M1 iPad Pro Offers 8GB or 16GB RAM Options for First Time, Based on Storage Capacity

[hasanahmad]

people freaking out about drive caching issues in 3..2..1

 

[Jeehut]

That much RAM for what? Did ANYONE have an issue with 6gb before? Even with multiple windows?

It's STILL iPad OS, nothing there is different. They would have to make the OS far different to justify buying a more expensive iPad for an overkill M1 and mini-LED.

Of course if the device provides only 6 GB of RAM, no one will provide a professional application that needs more than that. The hardware needs to go first here, Apple has done it now, finally. Wait 6 months an you‘ll see the first apps that only work great on the 8/16 GB models.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

That's a hard sell to start selling the hardware, with a price increase, before the software that can begin to touch using it...

Agreed, but if the software catches up a bit more after WWDC they will sell more in the fall, when the chip shortage would be better.

 

[jk1221]

That’s just the thing though. The average person isn’t even considering an iPad Pro. At best they’re deciding if an Air is worth the extra bucks over the 10.2” iPad. Of the people that are looking at the iPad Pro, I think the RAM absolutely matters. I’m sure they sell millions of units, but relative to the whole lineup, I think the iPad Pro already is a niche product.

I'm an average person who wants the biggest display and will never draw on it; or never use intensive graphical apps. There are THOUSANDS of doctors, lawyers, etc using ipads in that boat too. Maybe take some notes at most.

Perish the thought a "professional" other than a "Youtube creator" or creative type wants to use a big screen iPad with 2 full size side by side basic apps.

There is nothing un"professional" about wanting a big (the biggest possible) screen and a keyboard.

Artists, moviemakers, and developers are not the only professionals in the world by any margin; regardless of what Apple wants anyone to believe. But this is just very typical Apple fashion in fact. I'm not shocked one bit.

There is nothing bad about better hardware. But without software it means nothing. It's still an overpowered iOS device hindered by the OS.

If you have to choose a 13" laptop (Mac or Windows) or 12.9 iPad, since pricing is getting close, for most who aren't in Apples niche idea of a professional the choice isn't hard. They're pricing it in laptop territory (really more since you still need at least keyboard and maybe a mouse to make it function the same) without dong what a regular laptop can do.

If it could dual-boot Mac OS, then it's a value proposition 2-for-1.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Of course if the device provides only 6 GB of RAM, no one will provide a professional application that needs more than that. The hardware needs to go first here, Apple has done it now, finally. Wait 6 months an you‘ll see the first apps that only work great on the 8/16 GB models.

Some applications already want more even if they work okay on the 6GB versions. Games especially could see a good boost as well.

 

[Populus]

I’d really like to buy an 11” iPad Pro with 16GB, but it almost doubles the price... and I cannot afford it. I guess I’ll keep using my 11” 2018 iPad Pro (with just 4GB of RAM) for the time being.

 

[Jeehut]

Quite honestly what I was thinking. 6GB solved a lot of problems for me 8GB should future proof quite well, I have no idea who needs 16gb in an iPad.

Developers! Video Editors! Designers!

 

[gadgetgirl85]

I nearly feel tempted to buy the 11’ base model but it’s over 1k...do I really need something so high powered to watch YouTube/word docs etc? It seems overkill

 

[rp2011]

$1700 for (12.9") cellular 512GB model. That is pricey.

$1500 for the same Macbook air WITHOUT pencil support, touchscreen better cameras, lidar, accelerometer or 5G,

 

[Wags]

lol this confirms it, these are 100% getting Big Sur (or some equivalent) this September

Maybe for the 1 or 2tb models. Can’t see apple giving full Mac OS on $799 device.

 

[lakerchick4life]

That's the iPad Im gonna get..the 12.9 inch 256GB wifi model comes with 8gb of ram Im sold..will have to trade in my 2018 ipad pro 11 inch for it but all good..now 256gb is normally fine for my use but I wonder what are the odds that apple adds final cut pro and other mac apps to the iPad??

 

[rp2011]

Of course if the device provides only 6 GB of RAM, no one will provide a professional application that needs more than that. The hardware needs to go first here, Apple has done it now, finally. Wait 6 months an you‘ll see the first apps that only work great on the 8/16 GB models.

Yep. Big waves lift all boats. With a unified architecture, the best features, hardware and software from each form factors can now be easily shared. We all win.

 

[garrick2007]

Really hope they have something huge planned for the software because all this power will be worthless for just iOS apps.

I know what you mean but current apps do push its capabilities currently even if it doesn't feel like it but with them still showing off a lot of 3rd party apps like Luma Fusion, it looks like Final Cut Pro is still not in the immediate future for iPadOS :/

 

[Apple_Robert]

$1500 for the same Macbook air without pencil support, touchscreen or 5G,

I am sticking with my M1 Mac and my 2020 iPad Pro for now. If iPadOS gets put into overdrive, I will reassess.

Even though the new model is pricey, I think a lot of people on here will buy it just for the better screen and 5G.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I nearly feel tempted to buy the 11’ base model but it’s over 1k...do I really need something so high powered to watch YouTube/word docs etc? It seems overkill

Cat videos look much better on an iPad Pro.

 

[keyofnight]

Silly people in these comments: "I don't know what you'd need 16GB in an iPad for."

Everyone who has ever run into lag/limits in lumafusion, procreate, photoshop, etc.:

 

[mukiex]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if this thing gets a Desktop Mode.
2. Literally WAY too many people complaining about RAM counts that have probably never loaded a copy of Procreate. Also people who don't do anything with their day that's memory intensive.

 

[TomOSeven]

Developers!

Yeah, with how much of a RAM hog Android Studio is...

Oh wait, weren't we talking about the iPad?

 

[himanshumodi]

But a MacBook has like one potato camera.

iPad Pro has two 4K cameras front and back plus lidar. And a touch screen with pencil. And all the other sensor and tech goodies like 5G wireless, position/acceleration sensors for motion... and more.

the MacBook might as well be a netbook at this point with 2 ports. It's less hardware for more money.

lol. you are not kidding. my current car is for £1900. I am not going to buy the top end iPad, but the value of my apple devices will out-cost my car. Crazy!

 

[keyofnight]

Let's say this more explicitly. Just because you don't need something doesn't mean that nobody does. I can make my iPad Pro 2018 chug with LiquidText or Procreate or anything like that. Give me that M1 iPad Pro with 16GB. Give it to me now.

If you're only going to edit word documents or browse the web, go on and get an iPad Air, and leave all of us folks who need the iPad Pro alone.

 

[iGeek2019]

What I really want to know is, does the 11" model have 120hz? Looking for the ultimate portable gaming tablet and that's basically a requirement for me to move away from the latest iPad Mini. I currently stream off my iPad Mini and the refresh rate/output of the iPad Mini + lightning-based HDMI adapter is very poor and stuttery even on high end thunderbolt capture hardware. I can only assume the restricted HDMI output of the lightning port is to blame. I hope there will be a thunderbolt-to-HDMI option for this new iPad.

Also is the 11" model referring just to screen size? Did we get actual dimensions to compare to the mini?

ProMotion(120Hz) is available on iPad Pro 11” too.

According to Apple’s UK website it’s 9.74” tall, 7.02” wide and 0.23” thick.

 

[eMacKilla]

Unless you're an actual professional creative, there's no reason to own this. It's so expensive. The good thing is that we know mini LED will come to MacBooks eventually.

 

[Apleeseed84]

I have the 1tb 12.9” pro and you are right if I wanted the 2tb this will set me back close to 2,500$ for the wifi and cellular, I don’t know at this rate, the pricing is more than a MacBook Air/pro and to an extent better because of the 5g support it’s really a waste we can’t get macOS on these bad boys. It’s just a big no for me, but we will see

 

[velo]

Never seen so much whinging about the option to get more RAM. And some of you need to hear this - the screen on a M1 Macbook does not freakin’ detach and magically become a tablet. So no I won’t be buying that instead.

iPad Pro 12.9 cellular 256GB it is for me.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

One has to be a true idiot to buy this over a Macbook Air. I am sorry but those prices are complete madness especially with the 1TB/16GB option. It's an iPad!

Some of us WANT an iPad, NOT a Mac.

Why do we gotta be all dat?

You shouldn't call people that buy motorcycles idiots for not buying a car, my friend.

Maybe you meant that one has to be a true idiot if one wants/needs a laptop and buys an iPad instead.

Otherwise, one gets what one needs or wants.

One cannot run iPadOS on a MacBook Air, cannot use the Pencil on a MacBook Air, cannot detach the keyboard and trackpad on a MacBook Air, cannot have a 1lb device with a MacBook Air, and cannot touch the screen with a MacBook Air.