M4 iPad Pro 13-inch (left) and 11-inch models. [사진=애플]
Apple unveiled the new ‘M4 iPad Pro’, which strengthens on-device artificial intelligence (AI) functions and is equipped with an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display for the first time in the series. This can be interpreted as a move to emphasize that the iPad can be used as a content creation device beyond a content consumption device by showing the use of on-device AI to enhance productivity.
Apple held an ‘Apple Event’ at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, USA on the 7th (local time) and announced that it would launch the new iPad Pro (Early 2024) equipped with the next-generation mobile AP (application processor) M4.
The M4 iPad Pro is equipped with an Ultra Retina .
Apple broke industry expectations that the iPad Pro would initially be equipped with the M3 AP used in the MacBook series and decided to install the M4 AP, which has the most powerful performance among existing mobile chips. The M4 AP, made in TSMC’s second-generation 3nm (nanometer) process, is equipped with 28 billion transistors and consists of 3 to 4 high-performance cores and 6 low-power cores, which kills two birds with one stone: improved performance and reduced power consumption. Apple explained.
Based on this, the M4 iPad Pro provides central processing unit (CPU) performance that is 1.5 times faster than its predecessor, the M2 iPad Pro. Based on this, you can quickly edit large-capacity sound sources or 4K resolution videos.
The graphics processing unit (GPU) of the M4 AP has a dedicated processing unit dedicated to expressing ray tracing, a key topic in recent PC and mobile games. Based on this, by realistically expressing light sources in 3D graphics, mobile game graphics can be expressed more closely to high-end PC games and reality. Apple cited Activision Blizzard’s ‘Diablo: Immortal’ and UBIsoft’s ‘Assassin’s Creed: Mirage’ as representative examples of ray tracing-applied games, and emphasized that both games can be enjoyed comfortably on the M4 iPad Pro.
In addition, a dynamic memory allocation technology called dynamic caching was added, allowing the GPU’s DRAM usage to be allocated in real time in hardware. This makes it possible to run apps that require powerful GPU performance, such as 3D games and AI, more effectively.
M4 iPad Pro [사진=애플]
According to Apple, the M4 AP has significantly improved the power-to-performance ratio, providing equivalent performance to the M2 AP with half the power consumption. Apple also emphasized that, targeting Intel’s AI PC processor, Core Ultra, “M4 AP can achieve the same performance with only 25% of the power consumption compared to the latest PC chips installed in laptops.”
In addition, the M4 iPad Pro is equipped with a next-generation neural engine chip (NPU, neural network processing unit) dedicated to on-device AI processing, allowing it to effectively infer (execute) AI in various apps. For example, in the Final Cut Pro app, you can separate the background and subject in a 4K resolution video with a single tap, and in the Staff Pad app, you can automatically create sheet music in real time just by listening to a piano performance, and various on-device AI-based functions. Support.
Regarding this, Apple said, “Competitors (such as Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm) are now entering the on-device AI market, but Apple has been responding to the AI app era by installing the neural engine on iPads and other devices for several years.”
Another feature of the M4 iPad Pro is that it improves the average brightness and maximum brightness, which are considered weak points of the OLED panel compared to the existing mini LED panel, by introducing ‘tandem OLED’ technology that uses two OLED panels at the same time. Through this, a total screen brightness of 1000 nits based on SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and HDR (High Dynamic Range) and a brightness of 1600 nits based on HDR maximum brightness were achieved, allowing the device to be used comfortably even under daylight sunlight. Nano-texture glass, which reduces reflected light, was also introduced for the first time in the iPad series.
By introducing a self-luminous OLED panel, Apple was able to omit backlights and color filters from the iPad, which led to the thinnest iPad ever. The thickness of the M4 iPad is 5.3mm for the 11-inch model and 5.1mm for the 13-inch model, making it even thinner than the thinnest Apple product, the iPod Nano. The product weight is also more than 100g lighter than its predecessor based on the 13-inch model.
In addition, taking this thinness into account, the dedicated magic keyboard was also designed to be thinner and lighter. Function keys, which were frequently requested by users, were added to enable faster control of iPad functions, and the size of the trackpad (touchpad) was enlarged to allow users to use the iPad as if using a MacBook.
However, according to Apple, users need to be careful because the M4 iPad Pro is known to have a large performance difference between the 256/512GB storage space model and the 1/2TB model. The 256·512GB model is equipped with a 9-core CPU and 8GB DRAM, and the nano texture glass option cannot be selected. On the other hand, the 1 and 2TB models are equipped with a 10-core CPU and 16GB DRAM, and you can select the nano texture glass option when purchasing.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is explaining the features of the M4 iPad Pro. [사진=애플 이벤트 갈무리]
The price of the M4 iPad Pro starts at 1,499,000 won for the 11-inch model, and 1,999,000 won for the 13-inch model. If you expand the storage space or add 5G communication (cellular) functions, the price will rise further. Online orders will be accepted starting May 7 in 29 countries, including the United States, and will be sold in offline stores such as Apple Stores starting May 15. However, the Korean release date has not yet been determined.
In addition, Apple decided to install the M2 AP in the iPad Air, a mid-range product located between the premium iPad Pro and the low-priced iPad, and add a 13-inch model. The price of the M2 iPad Air starts at 899,000 won for the 11-inch model and 1,199,000 won for the 13-inch model. Apple Pencil also added ‘Apple Pencil Pro’, which detects the user’s gestures and calls up various tool menus, and supports more precise control with a gyroscope.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “The M4 iPad Pro is the biggest change since the iPad was launched,” adding, “We will continue to create an environment where everyone from general consumers to professionals can consume and create content using the iPad Pro.” “It is,” he said. Specific on-device AI functions utilizing the performance of the M4 iPad Pro are scheduled to be unveiled at the annual developer event ‘WWDC 2024’ to be held in June.
Reporter information Kang Il-yong zero@ajunews.com
©’Global economic newspaper in 5 languages’ Aju Economic Daily. Reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
