Apple surprised everyone this May when they released a new iPad Pro and iPad Air with the new M4 chip and the M2 chip, respectively. Before them, the most iPads had gotten were M1 chips. These new and powerful iPads are all at their lowest price since their recent release, according to price-checking tools, with discounts going up to $100. Sure, they're not huge discounts, but we're talking about recently released premium Apple products—any discount tends to be well-received.
The M4 iPad Pro starts at $919
The iPad Pro now comes with the new powerful M4 chip and an OLED display. You can choose between the 11-inch iPad Pro for $919 (originally $999) or the 13-inch iPad Pro for $1,198 (originally $1,299). Both are for the 256 GB and wifi versions, but you can get more storage and cellular connection as well. The iPad Pro is Apple's thinnest product ever made at 0.2 inches thin for the 13-inch screen tablet. Apple completely skipped over the M3 chip, going from the M2 straight to the M4, which is supposed to have a 50% faster CPU performance and up to four times faster GPU performance than the 10th generation iPad Pro's M2 chip. The new "Ultra Retina XDR" OLED screen can get up to 1,600 nits of brightness and claims to give rich, vivid colors and details. You can read more about it from PCMag's "excellent" review.
The M2 iPad Air starts at $559
The new 2024 iPad Air also comes in two sizes, the 11-inch model, which starts at $559 (originally $599), and the 13-inch model, which starts at $738 (originally $799). The iPad Air is upgraded to the M2 chip and 128 GB, with 256 GB, 516 GB, and 1 TB options available as well as the cellular upgrade that makes it independent from wifi. The new chip gives it a faster CPU, GPU, and neural engine speed. Some new features on the iPad Air include split-view screens, subject lift, and live text features. You can read more about the M2 iPad Air from PCMag's "excellent" review.
Keep in mind these iPads are premium tablets that are honestly overkill for most people. As Lifehacker's tech editor Jake Peterson said, "They're overbuilt." You're basically getting one of the most powerful chips on the market for streaming, video calling, messaging, emailing, and web browsing. Most apps you can download from the Apple Store will run just fine on other more affordable iPads, like the 10th-generation iPad. But if you want the very best iPads, nobody is stopping you.