Apple recently refreshed its iPad lineup and the highlight has to be the iPad Pro 7th Gen with the new M4 chip and an OLED display. Apple says the new chip makes the M4 iPad Pro 1.5x times faster than the previous-gen M2 iPad Pro. If you are confused between the two, this guide can help you as we compare the features and specs of the M4 iPad Pro with the M2 iPad Pro, and see what new upgrades the latest iPad Pro brings to the table.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Specs At A Glance
| M2 iPad Pro | M4 iPad Pro | |
| Display | 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes, Liquid Retina XDR display (LCD panel), 120Hz refresh rate, 2388×1668 resolution (11-inch) 2732×2048 resolution (13-inch) |
11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes, Ultra Retina XDR display (Tandem OLED panel), 120Hz refresh rate, 2420×1668 resolution (11-inch) 2752×2064 resolution (13-inch) |
| Processor | Apple M2 chip | Apple M4 chip |
| RAM and Storage | 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 8GB+512GB 16GB+1TB, 16GB+2TB |
8GB+256GB, 8GB+512GB, 16GB+1TB, 16GB+2TB |
| Software | iPadOS 17.4 | iPadOS 17.4 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.8 primary, 10MP f/2.4 ultrawide, 3D LiDAR |
12MP f/1.8 primary, 3D LiDAR |
| Front Camera | 12MP f/2.4 with face detection | 12MP f/2.4 with face detection |
| Battery capacity | 28.65Wh (11-inch) 40.88Wh (13-inch) |
31.29 Wh (11-inch), 38.99 Wh (13-inch) |
| Charging | 20W charging via USB-C | 20W charging via USB-C |
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Price in India
Here’s a price comparison of 11-inch models of the M2 iPad Pro and the M4 iPad Pro:
| Connectivity | Storage | M2 iPad Pro | M4 iPad Pro |
|
Wi-Fi
|
128GB | Rs 81,900 | Not available |
| 256GB | Rs 91,900 | Rs 99,900 | |
| 512GB | Rs 1,11,900 | Rs 1,19,900 | |
| 1TB | Rs 1,51,900 | Rs 1,59,900 | |
| 2TB | Rs 1,91,900 | Rs 1,99,900 | |
|
Wi-Fi+Cellular
|
128GB | Rs 96,900 | Not available |
| 256GB | Rs 1,06,900 | Rs 1,19,900 | |
| 512GB | Rs 1,26,900 | Rs 1,39,900 | |
| 1TB | Rs 1,66,900 | Rs 1,79,900 | |
| 2TB | Rs 2,06,900 | Rs 2,19,900 |
Here are the price differences between the 13-inch models of the M2 iPad Pro and the M4 iPad Pro:
| Connectivity | Storage | M2 iPad Pro | M4 iPad Pro |
|
Wi-Fi
|
128GB | Rs 1,12,900 | Not available |
| 256GB | Rs 1,22,900 | Rs 1,29,900 | |
| 512GB | Rs 1,42,900 | Rs 1,49,900 | |
| 1TB | Rs 1,82,900 | Rs 1,89,900 | |
| 2TB | Rs 2,22,900 | Rs 2,29,900 | |
|
Wi-Fi+Cellular
|
128GB | Rs 1,27,900 | Not available |
| 256GB | Rs 1,37,900 | Rs 1,49,900 | |
| 512GB | Rs 1,57,900 | Rs 1,69,900 | |
| 1TB | Rs 1,97,900 | Rs 2,09,900 | |
| 2TB | Rs 2,37,900 | Rs 2,49,900 |
The M2 iPad Pro is expected to get more discounts and offers over the next few months, as the M4 iPad Pro has now arrived. At present, there are no discount offers for the latest M4 iPad Pro.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Design
- The 11-inch M2 iPad Pro has a thickness of 5.9mm, whereas the M4 iPad Pro is just 5.3mm thick. The weight has also been reduced from 470 grams to 446 grams.
- The 13-inch M2 iPad Pro is 6.4mm thick compared to the 5.1mm thickness of the M4 iPad Pro in the same screen size. It also became significantly lighter as the iPad Pro went from weighing 682 grams to just 582 grams on the latest model.
While the M2 and the M4 iPad Pro models have similar uniform bezels, the latest model is significantly thinner and lighter.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Display
- The M2 iPad Pro has a Super Retina XDR display based on an LCD panel. It supports 600 nits of peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate.
- The M4 iPad Pro gets a new Tandem OLED display that supports 1600 nits of peak brightness with HDR content. It also gets an optional nano-texture glass variant that reduces screen glare. It supports an adaptable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz.
Apple has upgraded the M4 iPad Pro with a new Ultra Retina XDR display featuring an OLED panel. Plus, it has a higher peak brightness and the nano-textured glass option is an added perk. Although, you will have to pay extra for it.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Performance
- The M2 iPad Pro features the Apple M2 chip, which is based on TSMC’s 5nm technology. It comes with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The M2 chip also has a 16-core neural engine for AI processing.
- The M4 iPad Pro gets the latest Apple M4 chip. It uses the second-gen 3nm fabrication technology. It has a 9-core CPU on base models and a 10-core CPU on 1TB and 2TB models. It is paired with a 10-core GPU capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
The M4 chip also gets an upgraded 16-core neural engine, which makes it the most powerful AI chip on a computer, as per Apple. The company also mentions that the M4 chip is 1.5x times faster than the M2 chip. On-paper, the new M4 iPad Pro is a great upgrade but the M2 iPad Pro can also be a capable option in daily tasks.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Cameras
- The M2 iPad Pro features a dual rear camera setup. It includes a 12MP f/1.8 primary camera and a 10MP f/2.4 ultrawide lens. In addition to these two cameras, it also features a LiDAR sensor that can be used for 3D mapping. The front camera is a 12MP shooter paired with a Face ID module.
- The M4 iPad Pro comes with a single 12MP f/1.8 rear camera. It retains the LiDAR sensor. The selfie camera is a similar 12MP shooter accompanied by Face ID sensors.
Apple has removed the ultrawide camera on the latest M4 iPad Pro, which was present on the last-generation M2 iPad Pro. Other camera specifications have not changed much. Both the M2 iPad Pro and the M4 iPad Pro models support ProRes video recording up to 4K 30fps. They also have other common features such as slo-mo videos, Centre Stage auto tracking, and smart HDR 4 photos.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Battery and Charging
The M2 iPad Pro is powered by a 28.65Wh battery on the 11-inch model and a 40.88Wh battery on the 13-inch variant. It supports 20W PD charging via USB-C.
The M4 iPad Pro gets a 31.29Wh battery on the 11-inch model, and a 38.99Wh battery on the 13-inch model. Apple says that the new M4 chip is more energy efficient than the M2 chip, and can deliver the same performance while consuming half the power.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: I/O and Connectivity
The M2 iPad Pro only supports the Apple Pencil Gen 2 and is not compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro. It supports both nano-SIM and eSIM for the cellular variants and gets a Wi-Fi-only model. The USB-C port is Thunderbolt compatible, which can be used for display and other accessories.
The M4 iPad Pro supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, but will not work with the Apple Pencil Gen 2. It only gets eSIM connectivity and does not accept physical SIM cards. Other connectivity options like Thunderbolt support remain the same.
M2 iPad Pro vs M4 iPad Pro: Verdict
The latest M4 iPad Pro features a more powerful processor, which makes it 50% faster than the M2 iPad Pro. It also gets an upgraded OLED display, a much-awaited feature on iPads. The M4 iPad Pro also supports AI background removal features in 4K videos in LumaFusion, using the new and advanced 16-core neural engine.
The M2 iPad Pro remains a capable device for productivity as the M2 chip is still a powerful processor. However, the price difference between the M2 iPad Pro and M4 iPad Pro is so narrow, that it makes more sense to spend a few thousand extra and get the latest model.
If you are looking to buy a new iPad in the next few weeks, you should get the M4 iPad Pro. Unless the M2 iPad Pro gets a major discount or some bank offers, one must prefer the M4 iPad Pro for the upgrades it offers.
