most advanced products yet. Alongside the new hardware, Apple also introduced some unexpected software updates.
The highlight of the event was the debut of the M4 iPad Pro, featuring Apple’s next-generation M4 chip. Available for purchase now and set to be released on May 15, the new iPad Pro boasts the Ultra Retina XDR display powered by OLED technology. This model also offers a nano-texture glass option, along with a thinner design and an updated front-facing camera placement.
In addition to the M4 iPad Pro, Apple also introduced the iPad Air 6, now available in a 13-inch model alongside the existing 11-inch version. The iPad Air 6 incorporates the M2 chip, aligns with the landscape front-facing camera trend, and offers higher starting storage tiers.
Furthermore, Apple introduced the Apple Pencil Pro, a new iteration of its popular stylus that features a squeeze gesture for enhanced functionality and a gyroscope for precise controls. The Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with both the M4 iPad Pro and the iPad Air 6.
Apple also unveiled the Magic Keyboard for the M4 iPad Pro, boasting a thinner and lighter design compared to previous models, along with new features like a larger trackpad and a function row. Additionally, the company announced updates to its professional software lineup, introducing Final Cut Pro 2 and Logic Pro 2 for iPad.
A surprise announcement came in the form of the Final Cut Camera app, designed for iPhone and iPad to complement the Live Multicam feature of Final Cut Pro for iPad. This app is expected to launch later this spring, offering advanced video recording capabilities to professionals.
While no updates were provided for the iPad mini or base iPad models, Apple did reduce the price of the 10th gen base iPad to $349 and discontinued the 9th gen option. The event focused on the upper tier of iPad hardware, positioning Apple for future OS updates expected to be announced at an AI-focused WWDC in June.
Overall, Apple’s ‘Let loose’ event was a showcase of innovation and advancement in the iPad lineup, setting the stage for the company’s next steps in the tech industry.