Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip

Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.

Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market.

In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.

CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday’s announcement marked “the biggest day for iPad since its introduction.”

At the heart of the new iPad Pro is Apple’s new custom M4 processor, which delivers 4 times the performance as its existing iPad Pro models. Considering Apple’s latest MacBook lineup currently runs on the M3 chip, this is, as Cook put it, an “outrageously powerful chip for AI.”

The company is expected to show off its first batch of AI-tools for the iPhone and iPad at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

The latest iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. Apple said the 11-inch model is its thinnest yet, at 5.1 mm, and less than a pound. The display combines two OLED panels to maximize brightness. The iPad Pro comes in two finishes, silver and space black.

Meanwhile, the iPad Air, for the first time, comes in the same two sizes: an 11-inch (US$599) and 13-inch (US$799) design. The bigger size, inspired by the iPad Pro with a larger screen, has 30 per cent more screen real estate than the 11-inch display.