iPad Pro 2024 hands-on: How the new 'nano-texture glass' looks next to one without it

I got a chance to hold the new iPad Pro — and the "iPod Nano" analogy is spot on.
By Kimberly Gedeon  on 
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iPad Pro nano-texture glass model and one without it
Check out the new iPad Pro nano-texture glass model. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon

The new 2024 iPad Pro got unveiled at Apple's "Let Loose" event on May 7. Coming in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch models, the new iPad Pro made a splash with an M4 chip that jumps a generation (i.e., from the predecessor's M2 chip to the current M4 processor).

Apple boasted that the new iPad Pro is really thin — like "iPod Nano" thin. I got a chance to briefly play around with the new iPad Pro models — and yeah — these tablets are surprisingly slim. And they're very featherlike, too.

iPad Pro
iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But what really caught my eye was the nano-texture glass model, but more on that later.

The new iPad Pro's slimness blew me away

When Apple said that the iPad Pro is "impossibly thin," pointing out that the 11-inch and 13-inch variants are 5.3mm and 5.1mm thick, respectively, I couldn't wrap my mind around it — until I held them for myself.

While being showcased on display, I walked around the iPad Pro models and they seem to disappear as I looked at their sides.

Apple iPad Pro 2024
You see that iPad Pro in the middle? You can barely see it. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And then I held them in my hands. How could something so powerful be such a featherweight?

Apple iPad Pro 2024
The new iPad Pro in my hands Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The 13-inch iPad Pro is only 1.28 pounds while the 11-inch variant is just under a pound (i.e., 0.9 pounds).

The new nano-texture glass model

If you're sick and tired of dealing with your iPad display not cooperating in challenging lighting situations, you can grab the nano-texture glass model for a nice matte finish.

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I was standing in a brightly lit area and noticed that the nano-texture glass model, only available in the 1TB and 2TB storage options, significantly reduced glare.

iPad Pro models
Here are two iPad Pros, but the nano-texture glass model is on the right Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Keep in mind, though, that this model is best for users who need to have a highly visible screen at all times while they're on-the-go. As such, the nano-texture glass model targets professionals (hence why you'll have to shell out at least $1,699 for the 11-inch model and $2,099 for the 13-inch variant).

iPad Pro models
The nano-texture glass model is on the right in this shot. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As you can see in the photo, there are trade-offs with the nano-texture glass model. The one without it has a richer panel.

The 'Tandem OLED' iPad Pro is gorgeous

The iPad Pro has a new "Tandem OLED" display, which means that Apple layered two OLED displays on top of each other. The result? A super high-contrast, immersive display with top-notch brightness (1,600 nits peak brightness, to be exact).

iPad Pro on a Magic Keyboard
11-inch iPad Pro on the Magic Keyboard Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Called an "Ultra Retina XDR display," the iPad Pro's screen was pure visual candy in person.

The 'Space Black' iPad Pro is stunning

When I saw the Space Black MacBook Pro in all of its glory last October, I was crossing my fingers that this gorgeous, rich onyx color would come to more Apple devices.

Space Black iPad Pro
iPad Pro in Space Black Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Answering my prayers, there's now a "Space Black" iPad Pro. (Now, I just need Space Black to come to the iPhone 16.)

There's a "Space Black" Magic Keyboard, too, by the way, which now has a larger haptic trackpad, a full function row, and an aluminum palm rest.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts $999 while the 13-inch model will set you back $1,299. As mentioned, they come in Space Black, but there's also a Silver colorway.

iPad Pro on a Magic Keyboard
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
iPad Pro
$999.00 at Apple

Topics iPad

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Kimberly Gedeon
East Coast Tech Editor

Kimberly Gedeon is a tech explorer who enjoys doing deep dives into the most popular gadgets, from the latest iPhones to the most immersive VR headsets. She's drawn to strange, avant-garde, bizarre tech, whether it's a 3D laptop, a gaming rig that can transform into a briefcase, or smart glasses that can capture video. Her journalism career kicked off about a decade ago at MadameNoire where she covered tech and business before landing as a tech editor at Laptop Mag in 2020.


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