The iPad Pro, Apple’s top-of-the-line device, which will be released in 2024, is causing a lot of controversy because of its high price. Rumours say the price of the new 11-inch model will be almost double the current price, around $1500. I will address three topics: the expected features of the new iPad Pro, how Apple might justify such a high price, and the reasons why I believe someone would want to buy one.
An Innovative Dual OLED Display
The iPad Pro’s display is its main novelty and will use OLED for the first time. However, it may be a hybrid, with two panels stacked on top of each other. The goal is to double the brightness and reach the 1,000 nits required for HDR, which until now has been impossible for OLED displays. This way, Apple will have the opportunity to take advantage of all the benefits of this display technology, including colours, contrast and true black levels, while at the same time eliminating the radiance effect that current mini-LED displays show when they use local dimming zones.
Other Exclusive Features
Besides the display, the iPad Pro is expected to have additional features that may be exclusive to the Ultra model, the most expensive one. One of these is MagSafe wireless charging, which may require a different design for the back of the iPad (perhaps with glass). Another feature is a front camera positioned horizontally, which allows video calls in landscape mode that can be dynamic on screen, similar to what current iPhones offer. In addition, it is possible that the M3 Pro chip will be the same as in the MacBook Pro, delivering exceptional performance but potentially facing heating issues in a fanless enclosure like the iPad’s.
macOS on the iPad: A Possible Dream?
Given that iPadOS is limited in terms of applications and professional features compared with macOS, how could Apple persuade its customers to buy an iPad at such a high price? The answer may be a surprise that could already be planned: the possibility of macOS being available on the iPad for the first time, turning it into a kind of touch laptop.
Imagine being able to use your iPad Ultra like a MacBook Pro, with all the apps and software you need, and still have a touch screen you can detach and use as a tablet. It would be the best of both worlds, and maybe the 1500-dollar price would even feel like a bargain. I know it sounds unlikely, but if Apple does it, it will revolutionise the tablet and laptop market and make a lot of people want to buy this iPad Ultra.
