Apple Says M2 iPad Air Has 9 GPU Cores, Not 10 as Originally Stated

[MacRumors]

Apple has seemingly updated its tech specs webpage for the latest M2 iPad Air models to indicate the M2 chip has a 9-core GPU, rather than 10 cores as previously stated.

The change was first reported by 9to5Mac. Based on available web snapshots, the update to Apple's US website was made within the last 10 days. However, the equivalent webpage on many of Apple's regional stores still lists the M2 iPad Air as having a 10-core GPU.

Apple's press release originally announcing the product on its Newsroom also mirrors the original 10-core spec, as does support documentation for the device.

Apple has not commented on the change, which, if accurate, makes the new iPad Air the first M2-based Apple device with a 9-core GPU. Since the change went live on Apple's site, the going theory is that Apple's processor yield of 10-core chips was not sufficient, so it is using a "binned" version of the 10-core chip with one of the GPU cores disabled. The practice of "binning" is sometimes used to optimize processor yields and reduce waste.

In all likelihood, every M2 iPad Air model that Apple has sold includes a 9-core GPU, and Apple is simply updating its product information for accuracy. Any real-world performance difference between an M2 iPad Air with a 9-core versus a 10-core GPU would have arguably been unnoticeable to most users. Even so, some customers will probably want to know why Apple's marketing materials were mistaken.

Article Link: Apple Says M2 iPad Air Has 9 GPU Cores, Not 10 as Originally Stated

 

[Fuchal]

10% power efficiency improvement

 

[Aluminum213]

Does it really matter? with iPadOS you can still do everything on chips from five years ago

 

[brofkand]

I doubt it's for power efficiency, Apple's silicon already spends its entire life doing nothing in an iPad until the device is recycled. Definitely binned chips to reduce cost as much as possible.

 

[spaxxedout]

This happened with the Vision Pro, too. The 1080p AirPlay was reduced to 720p. Exposes Apple to detrimental reliance / false advertising complaints.

I’m not one to talk when it comes to clerical errors, but I’m also not writing technical copy for Apple….

 

[vegetassj4]

UPDATE: June 3, 2024

The redesigned iPad Air​

and new iPad Pro are available today​

Beginning today, the redesigned iPad Air and new iPad Pro, both powered by Apple silicon, are now available. Offered in two sizes for the first time, the new iPad Air with the M2 lite chip is more power effecient and versatile than ever with phenomenal performance, a landscape front camera, and faster Wi-Fi. The groundbreaking new iPad Air takes a huge leap forward with the new Ultra Effecient M2 lite GPU and next-level performance requiring fewer cores than ever — all while providing students, content creators, small businesses, and more, the power they need in an incredibly thin and light design that makes it the best iPad Air ever. You're going to love it.

 

[truthsteve]

I'm sure everyone would have noticed the difference between 9 and 10 cores

 

[Bigkool2inSC]

miscommunication between product development team and the documentation team.

 

[TheNewLou]

I'm sure everyone would have noticed the difference between 9 and 10 cores

They wouldn't advertise 10 cores if it wouldn't sell more iPads

 

[TechRunner]

I would be expecting a $59.90 or $79.90 refund from Apple if I already purchased one of the new Airs.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Whoops! Sorry!

Thanks for buying!

 

[coffeemilktea]

I can't believe Candy Crush is only going to have 9/10ths the cutting-edge graphical performance I expected. 😩

 

[Apple2501]

Blood in the water. Lawyers loading the canons readying for the lawsuits.

 

[aloyouis]

Simply a binning opportunity. Makes no difference to 99.9% of users and allows Apple to make use of what otherwise may be waste product. No big deal.

What is a big deal (to me, anyway) is the covert way Apple went about this. Pure, unadulterated BS.

 

[Chiromac81]

CORE-gate!!

 

[neuropsychguy]

I would be expecting a $59.90 or $79.90 refund from Apple if I already purchased one of the new Airs.

What if people who already purchased do have 10 GPU cores and it's just new ones that have 9+?

 

[DarthDon]

I smell lawsuits...

 

[ghanwani]

Fooled ya!

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Blood in the water. Lawyers loading the canons readying for the lawsuits.

Yeah, definitely time for a class action!

 

[klasma]

I would be expecting a $59.90 or $79.90 refund from Apple if I already purchased one of the new Airs.

It’s only one tech spec among a hundred listed, so more like $0.60.

 

[averagenerd81]

In practice nobody will ever see this, however it's a screw up that Apple should make good on for those that bought it when it was advertised as 10 cores.

 

[klasma]

Probably hallucinated by their new AI.

Next MacBook: 6 efficiency cores, 6 performance cores, and 6 hallucinated cores thanks to the updated neural engine.

 

[forced-to-have-a-username]

* "... has 10 cores but we decided to disable one software side"

 

[brofkand]

Simply a binning opportunity. Makes no difference to 99.9% of users and allows Apple to make use of what otherwise may be waste product. No big deal.

Sure but why introduce it as a 10-core product, with all the reviews created sharing that spec, and then after all the reviews post they update the documentation to the true spec. That is really shady. Not the first time we've seen a company change the spec of a product after the reviews come out though.

 

[reyesmac]

Their next chip to replace this one probably has ten cores too, so instead of just saying it's faster, they have to have different numbers showing that one has more than the other. Even if that comes at the expense of the users buying their current product.