This is an extraordinary piece of hardware. The tandem OLED screen is genuinely stunning, with perfect blacks, rich colors and no bloom whatsoever. Reviewers consistently point to it as the best display on any tablet, full stop. The M4 chip is faster than it has any right to be in something this thin and light. At just 5.1mm thick, it's thinner than some iPhones and lighter than most 13 inch laptops. The battery holds up well too, even under heavy workloads.

But here's the honest truth: most people buying this will never come close to using what it offers. If you want to watch Netflix on the couch, browse social media or do light work on the go, this is massive overkill. The iPad Air handles all of that for $500 less. This tablet makes sense if you're doing serious creative work. Video editing, photo retouching, music production, heavy multitasking. For those people it can genuinely replace a laptop.

There are real trade offs to be aware of. iPadOS still feels like a stretched phone OS and that doesn't change no matter how powerful the chip gets. The included cable is USB 2.0 which is embarrassing at this price. The ultra wide rear camera from older models is gone. And if you want the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro on top, you're looking at well over $1,800 all in.

Sales have also reportedly been softer than Apple expected, which isn't surprising. This is a product for a very specific buyer. If that's you, it's phenomenal. If it's not, save your money.