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In May 2024, Apple released its M4 iPad Pro, marking the most substantial leap in hardware evolution for the iPad line since the groundbreaking 2018 model. With cutting-edge design and specs, many hailed it as the future of portable computing. But now, one year later, an unexpected hero of this update stands out — not the display, not the chip, but the Magic Keyboard.
Let’s break down what’s changed, what stood out, and why a keyboard accessory might be the most significant advancement of all.
One Year Later: A Real-World Look at the M4 iPad Pro
When the M4 iPad Pro launched, it brought a slew of significant hardware upgrades that redefined what the iPad could be:
Ultra-thin chassis: The thinnest product Apple has ever made.
M4 chip: A performance leap delivered even before Macs got the chip.
Ultra Retina XDR display: Featuring tandem OLED,
Redesigned Magic Keyboard: With improvements aimed at offering a more MacBook-like typing experience.
Apple Pencil Pro: Enhanced for creatives and professionals.
Centered front camera: A long-awaited quality-of-life update.
Nano-texture glass option: For better glare reduction and screen comfort.
While each of these features adds polish to the overall experience, one component quietly emerged as the most impactful: the Magic Keyboard.
The revamped Magic Keyboard brought subtle but essential changes:
A larger, more responsive trackpad
Dedicated function keys — long missing on older models
Haptic feedback for a tactile, laptop-like experience
Aluminum palm rests, enhancing the premium feel
Improved weight distribution, making it more stable on laps
It
The Magic Keyboard essentially turned the iPad into a full-time laptop replacement for many users. That’s why, despite all the hardware glamor, it stood out as the most transformative upgrade for real-world productivity.
Even after a year, users find themselves reaching for the Magic Keyboard again and again. The OLED display might impress during media consumption, and the M4 chip handles pro-level tasks with ease, but neither has altered how people use the iPad as fundamentally as the keyboard has.
In short, the Magic Keyboard finally made the iPad Pro feel like a real computer — and not just a powerful tablet pretending to be one.
What Undercode Say:
This subtle preference — favoring the keyboard over the M4 chip or OLED screen — reveals a core truth about the iPad’s identity crisis.
Apple has long marketed the iPad Pro as a device that could “replace your laptop.” But for years, the software and accessory ecosystem didn’t fully support that claim. The hardware was always ahead of its time, while iPadOS lagged behind. That began to change with the M4 generation.
The Magic Keyboard isn’t just a peripheral. It’s a shift in philosophy — from “just a tablet” to “modular computing device.” And it’s Apple admitting, quietly but decisively, that people still want a laptop experience. The inclusion of a function row and a MacBook-like feel in the keyboard is no accident — it’s a direct appeal to professionals who demand versatility and familiarity.
By emphasizing hardware continuity with the MacBook (same materials, trackpad mechanics, haptics), Apple is signaling convergence without merging platforms. This strategy has implications:
Mac and iPad can co-exist, but the iPad will lean more toward becoming a “Mac Lite” for hybrid users.
Accessory revenue will grow, as users increasingly view the iPad not as a standalone device but as a modular hub.
Software updates (like iPadOS 19) must now catch up to the hardware’s potential, especially in multitasking, external display support, and file system management.
From an industry perspective, the emphasis on accessories as transformational tools shows Apple’s mastery at creating ecosystems — not just devices. People don’t just buy an iPad anymore; they buy into a whole infrastructure of Apple-engineered experiences.
And with the M4 iPad Pro, Apple has delivered the most laptop-like tablet to date, without giving up the unique strengths of iPadOS — yet.
Fact Checker Results
The M4 chip was indeed released on iPad Pro before Macs — a rare move for Apple.
Apple’s claim that the Ultra Retina XDR display is “the world’s most advanced” is marketing language but backed by tandem OLED innovation.
The Magic Keyboard upgrade is confirmed to include a function row, larger trackpad, and aluminum build, matching user reviews and teardown confirmations.
Prediction
As Apple prepares for iPadOS 19, expect the software to finally bridge the gap that the M4 hardware and Magic Keyboard have opened. Features like improved windowing, deeper multitasking support, and better external display integration are likely on the horizon.
Looking ahead, Apple may further unify its product lines — not by merging iPad and Mac, but by offering even more crossover features. Think: Pro apps with shared codebases, advanced accessories like modular docks, or even hybrid modes that allow users to toggle between iPadOS and macOS-lite environments.
The future of the iPad Pro is modular, powerful, and — with the right keyboard — surprisingly laptop-like. And that may be exactly what users have been asking for all along.
References:
Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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