How iPadOS brings the iPad Pro OLED down to the level of budget iPads

Apple’s new OLED iPad Pro is the company’s thinnest device yet, beating the iPod nano. With the latest upgrades, the company could maintain the numbers lost last year. However, demand for the iPad Pro OLED is expected to be lower than last year despite major upgrades and we believe iPadOS is the reason.

iPadOS is holding the iPad Pro OLED’s leash, preventing it from using its full potential as a computer

The new iPad Pro models feature an OLED display, which users have been waiting for for years. Beyond that, the devices also come with a slightly larger screen size than previous models. As mentioned, devices have reached a new level of thinness and the industry will soon follow Apple’s design. Finally, another gigantic upgrade is the new M4 chip based on TSMC’s 3nm process and designed specifically for the iPad Pro to handle Apple’s upcoming AI utilities.

Despite these upgrades, the iPad Pro OLED won’t be a treat for many users and iPadOS is to blame. Apple’s operating system for the iPad has reached its mature stage and while it’s very consistent in terms of features, it doesn’t do justice to the iPad Pro OLED hardware. iPadOS 18 is optimized to be compatible with the entire iPad range, from entry-level models to the new iPad Pro OLED.

iPadOS is capable of running on Apple’s A14 Bionic chip as well as the new M4 chip, leading us to wonder if the software is underutilized on higher-end models. File management, navigation controls, UI, and most iPadOS features are identical on the entry-level iPad and the new M4 iPad Pro. Apple’s goal is to provide a consistent experience across the board, resulting in feature parity across the entire lineup. While this is beneficial for the average user, those who opt for the high-end models end up regretting it as the company does not offer distinct and exclusive Pro-level features.

Apple needs to diversify and expand iPadOS to meet user needs if it charges a premium price for “Pro” models. There’s no doubt that the iPad Pro lives up to its “Pro” moniker given its performance and hardware, but iPadOS should beef up the user experience. Apple can go two ways from here. Either the company should port an improved, user-friendly version of macOS to the iPad Pro or design features specifically for the iPad Pro.

We think iPadOS is underutilizing the M4 chips, as it provides the same utility to the rest of the lineup, especially the new iPad Air M2, which seems like a better choice at this point. For now, we hope that Apple introduces dedicated AI features for the iPad Pro OLED and moves away from the conventional iPadOS design. Only then can the iPad Pro be classified as a computer replacement.