Gurman: iPad Pro With 'M2' Chip and MagSafe Charging Likely to Launch in Fall 2022

[Populus]

In my mind, the story and focus should be on the new iPadOS. The M2 chip and MagSafe are gimmick sales tactics without a more robust OS.

And what do you think should be added to iPadOS? Because making it too pointer-oriented is not the way to go I’m afraid, and in Apple they know that the iPad is a touch-centric device. You cannot approach iPadOS to macOS because Apple want to have those two categories well differentiated.

I’m asking just because each time someone asks for a more powerful operating system, I get the impression (not saying you want this) they just want an iPad with macOS, and that’s just not happening.

 

[EugW]

Apple is laying the groundwork in iPad Pro hardware for changes in the OS. The 16 GB RAM for example is a major update. It allows Apple to increase memory allocation to individual applications.

And to pre-empt the inevitable posts that larger storage capacity iPad Pros need more RAM to manage the storage, that's baloney. The additional RAM has nothing to do with storage. It never has, despite incorrect claims about this in the past.

 

[James Godfrey]

They better show us something revolutionary at WWDC, as this is the first year since 2018 where the hardware is coming after the software announcements…

 

[Nozuka]

Anyone here could have made these predictions......

 

[EugW]

They better show us something revolutionary at WWDC

Mac Pro based off the M2 core.

 

[allenvanhellen]

Wow, might finally have enough power to get a calculator and a weather app. Maybe with the M7 we’ll get FCP and Logic.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Yes, I agree and it will be interesting to see what happens at WWDC. However, Apple is very aware of the balance needed to keep iPadOS extremely simple. As long as MacOS exists (and it's not going anywhere anytime soon) Apple will always prioritize keeping iPadOS simplicity as that's what majority of it's users need.

I understand they can create hidden complexity for power users, but I can't see them creating complexity at the expense of simplicity. It's a difficult thing to do.

I think for the Finder to work on iPadOS Apple will need to customize it for the iPad form factor. Menu bars as is will not work, but maybe a vertical floating menu bar could work. You could also make hidden and call
up with a gesture. Making floating windows optional could add some serious multitasking power to the OS. Another option also to keep the Dock on sides in land scape mode would also be appreciated.

All Apple has to do is make this optional.

 

[easy4lif]

So I guess MagSafe is going to replace the usbc port? I wonder If Apple will replace lighting port with MagSafe port as well on the iPhone line


Update: MagSafe wireless charging, got it!

 

[EugW]

So I guess MagSafe is going to replace the usbc port? I wonder If Apple will replace lighting port with MagSafe port as well on the iPhone line


Update: MagSafe wireless charging, got it!

I wish Apple had chosen a different name for wireless charging in the iOS devices. The use of the term MagSafe is simply confusing, esp. since it doesn't add much of a safety aspect to the devices.

 

[Populus]

My guess at this point is that the M2 will be based on the A16, not on the A15, that’s why the M2 products will start being unveiled/released after the September iPhone 14 event.

At the same time, my guess is that the A16 will have similar A15 efficiency cores, while the new architecture will be for the performance cores, making the A15 a step in between the development of the A14 and the A16.

 

[EugW]

My guess at this point is that the M2 will be based on the A16, not on the A15, that’s why the M2 products will start being unveiled/released after the September iPhone 14 event.

At the same time, my guess is that the A16 will have similar A15 efficiency cores, while the new architecture will be for the performance cores, making the A15 a step in between the development of the A14 and the A16.

I wouldn't be surprised if they start from the top down with M2, at WWDC with the Mac Pro.

That said, it could very well be that the Mac Pro SoC is in its own class, based off neither A14 nor A16.

 

[cpnotebook80]

The saving grace right now is universal control at the moment but the pados is disaster. The focus is on hardware n not optimum software from dev both for iPads and desktops so that sucks for all

 

[nerdAFK]

The hardware evolution is remarkable to say the least, but after 5 years my 2017 10.5 iPad Pro still handles the OS just as well as the latest iPad Pro.

The OS is lagging so far behind the hardware advancement.

 

[James Godfrey]

Apple is laying the groundwork in iPad Pro hardware for changes in the OS. The 16 GB RAM for example is a major update. It allows Apple to increase memory allocation to individual applications.

And to pre-empt the inevitable posts that larger storage capacity iPad Pros need more RAM to manage the storage, that's baloney. The additional RAM has nothing to do with storage. It never has, despite incorrect claims about this in the past.

No they are lining their own pockets by saving money by reusing chips in more and more devices.

Plus the main reason for the extra RAM is because the iPad doesn’t utilise disc swapping, so it limits usability when multitasking with resource intensive apps and also reduces the amount of times apps refresh after closing and reopening them nothing more.

What we have to remember is that the same iPadOS is optimised on the most expensive iPad Pro at over $2k but also the base iPad for $329… I very much doubt that Apple see it being worth their time to bring exclusive features to the small demographic of high end iPad Pro users.

Looking at Apples releases you can see which direction the adoption of features is going… it’s not going Mac to iPad to iPhone as everyone would like it to, instead it’s going iPhone to iPad to Mac… I can guarantee the Mac will get expandable widgets etc this year ?

 

[greenbreadmmm]

Apple didnt move the m1 to the air without the goal of a much more robust iPad OS.

They are laying the groundwork for an actual OS in the future.

 

[paulsquyres]

If Apple is going to put an M2 chip in the iPad, they need to create a killer app for it such as a fully functional version of Final Cut Pro, otherwise, this is overkill. Sure, the increased hardware speed is great, but without software to utilize and take full advantage of it....it's just a waste of money....

 

[Starscape]

Why even bother with the M2 if iOS already dramatically gimps the potential of the M1.

Hey, maybe iOS will get real multitasking? Probably not, of course.

 

[Zdigital2015]

please don't put a mini led display in the 11". if it's OLED i'll upgrade even if only the 12.9" gets it.

There isn’t going to be an 11” iPad Pro. The move to M1 in the iPad Air 5 should make that apparent to everyone. Apple is literally telegraphing what their next move with the iPad Pro is going to be. Expect a 12” and 14” iPad Pros in the next go round. I suppose that Fall 2022 is possible, but it depends on how many M2 SoCs can get out the door. I’m calling it for a Q1/2023 introduction of M2 iPad Pros.

 

[contacos]

How long would it take an iPad to charge via MagSafe? 1 day? No thanks

anyway, it will be nice to open the Instagram app faster on M2 … oh wait!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Please explain why we need a MagSafe on an iPad. Is that even necessary? I don’t understand.

Do you guys use it on your iPhone?

 

[EugW]

Plus the main reason for the extra RAM is because the iPad doesn’t utilise disc swapping, so it limits usability when multitasking with resource intensive apps and also reduces the amount of times apps refresh after closing and reopening them nothing more.

You're basically repeating what I said, in a different way. However, if you look back, generally Apple ships the hardware with additional RAM first, then releases an updated version of the OS later to allow for the increased RAM allocation.

BTW, the other point is that it's not just about app refreshing. It's also about actual usable RAM for apps. For example, Procreate allows more layers in machines with additional RAM, but it's dependent upon the OS. Furthermore, even with machines with the same amount of RAM, older OSes handle this differently than newer ones.

- When the iPad Pros first came out with 6 GB RAM in the 1 TB storage tier, ProCreate could not add more layers in these models, since it was an OS limitation. They could only handle as many layers as the 4 GB models.
- Then when the new iPad Pros came out with 6 GB RAM in all storage tiers, Apple updated macOS, and then finally ProCreate could add more layers in these models, but NOT the older 1 TB iPad Pro models with the same 6 GB RAM. These latter older 6 GB models were still being treated as if they had only 4 GB RAM, which annoyed a number of people of course.
- Then later Apple updated macOS again, and all iPad Pros with 6 GB RAM could add more layers, including the older models.

Please explain why we need a MagSafe on an iPad. Is that even necessary? I don’t understand.

Do you guys use it on your iPhone?

I use MagSafe for my iPhone all the time. In fact, I almost never use Lightning for charging. It's especially great in the car. I put my phone on my magnetic mount on the dash, which incorporates MagSafe, so I can use it as a GPS while charging it at the same time, without ever having to plug anything in.

The main problem with this setup is that after the hot summer season, the mount's adhesive base has lost some of its stickiness. This is not a criticism of MagSafe of course. It's a criticism of the crappy adhesive used in this cheap mount.

I also have a MagSafe charging stand on my desk. It's very convenient.

 

[James Godfrey]

Apple didnt move the m1 to the air without the goal of a much more robust iPad OS.

They are laying the groundwork for an actual OS in the future.

No they moved it for the goal of earning more money, it’s simply a cost saving decision, by using the M1 in more and more devices it must save them a fortune, on top of that due to the genius marketing of M1 and having a ‘Mac’ chip in an iPad it will in turn increase sales of the device as people will be duped into thinking they are getting MacBook levels of performance in their iPad which they simply don’t due to the softwares limitations.

 

[Scarpad]

I just picked up a 12.9 5th gen loving the screen and the overall snappiness of the m1, I got a decent deal on it and I figure the next model will be more of a spec bump, hopefully keep this for a few years and see what's new in 2 or 3 years from now

 

[James Godfrey]

Mac Pro based off the M2 core.

I mean with iPadOS… Mac Pro will be revolutionary for the less than 1% of consumers who are in the market for it, it really won’t interest the vast majority of people.

 

[Saladin12]

So MagSafe from the iPhone or MagSafe from the Mac?