ipad pro M4 unbearebly hot while using Freeform

It is not unusual for an iPad to become warm when being used - more so when using some types of iPad case. High screen brightness and/or CPU intensive Apps will also create more heat.

The key point is that whilst your iPad may become very warm in normal use, the iPad should not become uncomfortably hot to handle. If your iPad is becoming too hot to hold, you should take your iPad along to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store - where the technicians can examine and test your iPad for faults.

Begin with a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

You are not the first to observe that Freeform causes the CPU/SoC to run particularly warm. If this is the only App that causes significant heating, the issue is perhaps likely to be with the App - and not the iPad hardware.

As for monitoring CPU performance, you might consider System Status Pro: hw monitor:

https://apps.apple.com/app/system-status-pro-hw-monitor/id401457165

You should note that this App is not a system benchmarking App.

I found this thread because I observe the exact same issue. I have an iPad M4 and use FreeForm everyday. I also observed, that after some time the UI lags and becomes unbearably slow. I also observed, that it heats up especially when used together with the pen, when I have freeform running without interacting with it with the pen, it doesn't heat up that much. It gets cold actually. When I lay the iPad on my palm, and move around the whiteboard with my finger, it does not heat up. As soon as I hover the pen over the screen I can feel how the ipad at the apple logo slowly begins to warm up. Apple: fix this please.

Edit: I just installed the system monitor app, and put it side by side with freeform, I could clearly see how hovering the pen over freeform drove up CPU usage by 10%, and as soon as I draw as little as a small dot, the CPU Usage spiked erratically for 5 seconds going above 40%, before coming back to 2,7%

I am not sure, but touching freeform (with the finger and moving things around) does increase CPU usage but only up to 8% (with 2,7% when not doing anything)