Make sure to get the Pro, b/c the Air offers 1TB with just 8GB of RAM.
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iPad Pro M4 IPad Pro - 8 GB RAM vs 16 GB RAM
- Thread starter Adelphos33
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Eh, I’ll always take more. I think 8GB is currently fine on iOS/iPadOS, but I will still get some infrequent Safari refreshes on my iPad mini (A17 Pro). With 16GB on my iPad Pro I don’t think I ever see it.
HOWEVER - I would strongly encourage that no one use RAM as a purchasing factor. Buy based on the size you need. For me, I wanted at least 1TB of internal storage and the RAM was a nice bonus. I really can’t think of iPad use cases unless you are in the 1% where 8GB would be a bottleneck. And given that the majority of Macs out there are using 8GB I don’t see 8GB becoming obsolete within the next 5 years unlike the 4GB middle ground we were in.
HOWEVER - I would strongly encourage that no one use RAM as a purchasing factor. Buy based on the size you need. For me, I wanted at least 1TB of internal storage and the RAM was a nice bonus. I really can’t think of iPad use cases unless you are in the 1% where 8GB would be a bottleneck. And given that the majority of Macs out there are using 8GB I don’t see 8GB becoming obsolete within the next 5 years unlike the 4GB middle ground we were in.
With 16GB RAM I see exactly the same Safari refreshes as with 8. Zero improvement.
Davinci Resolve on the iPP recommends 16 GB RAM, but will work with 8 GB albeit with reduced features. Basically Prosumer content creation applications use the extra RAM.
Like more layers in Procreate. There are certainly advantages, I just think few people will utilize them.
Absolutely, the issue is Safari, not iPadOS. Safari has some kind of RAM threashold for itself that will cause reloads, that make the 16GB RAM version no better than the 8. Unless of course you use at the same time some RAM hungry app (like I do when I use Windows 11 via UTM with 8GB RAM allocated to it, but that RAM is allocated dynamically, just like the CPU cores, if Windows takes only 4GB UTM for instance won't take 8).
I want to use my coming iPad for sidecar, Remote Desktop, virtualization, reading, working with pdfs and documents etc. Had ordered a 256 GB with cellular in case I needed GPS and connectivity. Now I have been offered to buy a Pro 13" m4 with 16GB with 1TB wifi for about 190 USD more. Admittedly plenty of memory considering I have iCloud space which makes me unsure I need the space but don't want to be limited with RAM for my needs. Anyone who does the same things with their iPad as I want to do who knows if you can get by with 8GB?
I saw a video that the speed and write speeds were higher on the 1 and 2TB disks but I don't know how much performance around the RAM you get if you choose more memory. I want to make a good choice.
I saw a video that the speed and write speeds were higher on the 1 and 2TB disks but I don't know how much performance around the RAM you get if you choose more memory. I want to make a good choice.
$190 difference seems like a good deal over the life of the iPad in the event you keep it for next 3 years plus at minimum.
Agree. But I think, 16gb is for better performance when multiple apps open, even though all apps can run with 8gb.
I have my old 3rd gen 1TB iPad that came with 6GB not 4GB it made no difference, for my needs I realised I did not need 1TB I got a 8GB 256 M4 and it flies, but its not that much different from a seven year old iPad, yes brighter screen but you would hardly notice in day day use, much better spekers I think on the M4 and better microphones, but 8GB holds apps just fine and I create a lot of art on it. Then again I have a M4 40GPU Studio with 48GB ram and that really flies and I create video and AI on that, but the M4 iPad at 8GB is all most people will need, 1TB is a hell of a lot of storage unless you are dealing with huge files then you can still add 1TB with with a external drive on the iPad and 8GB of ram still copes just fine. AI is so far off for Apple if Apple even survive this mess I would not buy what you don't need. I have not found a use for 16GB or ram on a tablet which is still no way as useful as a laptop.
I use more and more my iPadPro M1 11" 2 TB with 16GB RAM and very rarely my MacBookPro.. For me the M1 processor is more than enough.
For that reason I cose 2 Tb and was happy that it comes with 16 GB RAM...
Because in future there will be more and more AI I a very happy that my M1 IPP is now futureproof because I change them only every 4-5 years.
So I recommend to choose 16 GB.... then your iPad could be used for many years - even with future AI-support.
For that reason I cose 2 Tb and was happy that it comes with 16 GB RAM...
Because in future there will be more and more AI I a very happy that my M1 IPP is now futureproof because I change them only every 4-5 years.
So I recommend to choose 16 GB.... then your iPad could be used for many years - even with future AI-support.
For me the 2018 pro 1TB with 6GB RAM made a HUGE difference. But then my usage is probably different. I use the iPad mainly for youtube videos on Safari with adblockers or Brave (no ads). And the 4GB pro I had (and sold) would reload all the time, so when I left a video on pause, it would reload, let alone if I let 4-5 videos in as many tabs open. This does not happen with 6GB RAM. That's why I kept that model.
This is a risky bet. Apple often limits features on older models. So your M1 or M2 with 16GB RAM may not even get the AI features an M4 with 8GB of RAM gets, because of the smaller NPU or simply because they decide to only give those features to newer models... They won't make any difference between 8 and 16GB models. It has happened in the past many times, it may definitely happen in the future....
Maybe it is a risky bet...
we both don´t know. But I think I will survive if AI options were not posssible. A life without AI is perhaps still possible in 5 years... then I will purchhase my next iPad Pro...
The 13" iPP 256GB is frequently on sale for $1099 or $1199 so the 16GB models are a lot more.
I hope you are kidding... and anyone taking Apple intelligence seriously nowadays should rethink it.
Ipad is fine with 8 gb, the OP saying he consider an Air make it clear he is not a "pro" (whatever that means) and he already know the Pro might be overkill (yes he might consider it for the speakers and promotion).
8 is perfectly fine on a Mac today and will be for a while, on iPad that is even more true as the iPad uses a completely different OS with is lighter in ram footprint.
Now if you need the storage, the ram is a good benefit, but getting the higher storage for the ram, unless you really dig into the pro performance 100% is pretty much a nice to have not a need.
Well...
IMHO 16Gb should be ok since nowadays RAm and internal SSD, and even external SSd are very fast and a normal user should not realize that - if there is noct enough resting space on the iPad - the M-iPad switches automatically to writing RAM on its internal SSD. As do all the MachBooks as well.
BUT... permanently or often enough transfering data normally written in the RAM on the internal SSD instead means a permanent wearing of the SSD.
Nowadays SSD are very reliant - but if you only purchased an iPad or MacBook with very small SSDs, the mass-wearing and deleting can lead to a critically level on the long run.
If one uses the iPad or a Macbook also for intense processes (photoshop etc. for example or exclusivly as the main computer, and not just as a "soft" user, or reguarily with intense processes like AI, and you will use it for several years as well, it can be critical.
So my advice no matter what type of apple device (Macbooks or iPads) you use:
prefer at least one option to avoid too much wearing: if there could be usage intense enough:
-Either choose more than the minimum of RAM,
OR
-chosse mor than the minimum GB for your internal SSD. Already just 512 GB SSD gives you not even double the space for data, but reduces wearing by 50% as well !
OR - if you always plan to use your device for several years (I use them always for 3-5 yeras, mostly 5 years)
- choose both .
My current M1 iPad Pro 11" 2021 has WiFi/cellular and 2 TB SSD - so the 16 GB are included.
purchased it as prices had fallen a lot (in 2023 = 1-2 years after it hit the market ---> payed just half the price although new)
And I am sure it will serve me well for another 5 years.
.
There is no proof of that for iPad. Apple said that iPads with M chips can swap to disk, but didn't say it happens like on Macs, automatically or all the time as opposed to in very specific situations.... And there is no way to verify it
Well... if the RAM is full what do you think where the data will be written on?
There is no other way than write them on the internal SSD - where else might that be saved ?
The hardware of i.e. Macbook Air and iPad Pro is very similar designed and soon MacOS and iPAdOS will be approached.
The fact that MacOS and iPadOS are today different exclues nothing - remember that for many years both Macbooks and MacPros used the exactly same Intel-hardware and RAM types with Microsoft and Mac OS Software....
Well... if the RAM is full what do you think where the data will be written on?
There is no other way than write them on the internal SSD - where else might that be saved ?
It could go nowhere hence the app refreshes.
Prior to like iPadOS 15 or something, iPadOS didn't even have storage-backed swap.
I think you don't realize that contrary to Macs, tabs on browsers and app refresh also on M chip iPads...Well... if the RAM is full what do you think where the data will be written on?
There is no other way than write them on the internal SSD - where else might that be saved ?
The hardware of i.e. Macbook Air and iPad Pro is very similar designed and soon MacOS and iPAdOS will be approached.
The fact that MacOS and iPadOS are today different exclues nothing - remember that for many years both Macbooks and MacPros used the exactly same Intel-hardware and RAM types with Microsoft and Mac OS Software....
While true, we have still to hear ssd failure due to wear, even the first ssd are still running strong, i am sure my 512 iPad Pro will last the very same 5 years if not even a lot more.
The thing is, it is useless to buy the biggest and better if you do not use it as intended, you are spending much more than needed and you will end up changing it before you actually do.
It all depends on usage of course.
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