Apple Event Rumors: iPad Pro With M4 Chip and New Apple Pencil With Haptic Feedback

[HobeSoundDarryl]

That trend is on the wane though. People have twigged that the latest phone or tablets dont do anything much better than devices 5 years ago. Both device categories have plateaued... and AI is here to save the day for Apple.

You can bet it that in meetings it was concluded that AI is the best way to increase sales.

Does everyone need it... probably not. Will everyone want it and not be left behind... probably, maybe.

We'll see. Through Apple's lens, new annual hardware leads to "another record quarter..." for a couple of decades now... including right through the Covid/supply chain/inflation years.

It's on the wane when people stop buying in big enough quantities to impact "another record quarter." I'll believe it when I see it... if I'm still around to see it. Many times, I've thought we have to be close to the pinnacle and masses will see tech they own as "good enough." And then the next gen rolls out- sometimes only a little faster with a visible gimmick or two and/or a new color- and the "shut up and take my money" explosions roar again.

Is iPhone 15 good enough? Is M3 Macs good enough? I near 100% suspect that yes they are for just about everyone. But we'll see how many react to iPhone 16 and M4 Macs.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Haptic Apple Pencil is the precursor to a new smart device category for Apple. The iBrator.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

That’s why they give features only for newest devices. Or promote apps/games which only run on the latest and greatest.
Wanna have a 80% charge limit? You need to get 15 series. Wanna play resident evil? You need to have at least 15 pro. Etc.

Yes, they do that because it works.

Can old Macs really not run new macOS? OCLP shows that VERY OLD Macs can install and run Sonoma. So why does Apple get away with dropping old Macs? Because it works. People just buy, rewarding such choices. It's grown them to richest company in the world or near it on any given day.

 

[Realityck]

M4 should be a powerful chip (as is the M3, M2 and M1). What are people doing on an iPad Pro that would necessitate such power? I can imagine 4K or 8K video editing, but I also imagine a very small slice of the consumer pie uses it for that.

The M3 with its hardware decoding of AV1 yields 8K YouTube playback with HDR much better then software decoding. Safari doesn't even support that, but if you test the video with brave you can. Also given that current intel core processors have no NPU, (coming in 2024) there is no marketing necessity to market an enhanced NPU based SoC urgently as Apple hasn't even shown us this next generation of operation systems with a bit more with some features that are along the lines of AI enhanced or digital assistants. Those OS's wouldn't be going public until Sept or Oct maybe. The iPhone 16 might be the first product to run with iOS 18. 🧐

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

So the M3 is a fluke?

Nope- just a bridge to make a lot of revenue until N3E was ready vs. waiting for the delayed N3E and not making a lot of iDevice and Mac revenue during the wait. Now N3E is possibly ready to ship in Apple products... probably delivering much more profit per unit sold to Apple.

 

[Fuzzball84]

We'll see. Through Apple's lens, new annual hardware leads to "another record quarter..." for a couple of decades now... including right through the Covid/supply chain/inflation years.

It's on the wane when people stop buying in big enough quantities to impact "another record quarter." I'll believe it when I see it... if I'm still around to see it. Many times, I've thought we have to be close to the pinnacle and masses will see tech they own as "good enough." And then the next gen rolls out- sometimes only a little faster with a visible gimmick or two and/or a new color- and the "shut up and take my money" explosions roar again.

Is iPhone 15 good enough? Is M3 Macs good enough? I near 100% suspect that yes they are for just about everyone. But we'll see how many react to iPhone 16 and M4 Macs.

Yeah, but the western markets are saturated. Almost everyone has an iPhone, iPad.. Mac... Covid accelerated that... and most people are now just on upgrade cycles... not many new customers around.

And Apple has to bend over backwards in emerging markets where restrictions... and the fact most people can't afford the prices mean growth is big, but not as huge as one would expect. Where other state back companies have the edge in other ways.

 

[Torty]

So the M3 is a fluke

It got HW Ray tracing (for what it is good for?) but seems it got the old neural engine half the speed of the A17 pro.

 

[Realityck]

The #1 counter to the rumor is this perceived pattern or order of things... that iPhone must be first and that we think we have M-series sequences worked out in only 2.5 generations of M-series rollouts. Nothing says either of those is absolute "must." Apple could alter any apparent pattern at any time... including chip name & number too. The next chip could by N20, or Q91, or KuKuCaChoo 100 Squared.

I would think the number one counter would be Apple's software. Discussing new hardware not running the necessary software is a very weak argument for new technology.

 

[Realityck]

It got HW Ray tracing (for what it is good for?) but seems it got the old neural engine half the speed of the A17 pro.

And all the intel pro processors out there running various AI stuff has no NPU's at all. Also for the other question.

Although ray tracing is a relatively new buzzword in the gaming world, the feature has been a mainstay of computer graphics in film and TV for years. It simply refers to the process of tracing the path of light rays as they bounce around a scene. This lets computers accurately render things like shadows, reflections, highlights, and bounced light. The result is a scene that looks more realistic with less work. The only downside is that ray tracing usually takes so much processing power that film studios have to spend days rendering highly detailed scenes.

All the M3's support AV1 hardware decoding and ray tracing/mesh shading added to Metals graphic capabilities.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yeah, but the western markets are saturated. Almost everyone has an iPhone, iPad.. Mac... Covid accelerated that... and most people are now just on upgrade cycles... not many new customers around.

And Apple has to bend over backwards in emerging markets where restrictions... and the fact most people can't afford the prices mean growth is big, but not as huge as one would expect. Where other state back companies have the edge in other ways.

OK, again we'll see. I think the "saturated" argument has been a perpetual one for years now... and yet the "western markets" keep showing up to buy in record amounts to drive "another record quarter" reporting. The "western markets" will even jump online to passionately defend widening margin, higher prices, etc at their own expenses as consumers to other consumers expressing some dismay at the same things.

It seems the western markets find the money to buy tech they don't really need because what they already have is plenty good enough. And it's been that way for about 15+ years now... not sure what's going to change that in 2024.

 

[Fuzzball84]

OK, again we'll see. I think the "saturated" argument has been a perpetual one for years now... and yet the "western markets" keep showing up to buy in record amounts to drive "another record quarter" reporting. The "western markets" will even jump online to passionately defend widening margin, higher prices, etc at their own expenses as consumers to other consumers expressing some dismay at the same things.

It seems the western markets find the money to buy tech they don't really need because what they already have is plenty good enough. And it's been that way for about 15+ years now... not sure what's going to change that in 2024.

This is why Apple bends over backwards so much to remain in the emerging markets. It needs that growth.

 

[Serqetry]

Mark Gurman standing by with his mind-wipe ray so everyone forgets he was wrong again.

 

[transpo1]

I don’t understand Apple’s current iPad strategy - why on earth would somebody need an M4 in a device that can perform just fine with an M1 chip due to iPadOS limitations?

Because AI and marketing, that's why. Don't forget that Apple needs to sell devices in order to prosper.

 

[harold.ji]

There are no "in stone" patterns in only 3 iterations of anything. In only one generation upgrade, we believed we saw a pattern of M-base, then M-pro & max months later, then M-ultra months later.

Then, MBpros introduced all but M-ultra at the same time in the third generation thrashing that pattern we believed would persist.

We have a much longer history of next-gen chip advances starting with iPhone. But nothing forces that or demands it. Mac is its own thing. iPad is somewhat its own thing.

Anything can happen.

Only some speculative rationale why this rumor could play out:

• M4 is ready now. If there's enough N3E available to fulfill orders, would it make any sense to hold it back for iPhone orders (first) SIX months from now? If as rumor suggests, production of N3E started in December, the technology would already be about 10 months old by the time the first iPhone N3E owner opened their box. If it's ready, it's ready. Ship!
• M4 (N3E) is cheaper than M3 (N3B) and Apple wants the extra profit. Another view of the same through Executive lenses: another year of less margin with N3B M3 or go N3E M4 now and bank the extra profit? I know, I know: it's quite challenging to think what modern Apple Inc. would choose.
• The "unfixable hack hole" in M1-M3 means there's ever-growing legal risk for each additional M1-M3 product sold. M4 may close that hole, cutting off the size of the eventual class action settlement. If this, I'd expect a very fast transition to M4 everything ASAP... like crazy fast, as in some launches at WWDC and some more launches out in the summer somewhere vs. waiting until the usual Fall times.
• M4 Ultra is ready now/very soon, so a new Mac Pro & Studio Ultra could launch at the same event or soon after too. Rumors & logic say those are also the most profitable Macs on a per-unit-sold basis. Would Apple be interested in flipping the apparent order of things to lead off with the most profitable Macs first? Would Apple dare release Studio Ultra now and wait on Studio Max until later (again, if about double the "starting at" is more profitable)? 💰💰💰Those who burn for highest number painted on the chip inside might be moved to go Ultra instead of waiting for PRO & MAX or BASE. Those who burn for "most powerful Mac" would retain that hold for an entire year (until next Ultra) instead of losing "king of that hill" in only months when the next-gen MAX rolls out with comparable and sometimes superior power specs. There has already been rumors that Mac Pro and Studio may just leap to M4. After all, isn't it too late for them to roll out with M3 Ultra this close to the probable launch of M4 MAX in the Fall? We're well beyond March now.
• M4 is loaded with A.I. hardware needed to spin A.I. at WWDC that may/probably lacks full capabilities to function on M1-M3 everything. Imagine the angst if they roll out some new M3 hardware this close to WWDC and then verbally obsolete it by making key "gee whiz" A.I. M4 only just weeks from now.

The #1 counter to the rumor is this perceived pattern or order of things... that iPhone must be first and that we think we have M-series sequences worked out in only 2.5 generations of M-series rollouts. Nothing says either of those is absolute "must." Apple could alter any apparent pattern at any time... including chip name & number too. The next chip could by N20, or Q91, or KuKuCaChoo 100 Squared.

Wow, in that case, I am really looking forward to possible Mac Studio releases with brand-new M4 Max & Ultra, completely bypassing the M3 generation. It is getting more exciting especially if we consider the ongoing rumors that there was no ultrafusion for m3 max, new ultra chip may get its own design, and highest-end m4 ultra may come at first...Anyway, if all such rumors turn out to be true in the end, it seems that the delay of TSMC n3 node really had a impact on the weird release patterns from m2 to m3, and now Apple is just getting everything on track again.

 

[jazz1]

We’re officially two weeks away. The hype is going to continue to grow daily.

Personally, I’ve tried the “all iPad workflow” for 2-years and it did have its drawbacks. Lack of dual monitor support, lack of clamshell, pro apps lacking, lack of proper cooling.

if Apple can give us these with the M4 iPads I’ll be very happy.

While there is very little to no chance I’ll replace my M3 Max MacBook Pro with the M4 iPad Pro, I’m incredibly excited to see what Apple has in store.

I’d love to see the iPad Mini get the M2 chip at least.

Sure I'd take an M4 chip in the next iPad! But, even with that unlikely development, I doubt the near future iOS will really be able to take advantage of it. For instance my M1 iPad Pro, with extra RAM and increased SSD storage does not yet seem to have lived up to its potential via iOS.

I started with the //+ and then purchased many a Mac over the subsequent years. For me the hardware was always the most exciting part of the upgraded models. Even though, in my heart of hearts, OS software and application software should really have been the center of my attention.

My long history with Apple seems that Apple usually drops great hardware first. We then wait for the OS to catch up. Maybe my memory is too faded. But has Apple ever released greatly improved hardware and OS at the same time?

So go ahead Apple, make me eat my words. Give me an M4 iPad with a 14" screen, and greatly improved Magic Keyboard/Trackpad. I double dare you!😋

 

[harold.ji]

Exactly , so hard to believe...but Mark G says that are chances and not that "he was told" so careful on his speech

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what he said was "strong possibility" verbatim?

 

[ttyRazor]

We’re officially two weeks away. The hype is going to continue to grow daily.

Personally, I’ve tried the “all iPad workflow” for 2-years and it did have its drawbacks. Lack of dual monitor support, lack of clamshell, pro apps lacking, lack of proper cooling.

if Apple can give us these with the M4 iPads I’ll be very happy.

While there is very little to no chance I’ll replace my M3 Max MacBook Pro with the M4 iPad Pro, I’m incredibly excited to see what Apple has in store.

I’d love to see the iPad Mini get the M2 chip at least.

Clamshell mode with an external display would make stage manager much more viable. It’s a bit jarring to switch between an 11” and 27” display that aren’t side by side

 

[AND411]

releasing an M4 will kill M3 mac sales

As long as this iPad stays exclusively with IPadOS and there's still no way to use MacOS, that's not going to kill MacBook sales.
But who knows, maybe with the new Magic Keyboard it can run MacOs, which is then available on the MK?

 

[Realityck]

How can he spin M4's in iPad Pros so soon and tell us the following also?

Apple’s latest Vision Pro road map doesn’t currently call for a second-generation model until the end of 2026, though the company is trying to figure out a way to bring a cheaper version to market before then. Apple is still flummoxed by how exactly to bring down the cost, I’m told.

So people are going to be buying AVPS with M2's until the end of 2026?

Thats what he wrote.

Wow what a shift, deflate the expectations of AVP over the hype of AI enhanced M4's arriving much sooner than expected.

 

[macmcrae]

I think AI on software side and Neural Engine on M4 on hardware side is what they are aggressively trying to get out

it would be to try and make the ipad pro more special.

 

[EugW]

I

How can he spin M4's in iPad Pros so soon and tell us the following also?

So people are going to be buying AVPS with M2's until the end of 2026?

Thats what he wrote.

Wow what a shift, deflate the expectations of AVP over the hype of AI enhanced M4's arriving much sooner than expected.

I don't think I've ever met a real person in real life that actually cares about Apple Vision Pro. I'm sure they exist, but they seem to be very, very uncommon.

 

[Realityck]

As long as this iPad stays exclusively with IPadOS and there's still no way to use MacOS, that's not going to kill MacBook sales.
But who knows, maybe with the new Magic Keyboard it can run MacOs, which is then available on the MK?

Apple purposely sets software functionality lines they will not cross with their products and operating systems. We never saw a iPhone that would run iPadOS. The same is true with iPad and MacOS. They are all honed to run their respective operating systems by Apple.

 

[Realityck]

That was my thought as well. However, now I’m not so convinced. If they market it appropriately, a new chip in the iPad Pro lineup wouldn’t necessarily kill Mac sales, because they are different enough products.

At the same time, having a more AI capable device out there allows them to demonstrate M4 exclusive AI features at WWDC… that would eventually come to the Mac lineup. Maybe macOS 15 isn’t as AI centered as iOS/iPadOS 18, and this would be a good reason to update macs later this year.

One would expect the iPhone to be the first goal of AI being used to make operating the iPhone more handsfree. But doing the same with iPad, now that is an odd thought as I handle it more then use it for cell communications and not used as a standalone cell phone. The iPhone is also used a lot for video/photography, and the camera on the iPads are not anywhere as good. For those that work in stores and use a iPad a lot thats a possibility but does its usage mandate AI before the iPhone?

 

[MichaelAdam]

M4 on iPad Pro over M3 on MBA … I understand the logic if you want to push the sales but the OS need to be a little more than what it is … A proper laptop replacement please

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Wow, in that case, I am really looking forward to possible Mac Studio releases with brand-new M4 Max & Ultra, completely bypassing the M3 generation. It is getting more exciting especially if we consider the ongoing rumors that there was no ultrafusion for m3 max, new ultra chip may get its own design, and highest-end m4 ultra may come at first...Anyway, if all such rumors turn out to be true in the end, it seems that the delay of TSMC n3 node really had a impact on the weird release patterns from m2 to m3, and now Apple is just getting everything on track again.

I buy that rumor (no dual MAXes for Ultra) because there is tangible proof the link is gone on M3 MAX. Thus, it implies that the next ULTRA will be its own chip. And since we've never had ULTRA as its own chip, we have no history at all to imply when it could come out. Thus, it could roll out FIRST instead of last in a new generation of chips.

Why would Apple do that? Presumably, it's the most profitable Macs on a per-unit basis AND rolling it out last sets it up for a very short window of "king of the (power) hill" until the next generation MAX rolls out at a much cheaper price (and less profitability per unit sold?) with sometimes better specs. Roll it out first and it reigns supreme (power) until the next Ultra is launch. Leave the schedule as we think we see it and it has about 2 months until MAX rumors start undermining enthusiasm for it.

Apple likes money. Ultra Macs rain maximum money per unit from all buyers.

And if you want one more punch of enthusiasm speculation: this next event is booked at 2 hours. I don't think Apple can spend 2 hours taking about a couple of new iPads. Maybe there's a bit more than only iPads to release? What has not made the jump from M2? When are those due to jump based upon best guesses? (about 2 months ago) What if they debut too either at this event or WWDC?

For those mentally locked in that those Macs must first launch with M3, does it make sense to have a super-tight window between M3 Studio & Pro and M4 MAX probably in October? Would many buy M3 Studio & Pro this close to M4 MAX? And if M4 is spun as Apple A.I. nirvana, won't they be sour they bought M3 just before the "great A.I. leap?" TBD.