New vs Old iPad Pro: 5 Key Upgrades to Justify Buying
Should You Upgrade to the New iPad Pro?
If you're holding a previous-gen iPad Pro, the 2024 model brings tempting upgrades—but at a premium price. After analyzing the key differences in displays, chips, and accessories, I believe video editors and color-critical professionals gain most from upgrading. Casual users? The older model remains powerfully capable. Let's break down exactly where the new Pro justifies its cost and where it might not.
OLED Display & Nano-Texture: A Game Changer for Creatives
The leap to a 13-inch OLED panel (vs. 12.9" MiniLED) transforms visual accuracy. OLED delivers perfect blacks and infinite contrast—critical for HDR video grading or photo retouching. The optional nano-texture glass reduces glare significantly, preserving color fidelity in bright studios. However, this matte finish adds $100. If your work demands true-to-life color reproduction under any lighting, this upgrade alone could be decisive. For everyday browsing? MiniLED still excels.
M4 Chip vs M2: Efficiency Over Raw Power
Apple's new M4 chip isn't about brute performance gains—it's about smarter power use. The M4 matches the M2's speed while using 50% less energy, extending battery life during intensive tasks like rendering ProRes RAW video. Benchmarks show minor speed bumps in single-core tasks, but thermal management improvements are the real win. If you edit 4K+ footage on-the-go, the M4’s efficiency reduces frustrating throttling. For most apps, the M2 remains overkill.
Accessory Compatibility: The Hidden Upgrade Cost
Your existing Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil won’t work with the new iPad Pro. Here’s the compatibility breakdown:
| Accessory | New iPad Pro (M4) | Previous Gen (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pencil Pro | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Apple Pencil (USB-C) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Apple Pencil 2 | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| New Magic Keyboard | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Old Magic Keyboard | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Factor in $300–$500 for new accessories if upgrading. The slimmer design (5.1mm vs 6.4mm) and lighter weight (100g less) are nice, but don’t offset this cost alone.
Camera & Video Features: Niche Professional Upgrades
The new iPad Pro simplifies its rear cameras (single 12MP vs dual 12MP+10MP) but adds a LiDAR scanner for AR workflows. More crucially, it supports 8K ProRes recording and higher bitrates—essential for filmmakers. The front camera now landscape-oriented for video calls. If you don’t shoot professional video, these changes offer little value. Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6e are identical across both models.
Who Should Upgrade? 3 Clear Scenarios
- Video/Photo Pros: OLED’s color accuracy and 8K ProRes support justify the cost.
- AR Developers: LiDAR and M4 efficiency enable complex real-time rendering.
- Power Users Needing Max Portability: The thinner/lighter design shines for all-day use.
For everyone else, the M2 iPad Pro remains a powerhouse. Its MiniLED display still outperforms most laptops, and accessory costs are lower. Unless your workflow specifically benefits from OLED or 8K, save your investment.
Your Upgrade Checklist
Before buying, ask:
- Do I edit HDR video/photo content daily?
- Will I use 8K ProRes RAW or LiDAR scanning?
- Can I budget $500+ for required accessories?
- Is 100g weight reduction critical for my mobility?
- Does my current iPad throttle during key tasks?
Recommended Tools:
- ColorTrue App (OLED calibration)
- LumaFusion (M4-optimized video editing)
- Shapr3D (LiDAR scanning workflows)
What’s your biggest hesitation about upgrading? Share your use case below!
