Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Discusses M1 iPad Pro in New Interview, Including Lack of XDR Display on 11-Inch Model

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
65,979
34,770


Apple marketing employee Scott Broderick and display engineer Vincent Gu recently spoke with Apple Bitz XL podcast host Brian Tong about the new iPad Pro, including the M1 chip and the Liquid Retina XDR display.


While the Apple employees dodged many of the questions asked in the interview, they did reveal that the new 11-inch iPad Pro's lack of a Liquid Retina XDR display is at least partly due to weight considerations. The latest 11-inch model weighs 1.03 pounds, while the 12.9-inch model weighs 1.5 pounds, in part due to the heavier XDR display.

"What we know about the 11-inch user is that they just love bringing a super powerful iPad with them in a portable one-pound design," said Broderick. "They just love the form factor of that. Whereas the user who is embracing the 12.9-inch display, they were looking for the largest canvas to do their most creative work on that product, and that made sense to bring that XDR technology to the 12.9-inch display for the iPad Pro."

The interview also discusses the capabilities of the iPad Pro's newly added Thunderbolt support, the new Center Stage front camera feature that automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls, and more.

Article Link: Apple Discusses M1 iPad Pro in New Interview, Including Lack of XDR Display on 11-Inch Model
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/21/apple-m1-ipad-pro-interview/
So I'm pretty sure I want one, but if Apple doesn't release a full version of MacOS for it at WWDC I'd be disappointed enough to not want to keep it potentially as without the promise of an OS that actually takes advantage of that extra power there really isn't a point to it as my 2018 Pro isn't exactly sluggish as it is.
But the longer I wait, the less I'll get for said 2018 Pro on the resale market.
Decisions decisions...
 
  • Like
Reactions: clunkmess and GuruZac
Johnny907 said:
So I'm pretty sure I want one, but if Apple doesn't release a full version of MacOS for it at WWDC I'd be disappointed enough to not want to keep it potentially as without the promise of an OS that actually takes advantage of that extra power there really isn't a point to it as my 2018 Pro isn't exactly sluggish as it is.
But the longer I wait, the less I'll get for said 2018 Pro on the resale market.
Decisions decisions...
Click to expand...
Macos will NEVER come to the iPad people must accept this; the iPad is just a big iPhone and multimedia tablet that’s it no real power is needed
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: SFjohn, George Dawes, cmamb and 6 others
goonie4life9 said:
Yowza, their comment about the XDR display is some top quality spin! I wonder what they’ll say when they add it to the 11-in iPP in the next update.
Click to expand...
Maybe they will say that they reinvented the technology and made it lighter. Or they can just say that they came to the realization that the users treasure the display more than the portability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: alau0115, cmamb, CJM and 1 other person
G46&Fbnth5 said:
They wanted to keep the price lower.
Next generation of Pro 11’ will have the XDR display.
Click to expand...

honestly, i heard it is due to the availability of mini-led displays. they are supply constrained. it's difficult to make. as more factories can make more displays it will spread to the 11 inch and to Macbooks...
 
  • Like
Reactions: cmamb and MhaelK
Kylo83 said:
Macos will NEVER come to the iPad people must accept this; the iPad is just a big iPhone and multimedia tablet that’s it no real power is needed
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm with Cerla on this one. With the pricing and configurations available on these new M1 Pro's, no way they aren't doing something serious with them. Why else would you essentially put the guts of your current MBA line into one if not to take advantage of that power? iPadOS doesn't need 8GB of RAM, let alone 16 on the top spec'd models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RustProof, George Dawes, mi7chy and 2 others
goonie4life9 said:
Yowza, their comment about the XDR display is some top quality spin! I wonder what they’ll say when they add it to the 11-in iPP in the next update.
Click to expand...

When the tech is thiner and lighter they'll say it was the right time to bring it to the smaller iPad Pro.
 
The M1 is held back by iPadOS. Hopefully WWDC brings something exciting that can put the M1 to good use, but I’m not holding my breath for anything close to macOS functionality.

Really leaves the iPad in an awkward position - the A-series is already great for mobile apps, and anything that requires heavy lifting is already done on a proper computer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FightTheFuture and jk1221
haincha said:
I was going to upgrade from the 2018 iPad Pro 11" model, but without the XDR screen, I will hold off another year until it's there. My current iPad Pro is still in good shape and not really running into any issues with it.
Click to expand...
After seeing the massive blooming and bleed in several youtube videos, I'm not really interested in the XDR panels as they stand frankly. Mini LED's suffer from the same issue current LED TV's with multi-dimming zones do: the backlight can't seem to keep up with what is being displayed, so in dark scenes or even in apps set to darkmode, halo and blooming are distractingly bad. Maybe in a couple years once Apple has worked out the algorithms, but not now. I use my Pro for proofing shots and light editing. While I'd appreciate the enhanced blacks, this con would affect my work more than any of the pros of the XDR would help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: clunkmess, Jovijoker and peanuts_of_pathos
haincha said:
I was going to upgrade from the 2018 iPad Pro 11" model, but without the XDR screen, I will hold off another year until it's there. My current iPad Pro is still in good shape and not really running into any issues with it.
Click to expand...
I definitely believe that is the smart thing to do. I waited to purchase until the 12.9” got the display upgrade, but I’d be willing to wait a little longer if I wanted the 11”.
 
goonie4life9 said:
Yowza, their comment about the XDR display is some top quality spin! I wonder what they’ll say when they add it to the 11-in iPP in the next update.
Click to expand...
It truly is amazing spin. Only reason I didn't order the new Pro is because I don't want the giant one, but I did want new screen tech. But hinting that they might never include it on the 11" model makes me reconsider my choice to wait another year.
Kylo83 said:
The new Xdr display has massive shadow issues I would not get it, I’m returning mine, also m1 will always be over kill, this interview was kinda pointless they never answer any questions
Click to expand...
First I've heard of this. And it also has me reconsidering my choice to wait a year on new screen tech in the 11". Maybe this year's model really is the time to upgrade from my 2017 pro.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back