Apple Unveils New M4 Chip in 2024 iPad Pro
Apple has introduced the M4 chip, the latest in its custom silicon lineup, debuting it in the 2024 iPad Pro. The move marks another step in Apple’s strategy to power its devices with in-house processors, emphasizing performance, efficiency, and tighter integration between hardware and software.
Historical Context
Apple’s shift to custom silicon didn’t happen overnight. The journey began in 2010 with the A4 chip, which powered the original iPad. At the time, Apple acquired PA Semi, a semiconductor design firm, laying the foundation for full control over its processor roadmap. Over the next decade, the A-series chips evolved rapidly—each generation delivering significant leaps in CPU and GPU performance, image signal processing, and machine learning capabilities.
The real turning point came in 2020 with the announcement of the M1 chip. Replacing Intel processors in Macs, the M1 stunned the industry with its balance of speed and power efficiency. It ran full desktop applications while enabling MacBooks to achieve over 15 hours of battery life. The M1 was followed by the M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra in 2021, scaling performance for pro users and workstations. Each chip maintained architectural consistency while expanding core counts and memory bandwidth.
In 2022, Apple introduced the M2, refining the same basic architecture with faster memory, improved neural engines, and better media engines for video encoding. The M2 family powered everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. Then in 2023, the M3 series arrived with a key innovation: Apple’s first use of a 3nm manufacturing process. That shrink allowed more transistors in the same space, improving performance and reducing heat.
Now in 2024, the M4 builds on that 3nm base but introduces architectural upgrades across the board. It’s not just a die shrink or a clock speed bump. Apple says the M4 delivers a 50% faster CPU than the M2, a GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a neural engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second. The chip also supports spatial computing workloads, a nod to Apple’s Vision Pro headset and the company’s long-term ambitions beyond traditional computing.
Technical Upgrades in the M4
The M4 features a 10-core CPU—eight performance cores and two efficiency cores—designed to handle both heavy computational tasks and background operations with minimal power draw. Apple claims peak performance increases of 50% over the M2, though real-world gains will depend on app optimization and thermal conditions.
The GPU is where the M4 makes its boldest leap. For the first time in an iPad, it includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a technique that simulates realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in 3D environments. Previously limited to high-end gaming PCs and consoles, this capability opens the door for professional-grade rendering and immersive gaming on a tablet. The M4’s GPU also supports mesh shading, allowing developers to render complex scenes more efficiently by focusing processing power only where detail is needed.
The neural engine, now handling 38 trillion operations per second, doubles the capability of the M2’s 15.8 TOPS. That boost matters for on-device AI tasks like real-time language translation, image recognition, and generative models. Apple demonstrated the M4 running a large language model locally—processing prompts without sending data to the cloud. That’s significant for privacy and responsiveness, especially in apps requiring instant feedback.
The media engine has also been upgraded to support AV1 decode, a new video format that delivers higher quality at lower bitrates. Streaming services are already adopting AV1 to reduce bandwidth costs, and the M4 ensures the iPad Pro can play back 4K and 8K content smoothly—even from platforms like YouTube and Netflix as they roll out AV1 support.
Memory bandwidth has increased to 120GB/s, up from 100GB/s on the M2, enabling faster data movement between the CPU, GPU, and unified memory. This matters most in workflows involving large files—video editing, 3D modeling, and music production—where delays in data access can bottleneck performance. The new iPad Pro supports up to 1TB of storage and 16GB of unified memory, configurations once reserved for desktop workstations.
New Section: The Competitive Landscape
Apple’s M4 launch puts pressure on rivals across multiple markets. In the tablet space, Samsung and Microsoft remain key competitors, but neither offers a chip with comparable performance or integration. Samsung relies on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors in its Galaxy Tab S series. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers strong performance for Android tablets, it doesn’t match the M4 in raw compute power or software optimization. Microsoft’s Surface Pro uses Intel and Snapdragon chips, but its Windows-on-arm effort has struggled with app compatibility and battery life.
In the broader PC market, Intel and AMD continue to refine their own architectures, but they face a growing gap in efficiency. Apple’s vertical integration—controlling both chip design and operating system—gives it an edge in tuning performance for specific use cases. Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips include AI accelerators, but they’re still built on a traditional PC architecture that prioritizes backward compatibility over innovation.
Qualcomm is making moves with its Snapdragon X Elite, targeting the thin-and-light laptop market with performance claims that rival Apple’s M-series chips. Early benchmarks suggest it can compete in multi-core workloads, but real-world efficiency and software support remain unproven. Windows developers are only beginning to optimize for ARM-based PCs, while Apple completed its transition years ago.
In mobile, Apple’s lead in neural engine performance outpaces most Android flagships. Google’s Tensor G4, used in the Pixel 8, focuses heavily on AI features but doesn’t match the M4’s 38 trillion operations per second. Even Huawei’s Kirin 9000S, developed amid U.S. sanctions, shows resilience but lacks the ecosystem integration that makes Apple’s silicon effective.
The M4 also positions Apple ahead in the emerging spatial computing market. Competitors like Meta and Microsoft have yet to deliver chips tailored for mixed reality workloads. Apple’s ability to run Vision Pro-level tasks on an iPad suggests a unified strategy across devices—one where the same underlying architecture powers tablets, headsets, and eventually laptops and desktops.
What This Means For You
If you’re a developer, the M4 opens new doors for app design. The combination of ray tracing and high memory bandwidth means games can now deliver console-quality visuals on a tablet. You can build immersive experiences that were previously impossible—think real-time shadow casting in augmented reality apps or photorealistic product previews in e-commerce. The local LLM capability also lets you implement AI features without relying on cloud APIs, reducing latency and avoiding data privacy concerns.
For founders building creative tools, the iPad Pro with M4 becomes a viable primary device. Video editing apps like LumaFusion can now handle 4K ProRes footage in real time, even with multiple effects layers. Music producers can run full DAWs with dozens of virtual instruments without lag. That changes the calculus for startups targeting mobile-first workflows—there’s no longer a trade-off between portability and power.
Hardware builders should pay attention to Apple’s pace of innovation. The company is setting a new benchmark for what a mobile device can do. If you’re working on accessories—docks, styluses, external displays—timing matters. Users will expect peripherals that can keep up with the M4’s capabilities, like Thunderbolt 5 support or high-refresh external screens. Falling behind in compatibility could mean being left out of the ecosystem.
Key Questions Remaining
Will the M4 come to the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro in 2024? Apple typically rolls out new chips across devices within months. The M4’s efficiency gains and AI capabilities make it a strong candidate for the next generation of MacBooks, especially if Apple wants to push on-device AI as a selling point.
How will developers adopt the new GPU features? Ray tracing and mesh shading require specialized code. Apple provides tools like Metal 3 to help, but widespread use depends on whether studios see enough installed base to justify the investment. Early adopters may gain a visual edge, but mass adoption could take years.
Can the iPad Pro truly replace a laptop for pro users? The M4 brings the hardware close, but software limitations remain. Apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro aren’t available on iPadOS, and multitasking still lags behind macOS. Apple would need to either bring more pro apps to iPad or further converge the operating systems—a move it hasn’t confirmed.
What comes after the M4? If Apple sticks to its annual cadence, M5 chips using a refined 3nm or even 2nm process could arrive in 2025. Those might focus on AI-specific accelerators or enhanced security features. The roadmap suggests Apple won’t slow down—it’ll keep pushing the boundaries of what mobile silicon can do.
