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Apple’s prerecorded “Let Loose” event on May 7, 2024, was a roughly 38-minute presentation devoted almost entirely to iPad hardware and creative accessories. Apple introduced the M4 iPad Pro, an M2 iPad Air in two sizes, Apple Pencil Pro, a redesigned Pro Magic Keyboard, and new iPad versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.
The products went on sale May 15, 2024. Their prices below are U.S. launch prices, not current 2026 pricing; Apple’s lineup has since changed.
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At a glance
| Product or software | What Apple announced |
|---|---|
| iPad Pro | New 11-inch and 13-inch models with the M4 chip, tandem-OLED Ultra Retina XDR displays, a thinner design and a landscape-edge camera |
| iPad Air | New 11-inch and first-ever 13-inch model with the M2 chip |
| Apple Pencil Pro | Squeeze, barrel rotation, haptic feedback and Find My support |
| Magic Keyboard | Redesigned keyboard for the new iPad Pro, with a function row, larger haptic trackpad and aluminum palm rest |
| Final Cut Pro 2 | Live Multicam and other iPad video-production features |
| Logic Pro 2 | Stem splitting and additional music-production tools |
| Final Cut Camera | New iPhone and iPad camera app for capture and multicamera workflows |
| Standard iPad | 10th-generation starting price reduced to $349; ninth-generation model discontinued |
The event began at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Contemporary coverage described it as approximately 38 minutes; Apple presented it as an online prerecorded event rather than a broad spring keynote. MacRumors’ event coverage records the timing and sequence.
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The M4 iPad Pro was the headline announcement
Display, design and sizes
The redesigned iPad Pro came in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Both used Apple’s Ultra Retina XDR display, built from tandem OLED panels for high contrast and HDR brightness. Apple called the display its most advanced yet; that wording is Apple’s claim, not an independent test result. Higher-capacity configurations could be ordered with optional nano-texture glass.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
The chassis was thinner and lighter than the preceding generation. Apple also moved the front camera to the landscape edge, a practical change for video calls when the tablet is mounted on a keyboard.
M4 performance and connectivity
Apple introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro before using it elsewhere. Apple said the chip’s new display engine supported the tandem-OLED panel and emphasized its Neural Engine for AI workloads. Performance comparisons such as “nearly 50 percent faster” apply to Apple’s specified older-model comparisons and workloads; they should not be treated as a universal gain for every iPad owner.
Storage ran from 256GB to 2TB. The Pro included Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectivity and supported Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C and the new generation-specific Magic Keyboard. Full specifications and launch details are in Apple’s original announcement.
Who benefited most?
The M4 mattered most to video editors, musicians, illustrators, photographers, 3D users and anyone who could exploit the OLED display, fast storage and high-end peripherals. Browsing, note-taking, streaming and ordinary office work rarely required that level of hardware, making the iPad Air the more rational comparison for many buyers. An M4 iPad is not automatically a MacBook replacement: iPadOS, file handling, plug-ins, external displays and multitasking can still differ from macOS workflows.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
The M2 iPad Air added a 13-inch value option
Apple expanded the Air family to 11-inch and 13-inch models, both using the M2 chip. The 13-inch Air offered a large workspace at a substantially lower launch price than the 13-inch Pro. TidBITS estimated about 30 percent more screen area than the 11-inch model and noted that its entry price was $500 below the 13-inch Pro.
The Air added a landscape-positioned front camera with Center Stage, Wi-Fi 6E and storage options from 128GB to 1TB. It came in blue, purple, starlight and space gray, and supported Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C.
U.S. Wi-Fi launch prices were $599 for the 11-inch Air and $799 for the 13-inch model. Apple’s performance claims against previous iPad generations should be read as model-specific comparisons, not guarantees for every application.
Apple Pencil Pro introduced new controls
- Squeeze: opens a tool palette or performs an app-specific action.
- Barrel roll: uses the stylus gyroscope to rotate supported pens and brushes.
- Haptic feedback: confirms interactions.
- Find My: helps locate a misplaced Pencil.
The Pencil paired, charged and stored magnetically on compatible iPads. It launched at $129. Compatibility was limited: the new iPad Air and iPad Pro supported Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C; the iPad mini supported Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and USB-C; and the 10th-generation iPad supported Apple Pencil (1st generation) and USB-C. Check the exact iPad model before ordering rather than assuming every modern iPad works with the Pro stylus. Apple lists the launch compatibility details in its product announcement.
Rank #3
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
The new Magic Keyboard was a Pro-only redesign
The new keyboard was thinner and lighter, retained a floating-hinge design, added a function row for controls such as display brightness, and used an aluminum palm rest. Its larger trackpad provided haptic feedback. It came in black and white and was designed specifically for the new iPad Pro generation, not as a universal replacement for older iPad keyboards.
The 11-inch version cost $299 at launch and the 13-inch version $349. Adding a $129 Pencil Pro and keyboard to the $999 base 11-inch Pro substantially increased the real system cost; storage, cellular service, protection and cases could raise it further.
Software supported Apple’s creative-iPad pitch
Final Cut Pro 2 for iPad
Apple highlighted Live Multicam, which lets users control and view multiple camera feeds, plus workflows tied to the iPad and Apple’s camera ecosystem.
Logic Pro 2 for iPad
The update demonstrated stem splitting and other music-production workflows intended to make the iPad more useful to working musicians.
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Final Cut Camera
Final Cut Camera for iPhone and iPad was a new capture app designed to work alongside Final Cut Pro, including multicamera production. These were software additions supporting the hardware story, not a new iPadOS release or a major operating-system redesign.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Launch prices and availability
Apple opened orders on May 7, 2024, with store availability beginning May 15. The following are U.S. launch prices:
| Item | Starting price |
|---|---|
| 11-inch iPad Air, Wi-Fi | $599 |
| 13-inch iPad Air, Wi-Fi | $799 |
| 11-inch iPad Pro, Wi-Fi | $999 |
| 13-inch iPad Pro, Wi-Fi | $1,299 |
| Apple Pencil Pro | $129 |
| Apple Pencil USB-C | $79 |
| 11-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro | $299 |
| 13-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro | $349 |
| 11-inch Smart Folio for iPad Pro | $79 |
| 13-inch Smart Folio for iPad Pro | $99 |
Apple’s availability announcement confirms the ordering and store dates.
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| Category | iPad Air | iPad Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes at launch | 11-inch and 13-inch | 11-inch and 13-inch |
| Chip | M2 | M4 |
| Display | Liquid Retina | Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED |
| Front camera | Landscape edge | Landscape edge |
| Base storage | 128GB | 256GB |
| Apple Pencil Pro | Supported | Supported |
| Best fit | Students, general users, creators and large-screen buyers | Professional creatives and premium-display buyers |
Choose the Air when value and screen size lead
The Air suited school, office work, drawing, video calls and general creative use, especially for buyers wanting a 13-inch display without the Pro’s OLED premium. Its compromises were the Liquid Retina display, less powerful chip and fewer high-end display and connectivity features.
Best Value
Choose the Pro for display and demanding workflows
The Pro made sense for professional video, music, illustration, photography and 3D work, or for buyers who specifically valued OLED HDR, Thunderbolt/USB 4, up to 2TB storage and the thinnest 2024 iPad design. Its M4 performance was excessive for many everyday tasks, and the complete setup could cost far more than the tablet’s headline price.
What Apple did not announce
- No iPhone, Mac or Apple Watch hardware.
- No iPad mini refresh.
- No major iPadOS redesign.
- No product that removed the workflow differences between iPadOS and macOS.
The absence of an iPad mini update was noted in contemporary coverage, including TidBITS’ recap.
How to use this recap for a current purchase
“Let Loose” is a 2024 event, so its launch prices and models are historical. Apple’s current store pages now show newer products, including an iPad Pro listed from $1,199 and an iPad Air listed from $749 during the 2026 research period. Verify live prices and generations before buying through Apple’s current iPad store, iPad Pro page and accessories page.
Quick Recap
- For basic browsing, media, schoolwork and notes, compare the standard iPad first.
- For the 2024 event’s value proposition, compare the current iPad Air, particularly the larger model.
- For OLED, high-end creative work and professional accessories, compare the current iPad Pro.
- Buy Apple Pencil Pro only when the selected iPad explicitly supports it.
- Confirm the exact screen size and generation before buying a Magic Keyboard.
- Consider Apple Trade In at Apple’s trade-in page and eligibility for education pricing at Apple Education Store.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
