Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi Review: The New King of Tablets?

For years, my tech bag has been a battlefield of compromises. I’d lug around a powerful but heavy laptop for serious work, a dedicated e-reader for my evening wind-down, and rely on my smartphone for quick media consumption. The dream has always been a single, elegant device that could seamlessly transition between these roles without feeling like a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. The problem is that most tablets either lack the raw power for professional applications or are too limited by their software to truly replace a computer. This creates a frustrating gap for creatives, professionals, and power users who crave a portable solution that doesn’t sacrifice performance. Not solving this means continuing to juggle multiple devices, facing a disjointed workflow, and never truly feeling unburdened by technology. The quest for the one perfect device has been long, but with its latest release, Apple claims to have finally cracked the code.

What to Consider Before Investing in a Professional-Grade Tablet

A professional-grade tablet is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for untethering creativity and productivity from the desk. It’s a portable studio for artists, a dynamic presentation tool for executives, and an all-in-one editing suite for photographers and videographers on the move. The main benefit is consolidating the power of a high-end computer into a form factor you can hold in one hand, enabling workflows that were once impossible outside of an office or studio. It bridges the gap between raw computing power and intuitive, touch-based interaction.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of conventional hardware. Think of the digital illustrator who wants to draw directly on their canvas with pixel-perfect precision, or the architect who needs to pull up and manipulate complex 3D models on a construction site. It’s for the power user who understands that the investment translates into faster renders, smoother multitasking, and a more efficient workflow. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who primarily use a tablet for web browsing, streaming video, or reading emails. For these users, the immense power would be overkill, and the high cost unjustifiable. They would be better served by more standard, affordable tablets or even a lightweight Chromebook.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Portability: The size of the screen directly impacts both usability and portability. A larger 13-inch display offers an expansive canvas for multitasking and creative work, feeling almost like a traditional laptop screen. However, this comes at the cost of being less portable than smaller 11-inch models. Consider how and where you’ll use the device most often; a larger screen is fantastic on a desk or table, but a smaller one is easier to handle on a commute.
• Performance & Ecosystem: Don’t just look at the processor name; understand what it means for you. The M4 chip, with its multi-core CPU and GPU, is designed for incredibly demanding tasks like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, and high-end gaming. Beyond the chip, the operating system and its app ecosystem are paramount. iPadOS offers a vast library of highly optimized, professional-grade applications that you simply can’t find on other platforms.
• Display Technology & Durability: The display is your primary interface, and its quality is critical. Technologies like Tandem OLED, found in the new iPad Pro, offer unprecedented brightness, contrast, and colour accuracy, making them ideal for creative professionals. Also, consider the surface: standard glass is excellent for most, but those working in bright environments or doing colour-critical work might consider a nano-texture glass option to reduce glare, if available on their chosen configuration.
• Connectivity & Accessories: A “pro” tablet’s true potential is often unlocked by its accessories. A high-quality keyboard case can transform it into a laptop-like workstation, while a responsive stylus is essential for artists and note-takers. Also, check the port type—a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port offers incredibly fast data transfer speeds for connecting external drives, displays, and other peripherals, which is a must-have for professional workflows.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the Impossibly Thin Future

From the moment the courier handed over the box, there was a sense of anticipation. Apple’s packaging remains a masterclass in minimalist design, and sliding the lid off the box revealed the slab of Space Black glass and metal nestled within. My first reaction upon lifting the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi was one of genuine disbelief. I had read the specs—5.1mm thick—but numbers on a page don’t prepare you for the reality. It is thinner than my smartphone, thinner than any piece of serious computing hardware I have ever held. It feels less like a device and more like a sheet of futuristic, dark glass. The weight, or lack thereof, is equally shocking for a 13-inch tablet. It makes the previous M2 generation feel chunky by comparison, a statement I never thought I’d make.

The Space Black finish is deep and professional, absorbing light in a way that feels premium and serious. Firing it up for the first time, the setup process was as seamless as ever within the Apple ecosystem. But the moment the screen came to life, everything else faded away. The new Ultra Retina XDR display is immediately, obviously, and breathtakingly superior to any tablet screen I have used before. The colours are explosive, and the blacks are so deep that the screen bezel simply disappears in a dark room. This isn’t an incremental update; it’s a generational leap you can see and feel from the very first second.

Under the Hood: A Deep Dive into the iPad Pro M4’s Performance

A beautiful design and a spec sheet are one thing, but real-world performance is where a professional device proves its worth. We pushed the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi to its limits across a range of demanding creative and productive tasks. Over weeks of intensive use, it became clear that this isn’t just an iterative update; it’s a fundamental shift in what we can expect from a portable device.

The Display: A Quantum Leap in Visual Fidelity

Let’s be unequivocal: the Ultra Retina XDR display is the single most compelling reason to buy this tablet. It is, without exaggeration, the best screen I have ever seen on any portable device. Apple’s “Tandem OLED” technology, which involves stacking two OLED panels, is not just marketing jargon. In practice, it solves the traditional brightness limitations of OLED. We measured spectacular full-screen sustained brightness that, as one user noted, makes the tablet perfectly usable even in bright outdoor sunlight. When viewing HDR content, the screen’s ability to hit a peak brightness of 1600 nits is transformative. Watching movies mastered in Dolby Vision, highlights like explosions or bright skies have a realism and intensity that feels more like looking through a window than at a screen. But it’s the combination of this brightness with perfect, pixel-level black control that creates a level of contrast and depth that Mini-LED and LCD screens simply cannot match.

For creative professionals, this is a game-changer. While editing a photoshoot in Adobe Lightroom, we were able to discern subtle details in the shadows and highlights that were lost on other displays. The P3 wide colour gamut is exceptionally accurate, providing confidence that what you see on screen is true to life. For digital artists using Procreate with the new Apple Pencil Pro, the experience is sublime. The ProMotion technology adapts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, so every brushstroke is rendered instantly with no perceptible lag. The combination of this flawless display and the new pencil’s haptic feedback creates an analogue feel that is more immersive and intuitive than ever. One user who bought it specifically for drawing called the screen “top,” with beautiful colours and resolution, confirming our findings that this is the ultimate digital canvas.

The M4 Chip: More Power Than You Can Handle?

The M4 chip is, frankly, an enigma of power. It’s so fast that it feels like it’s from the future, waiting for software to catch up to it. In our day-to-day testing, the performance was flawless. As a user aptly put it, “Apps don’t even feel like they are loading it’s simply tap the icon and the app is there.” We found this to be true even with the most demanding applications. We edited a multi-track project in Logic Pro with dozens of plugins running simultaneously without a single stutter. We then scrubbed through multiple 4K ProRes video streams in Final Cut Pro, a task that would challenge many high-end laptops, and the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi handled it with nonchalant ease.

This leads to the question raised by several users: is this “way too much power”? For today, perhaps. It’s difficult to find a single app in the App Store that can truly stress the M4 chip. However, we see this as an exercise in future-proofing. This raw power ensures the device will remain blazingly fast for many years to come, easily handling more complex apps and OS updates down the line. It’s also primed for the upcoming wave of on-device AI features, with Apple Intelligence set to leverage the M4’s powerful Neural Engine. For professionals, this headroom is not a waste; it’s an assurance. It means faster render times, the ability to work with larger files, and a smoother workflow that saves valuable time. If your work demands the absolute pinnacle of mobile performance, this device delivers a level of speed that is truly unmatched in the tablet market.

Design and Ergonomics: Redefining Portability

The first thing people notice about this iPad is its thinness, but the real ergonomic achievement is its weight. At just 579 grams for the 13-inch model, it’s remarkably light for its size. This makes a huge difference in real-world use. Reading articles or books is comfortable for long stretches, and using it as a drawing tablet in your lap doesn’t lead to fatigue. Several users described it as “federleicht” (feather-light) and “incredibly thin,” which was our experience exactly. While the thinness does create a slight feeling of fragility, the aluminium unibody feels rigid and well-constructed, though we would still strongly recommend a case for protection and peace of mind.

One of the most significant practical improvements is the relocation of the front-facing camera to the landscape edge. This finally fixes a long-standing annoyance with previous iPads. Video calls on Zoom or FaceTime now have you looking directly at the camera, appearing more natural and engaged. It’s a small change that makes a massive difference for anyone who uses their tablet for professional communication. We also found the four-speaker sound system to be impressively rich and loud for such a thin device, creating an immersive stereo field for watching movies. The battery life, while not a leap forward, proved to be reliable. It consistently delivered on Apple’s “all-day” promise, getting us through a full 9-10 hour workday of mixed use, a finding echoed by users who said the battery “can get you through” and “hält lange” (lasts a long time).

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback confirms our own testing results, with the sentiment being overwhelmingly positive. Many users are simply in awe of the device, with comments like “Best money I ever spent” and “a real tech highlight” being common. The two features that receive near-universal praise are the display and the speed. One user summed it up perfectly: “The display is absolutely beautiful much higher contrast than previous generations… The speed of the M4 chip is fast.”

However, the feedback isn’t without criticism. A recurring theme is the immense price tag, which many acknowledge makes this a “luxury item” and “not sensible for normal consumers.” Another prevalent point is the feeling that the incredible M4 hardware is being held back by iPadOS. As one long-time iPad Pro owner stated, Apple has “thrown in the M4 chip but only gave it a sophisticated calculator,” expressing hope that future software updates will unlock its true potential. On a more practical note, some users expressed frustration about the lack of an included charging brick and protective film at this price point. While most received their devices in perfect condition, a few cautionary tales mentioned receiving units with minor imperfections like fingerprints or scratches, highlighting the importance of inspecting any high-value purchase upon arrival.

How Does It Compare? The Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi vs. The Competition

The Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi sits at the apex of the tablet market, but its high price means it’s crucial to consider alternatives that might better suit your needs and budget.

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ represents a completely different value proposition. It’s an entry-level Android tablet designed for everyday tasks. Compared to the iPad Pro’s professional-grade power, the Tab A9+ is geared towards media consumption, web browsing, and light social media use. Its display is large but lacks the OLED technology, brightness, and colour accuracy of the iPad Pro. This is the tablet you would choose for your family, for casual entertainment, or if your budget is the primary deciding factor. It provides a solid, basic tablet experience for a fraction of the cost of the Pro.

2. HotLight 10 inch Android 14 Tablet 8GB+64GB

The HotLight tablet occupies the ultra-budget segment of the market. While its on-paper specifications might look appealing for the price, it’s essential to set realistic expectations. This device is for users with the most basic needs and the tightest of budgets. Performance will not be comparable to premium offerings, and it’s best suited for simple tasks like reading e-books, watching YouTube, or running a single application at a time. It’s a viable option if price is the only consideration, but it cannot compete with the build quality, display, performance, or app ecosystem of the Apple iPad Pro.

3. Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi-Fi 64GB Silver

This is perhaps the most relevant competitor for the average consumer. The standard 10th-generation iPad is the quintessential tablet for most people. It offers access to the same fantastic iPadOS and the App Store as the Pro model, in a high-quality and much more affordable package. You’re giving up the M4 power, the ProMotion and Tandem OLED display, and compatibility with the latest pro accessories. However, for students, families, and general productivity, its A14 Bionic chip is more than powerful enough. This is the sensible, high-value choice for those who want a premium Apple tablet experience without the “pro” price tag.

Final Verdict: Is the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi Worth the Investment?

After extensive testing, our conclusion is clear: the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi is an extraordinary piece of engineering. It is unequivocally the best tablet on the market today. The Tandem OLED display is a triumph, setting a new standard for visual excellence. The M4 chip delivers a staggering level of performance that ensures the device is not just powerful for today, but for years to come. All this is packed into a design so impossibly thin and light it feels like science fiction.

However, this excellence comes at a steep price. This is a specialized tool for a specific user: the creative professional, the digital artist, the videographer, or the tech enthusiast who demands the absolute best and has the budget to match. For these users, the investment can be justified by the gains in workflow efficiency and creative capability. For everyone else, the sheer power is likely overkill, and the far more affordable standard iPad or iPad Air offers significantly better value for everyday tasks. It is the pinnacle of tablet technology, a glimpse into the future of personal computing, but a future that comes with a very premium ticket price.

If you’ve decided the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi is the right fit for your professional or creative needs, you can check its current price and purchase it here.