Apps Reportedly Limited to Maximum of 5GB RAM in iPadOS, Even With 16GB M1 iPad Pro

[jk1221]

You have some valid points but Apple isn't going to offer an extra 8GB RAM because the chips were "ready to just pop in". It's an embarrassment to Apple that its Pro tablet (which can cost up to $2400) can't run its Pro apps. Apple makes video editing software but yet they have to demo a third parties product at their hardware launches... embarrassing. At the very least the 16GB option I think almost guarantees that Final Cut Pro is coming to iPad Pro - those 4K video files will need that RAM and yes it's a small sliver of the iPad users who need that but they are paying dearly for the capability since iPads with 16GB cost more than MacBooks.

Well yes, hence my last sentence "That doesn't mean pro apps aren't coming that need 8gb." I think that is a real possibility.

But the "16gb meaning MacOs is coming or some radical OS re-design" is LOL. 99.9% or more of iPads sold and currently out there are on 8gb or less that Apple has to work around with the OS.

We are talking about a niche config of a niche product here. The most sold iPads surely are the base or Air by far over any Pro; by a mile likely too.

 

[GuruZac]

Except:

6 to 8gb was a natural progression from 6gb in the 2020s.

We also know that higher storage models need more RAM for data transfer etc from the older models. The 2018 models showed that where the 1TB had 6gb while the rest 4gb. It is not the first time the higher storage tier had more RAM.

Maybe the storage type here for 1 and 2TB need more RAM, and they want to make sure everyone has at least that 8gb.

It may be cheaper in scale to use the 16gb M1 variant than create a whole new one for an ipad version (1tb an 2tb) that are likely less popular models overall. It could in fact be a money thing, no one has any idea.

At the end of the day 99%+ of iPads sold or currently out there in use are 8gb of RAM or less. Do you really think more than 1% of sales an n owners hands of all iPads are 1 and 2TB 2021 models? Apple or devs are not going to do anything solely for a slim margin of users on a 16gb RAM model. That isn't realistic.

The more logical answer is the cost of scale thing since they already had a 16gb M1 ready to just pop in without spending tens of millions of dollars on a new setup just for 2 lower volume iPad models. They likely saved more money giving more RAM on those minority of sales here than a new fab setup.

That doesn't mean pro apps aren't coming that need 8gb. But this pipe dream of Mac or a huge OS improvement "because they offer 16gb" are very unlikely. You are still dealing with the most common denominator which are 4-8gb models that you have to cater the OS to run on.

That’s simply not the case. You can configure a MacBook Air with 1TB plus of SSD without upgrading RAM.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Almost nobody buys the high-end iPad Pro for the RAM. They buy it for the storage.

The RAM amount doesn't even show up on the store page. The storage amount does.



I think they did mention the RAM at the event this time. And the tech specs say it. But it's still hardly front and center.



Yes, I'm sure firing people is a very effective way of changing software.

(The firing will continue until software improves?)

The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!

Hardly an effective management strategy. LOL! Not sure where some of these posters come up with their theories, much less what Steve Jobs would have thought or done in these circumstances.

 

[GtrDude]

Typical Apple move.

 

[jk1221]

$2400 iPads are not going to be "flying off the shelf".

I mean sure if you consider a fraction of a fraction of a percent of sales of iPads "flying' I guess.

We're talking about a niche config of the lowest selling iPad models already. The base and Air sales likely dwarf any Pro config sales numbers.

If they sell a million 1 or 2TB Pro models a year I would be totally shocked.

 

[Orange Bat]

I, for one, bought an iPad Pro with a smart folio and without a keyboard and track pad. and have no inclination to buy heavy accessories. The onboard keyboard and portability are much more important to me and I have a M1 Mac mini for heavy lifting.

Sure! The iPad is great to use however you’d like. But a keyboard and track pad can make the iPad Pro more of a ”heavy lifter” while still being a great touch device. In the last year I have relied less and less on a laptop, so I decided to by a Mac Mini rather than another laptop. However, I did buy an iPad Air for some light productivity when away from my desk. I wouldn’t have done that without the keyboard. As a long-time iPad user, the keyboard and track pad fundamentally changed how I think about the iPad. It’s really exciting to see a different take on mobile work that isn’t a laptop with a limited OS like a Chromebook or Microsoft’s Windows abomination.

 

[chucker23n1]

The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!

Hardly an effective management strategy. LOL! Not sure where some of these posters come up with their theories, much less what Steve Jobs would have thought or done in these circumstances.

These "this would never have happened if Steve were alive" posts would never have happened if Steve were alive.

 

[TheralSadurns]

Most comments here are utterly stupid.
An iPad with 16 GB of RAM can, will, and DOES use ALL OF THAT RAM. It uses the FULL 16 GB.
The limit is on a PER APP basis. Which simply means that "old" 6 GB iPad Pro... could handle ONE such app in memory...
while a 16 GB one can handle THREE and multi-task between them.

That's like saying "Ohh I'm using this app that has NO multi-core/thread support! So it was a WASTE to buy a computer with more than one core!"

 

[TMRJIJ]

Nah

Because 1tb and higher m1 has 16gb that’s the chip they used they don’t mention it as a feature, no app will only work on a few iPads out there they are made for all of them, people that brought the 1tb just for 16gb kinda got scammed

There’s a 8GB Memory M1 SoC available on Macs. The 1TB storage is not tied exclusively to 16 GB RAM.
Also, there are apps that only work on certain iPads models if it doesn’t meet system requirements (Ex. Pixelmator Photo specifically cuts iPad Air 2)

 

[agsystems]

iOS 15 will most certainly open this up … if developers make all these apps with high ram limits, then older iPads will not be able to utilize them … so this is tricky. There might need to be an iPad Pro M1 specific app section, causing developers to make multiple versions of the app that utilizes different Ram, for optimization … WWDC will be interesting, it will likely feature lots of specific apps.

interesting idea but I don't think they will need a separate section (Apple might added it for advertising) but developers can easily limit this in the same app (3MB RAM - open 3 layers, 6MB RAM, open 6 layers, etc.)

 

[I7guy]

Are we looking at the same Apple right now? The M1 iPad Pro reveal was ALL about cpu and chips and all that jazz, and nothing about the user experience.

Yea, we know very well old man Tim is all about the margins, to the point of releasing increasingly nonsensical product configurations that need a ton of peripherals and 3rd party solutions to "just work".

Did you happen to see the website and look at the marketing.
1. ipad pro - with the m1 chip (talks tech - because the m1 is a big deal and apple wants people to associate the m1 with performance and user improvements)
2. mind blowing performance (user experience)
3. XDR display (user experience)
4. etc.

Re: Margins. Glad we agree the fiduciary responsibility of a CEO is to ensure a company (specifically Apple) is on the correct financial path.

 

[Pezimak]

This just tells me that we’re in store for some big iPadOS news at WWDC. It doesn’t make sense that Apple would add all of this headroom for nothing.

This is what I believe too, at first it seemed rather odd for Apple to fit the M1 in the iPad, due to the limitations of iOS. But this fact that the apps are restricted in the memory they can access does seem to point the M1 is included for a reason, more then just to streamline manufacturing.
The potential the M1 offers the iPad is very exciting.

 

[robjulo]

Apple sees enough of a market to produce an ipad at that price point. A model at this price point may be targeted for corporate consumers more than individual consumers.

I didn't say there wasn't a niche market for it. I was responding to the assertion that they would "fly off the shelves" as though there will be lines of people clamoring for them. It is a very small, very specific, niche market. And I assure you the "corporate consumers" who would be interested in these, is also a very niche market.

 

[otternonsense]

Did you happen to see the website and look at the marketing.
1. ipad 2 - with the m1 chip (talks tech - because the m1 is a big deal and apple wants people to associate the m1 with performance and user improvements)
2. mind blowing performance (user experience)
3. XDR display (user experience)
4. etc.

Re: Margins. Glad we agree the fiduciary responsibility of a CEO is to ensure a company (specifically Apple) is on the correct financial path.

Again, you're being a stooge. The 2020 iPP performance is already mind blowing. You won't see anyone complaining. All the complaints are about iPadOS, not the hardware. The XDR display without any real-world comparisons is pure marketing drivel. etc.

Well yes, if that CEO is running a bank or an insurance firm. When it comes to product vision, Tim is a blind duck.

 

[Freida]

Lol, I'm getting tired of these comments. You know Steve personally so well that you know what he would do 10 years later? You have no clue what is behind this and whats cooking so how can you even say such nonsensical comment?

These Steve Jobs comments are laughable at least.

I'm getting tired of posting this, but once again Steve Jobs would be screaming and ranting and firing people.

 

[I7guy]

I didn't say there wasn't a niche market for it. I was responding to the assertion that they would "fly off the shelves" as though there will be lines of people clamoring for them. It is a very small, very specific, niche market. And I assure you the "corporate consumers" who would be interested in these, is also a very niche market.

It may not be a niche market is my point. Corporate consumers are anything but a niche market.

 

[agsystems]

Most comments here are utterly stupid.
An iPad with 16 GB of RAM can, will, and DOES use ALL OF THAT RAM. It uses the FULL 16 GB.
The limit is on a PER APP basis. Which simply means that "old" 6 GB iPad Pro... could handle ONE such app in memory...
while a 16 GB one can handle THREE and multi-task between them.

That's like saying "Ohh I'm using this app that has NO multi-core/thread support! So it was a WASTE to buy a computer with more than one core!"

Agreed...they can also updated iPad OS to swap to SSD for additional memory (like Mac have been doing for ages) - (and yes, I know there is the fear of cutting the life of the SSD)

 

[Moccasin]

It seems most likely that Apple have plans to use the added RAM in iPadOS15, despite those scoffing at such a thought.

Any other explanation seems unlikely, particularly for Apple:
- I doubt spare M1 chips are lying around. They’ll still be on the production line for the current Mac line up (by all accounts flying off the shelves) so Apple could manufacture more of the 8GB variety for iPad Pro
- if they were using spare M1, why not use the 8GB versions throughout rather than wasting hardware (reducing margin) in a very in-Apple way?
- given that they are producing a range of M1 chips, adding another that has less RAM would not be a challenge
- given the world shortage of chips, which is also affecting Apple, why waste scarce stock that could be making them money elsewhere?

 

[I7guy]

Again, you're being a stooge.

Throwing around ad-homs for a difference of opinion. Tsk, Tsk.

The 2020 iPP performance is already mind blowing. You won't see anyone complaining.

The m1 will take it up a notch. So what's your point?

All the complaints are about iPadOS, not the hardware.

You don't know what's coming down the line.

The XDR display without any real-world comparisons is pure marketing drivel. etc.

An opinion, and maybe a bad one.

Well yes, if that CEO is running a bank or an insurance firm. When it comes to product vision, Tim is a blind duck.

Another bad opinion. You're welcome to your opinions, but throwing around insults for posters who disagree with you only gets you one thing.

 

[robjulo]

It may not be a niche market is my point. Corporate consumers are anything but a niche market.

What ”corporate consumers” are forking over $2400 for the highest end iPad for their employees? Spend 10 minutes in “corporate America” and see what products companies are giving to their employees. It’s windows based laptops and will be for the foreseeable future. The companies that have a need for a high end iPad is niche. You can choose to believe it or not.

 

[femike]

I'm sure ram will be released with the iPadOS 15 in November. Those who bought now will have to wait.
Apart from ram, there so many other limitations to iPadOS that I'm over it. If it had macOS I would be in.

 

[I7guy]

What ”corporate consumers” are forking over $2400 for the highest end iPad for their employees? Spend 10 minutes in “corporate America” and see what products companies are giving to their employees. It’s windows based laptops and will be for the foreseeable future. The companies that have a need for a high end iPad is niche. You can choose to believe it or not.

You may want to take your own advice about "spending 10 minutes" in corporate america if you don't believe that corporations won't pay big bucks for big employee gains, better IT management over devices, etc. You can choose to believe it or not.

 

[usagora]

Exactly. Apple is all about margins, they aren’t going to add more expensive RAM for no reason. This is part of why Apple doesn’t really advertise how much RAM iPhones and iPads have.

Well, they do for the iPad Pro:

Yes, it's in the tech specs and not the main overview, but they still made a point of specifying this whereas they don't in the tech specs of the other iPads or iPhones.

 

[robjulo]

You may want to take your own advice about "spending 10 minutes" in corporate america if you don't believe that corporations won't pay big bucks for big employee gains, better IT management over devices, etc. You can choose to believe it or not.

I do and have. Your goal appears to be just to argue with anyone. Move along.

 

[andywaynebrooks]

"Seamless integration of hardware and software......"