M1 iPad Pro Over 50% Faster Than Previous Generation in Early Benchmarks

[Unregistered 4U]

I keep hearing this weird argument. Sure you can do the same thing on a lesser machine. That’s been the same for a long time over all ecosystems. Why it’s a ‘thing’ with the iPad I have no idea. I have never heard anyone in the windows or mac world dismissing a more powerful machine because they can do the same thing on a entry level machine. They can but why would they? They may be marketed as pro for marketing purposes, but they’re also fully featured pro versions of the basic machines. Just like in the rest of the computer world.

I was just thinking about this, too. I guess it’s Intel style thinking

“Well, yeah we KNOW it’s POSSIBLE to provide that level of power for that price and power efficiency, but no one’s done that and we’re not going to start now!”

I wonder, how far behind are the i3’s? If Intel has been having problems with pushing their high ends higher over the past few years, how hard have they intentionally worked to keep the i3/i5 down while still making incremental improvements? I kinda wanna go ARK diving, but kinda wanna go for a drive… so guess it’s driving for me!!

 

[hatchettjack]

Why Spend $2400 to get an iPad Pro M1 12.9?
When you can buy a Mac mini M1 with 16GB for $899?
That's more than half the price!
And you get macOS.
Not Crippled IOS with no file system for saving and downloading files.
Even Android tablets have a regular file system.

Where you going to put the external monitor while you are on the couch surfing the web? And most monitors are pretty expensive, so you have to add that to the price!

 

[DNichter]

I keep hearing this weird argument. Sure you can do the same thing on a lesser machine. That’s been the same for a long time over all ecosystems. Why it’s a ‘thing’ with the iPad I have no idea. I have never heard anyone in the windows or mac world dismissing a more powerful machine because they can do the same thing on a entry level machine. They can but why would they? They may be marketed as pro for marketing purposes, but they’re also fully featured pro versions of the basic machines. Just like in the rest of the computer world.

It’s all justification in my eyes. People look to justify their buying decisions, one way or another. I tend to look at features or the overall experience and buy that way, not necessarily from a need perspective.

 

[threesixty360]

Most people use one app at a time on macOS, too. Switching to one window, copy, to another window, paste. macOS doesn’t even allow you to control two windows at once where on iPad I can independently scroll two Safari windows simultaneously. If I REALLY want to get fancy, pull up a third window on slide over and manipulate that one, too. That’s a level of multitasking that’s impossible on a Mac.

That’s only because you don’t have multi touch on macOS. It’s not a power thing. I think the point I’m making with iPad is that when you write for iOS you can’t really have whatever long running tasks you want that are not in the current foreground app.

if an app is not in the foreground it has to give up its memory use and shut down. Then when you switch back to it it kind of restarts itself at the same place you left it.

There are exceptions provided by apples api for stuff like music etc.. but generally iOS is a far more effecient OS than macOS by design. That’s why I’ve always found it funny when people say iOS is not a “pro” OS compared to macOS. It’s pretty much the opposite really. IOS is a modern OS design that has learnt from the mistakes of old OS design.

I would think given them same hardware (I.e. m1 chip in iPad) the IPad will run rings round macOS performance wise.

 

[jazz1]

New iPad owners better hope you see a huge iPadOS surprise. Otherwise, there may be a lot of unhappy people.

Truly! And it better not be 6 to 12 months down the line. If, in the end, there is really no differentiation between a 2020 iPP, or a 2021 iPP (loaded with 16GB and 1TB/2TB SSD) I think many will accuse Apple of selling “snake oil”. Has there ever been such a potential “break-through” in Apple’s history? I’ve been buying Apple’s products since the //+, and the first Mac. That transition to the Mac, was indeed mind-blowing. For the money, the 2021 iPP should give a similar experience IMHO. Yes, I have one on order.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Truly! And it better not be 6 to 12 months down the line. If, in the end, there is really no differentiation between a 2020 iPP, or a 2021 iPP (loaded with 16GB and 1TB/2TB SSD) I think many will accuse Apple of selling “snake oil”. Has there ever been such a potential “break-through” in Apple’s history? I’ve been buying Apple’s products since the //+, and the first Mac. That transition to the Mac, was indeed mind-blowing. For the money, the 2021 iPP should give a similar experience IMHO. Yes, I have one on order.

I agree. WWDC could be huge for Apple in many ways or another let down as far as the OS is concerned. I truly hope Apple breaks with tradition and surprises us with a full powered OS instead of spec bump features. I don't think it will happen, though. I predict a lot of pitch forks on MR very soon.

 

[agsystems]

A14 single-core is ~1600, M1 single-core is ~1700. That's actually really close.

As for multi-core, M1 has 2 more faster cores so yes, the multi-core is naturally higher.

A12: 2+4 CPU, 4C GPU
A12Z: 4+4 CPU, 8C GPU

A14: 2+4 CPU, 4C GPU
M1: 4+4 CPU, 8C GPU

M1 is what the A14X/Z would've been if Apple hadn't decided to change their nomenclature.

About the same, maybe? I am more interested to know about the write/read speed of the SSD with the updated controller - even if the CPU/GPU are 100% the same - I bet the new controller would smoke the A14 SOC.

 

[Analog Kid]

There is a difference in multitasking like you're saying and background processes which is what most people are talking about I think. Background processes are not allowed on iOS with very rare exception.

This isn't a limitation of the OS, it's a feature. Background tasks consume battery. iPad is a mobile device with limited battery capacity. Developers can't be trusted to use background tasks responsibly, and most users have no idea when a background task is running so they'll just blame either the iPad itself for reduced battery life, or whatever the foreground task is.

There's an API to complete a long operation if you get switched out of foreground. And APIs for common capabilities that a mobile user would want to have running. That's enough.

For the record though, I do think most people mean what @Unregistered 4U is suggesting-- you need to have a fairly sophisticated understanding of computing to know what a background task is and what it might be doing. Most people think of multi-tasking as whether their app appears to relaunch when they switch back from Safari. This is exactly what the whinging masses meant when they complained about how iOS had less RAM than Android-- how many apps can remain active. Now the soundbite is that 16GB is too much...

 

[citysnaps]

Lightroom remains the only DAM I've found that is worth paying for. If I couldn't use Lightroom, I'd use the built-in Photos app on Windows or macOS (or iPadOS I suppose) or something like RawTherapee. Nothing that is paid is as good as Lightroom, and I've tried many.

It's not only that Lightroom has the best DAM, but if one wanted to switch to another one, and had say 100K+ of non-destructively edited images in their library, how would the other DAM deal with those image files preserving the edits for future modification? That's the real issue for me.

I've pretty much resigned myself to paying Adobe's LR Classic subscription for the rest of my life. And that's OK, as I like LR a lot and edit's are pretty much muscle memory. Having used LR since the beginning I've seen nothing better.

 

[Analog Kid]

I truly hope Apple breaks with tradition and surprises us with a full powered OS instead of spec bump features.

I've been scanning this thread for what you mean by "full powered OS", but I couldn't find it... What do you mean when you say "a full powered OS"?

 

[Abazigal]

New iPad owners better hope you see a huge iPadOS surprise. Otherwise, there may be a lot of unhappy people.

Partly why I am waiting till July. That and to take advantage of the back to school promo (if there is one).

 

[Apple_Robert]

I've been scanning this thread for what you mean by "full powered OS", but I couldn't find it... What do you mean when you say "a full powered OS"?

I would like to see the ability to connect any drive, format and delete files just like you would on a Mac. I also think the Finder in iOS is very anemic and needs an overhaul. I think it is time for iOS to have a File system that the user can access like we can do on the Mac. I also wan to see multiple user ability. That is just quickly off the top of my head (so to speak).

 

[rui no onna]

About the same, maybe? I am more interested to know about the write/read speed of the SSD with the updated controller - even if the CPU/GPU are 100% the same - I bet the new controller would smoke the A14 SOC.

Why wonder? There are likely plenty of SSD benchmarks for the M1 Mac already. 2021 iPad Pro results aren't going to differ drastically.

 

[jazz1]

I agree. WWDC could be huge for Apple in many ways or another let down as far as the OS is concerned. I truly hope Apple breaks with tradition and surprises us with a full powered OS instead of spec bump features. I don't think it will happen, though. I predict a lot of pitch forks on MR very soon.

As a pre-order buyer of the 2021 iPP I’m sharpening my pitch fork now😇 I know I’m probably expecting too much, but then why load the 2021 with a turbo-V8 and put Tonka Toy wheels on it?

 

[Analog Kid]

I would like to see the ability to connect any drive, format and delete files just like you would on a Mac. I also think the Finder in iOS is very anemic and needs an overhaul. I think it is time for iOS to have a File system that the user can access like we can do on the Mac. I also wan to see multiple user ability. That is just quickly off the top of my head (so to speak).

I just connected a Samsung T5 SSD to my 2018 iPP and it mounts in files. I can add, copy, and delete files on that drive and use it to pass files to my Mac. I can‘t format an existing drive, but I haven’t tried attaching an unformatted drive to see if I get the option.

Files itself isn’t part of the OS, it’s likely just an application. There are other file managers available on the App Store.

I’m with you on multi user, and that very well could be an OS limitation. I’d like it on my phone so I could have one phone with 2 sims and choose to be either private me or employee me….

 

[CalMin]

CalMin said:
There is nothing that I do on my iPad Pro that comes near it's potential. I want a 12.9" screen and a magnetic 2nd generation pencil which forces me to buy and use a pro.

Even if they put software on it to make use of the CPU potential, it will still mostly spend it's time as a digital notepad.

I do edit my Podcast and the occasional family video, but seriously, this raw horsepower seems wasted for the most part. It's kind of like having a Ferrari when I only do trips to the grocery store.

So don’t buy the Ferrari then? Honestly- you just described perfectly why this machine isn’t for you. And you’re complaining about it.

If read my comment carefully you would have seen that I'm not complaining about it. Just making the point that to buy the larger form factor, you have to pony up for all that CPU horsepower that's not needed. The large display makes it a much better notebook for my needs than the 11" (I have both - the 11" is my bedtime reader and travel iPad).

It's not a big deal - I can totally afford the 'Ferrari'. I just wish there was a way to get the large display and 2nd gen pencil without buying the Ferrari and getting CPU power that I literally have no use for.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

you can’t really have whatever long running tasks you want that are not in the current foreground app.

There are ways to handle it, but I see your point. I’m still fairly certain that your average person is only doing one thing at a time (not developer, like REAALY average person, not average for MR ) And, when they’re doing multiple things, many of those are covered by iOS. Like listening to music or even watching a movie in a little window. If you’re downloading in a Safari window and switch to a game, the download continues and finishes. The game isn’t still running, of course. It WOULD still be running in it’s own window on macOS but it’s just sitting there waiting for input… using up cycles. What average activity (non-developer, non-power user) needs to happen in the background that isn’t currently?

 

[rui no onna]

If read my comment carefully you would have seen that I'm not complaining about it. Just making the point that to buy the larger form factor, you have to pony up for all that CPU horsepower that's not needed. The large display makes it a much better notebook for my needs than the 11" (I have both - the 11" is my bedtime reader and travel iPad).

It's not a big deal - I can totally afford the 'Ferrari'. I just wish there was a way to get the large display and 2nd gen pencil without buying the Ferrari and getting CPU power that I literally have no use for.

If you look at the iPad Air 4th gen and iPad Pro 11, price difference between the 256GB models is just $150 so I don't think there's much savings if any with a 12.9 "Air".

Besides, I expect most folks aren't against Ferraris per se. They just don't like its price.

Too bad stock on the Apple refurb store has been scarce for a long time. If one just wants 12.9 with AP2 support, the 2018 iPP 12.9 for $629 seems like it would fit the bill quite well.

Refurbished 12.9 inch iPad Pro Wi Fi 64GB Space Gray 3rd Generation - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It's kind of like having a Ferrari when I only do trips to the grocery store.

But, when the company you buy from only has Ferrari’s of varying speeds, you don’t really have a choice. I mean, Apple COULD seriously hamper the performance of the CPU so folks feel better about the speed being closer (but still seriously outpacing) their needs, but it’d probably be more effort to do that than to just put it in there.

And really, this is just another situation where Apple’s designing for folks that want to buy their stuff and not designing for folks that would never touch one anyway. A wise decision by my reckoning.

 

[brofkand]

There are ways to handle it, but I see your point. I’m still fairly certain that your average person is only doing one thing at a time (not developer, like REAALY average person, not average for MR ) And, when they’re doing multiple things, many of those are covered by iOS. Like listening to music or even watching a movie in a little window. If you’re downloading in a Safari window and switch to a game, the download continues and finishes. The game isn’t still running, of course. It WOULD still be running in it’s own window on macOS but it’s just sitting there waiting for input… using up cycles. What average activity (non-developer, non-power user) needs to happen in the background that isn’t currently?

The entire point of the iPad Pro is it is targeted towards power users.

I think the main problem with the iPad Pro (not the original iPad or mini) is there hasn't yet been a killer app for it yet. No app that when you see it, you think "you can only do this on an iPad Pro"

 

[rui no onna]

There are ways to handle it, but I see your point. I’m still fairly certain that your average person is only doing one thing at a time (not developer, like REAALY average person, not average for MR ) And, when they’re doing multiple things, many of those are covered by iOS. Like listening to music or even watching a movie in a little window. If you’re downloading in a Safari window and switch to a game, the download continues and finishes. The game isn’t still running, of course. It WOULD still be running in it’s own window on macOS but it’s just sitting there waiting for input… using up cycles. What average activity (non-developer, non-power user) needs to happen in the background that isn’t currently?

Background downloads is hit or miss. Thus far more miss than hit for me. Iirc, I've had issues before with both Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Tested Disney+ just now and you can add it to the apps that may not be coded properly. Queued up 15 movies. 3 started downloading while in foreground and those finished while in background. The other 12 were just stuck in the queue until I opened the app again.

 

[brofkand]

Background downloads is hit or miss. Thus far more miss than hit for me. Iirc, I've had issues before with both Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Tested Disney+ just now and you can add it to the apps that may not be coded properly. Queued up 15 movies. 3 started downloading while in foreground and those finished while in background. The other 12 were just stuck in the queue until I opened the app again.

The problem is iOS will still kill a process with wild abandon if it wants to, even if the app is complying with the API's. There is no swap in iOS so if it needs the RAM it'll take it ruthlessly, and if iOS decides the app is using too much energy it'll get killed.

 

[cardfan]

The problem is iOS will still kill a process with wild abandon if it wants to, even if the app is complying with the API's. There is no swap in iOS so if it needs the RAM it'll take it ruthlessly, and if iOS decides the app is using too much energy it'll get killed.

Which is why it’ll never be suitable for work. It’s a play device for most and remains that way. Pro just means a nicer screen.

 

[rui no onna]

The problem is iOS will still kill a process with wild abandon if it wants to, even if the app is complying with the API's. There is no swap in iOS so if it needs the RAM it'll take it ruthlessly, and if iOS decides the app is using too much energy it'll get killed.

Actually, looks like background download/upload has been added to iOS 13. iOS handles the download task instead of the app itself.

Downloading files in the background | Apple Developer Documentation

Create tasks that download files while your app is inactive.

developer.apple.com

Wonder if Disney+ uses the isDiscretionary flag. iPad wasn't plugged into power although it is connected to wifi. Perhaps that's why it wasn't starting new downloads right away but was finishing the old ones.

 

[heretiq]

Exactly. With all the recent changes and additions I was hoping they would just put in a normal OS.

Personally, I appreciate iPadOS precisely because it is not a “normal OS.” iPadOS is touch optimized, a normal OS is not. iPadOS encourages focus on a single task, a normal OS does not. iPadOS is purpose built for ideation, a normal OS is built for production. The best “normal OS” for me is MacOS, but others prefer Windows or Linux.

Ultimately, the distinctions between iPadOS and “normal OSs“ is cognition (there’s a clear difference between iPadOS “sit back” mindset and MacOS/Windows/Linux “lean forward” mindset) — not functionality. Focusing on functionality obscures the subtle but important cognition-based distinction because both devices can largely do the same things; but each does so differently and in specific cases better than the other.

I personally need both types of OS at different times depending on the task I’m working on — so I am firmly behind Apple’s commitment to create these cognition-optimized, yet interoperable devices and OSs instead of trying to take a one size fits all approach with either devices or OSs. Yes, this sells more devices for Apple, but it also allows me choose the device and OS that’s optimized for what I’m doing. I call that win-win. +1 for maintaining the difference between iPadOS and “normal OS.”