iPadOS 15 Allows Apps to Use Up to 12GB of RAM on High-End iPad Pro, Up From Just 5GB

[MacRumors]

In June, we reported that starting with iPadOS 15, Apple is giving developers the ability to allocate their apps more RAM, allowing apps to use more of the available memory in the iPad to run faster and smoother.

Via an entitlement, Apple is giving developers the ability to let iPadOS know that certain functions of their apps may perform better if they have access to more system memory. Currently, Apple caps the amount of memory an app can use, mainly to ensure that a single app does not utilize all of a device's memory, impacting other core system functions.

Till now, we had limited information regarding specific details of this entitlement, including exactly how much RAM an app can request. However, with iPadOS 15 launching on September 20, we now know that on the highest-end M1 iPad Pro, apps can use up to double the amount of RAM that was previously allowed.

The new details were shared by the developers behind the graphic design app Artstudio Pro, and according to their findings, on the highest-end M1 iPad Pro, which features 16GB of RAM, apps can request through the entitlement to use up to 12GB of that available memory. On the other M1 iPad Pro models, which feature only 8GB of RAM, apps can request up to 6GB.

In both cases, even if an app informs iPadOS that additional memory is needed, iPadOS still allocates a 2GB buffer for the app, on top of the 4GB available for 16GB iPad Pro models, and the 2GB free for the other models.

The new change is likely to be most beneficial to graphically intensive apps, such as those for drawing, modeling, and photo and video editing. While the added RAM allocation is welcomed, some users may continue to argue that iPadOS is not taking full advantage of the hardware within iPad, especially with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros powered by the M1 chip.

Apple says the new entitlement will be available on "supported devices," and at this point, which devices are supported beyond the new iPad Pros is unknown. For example, this week, Apple released a new iPad mini and a new baseline ninth-generation iPad, with 4GB and 3GB of RAM respectively. For these new models, Apple is unlikely to allow apps to request RAM above the system limit, as it may impact core functions of iPadOS.

iPadOS 15, which includes the ability to place widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, an improved multitasking experience, Live Text, and more, will launch alongside iOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 on Monday, September 20.

Article Link: iPadOS 15 Allows Apps to Use Up to 12GB of RAM on High-End iPad Pro, Up From Just 5GB

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wow! That’s stellar. iPad Pro just got real.

 

[LFC2020]

Can’t wait to play Tetris on 6gb ram setting. 😂

 

[hovscorpion12]

Within 6 months we should see apps getting RAM boosts. Can not wait to see how procreate, photoshop, LumaFusio…etc take advantage of the 12GB of RAM on the 16 model and 6GB RAM on the 8GB model

 

[madmin]

Phew what a relief

 

[dogslobber]

The iPad is almost a computer.

 

[easy4lif]

Offtopic but I’d like to see 6 to 8gb of ram on the next iPad Air.

 

[one more]

Nice, but somewhat harder for developers, I guess, as the majority of iPads in circulation still have 3-4 GB of RAM? Will this lead to a Pro app section of the app market? 🤔

 

[one more]

Wow! That’s stellar. iPad Pro just got real.

Yeah, a shame iPadOS running on it did not at the same time. 😋

 

[Digitalguy]

Personally the only app I would like to have more RAM for is Safari, which I guess will instead be hit negatively by this change, since the more RAM apps can use, the more Safari will have to reload pages....

 

[GrumpyCoder]

Great, now we only need proper multitasking including window management, a keyboard with system wide shortcuts and the ability to properly hook up external monitors and we're all set.

 

[iPadified]

One argument down for the iPad Pro is a toy crowd.

Does apple actually know what they are doing? /s

 

[BvizioN]

How about Pro apps Apple? Starting with your own Final Cut Pro x?

 

[gatortpk]

I posted my comment on the wrong article and can’t seem to delete this at all. If I edit this to zero characters, it errors. No delete option.

Anyway, I’m glad apps have more RAM available now. I wasn’t aware they couldn’t use all available RAM before like they can on macOS.

 

[Pitogyro]

Same here. Somethings wrong.

 

[tobybrut]

8:03AM EDT and it’s still not live on any device. Is it my region here in Florida?

iOS/iPadOS do not release to the public until Monday.

 

[Pitogyro]

iOS/iPadOS do not release to the public until Monday.

I think he’s talking about iPhone preorders

 

[agsystems]

8:03AM EDT and it’s still not live on any device. Is it my region here in Florida?

who is your carrier - AT&T opens the pre-orders 15 mins earlier and they have digital line that guarantees you will get the phone on launch day

 

[Greenmeenie]

So does this mean we can finally get an iPad Pro version of Final Cut? 🙏

 

[matrix07]

Great, now we only need proper multitasking including window management, a keyboard with system wide shortcuts and the ability to properly hook up external monitors and we're all set.

You already have that. It's called MacBook Air (or Pro if you'd like).

 

[GrumpyCoder]

You already have that. It's called MacBook Air (or Pro if you'd like).

No touch gestures, no pencil and no detachable keyboard on those. 🤷‍♂️

 

[BlueCreek]

Great, now we only need proper multitasking including window management, a keyboard with system wide shortcuts and the ability to properly hook up external monitors and we're all set.

I have only recently pick up an iPad Pro, and the window management is definitely needed.
I don’t know if it was a beta bug but I launched 2 safari windows, when trying to return to these windows, they had closed a long with my 40 tabs! Maybe I did something wrong…

 

[severe]

Great, now we only need proper multitasking including window management, a keyboard with system wide shortcuts and the ability to properly hook up external monitors and we're all set.

And macOS.

 

[severe]

I have only recently pick up an iPad Pro, and the window management is definitely needed.
I don’t know if it was a beta bug but I launched 2 safari windows, when trying to return to these windows, they had closed a long with my 40 tabs! Maybe I did something wrong…

Same. Numerous times.

 

[GrumpyCoder]

I have only recently pick up an iPad Pro, and the window management is definitely needed.
I don’t know if it was a beta bug but I launched 2 safari windows, when trying to return to these windows, they had closed a long with my 40 tabs! Maybe I did something wrong…

I don't think you did anything wrong. iPads are horrible when it comes to this. I'm one of those users that leaves tabs open, especially during research to revisit them later or sites I frequently check. I currently have 80 tabs open on my 12.9". Every now and then I have to reboot, because it throws errors (probably memory issues). Having multiple apps open with more options would be so nice, horizontal/vertical split with free scaling. I've recently looked at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ which does a much better job at this than the iPad. The aspect ratio is horrible however, which makes it a bad choice for reading and taking notes.

And macOS.

Well, yes. I wanted this for ages, but have given up on it now. Until they get rid of the smaller MacBooks (Air, 13" and upcoming 14"), they're not going to destroy their own market. They're just going to tell people to carry around two devices.