Upcoming iPad Air Rumored to Feature M1 Chip

[macduke]

Curious whether this will be clocked lower with the lesser GPU option and less RAM. If not, probably won't be too much longer until we get the M2 iPad Pro. That being said, my 2021 iPad Pro 12.9" with the M1 and 16GB of RAM is so stupid. I doubt I will upgrade this thing for 5 more years unless they come out with a hybrid MacPad.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

seems unlikely from a marketing point of view, but really wouldn’t surprise me, especially if the iPad pros will be getting the M2.

 

[JPack]

Yeah, No. I don't think the cost of the M1 chip is cheap enough for Apple to put it on a Mid-Range Ipad. The A15 is more likely due to being cheaper to make. Unless Apple gives the Ipad Air a Price Hike... (How much does the M1 cost to make over the A15? Is it more or the same cost to make than the A15?)

The M1 die size is about 15% larger than A15, not to mention the more expensive packaging.

It wouldn't be too much. Apple can always pull the price lever.

 

[gnomeisland]

Yeah, No. I don't think the cost of the M1 chip is cheap enough for Apple to put it on a Mid-Range Ipad. The A15 is more likely due to being cheaper to make. Unless Apple gives the Ipad Air a Price Hike... (How much does the M1 cost to make over the A15? Is it more or the same cost to make than the A15?)

Maybe. I think the biggest cost of the M1 is the development. At this point the process is (relatively) mature and while the chip is large, Apple is using it in a lot of designs so the per-unit cost is probably way down once R&D is recouped.

It looks weird now, because the Pros are still using the M1 but those will be shortly updated. Plus this could be a way to use up the many binned M1 processors that have a bad core.

This guy makes a somewhat credible claim that TSMC's 7nm process—when new—was just shy of $6k per wafer. So raw manufacturing cost would be less than $66 per M1 chip (much less if these are binned chips or the cost-per-wafer has dropped). For a $600 iPad that price doesn't seem unreasonable.

 

[Warped9]

An iPad Air with M1…

If they also hold the price like they did when they put the M1 in the MacBook Air this will be a killer buy.

 

[Le0M]

I was hoping they kept M series to the macs, or at least to high-end iPads. And the iPad Air is not "high-end".

 

[ChromeCloud]

Unlikely.

But maybe we will see A16 in the new Air.

After all the A14 debuted in the previous generation iPad Air ahead of the iPhone 12 launch.

 

[Warped9]

I was hoping they kept M series to the macs, or at least to high-end iPads. And the iPad Air is not "high-end".

Tech advances always filter downward. If an M1 goes into the iPad Air then it’s a certainty the Pros will soon get M2.

 

[fearless22]

It makes sense if you compare it with the
Mini 4 and Air 2. Exactly the same, only differences being size and processor. The only add-on for this Air 5 over the current Mini would be Smart Connector but it’s obviously not a Pro feature since it was introduced in iPad 7.

 

[fearless22]

This could also be the 7-core GPU instead of the Pro’s 8-core.

Definitely NO 16 gigs of RAM since there won’t be 1TB option. Hope to see 128, 256 and 512!

 

[fearless22]

I do believe this M1 iPad Air coming

With both Air and Pro having that capabilities, it would be easier for them to make M1-exclusive features for iPadOS 16

Would be a tempting upgrade for all those keeping A12 Series iPads who can’t afford the current Pro

 

[ian87w]

Makes no sense. If the cheaper Air has M1, there are less reasons to get the iPad Pro. And Apple is all bout upselling, not downselling.

 

[acrakes]

Odd. I'd think they'd want to add ProMotion and then up the 11" Pro to mini-LED.. keep Touch ID and the Ax chip on the Air..

 

[George Dawes]

Try concentrating on the software , the hardware is already over powered , the os not so …

 

[jonnyb098]

If this is true then they kind of have to update the iPad Pro tomorrow to the M2. Spending $200 more for a couple extra speakers an extra camera and ProMotion is even more pointless to the masses if they don’t.

 

[rgarjr]

Sounds odd to put that chip. Maybe they have a huge amounts of M1 chips already made.

 

[Crow_Servo]

Just go all out and make the iPad Air as good as it can be, like the first and second Airs, instead of the slightly short-changed third and fourth Airs.

Then just eliminate the 11" Pro from the lineup, followed by a launch of larger Pros in the Fall, like a 12" and a 14" (or 15"), both with all the stops pulled out too.

It sure would be weird if they add ProMotion and Quad speakers, but it would be about time that the Air felt premium again, even if only for six months before the next Pros are announced/released.

 

[LFC2020]

iPad Mini Pro with Face ID, Mini LED and ProMotion.

 

[Icaras]

The M1 die size is about 15% larger than A15, not to mention the more expensive packaging.

It wouldn't be too much. Apple can always pull the price lever.

Which still makes no sense to me if the price gap between the Air and Pro continues to shrink. A $200 price difference is fair enough given their feature sets. I just don’t see it happening. The Air will be fully capable for most people with just an A15.

 

[Ludatyk]

Makes no sense. If the cheaper Air has M1, there are less reasons to get the iPad Pro. And Apple is all bout upselling, not downselling.

Agreed! I’ll be shocked if Apple do such a thing.

Curious whether this will be clocked lower with the lesser GPU option and less RAM. If not, probably won't be too much longer until we get the M2 iPad Pro. That being said, my 2021 iPad Pro 12.9" with the M1 and 16GB of RAM is so stupid. I doubt I will upgrade this thing for 5 more years unless they come out with a hybrid MacPad.

I wouldn’t jump the gun calling that particular model stupid.. UNLESS they announce a M1 iPad Air. But my eyes are set on WWDC this year to see what comes of iPadOS.

 

[Hombre53]

Which still makes no sense to me if the price gap between the Air and Pro continues to shrink. A $200 price difference is fair enough given their feature sets. I just don’t see it happening. The Air will be fully capable for most people with just an A15.

For most people, the A12x/z is still more than enough. Apple needs to up the ante on iPadOS so that it can take advantage of the processing power of the M1, not to mention the M2.

 

[wgaller]

I have an iPad Pro but don’t think the everyday utility of the device has advanced much from the iPad 2. Once this one dies can’t imagine ever buying another one.

 

[CrzySxyCl]

And here I am in the corner hoping for just Swipe To Text.

 

[Homme]

A15 or M1 there is very little difference. In practice no difference on an iPad.

Peoples are seing things that are not there. It was probably just that there had more M1 chips available at this time then A15 chips.

Or maybe a M2 iPad Pro upon hearing rumors of a M2 MacBook Pro and the Eurasian Economic Data Base apple sites report on gives evidence of new apple products

 

[rp2011]

This is great news for iOS. The more devices with M1 chips the more opportunity for developers to take the chance and create more robust apps for the iPad.
It’s when a company puts less powerful chips in its devices when we have to worry. It’s called stagnation.