Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Regarding speed test results on M4 iPad Pro, my 11" on WIFI with Gigabit service does 760Mbps using Speedtest. Their result of 613 seems slow.
If you're using speedtest, its largely going to be based on your interenet speed, not the speed of your device's network card. It'd be more worthwhile to do an internal test between devices, with the other device being wired.
 
I could understand why the iPad Air is super thin, but I don’t understand why Apple makes the pro models so thin just like the Air.

The battery life on the pro models are awful and the cameras are still mediocre. What exactly about the iPad Pro screams “Pro”?

I have both and there’s not really much that differentiates the two. I guess if you look at the spec sheets there’s some differences, but not enough to make a difference in the real world.
 
Sigh. The fragmentation of RAM and CPU in a product line like Macs makes perfect sense but somehow for something like an iPad Pro I just can’t get behind it. It just seems to me that having consistent hardware specs in the lineup would benefit software development by increasing the number of users that have the requisite specs. Oh well, just another rung in the Apple pricing ladder scheme.
 
I could understand why the iPad Air is super thin, but I don’t understand why Apple makes the pro models so thin just like the Air.

The battery life on the pro models are awful and the cameras are still mediocre. What exactly about the iPad Pro screams “Pro”?

I have both and there’s not really much that differentiates the two. I guess if you look at the spec sheets there’s some differences, but not enough to make a difference in the real world.
The battery life on the iPad Pro M4 models are significantly better than the other iPad models if you watch this video. Also the Pro is thinner than the Air, which is just strange.

 
Sigh. The fragmentation of RAM and CPU in a product line like Macs makes perfect sense but somehow for something like an iPad Pro I just can’t get behind it. It just seems to me that having consistent hardware specs in the lineup would benefit software development by increasing the number of users that have the requisite specs. Oh well, just another rung in the Apple pricing ladder scheme.
I mean they COULD just have one tier 13 inch products at $2,599, but those folks that want a nice bright screen with 120Hz refresh, Wi-Fi only for reading comics might buy a non-Apple product. It’s really no difference between folks that are primarily going to surf the web and check email getting a MacBook Pro because it’s nicer, not because they need the performance.
 
Yes I am also eagerly awaiting confirmation for this brilliant feature! If not on the current M5, maybe in future iterations then. Also the OLED MacBook Pros will only be snagged with the option to disable PWM-dimming.
 
I could understand why the iPad Air is super thin, but I don’t understand why Apple makes the pro models so thin just like the Air.

The battery life on the pro models are awful and the cameras are still mediocre. What exactly about the iPad Pro screams “Pro”?

I have both and there’s not really much that differentiates the two. I guess if you look at the spec sheets there’s some differences, but not enough to make a difference in the real world.
I mentioned this in another thread: The reason is that for a device designed primarily to be hand-held, the reduction in weight and volume are premium features.

The iPad Air is "Air" in name only, as it is the outlier in Apple's lineup where the name is meant to represent Apple's mid-tier/consumer products.

In this tier, bleeding edge performance is deprecated in lieu of a particular price point.

Whether or not this is reasonable is neither here nor there.
 
What are you even talking about? Some of y’all need to stop spreading misinformation about dual NAND chips in iPhones.
iPhones do NOT have dual NAND chips, they’re not MacBooks.
The 256gb storage in iPhone 17 Pro is slower compared to 512gb because they used „older” chips, the same they used in 16 Pro.
iPhone 17 Pro with 512gb and more has newer nand chips and that’s why they are faster.
Fun fact - iPhone Air with 256gb storage (which has SINGLE NAND chip) is also using this „new” technology and it’s faster than 256gb 17 Pro.
What do you use to test the SSD speed on an iPhone? I have the 2TB variant and am interested how it compares to 512GB and 1TB.
 
Geez, Federico Viticci’s review on MacStories is pretty revealing. All the of the AI and gaming benefits are real in terms of the chip, but basically impossible to use on the iPad due to its locked down ecosystem - aka, useless.
 
If you're using speedtest, its largely going to be based on your interenet speed, not the speed of your device's network card. It'd be more worthwhile to do an internal test between devices, with the other device being wired.
I was comparing apples-to-apples. The posted test was using Gigabit internet over WIFI using Speedtest, so that's the same method I used and my scores were quite a bit higher. The thing with speedtest.net (or the app) is your speed is relative to what target server you choose. Locally, I know which one gives higher results so I tend to choose that target server as it does not seem to be bottlenecked. I would think the people testing the iPads here would do the same.
 
Geez, Federico Viticci’s review on MacStories is pretty revealing. All the of the AI and gaming benefits are real in terms of the chip, but basically impossible to use on the iPad due to its locked down ecosystem - aka, useless.
This from the same person that said there was no way to edit text on an iPad and no way to view PDF’s? After HOW many years of using an iPad? :D I get it, his list of “missing apps” had to be padded or it would have read “I don’t know how to use the App Store” and wouldn’t get as many desirable clicks. But, it did let me know that this is someone focused on the clicks.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: justanotherdave
I could understand why the iPad Air is super thin, but I don’t understand why Apple makes the pro models so thin just like the Air.

The battery life on the pro models are awful and the cameras are still mediocre. What exactly about the iPad Pro screams “Pro”?

I have both and there’s not really much that differentiates the two. I guess if you look at the spec sheets there’s some differences, but not enough to make a difference in the real world.
Totally get why the Pro 13 is thin, as it is use for about 90% of work/personal. The thinness makes it more portable and also much lighter. Great for traveling, reading, watching shows, working, etc.. The thinner/lighter the better, plus the battery lasts plenty long enough.
 
All that power wasted on a useless OS
iPad iOS 26 is the useless OS. iPad iOS 18 was great. I don’t need the iPad to be a computer, it was never meant to be. Have my Mac’s for that. People need to get off the iPad being the same as the Mac, as was never intended to be a Mac.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: _Mitchan1999
I was comparing apples-to-apples. The posted test was using Gigabit internet over WIFI using Speedtest, so that's the same method I used and my scores were quite a bit higher. The thing with speedtest.net (or the app) is your speed is relative to what target server you choose. Locally, I know which one gives higher results so I tend to choose that target server as it does not seem to be bottlenecked. I would think the people testing the iPads here would do the same.
I understand. I'm saying the posted test isn't very useful. Issues with outside services are out of anyones control and aren't useful.
 
If you're using speedtest, its largely going to be based on your interenet speed, not the speed of your device's network card. It'd be more worthwhile to do an internal test between devices, with the other device being wired.
Some access points have two tests. One is from the device to the access point. The second is from the device to the test server via the internet. Both tests are useful. The first test gives you an indication of how far away the access point is and how many walls are in between.
 
I mean they COULD just have one tier 13 inch products at $2,599, but those folks that want a nice bright screen with 120Hz refresh, Wi-Fi only for reading comics might buy a non-Apple product. It’s really no difference between folks that are primarily going to surf the web and check email getting a MacBook Pro because it’s nicer, not because they need the performance.
Yeah, I wasn't lobbying for that at all. Much like what was done in the last year or so with the cleanup of base storage options across the iPad lineup, I had hoped for RAM and CPU parity in a product lineup that presumably should have the same performance based upon the state of the OS and software available for it. Apple has gone the other way though, by changing things up and clearly calling out the RAM and CPU options in the product selection section for the iPad Pros when ordering. This makes higher tiers in the ladder more appealing at the expense of fragmenting the lineup. Is what it is, and I do get it. They are under no obligation to please the likes of me LOL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Unregistered 4U
Good update to a fantastic iPad. But there is no reason for 99% of the users to upgrade from M4 iPad Pro. Looks like WiFi speeds are better thanks to the new chip. Mixed results for 5G. From the single 5G test here, download speeds on 5G have taken a hit. One of the videos mention improvements to 5G speed.

Would like to see more reviews on 5G speeds with the new chip. Not sure whether there will be many reviews as not many are buying the iPad with cellular connectivity. But think future versions of the chip will definitely allow for faster speeds.

Have a M4 iPad Pro, 11 inch with cellular connectivity that I bought 3 months ago. Not going to upgrade. Very satisfied with the 5G speeds and the iPad as a whole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mganu
Some access points have two tests. One is from the device to the access point. The second is from the device to the test server via the internet. Both tests are useful. The first test gives you an indication of how far away the access point is and how many walls are in between.
Well I already discussed the first one, but thats not what was being discussed as the issue. I just don't take external tests of internet as an indication of anything regarding the speed of a device.
 
Would like to see more reviews on 5G speeds with the new chip. Not sure whether there will be many reviews as not many are buying the iPad with cellular connectivity. But think future versions of the chip will definitely allow for faster speeds.
It will likely show the same results as on the iPhone Air. Given a strong signal, Apple’s solution will be slower. However, in an area with a weaker or degraded signal, Apple’s solution will be able to connect and will be faster. I’ll be able to test that out right after getting it. :)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.