iPad Pro 11-inch M4 (2024)

I bought an iPad Pro with a 11-inch display and the latest M4 chip and was surprised and pleased.

I think it was in 2015 when I bought my first iPad. It was a new iPad Air model. Back then, iPads were more like a supersized iPhone. After a year I sold it off on eBay. It did not offer any meaningful advantage compared to my iPhone. And reading digital books on it did not work at that time for me because I constantly got distracted by all the other features and notifications.

Now, in 2024, things have changed. Apple invested resources in bringing the potential of this specific device category to shine. It truly is a different experience than years ago. It is much more capable and versatile. I used it with my Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard. It makes me feel insecure about macOS which always used to be my clear favorite of all Apple platforms. I originally typed these lines on a Magic Keyboard connected via Bluetooth to my iPad having Safari open with a GitHub codespace running Visual Studio Code.

I chose 11 inch because in case of an iPad, mobility is even more important than with a Notebook or just in general. With the scaling options in iPad OS and also its window management, I was surprised how well it works for me. It really is a small screen but the user interface is made for it and leverages it efficiently.

And after trying it out attached to a Studio Display with the Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard, Stage Manager turned on, I am blown away. It is a desktop replacement, for most people.

Though, of course, this exclusive iPad time will end for me with returning to a new Mac for work. As a developer for native apps, I am reliant on at least Xcode. I will need some time to readjust to macOS. It is like someone you used to know closely somehow drifted away, turning into a mere acquaintance but not a stranger.