2024 iPad M4 Review

Instead of writing a typical review quoting Apple’s specs and complaining about iPadOS, like most of the reviews out there, I thought I would discuss how I am using the 13 inch, M4 iPad.

Media King!

First off, the screen is the best I have seen on any device.  It has me watching more programs and movies.   I haven’t watched Black Hawk Down in a while, but pulled it up in Plex and the detail and shades of black are amazing.  As a portable media consumption device, it has no equal. Unless you have an OLED screen, this probably won't do it justice, but I have a couple unedited screenshots below:

Of course, the iPad is an amazing media player because it can be held in hand resting against your body, so it doesn’t need a table to be effective.  It can also fit just about anywhere if you have a stand or a case with a kickstand or another way to help it standup. Since the display is so bright now, you can use it outside more often. The M4 improves the experience because of the tandem OLED display.   While I am not one to usually watch first run movies on a thirteen inch screen, doing so here would not be nearly as much of a sacrifice.  The detail is mind blowing.

Magazines

Of course, the screen is great for magazines.  It has so much detail, even outside in most places thanks to the high brightness levels. I have Apple One, the family subscription plan from Apple.  While it’s expensive, it gives me a lot for that money.  News+ has many magazines that take advantage of the gorgeous display.  However, for me, the other thing that makes the experience so much better is the thinner and lighter iPad.  I can feel it every time I pick it up.  Below is a pic from one of my favorite photography magazines.  I should mention that my library also allows free access to Libby, so I have a lot of other books and magazines available. 

Photography Workflow

Speaking of photography, I switched my main workflow to the iPad a few months ago.  I cancelled Adobe’s Photography plan and paid a one time fee for Raw Power.  It is very similar but uses iCloud rather than Adobe’s cloud if you want to save flagged files to the cloud.  I will discuss this in more detail in the future, but viewing, editing and flagging photos on the M4 is a treat!  Because of the light feel of such a large screen, I can sit or lay on the couch with the Pencil and get most of my work done.  When it comes to editing, I have invested in several apps over the years.  With the Pencil, I prefer Pixelmator (most of the time), though there are several photo apps that incorporate it.

Gaming

I also decided to start using this for gaming since the screen is so bright and vibrant.  I got an inexpensive PS4 style controller and paired it up with NBA 2k24 last night.  So much fun!  Looking forward to using it with my Arcade fighting games, as well.  Since Apple One comes with Apple Arcade, I plan to use more of this service to get my money’s worth. I only have so much time to devote to gaming, so the Arcade style is my preference.

Notes and Drawing

I mainly use the Apple Notes application, but I do have as subscription to Notability, so I may spend some time with it this time around.  Being able to take notes is a real treat with the Pencil.  For a long time, I used the iPad as my main note taking device for work, so I often used the Pencil to scribble down phone call information or take notes in meetings.  Of course, with the new features of the Pencil Pro, we get haptic feedback, a tool bar that pops up when you squeeze it , other customization, and even "find my" support.

My wife is an artist, so I know she will appreciate the updated Procreate with the new Pencil Pro features.  I purchased the app a while back and messed around with it, but never use it all that much and it has been out of mind.  I am going to show the app to her and I know she will love it.  It may cost us the price of another iPad, so holding off on that for now.  LOL

External Display

I have multiple ways to connect this to my main displays in my office.  I have the ability to drop it in a dock and see the external screen on my third office screen (a 43 inch Visio).  This allows me to have apps running on a screen above my main Samsung display.  The upside here is universal control with my Mac.  The iPad can share my mouse and keyboard and I can even use the iPad to launch Mac applications with Alfred.  

Secondly, I also use this with the Samsung display.  I have an OWC 13-1 Thunderbolt dock that is connected to two SSDs that I drop my SD Card photos to when I am home or out and about with a more portable dock.   This OWC dock has USB-C in and out, so it also feeds the thunderbolt input on the Samsung. 

​This allows me to use Raw Power on a bigger screen when desired.  It is also just nice for getting all kinds of work done since it shares the DASKeyboard and Logitech mouse I use daily at my desk.  It’s the best typing experience for my needs.  

Secondary display

I should also mention that it works as a second display for the Mac when I need to use Final Cut when I am on the road (which is rare these days).  It can also be used as the main display with a portable screen for a secondary display on the road.   The iPad is simply a very versatile machine!  Below is an older video that discusses using the iPad with a secondary monitor.

Portable Workstation

When I am out and about, I currently use an Ajazz Bluetooth mechanical keyboard and Logitech Ergo MX mouse.  This mouse uses a ball on top to control the curser rather than needing to move the mouse around, so it can be used on the arm of a chair or in any tight space, when needed.   On my M1 iPad, I used a Logitech keyboard case that I loved, but it was heavy and I rarely used the keyboard, so still looking for a case that will fill my needs on the run.  

I would love the Apple Folio with Keyboard, like they have had for sale in the past.  I have a similar case on my old 9.7 iPad Pro and the design is light and useful when I need a keyboard.  I am keeping an eye out for something similar, but I may just live without being able to use a keyboard on the couch.  In my many years of having a keyboard available with the case, I can can’t on two hands the number of times I have used it that way on the couch. 

I mainly use the onscreen keyboard or take the iPad to my office to work with my main setup when I have a lot of writing to do.  Right now, I just have a cheap case with cover for protection that I am using and it is working well.  Below is an example of my portable setup.  As you can see, this isn't something I am going to just carry out to the backyard like my Logitech case.  However, on vacation, I can just set this up on the kitchen table and have it available if needed.  As I said, I mainly use the iPad in hand, so this is just a secondary setup when needed.  Not too bad at home since I already have the keyboard and mouse ready and waiting.  The picture has one of my prior iPads, but the basic setup is the same.

Music

Music is one way that the iPad excels.  It works as a battery operated music streamer with a beautiful display.  As I mentioned, I have a dock in my office with HDMI and USB out.  The HDMI feeds my Visio, but the iPad also feeds my Topping D10 USB DAC.  Unlike the Mac, it does bit rate switching on the fly with Apple Music, so it is a hi res audio streamer.   If you price out a steamer with a display (usually a small LCD nearly impossible to read from across the room), without all of the other things the iPad can do, the $350 iPad could be bought just for audio and make an audiophile smile.  In my case, I need to get more from the iPad, but music streaming fits beautifully into the package.  

It also works great as just a display.  Sometimes, I want to listen to audio via a Wiim streamer via Amazon Music.  I have the Wiim Pro in my living room.  The iPad will display the album art even when I have it sitting across the room.  Finally, there is an app called Now Playing that will listen for music and show album art (and other information about the artist and album), so CDs and Vinyl can still show the now playing information.

While the iPad makes a great music streamer and album display device at home, it is also great on the road.  Paired up with a USB DAC, like HiDisz or Dragonfly, you aren’t always stuck with lower quality compressed music from earbuds (though, those are quite convenient because of the lack of cords).  This will allow for audiophile audio no matter where you are!  Below is my most popular Youtube video (back when the algorithm was nicer to part time YouTubers) showing how this was done several years ago.  It is easier now since Apple went to USB-C.   

Video calls

Since more and more people are using the iPad for video calls, Apple added the camera to the landscape side of the device. Since most cases and keyboard options are geared toward landscape, this was a great decision.  Unfortunately, this meant a complete redesign of the case, so none of the old cases, covers, Pencils, etc… work with it.  

General Computing

It still works for all of my general computing needs…email, the web, home control, security cameras, etc.. The list goes on and on! 

A side note..One of the issues with Apple supplying the same reviewers that reviewed the Mac with iPads, is that these reviewers want to use it like a Mac.  I have seen many of them complain about the thinness when they wanted more battery life.  No, my friends, I much prefer the lighter iPad.  Anytime it’s used like a tablet without a keyboard, it’s a benefit for it to be lighter and easier to hold by hand (though leverage helps, too, because it can lean against the body).    Also, just fitting it in a bag and carrying it with you is easier when it is lighter and thinner.  Personally, if it was the same size and weight of the M1, I would not have bought this model.  If you need more battery life than the 10 hours or so they offer, carry an external battery since you obviously don’t care about weight. 

The Wrap Up

While the iPad is not for everyone, they do fill a huge portion of my computing needs around the house.  The better screen and lighter weight mean I will use this more than my last M1, 12.9 iPad.  It was too bulky and heavy to want to use it on the couch, so I would often turn to my lighter 9.7 iPad.  The old iPad is so much slower that it would cause frustration and I would often just pick up my phone for activities I did away from my desk.  Just the new form factor has made a huge difference in how often I will use this device.  Now I use it all day, while I work, for music (when I am working from home) and use it most evenings to do the activities I mentioned above.  

Did this update change the way I use the iPad?  Well, Apple is still using the same iPadOS (basically) that they updated last year.   We are a few months away from the next update, so some of this remains to be seen.  However, what it does is make me want to use it more often, which when you pay this much for a tablet, using it more often, means you get more value for your money.

Upsides:
Lighter and thinner
Gorgeous tandem OLED
M4 chip makes everything faster - but has potential for future use.
New Pencil features
Better location for front facing camera
The LiDAR Scanner is better

Downsides:
Expensive accessories 
Many Pro apps don't work as well as their desktop counterparts
Expensive in general
Some features require an expensive update to a terabyte of storage.
No Apple calculator app ( this is a joke..I just have seen this so many times, I had to include it for the laugh)

A performance comparison from Max Tech

For those curious about performance difference between the M2 iPad Pro (I upgraded from M1) and the M4 iPad Pro, below is the only video I have seen on the subject.  Even with the old iPadOS 
software, the performance is quite impressive.