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iPad Pro At this point in time, is the M1 iPad Pro not worth it compared to the 2020 iPad Pro?

theMarble

theMarble

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Sep 27, 2020
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It doesn't make much sense why Apple would put the M1 inside of the iPad Pro when there isn't a giant leap in performance or efficiency due to the "handicapping" of the M1 inside the iPad Pro because of the limit of 5GB per application and that the A12Z and the A14 Bionic perform the same and in some rare cases better than the M1 iPad Pro from a benchmark and price/performance perspective.

Apple must have plans for the iPad Pro and iPadOS as why would the offer a 16GB or heck even 8GB of memory version if it couldn't be used to it's fullest existent such as a version of Final Cut or Logic to the iPad. I'm sure there are people out there who would want to see the Pro Apps ported to iPadOS now that the Mac and the iPad Pro are using identical SOC's.

EDIT: Apple is apparently removing the 5GB limit in iPadOS, thanks for letting me know Shirasksi and azentropy! Hopefully this will help the iPad Pro get even better as a Pro device!
 
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Apple is reported to lift 5GB ram limits for iPadOS so developers can choose to use those ram when they need it.

Also, just like someone says, using one chip across the board saves manufacturing costs. It’s better to have it but not need it than need it but not have it. Using an Overpowered iPad is still the better experience than using a slowed iPad right?
 
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theMarble said:
Then why would they left the 5GB limit from pre-M1 iPad's in place and not optimize the performance enough so that there is a noticable improvement in overall performance?
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The old limit was actually around 4GB (for 6GB RAM devices). The lesser the RAM, the lower the limit.

Personally, I'm glad they went M1 instead of yet another non-update like the 2020 iPP's A12Z.

M1 has some Mac-specific improvements but at least it represents natural progression like we get on iPhones (A12 > A13 > A14). I don't think anyone's complaining that iPhones are too overpowered. The performance delta between A14 and M1 is pretty much the same as the delta between A12 and A12Z.
 
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theMarble said:
It doesn't make sense why Apple would put the M1 inside of the iPad Pro when there isn't a giant leap in performance or efficiency due to the "handicapping" of the M1 inside the iPad Pro because of the limit of 5GB per application and that the A12Z and the A14 Bionic perform the same and in some rare cases better than the M1 iPad Pro from a benchmark and price/performance perspective.

Apple must have plans for the iPad Pro and iPadOS as why would the offer a 16GB or heck even 8GB of memory version if it couldn't be used to it's fullest existent such as a version of Final Cut or Logic to the iPad. I'm sure there are people out there who would want to see the Pro Apps ported to iPadOS now that the Mac and the iPad Pro are using identical SOC's.
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Patience grasshopper.
 
theMarble said:
It doesn't make sense why Apple would put the M1 inside of the iPad Pro when there isn't a giant leap in performance or efficiency due to the "handicapping" of the M1 inside the iPad Pro because of the limit of 5GB per application and that the A12Z and the A14 Bionic perform the same and in some rare cases better than the M1 iPad Pro from a benchmark and price/performance perspective.

Apple must have plans for the iPad Pro and iPadOS as why would the offer a 16GB or heck even 8GB of memory version if it couldn't be used to it's fullest existent such as a version of Final Cut or Logic to the iPad. I'm sure there are people out there who would want to see the Pro Apps ported to iPadOS now that the Mac and the iPad Pro are using identical SOC's.
Click to expand...

From Apple’s perspective, it’s probably easier to just use an existing M1 chip than design a separate A14X chip, which would incur higher costs and be inferior in performance either way.

Even if there is no software that properly makes use of the M1 chip, users are not losing out in any way. Is there anyone here who is actually advocating for the ipad to sport less ram or slower processors than what it currently does?
 
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Of course not. There are lots of apps that make use of that power - like AR, CAD/other 3D visualization, drawing apps (specially effects), etc. The fact people only think in development and video editing when they say “profesional“ doesn‘t mean that there are many other fields where the iPad is the best possible computer and has been a success. Besides that, even for basic use, you always want to have as much power as possible, and it makes a huge difference — *no one* says “the iPhone is overpowered”.
 
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theMarble said:
Good to know, I thought it would go at some point soon as it made no sense. Hopefully this will improve performance a good bit.
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Is there any app where you actually need "a good bit" improved performance, because it is hampered or simply too slow for you today?
 
theMarble said:
Was putting the M1 in the iPad Pro a bad idea?
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People read too much into this chip, if they called A14X we would not have this thread.

To answer the question, NO it is never a bad thing to have extra power, and the M1 is basically an A14X.

It made sense for them to change the naming convention for the mac so they called it M1, and since it is the same exact chip they callet M1 on the iPad Pro as well, there was no fincancial senso to make 2 different and equal CPU anyway, and calling A14X just for the iPad would have been silly.

Running mine wihtou even watching how much ram is used, that means I never hit a bottleneck, so the 5gb issue is a non issue.

It will definetly help in the longrun to have 8 or 16 gb, so not complaining, my Affinity Suite runs like a charm even with the 5gb limit.

Abazigal said:
From Apple’s perspective, it’s probably easier to just use an existing M1 chip than design a separate A14X chip, which would incur higher costs and be inferior in performance either way.

Even if there is no software that properly makes use of the M1 chip, users are not losing out in any way. Is there anyone here who is actually advocating for the ipad to sport less ram or slower processors than what it currently does?
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
AlexESP said:
Of course not. There are lots of apps that make use of that power - like AR, CAD/other 3D visualization, drawing apps (specially effects), etc. The fact people only think in development and video editing when they say “profesional“ doesn‘t mean that there are many other fields where the iPad is the best possible computer and has been a success. Besides that, even for basic use, you always want to have as much power as possible, and it makes a huge difference — *no one* says “the iPhone is overpowered”.
Click to expand...
Very good point.

I would believe there are definitely performance improvements in AR related workflows thanks to the M1 chip however as you say "you always want to have as much power as possible, and it makes a huge difference" wouldn't the extra RAM help aswell, thankfully it seems like iPadOS 15 is removing this limit.

For the people who do CAD and 3D work, if they wanted power more than anything they would probably get an M1 MacBook, Mac Mini or an Intel Mac.
 
I don't know why people say chips are overpowered for what they can do. No one has ever said that about the iPhone and that's used for even less.
 
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Seanm87 said:
I don't know why people say chips over overpowered for what they can do. No one has ever said that about the iPhone and that's used for even less.
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I, for one, love overpowered chips. Because when you have some limit like the 60 frames per second on-screen, the chip will use less power to produce the same result - more battery life for users. Yay!
 
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I'll approach it as a potential buyer. If you currently own a 2018 or 2020 Pro there is very little reason to upgrade to a 2021 unless you NEED more storage or are changing screen sizes. The A12x and A12z are more than powerful enough to meet the needs of the vast majority of current users. I suppose the mini-LED on the 12.9" might be attractive, but... If you are planning to purchase, then it really comes down to how much one can save. I saw that Best Buy was recently selling 256gb 2020 11" Pros for $699 compared to $899 for the 2021 (deal is no longer on the table). That choice comes down to what one values and how dear the additional $200 is to the individual. But I'd say that the 2020 would be the better value for most folks.
 
I swear Joz said, when questioned about why Apple put the M1 in the iPad, that they want to put their best silicon in the iPad. To me when heard this I stopped expecting revolutionary iOS 15 updates as they did it because they can, not because they have a devine plan. Don’t get me wrong I wish they do have a devine plan, i just don’t think it was at the top of their minds like it was the consumers
 
Better have power and dont need it, than otherwise.Since the ipad pro cost the same, why not put the best SoC in it, if they can. M1 ipad pro starting from 799$ or the A14 ipad pro starting from the same 799$
This is the M1 power of the ipad
The SoC from heavens .. i bet a lot of users will keep this m1 ipad pro for 4-5-6 years because of the power it has
 
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