Rumors around a new 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro coming soon are much welcome. An A14X which is rumored to be on par with the M1 in the Macbook Air is very nice. However all that being said. If the 11” is missing out on Mini-LED and we don’t get at least 8GB of RAM. I’ll just wait for the OLED Update in 2022.
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iPad Pro A14X and Thunderbolt 4 port rumors are nice but if it’s not 8GB RAM It’s a hard No
- Thread starter TheRealAlex
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I agree about the 8GB RAM, not so much about OLED... but we'll see how mini-led will do...
As for the USB, it's USB 4, technically not TB4, so the minimum specs are a bit lower, but not much since it includes TB3. Since iPad will not run external GPUs anyway, it's basically just as good...
Couldn't agree more. I know the iPad fills a different type of use case from Mac and has it's own advantages (camera, form factor) but consider this comparison:
MacBook Air M1: 13.3" screen, M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB = $999
iPad Pro +Magic Keyboard: 12.9" screen, A12Z, 6GB RAM, 256GB = $1448
For nearly 50% more cost you get smaller screen, slower processor, and less RAM.
MacBook Air M1: 13.3" screen, M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB = $999
iPad Pro +Magic Keyboard: 12.9" screen, A12Z, 6GB RAM, 256GB = $1448
For nearly 50% more cost you get smaller screen, slower processor, and less RAM.
Let's ignore the Magic Keyboard cost since the iPad has touchscreen and the MacBook Air does not.
Considering the prices, Apple should at least have RAM and storage parity with the M1 MBA.
2020 iPad Pro 12.9: A12Z, 6GB RAM
128GB: $999
256GB: $1099
512GB: $1299
1TB: $1499
2020 MacBook Air: M1, 8GB RAM (7c GPU)
256GB: $999
512GB: $1199
1TB: $1399
8GB is in my 12.9 Pro “must have” wishlist, if its not there, considerably longer battery life and some other bonuses, like, maybe, 256Gb for base model might make me consider it. Otherwise its either my current iPad(took my 10.5 Pro to service within warranty, dont know what will I get in return due to white spot issue) or 2020 12.9 when it goes on sale locally.
Oh and I hope they did increase toughness of the case and it wont bend as easily.
Oh and I hope they did increase toughness of the case and it wont bend as easily.
I'm curious why everyone is saying 8GB of RAM is a must have in the next iPad Pro. Have you honestly hit a situation where the RAM in the device right now in the 2020 model is not enough? This is still a device that is running iPadOS and not macOS. The apps created for the iPad are meant to run on the iPad with the specs it has
Yes - I have Skype for Business open all day on my iPad Pro for work IM’s and if I open up too many applications it will close the app and I won’t get notification of new IM’s. I have to remember now to force close apps or open Skype every 30 min so it stays active and in memory. In theory background app refresh should mean it always works but that hasn't been my experience.
Also if you work in MS office alot on your iPad you can tell when the app has been terminated in the background and is relaunching/refreshing.
Also Apple will be keen on expanding the iPad experience, whether it’s better multitasking, more Pro apps (Xcode, Logic, Final Cut, etc.) and even other 3rd party apps that expand their functionality will at some point need memory breathing room. If you plan on keeping your iPad 3-5 years more RAM will serve you well as iPadOS grows.
So yes for basic mail, web browsing, etc. 6GB is fine but this is a PRO machine and it has less memory than an entry level Macbook and costs more. That said it is truly impressive what Apple has done in memory management on iPadOS/iOS.
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The thing is even Macs are better off with 16GB RAM.
I don't think Safari and desktop websites are more efficient on iPadOS than they are on Macs. Sad reality is even with ad blockers, websites have just gotten bloated. I've also noticed memory management on iOS 13/14 to be noticeably worse compared to iOS 12.
I agree. I do encounter a lot of memory issues on 2 GB RAM devices. I encounter less issues with 4 GB RAM but I still see them. So far no issues with 6G RAM but I am not sure how much longer this would be the case.
I think everything is getting more bloated these days. I've considered a new laptop so I could go from current 8GB to 16GB. Makes me laugh at the memory-saving gyrations we used to go through on missiles & spacecraft to save just a few bytes.
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For current apps and current iPadOS 6GB is more than enough and even 4GB is pretty good... But if iPadOS improves multitasking, RAM could become more of an issue... For instance, external monitor support could be a big factor and create currently non-existent RAM needs. Imagine you can open apps and multitask in a monitor AND on the iPad at the same time (like you can with Samsung tablets or Windows and Macs),
Also if more professional apps are indeed created RAM will probably play a role in either which functionalities are usable or if the app can be installed or not...
And finally, but this is not coming anytime soon, if at some point Apple allows to peg certain apps to RAM or even let us run apps in the background, like doing other things while you export a file etc. then RAM would be just as necessary as on desktop OSs....
Personally, I kinda feel like 6GB is just enough while 4GB is at the point where if iPadOS had implemented a swap file, data would constantly be swapping in and out if you do any multitasking at all.
I have 4GB RAM iPads and ever since iOS 13, they've been requiring a restart every week or so due to memory issues (apps crashing, usually Safari after browsing some annoyingly designed websites).
If they want to keep charging roughly the same price as the m1 MBA, call it "Pro" and give people reasons to buy it over the air or standard iPad, year, they'll need to put in 8 GB of RAM or more, a great chip, and release pro apps as well as enable more functionality overall.
As it stands, with the magic keyboard (the desktop keyboard, not the case) and magic trackpad, my 12.9 cost me significantly more than the m1 MBA. I like iPads a lot, but if the Air had 120 Hz, I would essentially have no reason to buy pros. Sometimes I'm even tempted by the basic iPad because it does so much for so little.
As it stands, with the magic keyboard (the desktop keyboard, not the case) and magic trackpad, my 12.9 cost me significantly more than the m1 MBA. I like iPads a lot, but if the Air had 120 Hz, I would essentially have no reason to buy pros. Sometimes I'm even tempted by the basic iPad because it does so much for so little.
The way I see it is... Apple doesnt care that much about the iPad... yet.
I think by now its clear that Apple’s dedication is to the iPhone and the MacBook. While most of us iPad fanatics would disagree and point out how amazing our iPad hardware is, I would say that in Apples eyes then the iPad is just a test platform for phone/Mac processor development which is why they barely gave it features beyond what we have in our phones. As powerful as iPads were, if Apple actually intended for iPads to be computer alternatives then they would have given us Pro Apple software years ago. But since they barely even update their most basic apps then its safe to say that the iPad isn’t very high on their priority list.
That said, I agree with wanting 8GB or whatever in the next models. Not because we need it for anything right now but because the potential is still there and the introduction of the M1 Mac opens the door to actually put effort into iPad software.
Honestly I haven't noticed much difference between my 6GB iPad pro 11 and my 4GB 12.9 or 10.5 (not that I use the 10.5 much since I got the 11....) and even the mini 5 (but that one again I use it less).
Maybe it's because, while I use my tablets quite a bit during the day, I split my time almost equally on average between the 11, the 12.9 and the Galaxy Tab S7+, using each for what it is best at, as well as using my surface book 2 as a tablet for videos every now and then, in addition to it being my main laptop.... So I guess I don't fill the RAM enough to need restarting every week... Actually, now that I think of it, the only tablet that has needed restarting a couple of time has been the 11 pro with 6GB, after becoming partially unresponsive and not even allowing me to turn it off (had to use assistive touch to turn it off...)
I don't think Apple doesn't care... They do...It's as profitable as Macs... But they are not in a hurry, because they have no real competition, contrary to Android phones and Windows laptops.... So they take their time, but iPadOS is going to get better and better, but we'll need to be very patient....
And iPad hardware too will improved even if, again, it's the software that needs improvement more than the hardware.... But rumours about new hardware like the new Magic keyboard that can final fold flat and have more angles and have a slot for the pencil show that they care, especially in segments where they can make lots of money...
I guess to be more accurate I should have said “Apple doesnt care about iPad users”.
I know they care enough to keep the product updated rolling (cough HomePod cough) but its just so sad to see the potential wasted. You see all these M1 Mac users bragging about this insane speed and battery life while we’ve been drowning in speed and battery for half a decade.
Anyway, I love the iPad and the thought that they put into the magic keyboard and pencil really is the thing that reminds me that Apple actually does care. I just wish that they got more involved in software rather than depending almost entirely on 3rd party to provide quality apps.
Agreed, it's painful, but that's what happens when you have little competition... because competition can't keep up... you push less your staff to implement changes because you know that... it's not urgent... people will keep buying iPads, including Pro, because they are still the best in the business... Hopefully, based on past patterns (IOS 9. 11, 13) this is the year of bigger changes for iPadOS... but then another 2 years of stagnation may follow....I guess to be more accurate I should have said “Apple doesnt care about iPad users”.
I know they care enough to keep the product updated rolling (cough HomePod cough) but its just so sad to see the potential wasted. You see all these M1 Mac users bragging about this insane speed and battery life while we’ve been drowning in speed and battery for half a decade.
Anyway, I love the iPad and the thought that they put into the magic keyboard and pencil really is the thing that reminds me that Apple actually does care. I just wish that they got more involved in software rather than depending almost entirely on 3rd party to provide quality apps.
Same here, hence I have my doubts about the 2021 Pro getting 8GB RAM,Apple are very hard headed when it comes to upgrading RAM, we just need to look at how long they took to go from 4GB RAM to 6GB RAM on the iPad Pros lol.
I think people who want to believe that the new Pro will come with 8GB RAM may be in for a rude awakening, this happens time and time again.
Apple will probably bring 8GB RAM in 2022 or 2023 in iOS and iPad OS products.
Yep, Apple's always been stingy with RAM.
That said, I think it's 50/50 whether the RAM gets upgraded. The Air 3 had A12 + 3GB RAM while the 2018 and 2020 Pros had A12X/Z + 4-6GB RAM. It was a surprise when the Air 4 got A14 + 4GB RAM but perhaps that gets us to 8GB on the next Pros even if it's limited to the 1TB model only.
My guess is that the 6gb ram is there to handle the lidar sensor. The next iPad will probably have 8 gb of ram only if it comes with some crazy new features that need that much memory.