During its “Let Loose” virtual event, Apple announced its next-generation M4 processor, making a surprise debut in the new, redesigned iPad Pro. This move marks a significant strategic shift, as it’s the first time a new class of Apple Silicon has launched in an iPad before a Mac, signaling the company’s aggressive push into AI-powered computing.
Built on a second-generation 3-nanometer process, the M4 chip delivers a substantial performance leap. Apple claims its new 10-core CPU is up to 50% faster than the M2 chip in the previous iPad Pro. The 10-core GPU introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the iPad for the first time, promising pro-level rendering and more realistic gaming experiences.
However, the main focus of the M4 is its enhanced Neural Engine. Apple calls it the company’s “most powerful Neural Engine ever,” capable of performing an astounding 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This makes it 60 times faster than the A11 Bionic’s original Neural Engine. This immense power is explicitly designed to make the iPad Pro an “outrageously powerful device for artificial intelligence.”
This hardware upgrade lays the groundwork for significant software advancements expected at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). With the M4’s AI prowess now established, the industry anticipates the unveiling of new AI-driven features in iPadOS and across Apple’s ecosystem. The M4’s debut in the iPad Pro, rather than a MacBook, repositions the tablet as a premier device for developers and creative professionals who require cutting-edge performance for demanding AI and graphics tasks. The chip also powers the device’s new “Ultra Retina XDR” tandem OLED display, enabling unprecedented brightness and color accuracy in a device that is now Apple’s thinnest product ever.
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