New iPad Pro Has Comparable Performance to 2018 15" MacBook Pro in Benchmarks

[MacRumors]

A series of benchmark results have shown up on Geekbench for the new iPad Pro, and its new eight-core A12X Bionic chip is truly a powerhouse.

The new iPad Pro achieved single-core and multi-core scores of 5,025 and 18,106 respectively based on an average of two benchmark results, making it by far the fastest iPad ever and comparable even to the performance of the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Intel's six-core Core i7 chips.

We've put together a chart that compares Geekbench scores of the new iPad Pro and various other iPad, Mac, and iPhone models.

That the new iPad Pro rivals the performance of the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.6GHz six-core Core i7 processor is impressive, but even more so when you consider that the tablet starts at $799. The aforementioned MacBook Pro configuration is priced at $2,799, although with 512GB of storage.

Even the new 11-inch iPad Pro with 512GB of storage is only $1,149, less than half that of the Core i7-equipped MacBook Pro.

At its special event in Brooklyn on Tuesday, Apple said the new iPad Pro achieves up to 90 percent faster multi-core performance compared to the previous-generation models, and the Geekbench results support that claim. In fact, the new iPad Pro's multi-core score is 94 percent higher than last year's models.

The configured-to-order 15-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.9GHz six-core Core i9 chip is still faster than the new iPad Pro in terms of both single-core and multi-core performance, as is the iMac Pro, but Apple's flagship tablet is quickly becoming one of the fastest products that it sells due to its advanced chip design.

The benchmark results also indicate that the new iPad Pro models have either 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on the configuration. On Twitter, well-known developer Steve Troughton-Smith said 6GB of RAM is limited to the 1TB configuration, with 4GB of RAM in the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations.

With the iPad Pro now rivaling some higher-end Macs in performance, there is a compelling case for Apple to start using its own ARM-based A-series chips in some Macs. Apple reportedly plans to do exactly that as early as 2020.

Article Link: New iPad Pro Has Comparable Performance to 2018 15" MacBook Pro in Benchmarks

 

[Derekjv74]

How does this compare to the 2015 iPad Pro?

 

[gugy]

All great but you still need MacOS. Sorry Tim, ipad is awesome but as companion tool not really a replacement for a real Mac.

 

[826317]

This is yet again one of those things that people on the Apple-hating bandwagon will ignore.

 

[cmaier]

“But ARM isn’t as good as x86, because of some sort of RISC/CISC thing I skimmed on the internet and don’t really understand.”

ARM macs in 2020.

 

[Essaux]

Pretty useless stat, since the iPad Pro is still very limited due to its OS. It will open Safari faster, yippekayee.

A MacBook Pro is the complete package, full OS, mouse support, external HDs, displays, it's a work horse. I can see an iPad Pro work well for on the field, check ups, but no proper heavy duty work.

 

[BvizioN]

I want the full version of Final Cut Pro X on the iPad Pro, plus Adobe Aftereffects and I am done with desktop PC.

 

[Precursor]

1TB iPP here I come!

 

[guzhogi]

Since we're getting Photoshop and AutoCAD, when can we expect Xcode?

 

[cmaier]

Pretty useless stat, since the iPad Pro is still very limited due to its OS. A MacBook Pro is the complete package, full OS, mouse support, it's a work horse. I can see an iPad Pro work well for on the field, check ups, but no proper heavy duty work.

Not at all a useless stat. It tells us that it is now time to transition Mac to arm.

 

[AngerDanger]

So Apple’s best valued notebook is… an iPad with a Smart Keyboard glued to it.

It'll cost only $979.59, accounting for the price of glue sticks.

 

[Stella]

Its a shame the iPad isn't as flexible as the MacBook Pro. Wasted performance potential.

Despite the CPU power, MacBook Pro can still do many more tasks the iPad cannot, due to a variety of reasons such as Walled Garden, lack of RAM etc.

 

[jjini]

do I smell Macs with an Apple designed CPU?

 

[sputnikv]

Intel must be pooping the bed

 

[StellarVixen]

Time to go ARM on Mac, Apple. You have long been Intel's slave, time to break those chains.

 

[dsampley]

Where is Final Cut Pro for the new iPad?

 

[rmoliv]

What for?
Overpriced iPads. No one needs that on a tablet.

 

[jjini]

The only thing that's a shame about this is that developers don't recognize the potential of the iPad Pro. Adobe seems to getting it but most still don't...

 

[DNichter]

Pretty incredible what Apple is doing with their chip development. This type of performance in a 5.9mm device with no active cooling, is impressive. I can't wait until they are using their own chips in MacBook's and iMac's - we are going to see some really awesome designs and implementations. I have moved on from macOS, but this sort of vertical integration could be what drives me back one day.

 

[DaRev]

When I can run a VM with full Windows and get comparable performance to an x86 Mac will I consider an iPad Pro a suitable Mac replacement.

 

[topgunn]

Wonder what it could do with active cooling.

 

[partsofspeech]

So what has held back magic mouse support and mac-like file management?

 

[csurfr]

Since we're getting Photoshop and AutoCAD, when can we expect Xcode?

You're not wrong. . . Give me a full-on IDE and terminal and I'd be able to do everything just the same as I do now. Especially when you consider we can hook up an external USB-C display to it.

 

[curtvaughan]

That's nice. If it also has a nice touchpad, adequate ports, a headphone jack, and a built in nice keyboard, perhaps it could replace a Dell XPS 15. Anyone know the pricing of 2017 iPad Pro's now that the 2018 has been released? I'm just waiting for Apple to go totally iOS in the next few years - phones, watches, and iPads. They were just testing the waters with removal of ports and phone jacks; now it's time to just stop producing laptops and desktops altogether.

 

[TomOSeven]

Since we're getting Photoshop and AutoCAD, when can we expect Xcode?

Or at least a light weight text editor like Atom.

 

[now i see it]

iPad has no fan. It'll throttle down in no time. These benchmarks don't parallel real world use. More like fantasy.