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There will be a lot of pissed off 9.7 users whenever they move to 4gb, regardless of how much time has passed. It's what people around here love to be these days. And if they stuck with 2gb, people would be pissed then as well.

I still think though that Apple won't bump the ram on the 9.7" to 4gb until 2018.

The pro2 12.9" will still have 4gb ram and be the only model to have 4gb.

2018 they release 8gb ram for the 12.9 and 4gb on the 9.7/10.5
 
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That's unlikely I think. Where are the apps that only support 2Gb now? 2Gb being minimum in 5 years from now I could believe.

The real crux of this thing is that iOS developers need to address a challenge PC and Mac developers have had for a long time more effectively; a mix of specifications. It's mostly games and a few creative apps that have bothered to do it now but really adding or scaling more features where the hardware is available that's required here.

The other thing that needs to be taken into account is that we have virtual memory backed by very fast flash now. Very different from swapping/paging to mechanical disk. So any RAM deficiency should be less noticeable.
 
If the rumors are true, Apple is moving to a 10.5" Pro next year. I'd guess they'd likely move to 4gb at that point.

They might, or maybe 3GB as the rumors for the larger iPhone 7 Plus have suggested. But many rumors still suggest the smaller iPhones will still have 2GB. If that turns out to be the case, then it would seem the support lifespan of 2GB devices will be extended and the threads will be fun to read for awhile.

Everything else in the IOS lineup from the 9.7 iPP on down has 2 or less. The fact that the iPad 2 is even still a part of the conversation, with 512MB, might be an indication that the amount of RAM isn't the most important factor.

The 9.7 doesn't trail the 12.9 by much in terms of performance and the decrease is likely more an attribute of the slower processor clock speed than the amount of RAM.

https://browser.primatelabs.com/ios-benchmarks
 
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The other thing that needs to be taken into account is that we have virtual memory backed by very fast flash now. Very different from swapping/paging to mechanical disk. So any RAM deficiency should be less noticeable.

Is virtual memory implemented in iOS these days? I remember it being a strict no in early iPhone OS days.
 
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I still think though that Apple won't bump the ram on the 9.7" to 4gb until 2018.

The pro2 12.9" will still have 4gb ram and be the only model to have 4gb.

2018 they release 8gb ram for the 12.9 and 4gb on the 9.7/10.5

Besides your gut feeling do you have any reasoning for this ? For what you say ?
 
Is virtual memory implemented in iOS these days? I remember it being a strict no in early iPhone OS days.

I thought that the lack off virtual memory is why pages get reloaded in safari for example so frequently...
[doublepost=1471364491][/doublepost]
I still think though that Apple won't bump the ram on the 9.7" to 4gb until 2018.

The pro2 12.9" will still have 4gb ram and be the only model to have 4gb.

2018 they release 8gb ram for the 12.9 and 4gb on the 9.7/10.5

Oh god I hope not. I can see myself lasting through till mid next year for a new iPad, but not to 2018. That would make my iPad 2 7 years old hhahha
 
Is virtual memory implemented in iOS these days? I remember it being a strict no in early iPhone OS days.

From Apple Dev:

Both OS X and iOS include a fully-integrated virtual memory system that you cannot turn off; it is always on. Both systems also provide up to 4 gigabytes of addressable space per 32-bit process. In addition, OS X provides approximately 18 exabytes of addressable space for 64-bit processes. Even for computers that have 4 or more gigabytes of RAM available, the system rarely dedicates this much RAM to a single process.

Source:
https://developer.apple.com/library...tual/ManagingMemory/Articles/AboutMemory.html
 
Everything else in the IOS lineup from the 9.7 iPP on down has 2 or less. The fact that the iPad 2 is even still a part of the conversation, with 512MB, might be an indication that the amount of RAM isn't the most important factor.

The 9.7 doesn't trail the 12.9 by much in terms of performance and the decrease is likely more an attribute of the slower processor clock speed than the amount of RAM.

And one of the reasons that he iPad 2 is still in the picture in iOS 9 (Apart from being one of the most used iPads) is that it raised the bar for RAM + CPU and GPU when it was released in early 2011. CPU, GPU and RAM are all major factors in the longevity of a device. The iPad 1 really had none of them and lasted terribly. the iPad 3 had the RAM, but not the GPU or CPU increases (the increase was sucked up by the retina display).

It is not going to be app opening speeds or processing speeds that the RAM impacts on, its things like multitasking and safari tabs and graphical performance (shared GPU memory). The iPad 2 still has a semi OK CPU, so things run alright in apps, but as soon as you try multitasking or multi tabbing, it all falls apart due to the RAM.
[doublepost=1471364874][/doublepost]

Why do Apps and safari tabs get dumped as soon as the physical RAM limit is reached then? On a Mac, once you reach your RAM limit, your existing tabs do not get reloaded, Virtual memory kicks in.
 

I should have said more precisely, "Does iOS support swapping?" since it's not the same as virtual memory. It looks like it doesn't. From your source

Although OS X supports a backing store, iOS does not. In iPhone applications, read-only data that is already on the disk (such as code pages) is simply removed from memory and reloaded from disk as needed. Writable data is never removed from memory by the operating system. Instead, if the amount of free memory drops below a certain threshold, the system asks the running applications to free up memory voluntarily to make room for new data. Applications that fail to free up enough memory are terminated.
 
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I thought that the lack off virtual memory is why pages get reloaded in safari for example so frequently...
[doublepost=1471364491][/doublepost]

Oh god I hope not. I can see myself lasting through till mid next year for a new iPad, but not to 2018. That would make my iPad 2 7 years old hhahha


If the 10.5 iPad prediction proves true, it might have 3gb. But the 9.7 will stay at 2gb.

There is just no way that Apple brings out a Pro 9.7" with 4gb ram with the Pro 12.9" still at 4gb.

Very hard to believe otherwise. Especially if the rumor of the 10.5" comes true.

Me: I plan to buy the pro2 12.9" once a sale of $100 happens...hopefully within 4 months of introduction. Going from an ipad2 to a pro2 12.9 will be huge...a true upgrade. Not this piddle-paddle stuff like Air2 --> Pro 9.7"
 
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I should have said more precisely, "Does iOS support swapping?" since it's not the same as virtual memory. It looks like it doesn't. From your source

Although OS X supports a backing store, iOS does not. In iPhone applications, read-only data that is already on the disk (such as code pages) is simply removed from memory and reloaded from disk as needed. Writable data is never removed from memory by the operating system. Instead, if the amount of free memory drops below a certain threshold, the system asks the running applications to free up memory voluntarily to make room for new data. Applications that fail to free up enough memory are terminated.

I was just about to post that. This is why RAM is so important.
 
And one of the reasons that he iPad 2 is still in the picture in iOS 9 (Apart from being one of the most used iPads) is that it raised the bar for RAM + CPU and GPU when it was released in early 2011. CPU, GPU and RAM are all major factors in the longevity of a device. The iPad 1 really had none of them and lasted terribly. the iPad 3 had the RAM, but not the GPU or CPU increases (the increase was sucked up by the retina display).

It is not going to be app opening speeds or processing speeds that the RAM impacts on, its things like multitasking and safari tabs and graphical performance (shared GPU memory). The iPad 2 still has a semi OK CPU, so things run alright in apps, but as soon as you try multitasking or multi tabbing, it all falls apart due to the RAM.

Raised the bar from what? It barely outperformed the original iPad and barely outperformed the iPad 3, despite it having more increases in RAM, CPU and GPU over the original iPad and the increases being sucked up by the iPad 3 Retina display. Otherwise the iPad 2 was an incremental increase and was evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. It was never a great performer, but yet it has withstood the test of time.

The iPad 4 smoked it in terms or performance and was likewise smoked by the Airs.

The current iPP models, 4GB 12.9 or 2GB 9.7 are unparalleled in terms of performance, compared to previous models.
 
If the 10.5 iPad prediction proves true, it might have 3gb. But the 9.7 will stay at 2gb.

There is just no way that Apple brings out a Pro 9.7" with 4gbram with the Pro 12.9" still at 4gb.

Very hard to believe otherwise. Especially if the rumor of the 10.5" comes true.

Why is it so hard to believe? Apple stuck with 1GB of ram from the intro of the iPad 3 in March 2012, through to the iPad Air 2 in October 2014, thats 2 and a half years, which is almost the same as 2GB of ram would be from the Air 2 in October 2014, through to the Pro 2 (9.7) in March 2017.

I think you're getting caught up in the 9.7 inch thing. I'm talking about the smaller iPad Pro, regardless of it being 10.5 or 9.7 inches. I think you are taking about the suspected update to the Air 2 (which will probably remain as 9.7 inches).
 
I still think though that Apple won't bump the ram on the 9.7" to 4gb until 2018.

The pro2 12.9" will still have 4gb ram and be the only model to have 4gb.

2018 they release 8gb ram for the 12.9 and 4gb on the 9.7/10.5

Only if they don't release a new iPad Pro of either size again until 2018. I don't think we're going to see yearly refreshes of iPads ever again, unless they come up with something huge.
 
Raised the bar from what? It barely outperformed the original iPad and barely outperformed the iPad 3, despite it having more increases in RAM, CPU and GPU over the original iPad and the increases being sucked up by the iPad 3 Retina display. Otherwise the iPad 2 was an incremental increase and was evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. It was never a great performer, but yet it has withstood the test of time.

The iPad 4 smoked it in terms or performance and was likewise smoked by the Airs.

The current iPP models, 4GB 12.9 or 2GB 9.7 are unparalleled in terms of performance, compared to previous models.

It doubled the RAM of the iPad 1, it had significantly better GPU performance and CPU (Multicore) performance. 'Barely outperforming the iPad 3' - so it wasn't great because it only was just better than its successor which was supposedly much better?

iPads that raise the bar remain the models that age the best. The iPad 2 and iPad Air 2 are prime examples. The 4 also nudges up there, as 1GB of ram was still pretty good for late 2012.

The iPad 1 which was under specced in pretty much every way, the iPad 3 which was under specced in GPU/CPU and the Air 1 which had too little Ram remain the models that have/will not last as much. My Mini 2 (sharing the same specs as the iPad Air 1) on its second update (iOS 9) is jerkier and pretty much the same speed as my Dad's iPad 2 on its third update (iOS 7).

Anyway, its fairly obvious that in 5 years time, a tablet with 4GB of ram is going to be more comfortable than one with 2GB of ram - choosing a tablet with the best specs in areas that matter is essentially the only way of controlling the longevity of an iOS device purchase, and as I said before, I'm not paying significant amounts of money for something which isn't specced to last that time.
 
Why is it so hard to believe? Apple stuck with 1GB of ram from the intro of the iPad 3 in March 2012, through to the iPad Air 2 in October 2014, thats 2 and a half years, which is almost the same as 2GB of ram would be from the Air 2 in October 2014, through to the Pro 2 (9.7) in March 2017.

I think you're getting caught up in the 9.7 inch thing. I'm talking about the smaller iPad Pro, regardless of it being 10.5 or 9.7 inches. I think you are taking about the suspected update to the Air 2 (which will probably remain as 9.7 inches).

The 10.5 with 3gb is your best bet.
 
The 10.5 with 3gb is your best bet.

I highly doubt it. That would buck every trend apple has followed with the ram in iPads.

Even based on what was considered the most penny pinching iPad ram moment which was keeping the air 1 on 1GB of ram, the pro 9.7 is due for an upgrade.
 
Why is it so hard to believe? Apple stuck with 1GB of ram from the intro of the iPad 3 in March 2012, through to the iPad Air 2 in October 2014, thats 2 and a half years, which is almost the same as 2GB of ram would be from the Air 2 in October 2014, through to the Pro 2 (9.7) in March 2017.

I think you're getting caught up in the 9.7 inch thing. I'm talking about the smaller iPad Pro, regardless of it being 10.5 or 9.7 inches. I think you are taking about the suspected update to the Air 2 (which will probably remain as 9.7 inches).
Regardless if there's a new iPad Pro at ANY or even with an Extra 2GB of RAM who cares ? The performance difference will be negligible and laughable.

If Apple walks away from the 12.9 form factor just read between those lines. IMO the next iPad Pro of any size may like feature an Intel M CPU really driving home that Pro brand.

More likely is that instead of realeasing a new 9.7 Pro in March 2017 YTD they pull an move from the iPad Air 2 and really give it a 18 month to a 2 year life span before a successor is released.

Again because what else can they add to it ?
 
On a side note, I'm beginning to think I'm the only person on the planet with no requirement to have hundreds of safari tabs open at once.

On iPads before the Air2, switching away to another tab got the first tab reloaded. So for instance, if I'm writing this post, and switch away to search for a link, or check some info, then this tab gets reloaded and my partially written post got erased. On the Air2, I could safely switch to a second tab, but switching to a third might cause the first tab to reload. On the 12.9 Pro, I haven't yet figured out how many tabs I can switch to before it reloads, because so far, it hasn't happened.
 
I highly doubt it. That would buck every trend apple has followed with the ram in iPads.

Even based on what was considered the most penny pinching iPad ram moment which was keeping the air 1 on 1GB of ram, the pro 9.7 is due for an upgrade.

Air 2 *cough* tri-core *cough* bucking trends *cough*
 
Regardless if there's a new iPad Pro at ANY or even with an Extra 2GB of RAM who cares ? The performance difference will be negligible and laughable.

If Apple walks away from the 12.9 form factor just read between those lines. IMO the next iPad Pro of any size may like feature an Intel M CPU really driving home that Pro brand.

More likely is that instead of realeasing a new 9.7 Pro in March 2017 YTD they pull an move from the iPad Air 2 and really give it a 18 month to a 2 year life span before a successor is released.

Again because what else can they add to it ?

I agree. Apple should really look into putting in a processor from the same company that seems to be slowing down these days and having delays. That'd be great for them. And they should even go for a processor that isn't as good as theirs in the GPU department. That'd make for 60fps everywhere, am I right?
 
I think the next iPad Pro 9.7 inch (IPad Pro 2)will have 2 GB of RAM. Who knows , Just apple knows .I see no reason to upgrade. Unless if ur IPad no longer works well.or no longer gets iOS updates
 
On iPads before the Air2, switching away to another tab got the first tab reloaded. So for instance, if I'm writing this post, and switch away to search for a link, or check some info, then this tab gets reloaded and my partially written post got erased. On the Air2, I could safely switch to a second tab, but switching to a third might cause the first tab to reload. On the 12.9 Pro, I haven't yet figured out how many tabs I can switch to before it reloads, because so far, it hasn't happened.

Ah ok. I have 8 tabs open currently on my 9.7 pro and none have reloaded.
 
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