New iPad Pro and iPad Air announced — everything you need to know

The other big highlight is the new M4 chip, which is built on a 3-nanometer process. You should expect up to 4x faster performance than M2 in pro rendering apps like Octane, and you can get the same performance at half the power than M2. In fact, Apple claims the M4 chip can deliver the same performance of the latest PC chip using a quarter of the power. 

In addition, the M4 packs Apple's most powerful Nerual Engine yet with 38 trillion operations per second. This makes performing AI tasks much faster, such as isolating a subject from its background in 4K video with a tap. 

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Other highlights include a new landscape 12MP camera up front for easier video calls and support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, which offers squeeze gestures and haptic feedback. 

Last but not least is a new Magic Keyboard that's thinner and lighter but includes a function row, aluminum palm rest and larger trackpad. 

iPad Air 2024

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Meanwhile, the new iPad Air 2024 is a mostly iterative upgrade of our best tablet for most people. The main highlights here are a larger 13-inch size and an M2 chip for improved performance.

The 11-inch model starts at $599 and the 13-inch version costs $799, so you can get a big-screen iPad for $500 less than the 13-inch iPad Pro.

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So what do you get for the money? The new iPad Air's M2 chip is nearly 50% faster than the iPad Air with M1 and up to 3x faster than the iPad Air with A14 Bionic. You'll definitely feel a performance boost when playing intensive games. 

The M2 chip also delivers better AI performance, whether you're using iPadOS features like Subject Lift or the Auto Enhance tool in the Photomator app. 

Another key upgrade is the new landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera, which is in a more natural position for making video calls. And if you want better sound quality the 13-inch model offers double the bass. 

The iPad Air also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, as well as the older Magic Keyboard. 

Outlook

The new iPad Pro is clearly the leader in terms of innovation, from its thin design and new OLED display to its M4 chip. So that's the choice for power users. But the new iPad Air could be a great value pick for those who want fast-enough performance at a good price. Stay tuned for our full reviews. 

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Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.