EugW
macrumors P6
iPhone A14 and iPad Pro A14X would be developed in parallel, not sequentially. While there may be some delays, it's not as if they're incapable of devoting significant resources to both lines at the same time.
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A12Z Chip in iPad Pro Confirmed to Be Same As A12X, But With Extra GPU Core Enabled
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PickUrPoison
macrumors G3
It seems like virtually everyone has been saying it’s not a compelling upgrade for those who own the prior gen, no? A one generation upgrade—whether Mac, iPhone, Watch or iPad— is rarely significant, unless you want a feature available only on the new model.
The next Pro is rumored to have a faster SoC and a better display. Both those features aren’t particularly needed by most 2018 owners. Maybe the 6th gen 2022 model will be the next, most logical upgrade for 2018s?
Zdigital2015
macrumors 601
I get that...but Apple’s bread and butter is the iPhone and if yields are good for both, then maybe you see a new iPad Pro in October. But I suspect Apple will devote all wafer production to the A14 and then shift some to the A14X after iPhone demand slows down while additional production comes online and older fab equipment (A8/A9) is taken offline after Apple updates other products.
It also makes zero business sense to spend the time engineering the 2020 iPad Pro only for it to have a 6 month life span given the last time that Apple did that, it was not well received. Waiting until March or even June of 2021 is a much better investment. Especially given that the iPad Pro is still outrunning the apps being produced now and for the foreseeable 12-18 months.
Also, waiting on the A14X allows Apple to release a Mac based on the A14X in March or June alongside a new iPad Pro AMD show off more synergies between the two platforms.
No it isn't. Also your comment makes no sense. So it's okay for a product with the moniker of "Pro" to have a chip that's two years old? Please explain to me your logic.
Populus
macrumors 604
Honestly, I don’t get your sarcasm. If a device with 7 cores gets so hot, my guess is that a device with 8 graphic cores will get even hotter.
I read Apple had improved the thermal management but I don’t recall anything different from the tear down of the 2020 iPad Pro.
Its not compelling upgrade at all. Not only for those with 2018 but for everyone. Why? You may ask.
Its simple, those that needed the ipad got the 2018 already and those that were waiting until now are most likely ok to wait little longer as this update proved to us that Apple has something juicier coming later and hence this "gap stop". Kuo has said it and other leaks/rumors point towards it too so yeah Fall is the time when we will get (most likely) the real upgrade. If not then march 2021 but that is probably unlikely. Recently, Kuo has been right pretty much most of the time and so were the other leakers so given this "nonsensical" upgrade its pretty much almost certain that fall will be what we were waiting for. Better chip, better display and finally better aluminium I hope 😉
Its simple, those that needed the ipad got the 2018 already and those that were waiting until now are most likely ok to wait little longer as this update proved to us that Apple has something juicier coming later and hence this "gap stop". Kuo has said it and other leaks/rumors point towards it too so yeah Fall is the time when we will get (most likely) the real upgrade. If not then march 2021 but that is probably unlikely. Recently, Kuo has been right pretty much most of the time and so were the other leakers so given this "nonsensical" upgrade its pretty much almost certain that fall will be what we were waiting for. Better chip, better display and finally better aluminium I hope 😉
EugW
macrumors P6
That’s just it. They didn’t have to devote any significant resources at all to the chip development for the March 2020 iPad Pro. Furthermore, the WiFi upgrade is likely a drop-in replacement, and the storage and RAM upgrades also require no significant technical design upgrades. The main design change is the camera.
While from a value standpoint the March 2020 iPad Pro makes sense for someone upgrading from a pre-2018 iPad Pro or iPad, from a technical design standpoint, Apple didn’t have to devote much design resources to this model.
As for wafer numbers, I suspect iPhone sales numbers will be reduced this year, despite going 5G.
And what is iPad Pro AMD?!?
That doesn’t make much sense. Not everyone can buy the latest and greatest immediately.
However, for those who can finally purchase now, and plan on keeping their device a long time, many of not most would probably be better buying the 2020 model rather than 2018.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
I wouldn’t get any hopes up on improved display this year. It will be faster chip by end of the year I imagine and that’s it.
For me doubles the storage and more ram is why I got the 2020 model. If we get a faster chip by end of the year then i will be happy with this until we do get mini LED Which i think we will see by October 2021. This model could also last me a good few years too as it will have everything the new models would have apart from mini LED.
FelixDerKater
macrumors 68040
If your argument is financial then wouldn't it be better for those that can't buy the latest (as you mentioned) to buy 2018 model as its cheaper now?
Kal-037
macrumors 68020
Good for those who wanted the newest thing or those who didn’t get the Pro 3.
I wasn’t going to get this iPad anyway due to the ugly camera (seriously, that’s why) lol.
But it also helps me save my money as the update is the smallest in terms of performance from one iPad to the next.
K.
I wasn’t going to get this iPad anyway due to the ugly camera (seriously, that’s why) lol.
But it also helps me save my money as the update is the smallest in terms of performance from one iPad to the next.
K.
GuruZac
macrumors 68040
It was an odd package. It introduced TrueTone, which the 2015 12.9 didn’t have and why Apple introduced the 9.7 with just 2GB of RAM was a joke IMO, when they had already introduced the 12.9 6 months prior with 4GB of RAM.
EugW
macrumors P6
GuruZac
macrumors 68040
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
PickUrPoison
macrumors G3
Anyone who is in the market for iPad Pro is much better off with this model than if Apple had never released it. One can always wait for the next (or the next and then the next) of any Apple product—Mac, iPhone, Watch or iPad.
My point is whether the next version is really worth waiting for, whether it’s 6, 9 or 12 months away. A faster SoC, when the current one already screams, and a better display than the already amazing current display. Basically, two upgrades almost no one really needs 🤷♂️
Someone could buy the current model, the 5th gen next March, or the 6th gen in the fall of 2022 and I don’t think you go wrong in any case.
As always, buy it if you need/want it now, wait for the next model if you don’t. Same advice for Mac, iPhone, Watch or iPad.
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Like everyone already knew, the iPad is basically a giant iPhone. It is by no means a Surface competitor at all.
GuruZac
macrumors 68040
Yeah, I don’t graduate from medical school for a few years so confident my 2018 can carry me the next few years. I’m not sure I’ll ever buy another laptop/desktop again unless I absolutely need to for work/school.
The iPad Pro is way more than just a giant iPhone. Especially with iPadOS.
GuruZac
macrumors 68040
Incorrect. It depends on the use case. Apple has officially separated the software from iOS to iPadOS and there are many multitasking features that allow the iPad to replace laptops for most people that simply wasn’t the case prior to iPadOS, and it’s gotten even better with iPadOS 13.4. No it’s not equivalent to a surface, but a surface also has a compromised UI which was and is suited for desktop with mouse and not touch. Watch iPadOS continue to grow in features further diminishing the need for a laptop/desktop for most people. Even in medical school, outside of exams, I really don’t use or need my MacBook for anything. I can watch videos and record lectures, take notes, email, browse internet, FaceTime, iMessage, use Microsoft Office, etc etc etc from my iPad Pro.
chucker23n1
macrumors G3
No, it would not get hotter, it would just adjust the performance of each core down to maintain the same maximum temperature allowed. Sorry for the sarcasm!
chucker23n1
macrumors G3
My money is still on iPad Pro based on A15X in fall of 2021. That would be the usual ~18-month cycle.
PickUrPoison
macrumors G3
The chip is brand new, based on a chip that’s a year and four months old.
It’s a better iPad Pro than Apple was selling three weeks ago, at a better price. That’s a win no matter how you slice it.
How would no update be better? Those who buy before the next version would only have the 3rd gen.
jmgregory1
macrumors 68040
I will chime in. The 2020 update to the iPad Pro doesn’t need a CPU upgrade. The 2018 model performs at a high level already, in some cases better than some of Apple’s own laptops. Sure, we who follow Apple tech closely would like to see Apple stuff an A13X into the iPad Pro, if for nothing else than having a chip that furthers the performance gap compared to Intel chips, but in reality it’s not currently needed.
And much like with how I’ve done my iPhone upgrades every other year, I see no reason to upgrade to a 2020 version of the 12.9”. I’ll wait for the next big upgrade cycle.