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This picture gives me a pause...
The new iPad Pro 9.7" should be faster than the 12.9" because it is pushing less pixels. Instead the performance is way behind.
 
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This picture gives me a pause...
The new iPad Pro 9.7" should be faster than the 12.9" because it is pushing less pixels. Instead the performance is way behind.

The CPU performance is likely measured with benchmarks with the screen off. The slightly slower speed is probably due to throttling the CPU because of the smaller battery or smaller chassis being less able to keep it cool.
 
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I wish they would give that information out in the presentation.. I hope it will be 4GB.
4GB is so small these days it's surprising they haven't made it larger.
 
yes but less cpu and gpu power

In another thread, I comment that the CPU difference makes sense if the CPU is downclocked. 12.9" iPad Pro is clocked at 2.23Ghz. Downclocking to 2.1Ghz should account for the similar numbers. It may not even be downclocked, but throttle more frequently which would account for the numbers as well.

The GPU numbers make sense if the 9.7" has 10 clusters active, instead of 12 like on the bigger brother. This would again make sense if the chips are binned A9Xs from the 12.9" model, where one of the cluster pairs (6 pairs = 12 clusters) is disabled or non functional. If this is true, it is not terribly concerning since this is still pushing <60% of the pixel count as the 12.9" model. So that extra performance should actually make it a little faster than the 12.9" version in some situations.

So, the fact that the numbers would make sense with a fairly small (~100Mhz) downclock, and a disabled GPU cluster pair, makes me think that these are binned A9Xs from the same production runs used for the 12.9" model. So I'm not worried about that.

What does make me hesitant to say that these likely have 4GB is that with the A9X, the RAM isn't on the SOC. It is elsewhere on the logic board. So even knowing that these are likely the same A9Xs as the larger model doesn't tell us what the RAM looks like. I'd hope for the price, they aren't skimping, but I guess we get to wait and find out when someone takes a peek at these things in detail.
 
I was surprised at the news that the iPad Pro 9.7 only transfers at USB2. So if I were told that they also decided to skimp on RAM then I now wouldn't be surprised at all.
 
I wish they would give that information out in the presentation.. I hope it will be 4GB.
4GB is so small these days it's surprising they haven't made it larger.

4GB of RAM is a bit small (but still usable) for full computers. For an iOS device I think it's actually overkill in most scenarios.
 
I'm not sure why Apple feels the need to hide info about the RAM in iPad Pro devices. iPad Pro users are far more likely to need to know this information, especially as more complex and resource intensive apps arrive for these desktop class performance devices. And it's not like they are afraid to crank out some pretty geeky information on the product specs pages.
 
I'm not sure why Apple feels the need to hide info about the RAM in iPad Pro devices. iPad Pro users are far more likely to need to know this information, especially as more complex and resource intensive apps arrive for these desktop class performance devices. And it's not like they are afraid to crank out some pretty geeky information on the product specs pages.
There's no need to know because there's not a single app that will ever use anything close to 4GB of RAM until Apple decides to beef up the OS. Right now the Air 2 has 2 GB and can keep many tabs open or anywhere from 4-6 apps in active memory.
 
There's no need to know because there's not a single app that will ever use anything close to 4GB of RAM until Apple decides to beef up the OS. Right now the Air 2 has 2 GB and can keep many tabs open or anywhere from 4-6 apps in active memory.

I personally think it's time to stop hiding it away. Enough people do care about it, probably at least equal to the cares about information we do get about processing power, graphics performance, LTE bands and other wireless technologies.

I know why they mainly don't do it. It's because traditionally iOS devices have lagged the RAM in Android devices, and they don't want critics zeroing in on it - during the big publicity push.
 
I know why they mainly don't do it. It's because traditionally iOS devices have lagged the RAM in Android devices, and they don't want critics zeroing in on it - during the big publicity push.

That's not a valid argument in my opinion. Android devices may have traditionally had more RAM but then the Android OS is not as well optimised as iOS is. iOS devices typically need less RAM for the same level of performance.
 
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That's not a valid argument in my opinion. Android devices may have traditionally had more RAM but then the Android OS is not as well optimised as iOS is. iOS devices typically need less RAM for the same level of performance.

I totally agree, but it's difficult to articulate and prove versus the very simple argument of 2GB is less than 3GB or 4GB so that must make the iPad worse.

I think not disclosing the RAM made more sense when Steve Jobs wanted to talk about these devices in human terms, the experience, what it will do for you - versus today when the unveils are full of geeky benchmarks, gigabytes, gigahertz, milliamperes and megapixels that many people still don't understand.
 
I totally agree, but it's difficult to articulate and prove versus the very simple argument of 2GB is less than 3GB or 4GB so that must make the iPad worse.

I think not disclosing the RAM made more sense when Steve Jobs wanted to talk about these devices in human terms, the experience, what it will do for you - versus today when the unveils are full of geeky benchmarks, gigabytes, gigahertz, milliamperes and megapixels that many people still don't understand.
What I find out is how Apple keeps on talking about the 'post PC era' and this is a 'complete PC' when they don't even list the RAM.

In the end of the day, sure specs probably won't matter that much but if Apple really is that consumer friendly, they should just release it. Honestly, I don't know one person who would just buy a random MacBook without considering the RAM options.

Basically, they should just do it.
 
Well, because they don't tell me upfront how much RAM it has, I'll probably order one with the intention of returning it, if I later find it has only 2 GB RAM. And this is good for their inventory management in what way? I'm hoping someone can tear down a review unit before the actual shipping date.
 
Well, because they don't tell me upfront how much RAM it has, I'll probably order one with the intention of returning it, if I later find it has only 2 GB RAM. And this is good for their inventory management in what way? I'm hoping someone can tear down a review unit before the actual shipping date.
Why? If the ram is 2 gb and it never limits you? Why care? You are proving the point of why Apple doesn't announce it. Optimization is a real thing.
 
There's no need to know because there's not a single app that will ever use anything close to 4GB of RAM until Apple decides to beef up the OS. Right now the Air 2 has 2 GB and can keep many tabs open or anywhere from 4-6 apps in active memory.

Yep, that is the real issue. I see people claiming the only thing keeping them from an iPhone SE would be not having at least 2 gigs?
Why? to better browse Safari on a 4 inch screen?

The iPad Pro gave them the perfect excuse to do something they should have done years ago.

Develop a iPad specific iOS. How did they go to design meetings for the 12.9 Pro, see that empty space between icons and say, yep that looks professional.
 
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