Hey photo and video enthusiasts! If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m a huge fan of ditching the desk and embracing the iPad Pro for editing. My M1 13-inch was already a dream, but when Apple unleashed the new 2024 iPad Pro with its OLED screen and M4 chip at the “Let Loose” event, I was completely hooked.

Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Apple, and this review is based purely on my experience as a photographer and videographer.

Feast Your Eyes: The OLED Dream

Let’s talk about that screen. The 13-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is simply stunning. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are deep and inky, and the clarity is off the charts. It’s a massive upgrade from previous models, especially for editing photos and videos. Every detail pops, and you get the most accurate visual feedback for fine-tuning your work in Lightroom and Photoshop.

M4 Chip: The Speed Demon

Under the hood, the M4 chip is a powerhouse. Multitasking is seamless, apps load instantly, and there’s zero lag, even when handling those hefty RAW photo files or 4K videos. I threw together a quick montage of last year’s storm footage (check it out on my YouTube channel, cesaratmosphoto!), and the rendering speed in Final Cut Pro blew me away. It was a breeze, even when exporting in high-quality Apple ProRes 422 format.

The overall performance boost is noticeable, especially for resource-intensive tasks like video encoding. It’s hard to say if it’s mind-blowingly faster than the M1 for standard use, but I definitely noticed a difference when editing 4K HDR videos in Final Cut Pro.

Fingers crossed for some exciting updates for a pro-level iPadOS at WWDC. With this kind of power under the hood, I’m hoping Apple is ready to turn the iPad Pro into a full-fledged laptop replacement.

Accessories: The Good, the Bad, and the Necessary

The new Magic Keyboard is a welcome upgrade with its ergonomic design, backlit keys, and improved trackpad. It’s a joy to type on and makes editing much more comfortable. However, I wasn’t thrilled that Apple made the previous version incompatible, forcing me to shell out $349 for a new one. Despite that, it’s a sleek and lightweight keyboard that complements the iPad Pro’s slim profile perfectly. The backlit keys, the function keys, the aluminum finish and the improved trackpad are all very nice improvements.

Then there’s the Apple Pencil Pro. Initially, I thought I could stick with my old one, but after using it for a while, I’m convinced it’s worth the upgrade. The pressure and tilt sensitivity, haptic feedback, and new hover feature make it incredibly precise and responsive. It’s a must-have tool for retouching in Photoshop and making fine adjustments in Lightroom. Plus, the new squeeze function for accessing menus and shortcuts is super handy. The squeeze function is programable and you can even have it activate any shortcut.

The iPad Pro for Photography & Video Editing: A Dream Come True

Editing photos on the iPad Pro with Lightroom and Photoshop is a pure delight. The OLED display’s accuracy and the M4 chip’s power, combined with the precision of the Apple Pencil Pro, create a workflow that’s both enjoyable and efficient. Lightroom’s touch interface is intuitive, and Photoshop on the iPad Pro is surprisingly full-featured and optimized for touch and Pencil input.

Final Cut Pro on the iPad Pro is equally impressive. It’s fully optimized for touch and makes the most of the M4 chip. Editing 4K footage, adding effects, and rendering are all handled with ease.
The new OLED display is just absolute eye candy and I haven’t been able to put it down since I got it. Here are some of the photos I have edited on this device so far.

Battery Life Improvements

When it comes to battery life, the iPad Pro 2024 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. With the previous iPad Pro, I would get around 10 hours of use on a single charge. That’s not bad, but with the new iPad Pro 2024, I’m easily getting 12 hours, sometimes even a bit more, depending on what I’m doing.

One of the biggest changes Apple made is the optimization of the M4 chip. This chip not only boosts performance but also enhances energy efficiency. I noticed that when I’m editing photos in Lightroom or working on videos in Final Cut Pro, the battery doesn’t drain as quickly as it used to. Even with the OLED display, which you’d think would consume more power, Apple has managed to keep it energy-efficient.

For those long editing sessions on Photoshop, the iPad Pro 2024 holds up incredibly well. I used to worry about running out of juice halfway through a project, but not anymore. The battery life is robust, and it’s a game-changer for my workflow. I can edit photos, retouch, and even render videos without constantly looking for my charger

The Verdict: Should You Upgrade?

The 2024 iPad Pro 13-inch OLED M4 is a beast of a machine. The gorgeous OLED display, M4 chip’s performance, new Pencil Pro, and improved Magic Keyboard are game-changers for creative pros. If you’re a photographer, videographer, or digital artist who needs power and portability, this iPad Pro is a serious contender.

My main wish is for Apple to introduce a pro-level iPadOS to fully leverage the M4 chip’s capabilities. With a bit more software optimization, this could truly be the ultimate laptop replacement.

Overall, I’m blown away by the improvements in this iPad Pro. The OLED display is a game-changer for visual work, and the performance is outstanding. For me, it’s a clear winner, and I can confidently say goodbye to my MacBook for most tasks.