The new iPad Pro M4 seems to have been made as a competitor to the many Samsung tablets available. This is because, unlike other iPads, it has an OLED screen similar to most Samsung tablets.
In this article, we will compare the iPad Pro M4 13 inches with the iPad Pro 12.9 inches to determine which is best for digital art.
Similar Post: iPad Pro M4 Vs. iPad Air M2
Apple iPad Pro M4 13 2024
- Screen size: 13 inches
- Display: Ultra Retina XDR
- Resolution: 2752 x 2064 pixels
- Chip: Apple M4
- RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, non-expandable
- Weight: 1.28 pounds
- Rear Camera: 12MP Wide
- Front Camera: 12 MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage
- Audio: Four speakers, four studio-quality microphones
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Connectivity: USB-C (Thunderbolt or USB 4), Wi-Fi 6E
- Security: Face ID
The 2024-version iPad Pro 13 inches is the most powerful iPad tablet available. The major upgrade on these two new tablets is the OLED screen display, which is similar to the screen on Android tablets.
Both options will come with an upgraded M4 Chip processor, twice as powerful as the older M2 Chip processor on the 2022 iPad Pro.
Additionally, you will have 16 GB of RAM, which makes it easy to run any complex tasks. You will have 256 GB to 2 TB of storage space, but it is not expandable. To upgrade, you must buy the next size.
Both the Apple iPad M4 tablets feature a large, bright display with a high 2,752×2,064 pixel resolution and 1,000 nits to 1600 nits brightness levels.
Thanks to this brightness and the high 120 Hz screen refresh rate, the display is fast and perfect for 4K video editing, drawing, and complex gaming.
You will be able to use this tablet both indoors in low-light and high-light outdoor conditions. The Ultra Retina XDR OLED display is more crisp than the older Liquid Retina option.
The Apple iPad Pro M4 is compatible with an Apple Pencil Pro, which is better than the older Apple Pencils 1 and 2.
Like earlier versions, you will have to buy the pencil separately, which compounds the general price. The pen is perfect for high-pressure sensitivity.
Overall, the iPad Pro 13 is very similar to its predecessor, only slightly better. Its slim and sleek body and long battery life make it easily portable.
5 Improvements on the iPad Pro M4 vs. iPad Pro 12.9
- Thinner Build
- Longer Battery Life
- Better Display
- Better Apple Pencil Pro
- Powerful and efficient M4 chip processor
Thinner Build
The new tablet features a thinner and lighter design. Compared to the iPad Pro 12.9, the new iPad Pro has a significantly thinner body, scaled down from 6.4 mm to 5.1 mm.
It is the thinnest iPad tablet ever made. I am not sure this was necessary since iPads are usually already thin, but they had to respond to Samsung’s Ultra Thin tablets. Although this slim build will reduce the storage space, it makes for easy portability and usage, so it is not at all bad.
Longer Battery Life
The iPad Pro M4 11 inches features a larger battery that offers unmatched long battery life. Its bigger brother, the 13″ model, maintains similar battery performance at 10 hours, just like previous iPad Pro 12.9 tablets. It maintains long usage times without frequent recharges.
The enhanced battery life makes easy portability possible, and you can use it out of the office without the need to keep charging.
Better Display
This iPad Pro version matches up to Samsung tablets with an Ultra Retina XDR OLED but with way better resolution, brightness, and refresh rate.
It offers higher color quality and contrast. This ensures an immersive viewing experience with a rich color display. Blacks will appear rich, with a wide difference in bright areas.
Better Apple Pencil Pro
Older iPads, like the iPad Air and iPad Pro, used Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2 styluses. The new iPad versions use a new and better Apple Pencil Pro. It might not seem to be too different, but it supports a range of new features, such as Find My Support, a squeeze sensor for tool selection, and a haptic motor for tactile feedback.
The Pencil Pro also supports barrel rotation for specific tools, enhancing the experience for artists and designers.
If you prefer the older pencil, the iPad M4 is compatible with the older USBC stylus.
Powerful and efficient M4 chip processor
The iPad Pro M4 is the most powerful iPad ever made. Its M4 chip processor is made on a top-notch 3-nanometer process.
It features up to 10 CPU cores with a larger neural engine, which provides top-level performance for complex tasks such as animation or video editing.
iPad Pro 12.9 Inches 2022
The Apple iPad Pro has been the best tablet for many professional functions, including drawing and digital art.
For the longest time, Android lovers had been forced to play second fiddle, with no Android-based tablet even coming close in terms of power and efficiency.
In 2022, however, Samsung has changed this narrative by producing the Samsung S8 series of tablets with three new powerful Android tablets to challenge the iPad Pro 12.9 inch.
These three tablets: are the Samsung S8, the Samsung S8+, and the Samsung S8 Ultra.
Although they were not able to replace it, they came very close, especially with the latest Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra.
In this article, we will compare the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and the iPad Pro 12.9 inch so that you can understand the differences and similarities before choosing the best one for you.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Specifications
- Screen Size: 12.9 inches
- Resolution: 2732 x 2048 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
- Brightness: 1000 nits (1600 nits peak brightness)
- Stylus: Apple Pencil, 2nd Gen
- Processor: Apple M2 Processor
- RAM: 8 / 16 GB
- Storage Options: 128 GB to 2 TB Non expandable
- Operating System: iOS
- Security: Face ID
- Stereo: Stereo with 4 speakers
Body and Build
The overall look and feel of the body of a tablet is the first feature that captures the attention of the buyer. Many artists prefer a large but lightweight tablet with a slim and sleek body for its aesthetic look and portability.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and iPad Pro come with a large surface area to accommodate the large screen area for a good user experience.
The iPad Pro comes with an overall size of 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm, while the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra is slightly larger at 326.4 x 208.5 x 5.58 mm.
These measurements mean that both tablets are large but slim and sleek in thickness, making them very cool. Both are around 5.9 mm thick, which is nice.
Both tablets are strong and sturdy, built with a strong all-metallic back and a compact front side to hold elements such as cameras, screens, and buttons in place.
The iPad Pro comes in two color variations: silver and space gray, while the Samsung S8 Ultra is in a rich graphite color.
Both tablets weigh less than a kilogram, with the iPad coming in lighter at 682 grams and the Samsung S8 Ultra at 725 grams. This is close, and you may not tell the difference.
Screen and Display
One thing that sets apart the iPad Pro is its high-quality, crisp, and clean screen. It comes with a smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra, at 12.9 inches, compared to 14.6 inches on the Android Tablet.
Although larger, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra is not able to match up to the iPad Pro resolution and display, with the iPad Pro displaying a better and more colorful and rich image display.
This is because of the iPad aspect ratio and unique Liquid Retina display technology not present on the Samsung tablet.
Additionally, the iPad boasts larger brightness levels of up to 1000 nits to 1600 nits maximum, compared to 500 nits on Samsung. This means that the iPad will perform far better in low- and high-light conditions compared to the Samsung.
Overall, the iPad has a better screen with a 2732 x 2048 pixels resolution and 112% sRGB color accuracy compared to Samsung’s 157.8% sRGB color accuracy and 2960 x 1848 pixels resolution.
If you like playing games on your tablet, both screens feature a 120 Hz refresh rate that is good for gaming, so you can go with either. However, processing power and storage will set one tablet apart from the other, as discussed below.
Power and performance
Both the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra and the iPad Pro 12.9 inch are premium-level tablets. They pack enough power to easily replace your laptop as your go-to workstation for your professional work.
Both are great. The iPad Pro, however, proves to be better with more powerful features compared to the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra.
First, the iPad Pro has a more powerful M2 processor compared to Samsung’s older and slower Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. However, Samsung has a wider RAM and storage variety, with 8, 12, and 16 GB of RAM options compared to the iPad’s 8 and 16 GB only.
Additionally, Samsung comes with 3 storage sizes: 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, which are expandable using an SD card (microSD) and up to 1 TB. The iPad is not expandable but comes with size options from 128 GB up to 2 TB. You can choose between 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB options.
Samsung S Pen vs. Apple Pencil 2
Samsung Galaxy takes the day in this category because, when you buy, you get a free professional stylus S pen that was made with an artist in mind.
Additionally, it is compatible with many Samsung tablets, including the Samsung S6 Lite.
This makes the Samsung tablet more economical and flexible compared to the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro works with an Apple Pencil Second Generation, which is great and professional.
Unfortunately, you will have to buy it separately in addition to the expensive iPad Pro tablet.
Another downside of this pencil is that it is limited and may not work with older versions of the iPad, so you need to be careful when buying.
Both the S Pen and Apple Pencil score well when it comes to the ergonomic design that mimics a natural pen, making them good for drawing.
To add to this, the battery-free pen and high sensitivity make the pens perfect for both beginners and professional artists.
Cameras and speakers
Just like many other tablets, both of these tablets have a large space inside that allows space for high-quality speakers for your movie streaming and music.
Both tablets feature a high-quality stereo sound system with four high-quality speakers. iPads have a good camera system with 12 MP and 10 MP rear cameras and a 12 MP front camera.
Samsung has a slightly better front camera system with 12 MP and 12 MP Ultrawide, but a poor rear camera in comparison with 13 MP and 6 MP rear cameras. This difference will, however, not be too significant.
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Denis is a Graphic Designer with over 8 years experience. He can design logos, convert existing logos to vector format and print ready files. He enjoys designing fliers, banners, labels, social media graphics and posters. He spends most of his time creating digital art and vectors for different clients when not writing for this blog.