The iPad Mid isn’t the Air, but the 2024 iPad Pro is a Lilac. Why did Apple fail to make the leap with the iPad?

That is not the case for MacBooks. The Air is still the entry-level device that’s thinner and lighter (kind of) compared to the MacBook Pro line, which leads to my other point: Apple’s product line continues to grow more confusing as more and more configurations are introduced.

I understand that customers like the Air branding of the iPad Mid, but they can not really call it the iPad Mid. Words have meaning. If Apple means this to be a lower-priced iPad, surely there are some marketing geniuses who could come up with a clever phrase for that.

But Apple did also try to convince us all that this iPad Air comes in purple. It’s really more a lilac if we’re feeling generous. I had my beef with Apple over the definition of purple, but I’m still upset about it. Sometimes, Apple simply misses the mark with naming, like with the heavy, thicker iPad the Air. I recognize that, with the iPad Airs, we’re talking hundredths to tenths of a pound. I’m quibbling over, at most, a millimeter of thickness. The average person will probably not notice much. The principle of the matter is it.

The silver and space gray sizes are available. It’s worth noting that the 2024 iPad Pro also comes with the option to add nano-textured glass at checkout, but only if you’re buying a 1TB or 2TB model. For a $100 premium, the upgraded glass is said to reduce screen reflectivity and scatter ambient light without a big impact on overall contrast and image quality, making it easier to do creative work in brighter conditions.

Like the latest Air, the new iPad Pro comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. The base version of the iPad Pro is offered by Apple for $999. You can also get it in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations for $1,199, $1,599, and $1,999, respectively. The 5G model starts at $1,199 for 256GB, $1,399 for 512GB, $1,799 for 1TB, and $2,199 for 2TB.

One change in the Pro models that might be the difference is the switch from liquid Crystal to organic light Emitting Diode displays, which is a great feature for creatives. But there’s a lot more to like, such as a new M4 chip that is said to offer 50 percent faster CPU performance than Apple’s last-gen M2 chip, plus a new 10-core GPU that supports mesh shading and ray tracing. The new iPad Pro has a repositioned front-facing Face ID camera that makes video calls easier to make because it is located on the horizontal edge.