The New iPad Air and Apple Pencil Pro Are an Illustrators’ Dream Realized - Men's Folio

The New iPad Air and Apple Pencil Pro Are an Illustrators’ Dream Realized

Here’s looking at you, creatives!

Apple’s newest iPad Air and Apple Pencil Pro boast an array of new updated features primed for the digital creative. (Photo Credits: All Apple Newsroom)

As far as the latest tech drops go, Apple has consistently managed to up its innovative ante on a yearly (if not biennial) basis, ensuring that users more or less always have exciting releases to look forward to in a relatively short timeframe.

It’s been two years since the last iPad Air hit Apple stores, and unsurprisingly, a lot has changed since then. For one, Apple has continued to develop its M-series architecture and launched the M3 and M4 chips in 2023 and 2024 respectively. More shockingly however, discounting the release of the cost-efficient USB-C model last year, the Apple Pencil hasn’t seen the addition of any new features since the launch of the Apple Pencil 2, all the way back in 2018 (the year the iPhone X was announced, Trump was still the President and COVID was an unknown concept). So when Apple announced that both of these devices would be getting updated specs this year, it’s safe to say that curiosities were piqued.

This year the iPad Air adopts the M2 chip from its Pro counterpart, and is being released in two sizes for the first time — a redesigned 11-inch and an all-new 13-inch display. With the M2 chip at its core, the iPad Air’s GPU, CPU and Neural Engine will all feature faster processing capacities, as well as the capability to process AI. The array of new features also includes a landscape front-facing camera (as opposed to its original position at the top of the iPad screen) that makes for easier teleconferencing, faster WiFi and the real star of the show — Apple Pencil Pro support.

Where the second-generation Apple Pencil was capable of pressure-sensitivity detection and boasted tap-sensitive zones, the Apple Pencil Pro retains the promise of its predecessor with a host of new features aimed at optimizing the device for creatives. Primarily these components include a new sensor in the barrel of the pencil that allows for squeeze detection, new haptic feedback, and gyroscopic functionality that culminates in barrel-roll and hover possibilities.

When paired with design or note-taking applications like Procreate and Goodnotes, these functions provide users, particularly artists, with entirely new ways of streamlining their design processes. For one, squeeze detection pulls up a tool palette that allows for quicker alternation between different tools, line weights, and colours while rotating the barrel mimics the changing shapes of pens and brushes in analogue design.

This August, iPad fans (and the wary) can head down to its Orchard Road Store to have their go at the new iPad devices and accessories through a series of talent-led sessions by local creatives as part of its “University. Ready.”  initiative. These workshops include more leisure-based activities like poster-making and journalling but also two academically-centred sessions aimed at improving studying techniques and creative note-taking through applications like Freeform and Notion. Perfect for the back-to-school countdown and completely free of charge (devices will be provided).

August 10th: Creative Note-Taking in Freeform with Arielle Tsai
August 17th: Make Your Own Positivity Poster with SADSHRIMPS
August 24th: Journalling for Success with Sleepy Tofu
August 31st: Study Smarter in Notion with Easlo

The much anticipated Apple “Back to School” offer has been allotted for its annual return from June 20th – September 30th both online and in stores. University students, teachers and staff at all levels can look forward to discounted education pricing on both the Mac and iPad, including the newest Air iterations for both devices. More excitingly, Mac buyers will receive complimentary AirPods while their iPad counterparts will be entitled to the new Apple Pencil Pro (with all the extra functionalities included). The cherry on top of this Apple cake comes in the form of a further 20% discount on AppleCare — a worthwhile consideration, especially for the accident-prone.

Apple’s “Back to School” offers are available now at Apple Stores and at Apple’s Education store online at Apple.com. Sign-ups for the “University. Ready.” workshops are open online at “Today at Apple”

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.