The rumors were correct: the OLED iPad Pro is more expensive, starting at $999 or $1,299, depending on size. That’s a $200 increase compared to the 2022 models. But the price is worth it. For that extra $200, you get the new Tandem OLED screen, the entry-level Apple M4 chip with faster memory, and double the storage. It’s not a bad deal, though I will point out you could buy a new MacBook for the same price.
Double the storage means you get 256GB of flash memory instead of 128GB, which is a great upgrade in my book for this particular tablet. It also makes me think that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models should also start with 256GB of storage. Apple already gave the iPhone 15 Pro Max that upgrade last year, so its successor will likely follow suit. But the smaller iPhone 16 Pro should get the same treatment.
As a potential M4 iPad Pro buyer, I think 256GB of storage is a good upgrade for two reasons.
First, Apple pitches the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, a device that can meet all your needs, including professional productivity scenarios. Having enough storage is a key aspect of that experience. I will also note that the USB-C port supports fast Thunderbolt connectivity, so you could always hook up a fast external SSD to your tablet and offload some of your digital content.
Secondly, we’re in the early days of the age of generative AI. Storage and memory specs become important for all devices, not just the iPad Pro or the iPhone 16 models. On-device AI processing will be a thing, especially for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and future updates. If you buy any Apple computer that has “Pro” on the name, you’ll want to have enough RAM and flash memory on board.
Also, remember that MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ship with 256GB of storage.
Moving on to the iPhone, Apple raised the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max without actually increasing it. The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 instead of $1,099, but you get 256GB of storage instead of 128GB. The 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max also cost $1,199 at launch, so there was technically no price hike.
Apple will likely keep the same price/storage structure in place for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. But I’d love it if the iPhone 16 Pro got the same storage bump. I say that as someone who paid extra for the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro in 2023. I’m already considering my options, but I know I’ll want to upgrade to an iPhone with at least 256GB of flash memory.
I’ll also say that it would be amazing if Apple doubled the storage of the entry-level iPhone 16 Pro without bumping up the price. Some iPhone 16 Pro rumors say that’s what Apple will do, but it’s probably wishful thinking. A 256GB iPhone 16 Pro will likely cost $1,099, just like its predecessors.
Finally, I’ll point out that Apple should make 256GB the base storage for all iPhone models. The smartphone is the computer we use most, and storage can become problematic as camera resolutions increase and file sizes in general keep climbing.
Ditching the 128GB tier in favor of 256GB would be a terrific upgrade for the non-Pro iPhone 16 models. But there’s no sign of that happening this year. In fact, we can look at the brand-new M2 iPad Air for guidance. The new Air tablet comes with 128GB of storage, which is an upgrade over the previous 64GB standard. But you need to pay extra to get 256BG storage.