tablet
Apple is making the iPad more competitive with notebooks
The next iPad Pro will get the M4 chip. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
iPad sales had recently fallen – now Apple is updating the model range. The upgraded new iPad Pro in particular can more than keep up with notebooks.
The next iPad Pro is the first Apple device with the M4 chip, which is, among other things, more focused on applications with artificial intelligence. The model series also has an OLED screen, and the version with a 13-inch display is the thinnest Apple device to date with a thickness of 5.1 millimeters, as the company emphasized at the presentation on Tuesday.
According to industry analysts, Apple continues to clearly hold first place in the tablet business with a market share of well over 30 percent. But iPad sales had recently fallen, also because Apple took its time updating the model series.
The company previously described the iPad as the vision for the future of personal computers. But in recent years, Mac computers have experienced a surge in popularity among users after switching from Intel chips to processors developed in-house. With the powerful Pro model, the iPad could once again compete with the Mac as a universal computer.
In the new, more robust keyboard dock, it looks more like a notebook than ever – and at the same time it can also be used as a tablet with a touchscreen, which Macs don’t have. However, the iPad operating system still gives users less freedom than macOS.
There was also an improved pen for iPads, which are often used by professional users for graphic applications. On Tuesday, Apple also updated the cheaper iPad Air model series, which now also has a larger version with a 13-inch display. In all new devices, the camera has been moved to the long side next to the display – which means that it is now less likely to accidentally cover it with your finger.