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Apple’s latest iPad Pro is the thinnest device the company has ever made… but does it bend? That’s likely to be the question on anyone’s mind who remembers the recent iPad Pro “bendgate” controversy.

In 2018, Apple responded to durability concerns shared by new iPad Pro owners by admitting to shipping its then-new models with a “very slight dent in the aluminum chassis”, which it blamed as a “side effect of the manufacturing process”.

Despite videos showing 2018 iPad Pro models bending more easily than other models, Apple said the bending has not worsened over time or negatively affected iPad performance, and that concerns about the device’s durability are groundless.

However, some iPad owners were understandably upset to find defects in devices that cost hundreds of dollars. Apple naturally wants to avoid such a scenario with its latest 2024 models.

To allay concerns, in an interview with Arun Maini, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus reveals that Apple has added a new protective “cover” over the main logic board. This metal coating not only helps dissipate heat, but also “effectively creates a central rib that runs through the whole thing and greatly improves the products’ rigidity,” according to Ternus.

No doubt the new iPad Pro models will be subjected to excessive stress testing by some YouTubers, and we’re bound to see more than a few kinks in the process. Whether the reinforced chassis of Apple’s iPad Pro will be enough to withstand the pressures of everyday real-world use over time is another matter entirely.

If early reviews are anything to go by, a handful of outlets have noted that the devices feel particularly durable despite their impressive thinness. Do you have lingering doubts? Let us know in the comments. The M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $999 and can be purchased from Apple’s website.