Honestly, most people shouldn’t buy the cellular version of the iPad Pro M4. There, I said it. If you’re sitting on your couch or at a desk in a trendy coffee shop with reliable Wi-Fi, you’re basically paying a $200 "convenience tax" plus a monthly data sub for something your phone can already do. But for a very specific subset of power users, the iPad Pro M4 cellular is the only version that actually makes sense. It’s the difference between a tablet that feels like a toy and a device that genuinely replaces a MacBook.
Apple’s latest M4 silicon is a beast. It’s thin—terrifyingly thin, actually, at just 5.1mm for the 13-inch model. But that thinness doesn't mean much if you're constantly tethered to a public Wi-Fi network that’s slower than a 2010 DSL connection. When you drop nearly two grand on a piece of glass and aluminum, you expect it to work everywhere.
The M4 chip isn't just about speed; it's about the Tandem OLED display. It's gorgeous. But here's the kicker: that screen is a battery hog if you're constantly hunting for a signal.
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What Apple Doesn't Tell You About GPS
Most people don't realize that if you buy the Wi-Fi-only iPad Pro M4, you aren't getting a real GPS chip. You're getting "Wi-Fi trilateration," which is a fancy way of saying your iPad guesses where you are based on nearby routers.
If you're a pilot using ForeFlight, a marine navigator, or even just someone who wants to use their iPad for precise turn-by-turn directions in a car, the iPad Pro M4 cellular is mandatory. It contains a dedicated GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) chip. Without it, your blue dot on the map will jump around like a caffeinated squirrel the second you leave a suburban area. I've seen pro photographers lose their minds trying to geotag shots in the field because their Wi-Fi-only iPad couldn't find a satellite to save its life.
It’s an annoying hardware limitation that Apple has kept around for years.
The 5G Reality Check in 2026
We’re well into the 5G era now, and the iPad Pro M4 supports both Sub-6GHz and mmWave (in the US). If you’re in a crowded stadium or a dense city center, that mmWave support is actually huge. It’s the difference between being able to upload a 4K ProRes video to a client on the fly and staring at a progress bar for forty minutes.
But let's talk about the eSIM-only transition. Apple ditched the physical SIM slot.
For some, this is a nightmare. If you travel to remote parts of Southeast Asia or Africa where you usually buy a $5 plastic SIM card at the airport, you're now forced to hunt for a provider that supports eSIM. Most do now, but it’s an extra layer of friction. On the flip side, being able to toggle between a Verizon line and a local international data plan through the settings menu without a paperclip is, frankly, a godsend.
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Thermal Management and the M4 Power Draw
The M4 chip is remarkably efficient, but it generates heat. When you're pushing the cellular modem hard—say, downloading a 10GB game while using the iPad as a hotspot—the back of the device gets noticeably warm. Because the iPad Pro M4 is so thin, there isn't much room for heat to dissipate.
Apple moved the logic board to a central spine to help with cooling. In my experience, the cellular model doesn't throttle significantly more than the Wi-Fi version, but you will see the battery percentage drop faster. Using 5G consumes about 15-20% more power than Wi-Fi under heavy load. If you're planning a full day of work in a park, bring a power bank. You'll need it.
The M4's NPU (Neural Engine) also works in the background more than you'd think. Features like Live Captions or on-device AI image masking in apps like Pixelmator Pro require consistent data if you're pulling assets from the cloud. Having that "always-on" connection makes these "Pro" workflows feel fluid rather than fragmented.
Is the 2TB Upgrade Worth It for Cellular Users?
This is where the math gets painful. To get the best version of the iPad Pro M4 cellular, you might be looking at the 1TB or 2TB models. Why? Because those are the only ones that come with 16GB of RAM and the 10-core CPU. The 256GB and 512GB models have 8GB of RAM and 9 cores.
If you are a video editor using Final Cut Pro for iPad, that extra RAM matters.
- The RAM Trap: 8GB is plenty for Netflix. It is not enough for complex multi-layer 4K timelines with heavy color grading.
- Nano-Texture Glass: Only available on the 1TB/2TB models. If you’re using your cellular iPad outside (the whole point of cellular!), the nano-texture is incredible for cutting glare.
- Storage Speed: Larger drives generally have faster write speeds, which helps when dumping footage from a Sony A7IV via the USB-C port.
Basically, if you want the "true" M4 experience while working remotely, Apple forces you into the highest price brackets. It’s a classic upsell, but for a working professional, the time saved usually pays for the device in a few months.
Real World Usage: Why Hotspotting Your iPhone Sucks
"I'll just use my phone's hotspot." Everyone says this. Everyone is wrong.
Hotspotting kills your iPhone battery. It also makes your iPhone run hot, which leads to screen dimming and slow charging. Plus, incoming calls can sometimes drop the data connection depending on your carrier and signal strength.
With an iPad Pro M4 cellular, the connection is independent. You can be on a Zoom call on your iPad while using your phone to look up notes or take a call from a client. It’s about the "frictionless" experience. You open the Magic Keyboard, and you're online. No waiting for the "Join Hotspot" pop-up. No tethering errors. It just works.
The Final Verdict on the M4 Hardware
The M4 is a 3nm chip (second-gen) that absolutely smokes anything in the tablet space. In Geekbench 6, we're seeing single-core scores that rival high-end desktop PCs. But performance is a triangle of hardware, software, and connectivity.
If you have the hardware (M4) and the software (iPadOS, despite its quirks), but you lack the connectivity (Wi-Fi only), the triangle collapses when you leave your house.
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For students? Get the Wi-Fi model and use the campus internet. For artists who work exclusively in a studio? Save your money. But for field engineers, traveling executives, or digital nomads who find themselves in Amtrak "dead zones" or remote Airbnbs, the cellular tax is a necessary evil.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
Check Your Carrier’s Tablet Plan First
Before you buy, see what your carrier charges. Verizon and AT&T often charge $20 a month, but T-Mobile frequently has "high-speed" tablet data for $10. If your plan doesn't support an easy eSIM add-on, the cellular hardware is a waste of metal.
Don't Overpay for Storage Unless You Need RAM
If you don't do pro video or 3D rendering in Octane, the 256GB cellular model is the sweet spot. You get the GPS and the 5G without the $2,000 price tag. You can always use an external SSD for files.
Invest in the Nano-Texture Only if You Work Outside
If you plan to use your iPad Pro M4 cellular at a park or on a construction site, the nano-texture glass is a game-changer. If you're mostly indoors, stay with the standard glass; it’s actually slightly sharper and has deeper blacks because it lacks the matte etching.
Verify eSIM Compatibility
If you're an international traveler, check the "Airalo" or "Holafly" apps to see eSIM rates for your frequent destinations. Since there's no physical SIM slot in the M4 models, you're entirely dependent on these digital providers when you land in a new country.