Technology
Bigger, faster, thinner, lighter iPad Pro and iPad Air models coming to tackle AI
Apple just made its first artificial intelligence product move with the M4 Apple silicon chip in a new iPad Pro model that is bigger, faster, thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
The late Steve Jobs once predicted iPad would replace laptops, and that day may have finally arrived.
Three additional versions of iPad were announced with upgrades to the line. It’s Apple’s biggest updates for iPad since its introduction in 2010. The iPad Pro is now leading the pack with the brand-new M4 chip. The iPad Air is not far behind, sporting a solid upgrade to the M2 chip.
I’m getting my hands on them to test the speed, performance, design and battery life. Here are 10 things we learned from today’s event.
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1. iPad Pro Ultra Retina XDR display is really bright
The centerpiece of the new iPad Pro is its Ultra Retina XDR display. This breakthrough technology combines state-of-the-art tandem OLED panels to deliver phenomenal full-screen brightness. With support for 1000 nits of brightness for SDR and HDR content (and a peak of 1600 nits for HDR), no other device matches its extreme dynamic range.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Tandem OLED control ensures precise color and luminance for specular highlights, shadows, and low-light scenes. For professionals, a nano-texture glass option reduces glare while maintaining image quality.
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2. AI-ready M4 chip makes iPad Pro AI-ready M4 chip the most powerful
At the heart of the new iPad Pro lies the M4 chip, Apple’s next-generation silicon. Built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M4 is power-efficient and perfect for the tablet’s design.
Its entirely new display engine enables precision, color accuracy, and brightness for the Ultra Retina XDR display. The CPU boasts up to four performance cores and six efficiency cores, delivering 1.5x faster performance than the previous M2 chip.
Thanks to the M4 chip, which has the most powerful Neural Engine ever, it is capable of an astonishing 38 trillion operations per second. This Neural Engine is 60x faster than the one in the A11 Bionic chip. This raw power, combined with next-generation ML accelerators, a high-performance GPU, and more memory bandwidth, makes the iPad Pro a powerhouse for AI tasks.
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3. iPad Pro is the thinnest and lightest ever
The new iPad Pro is not only powerful but also incredibly thin and light. The 11-inch model is just 5.3 mm thin, while the 13-inch model is even thinner at 5.1 mm. Both models are as strong as their predecessors, allowing pro users to work anywhere. Available in silver and space black finishes, the iPad Pro features 100% recycled aluminum enclosures.
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4. iPad Pro camera and audio make it very versatile
The updated camera system adds versatility to the iPad Pro. The 12MP back camera with Smart HDR captures stunning images and videos, while the new adaptive True Tone flash improves document scanning.
The front-facing True Depth camera system, now in landscape orientation, enhances video conferencing with the Ultra Wide 12MP camera and Center Stage.
5. iPad Pro allows for easy connection
The iPad Pro boasts a high-performance USB-C connector that supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 and offers up to 40Gb/s wired connectivity. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E for super-fast connections and 5G for on-the-go workflows. The eSIM technology allows easy connection to wireless data plans in over 190 countries.
6. iPad Pro gets a souped-up Apple Pencil Pro and thinner, lighter Magic Keyboard
Apple has also revamped accessories for the iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil Pro introduces new interactions, such as a squeeze sensor that brings up a tool palette, a custom haptic engine, and a gyroscope for precise control. With Apple Pencil hover, you can preview the orientation of a tool before making a mark. The Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My, ensuring you never lose track of your creative companion.
The new iPad Pro also pairs seamlessly with the all-new Magic Keyboard, which is now thinner and lighter than ever. It opens up to a floating design, and it includes a function row for quick access to screen brightness, volume, and more. The experience is akin to using a MacBook, with a beautiful aluminum palm rest, a larger trackpad with haptic feedback, and a magnetic attachment that connects power and data instantly.
Apple Pencil Pro (Apple)
7. Apple’s now using 100% recycled materials in new iPad Pro
Apple’s commitment to the environment shines through with the new iPad Pro’s use of 100% recycled materials. The device is energy-efficient and free of harmful substances, with fiber-based packaging. Apple aims to be carbon neutral across its entire manufacturing supply chain by 2030.
8. iPad Pro pricing starts at $999
The new iPad Pro with M4 is available for order starting at $999 for the Wi-Fi model, with various configurations and education pricing options at apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Wednesday, May 15. The Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard are also available, further enhancing the iPad Pro experience.
9. New iPad Air gives you double the choice
Apple’s iPad Air has long been a fan favorite, striking a balance between the high-end iPad Pro features and a more accessible price point. This year, Apple takes it a step further by introducing a brand new 13-inch model to the iPad Air lineup, alongside the familiar 11-inch version. The addition of the larger display is a boon for creatives seeking more digital canvas space.
In a move that mirrors the utility of a laptop, Apple has repositioned the front-facing camera to the landscape edge. This enhancement aligns the iPad Air even closer to a laptop experience, especially when paired with the M2 chip. This chip, which powers the 2022 MacBook Air, is now at the heart of the iPad Air, promising significant performance improvements for those upgrading from older models.
Apple has also addressed storage constraints by eliminating the 64GB option. The iPad Air now starts at 128GB, offering ample space for a richer array of apps, photos and music. With these updates, the iPad Air 2024 stands ready to hit the shelves next week, poised to continue its legacy as a versatile and beloved tablet.
You can order the new iPad Air with M2 starting at $599 on apple.com/store, and in the Apple Store app.
10. Deal Alert: Apple slashes prices on outgoing iPad models
With the announcement of the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, you are presented with a golden opportunity. For those who’ve been eyeing an iPad but hesitated due to price, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Retailers have reduced prices on the current stock of the previous generation iPads to clear out inventory. This means you can get your hands on the still-powerful and capable models like the earlier iPad Pro or iPad Air at a fraction of their original cost. For instance, the iPad 10th generation is priced from $349 here.
While the allure of the newest technology is undeniable, the outgoing models remain highly efficient, boasting impressive displays, battery life and processing power that can handle most tasks with ease.
So, before you rush to pre-order the latest model, take a moment to consider the outgoing iPads. They might just offer everything you need, with the added bonus of keeping your wallet a bit fuller.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Apple’s “Let Loose” event got closer to proving what the late Steve Jobs said would replace the laptop one day. It marks a sizable evolution for the iPad with their latest models packed with advanced features like the Ultra Retina XDR display and new chips that will be available from May 15. When I put together an order for the iPad Pro 13 space black with 1TB, adding in upgraded nano-textured glass, WiFi with cellular, a new Magic Keyboard and new Apple Pencil Pro (my recommended configuration), it’ll set you back $2,677 without any educational discounts. Suddenly, the outgoing iPad deals look very attractive. Given the updates to the iPad Pro and iPad Air, would you consider upgrading your current device, and what factors influence your decision? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”
Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.
This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”
Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”
Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”
UCF commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield (University of Central Florida via Storyful)
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Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’
– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age
– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member
TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.
A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)
BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.
TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.
EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.
FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.
ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.
BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
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Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.
In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.
Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.
You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.
Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”
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