iPad Pro iPad Pro using M4?

[Jamie I]

We have been expecting M3 iPad Pros for a while now but I was just browsing through some of the rumors and I noticed something interesting.

There was information from a private X account with a proven track record that shared chip identifiers for the new WiFi + cellular iPad Pros and it’s apparently using a T8132 chip. However, T8132 is not the identifier for the M3 chip which is T8122.

In fact, based on the pattern that the M series chips have been following, it seems like it’s the M4 chip.

M2 - T8112
M3 - T8122
T8132 - M4?

But that’s not all. A few days ago, 9to5Mac found identifiers for the new WiFi+Cellular iPad Pros: iPad16,3 iPad 16,4 iPad 16,5 iPad16,6

M1 based products all start with 13. For example, the M1 iPad Air is called iPad13,16. The 11” M1 iPad Pro is iPad13,4, the M1 Max Mac Studio is Mac13,1 etc

M2 based products are 14. The 11” M2 iPad Pro is iPad14,3. M2 Ultra Mac Studio is Mac14,8 etc

M3 based products are 15. The 16” M3 Max MacBook Pro is Mac15,12. M3 iMac is Mac15,5 etc

But these new iPad identifiers have skipped 15 and went straight to 16. Are we about to get an M4 iPad Pro?

 

[aakshey]

Quite an observation

I am now convinced iPads will come with M4, the Pros at least

Also makes sense considering these iPad Pros won’t be updated for another 1.5-2 years and considering Apple has to make the increase in price justifiable as well

 

[ericwn]

It would make sense to use the better components on the pro line for sure. Interesting to see what the final product will be like.

 

[Digitalguy]

Zero chances of M4, zero. M4 is coming either in Autumn or next year, iPad pro is coming in May, regardless of what these codes mean

 

[Misuteri]

There is just no way a new flagship chip starts out in an iPad. I don’t care if it’s the Pro.

It’s not happening before an iMac of any variation or a laptop.

 

[Jackbequickly]

It will be late 2025 if not 2026 before we see the M4 in an iPad Pro.

 

[nitrobear]

Only thing I can see happening here is that the M3 in these iPad Pros may be a revision of the same chip but being fabricated with a cheaper manufacturing process (They may be using N3E instead of N3B)

 

[iPadified]

It would make sense from a high end iPad perspective but M3 is barely 1/2 year old. It seems that timing is not correct if Macs with M4 are supposed to ship end of the year.

 

[Elusi]

Weren't there rumors of an N3E (or possibly N3P I guess, if it saves design time) variant coming for the A17 and/or M3?

 

[alecgold]

There is just no way a new flagship chip starts out in an iPad. I don’t care if it’s the Pro.

It’s not happening before an iMac of any variation or a laptop.

That did happen before, IIRC the M2 was out on the iPad before it was on the MBP/iMac?!
But I do think this is to early for the M4 to be ready to be put inside an iPad. It would soften a lot of the waiting for the new iPad Pro M4 11” with oled and horizontal facetime camera.

 

[Elusi]

That did happen before, IIRC the M2 was out on the iPad before it was on the MBP/iMac?!

No. The M2 debuted on the M2 Macbook Pro 13" and was shortly followed by the Macbook Air. This was during June of 2022. The M2 IPP came in October. There never was an M2 iMac.

 

[TracerAnalog]

As long it's at least an M3 PRO in the new iPad PRO I'm happy

 

[Populus]

It would make sense from a high end iPad perspective but M3 is barely 1/2 year old. It seems that timing is not correct if Macs with M4 are supposed to ship end of the year.

Actually, the M4s could have been manufactured since January, as TSMC is rumored to be using the N3E node since late December.

I have hopes that during this next WWDC Apple will unveil their new generation of M4 SoC focused on AI, along with iOS 18 and macOS 15… you say the new iPad Pro is coming in May? Well, just delay it a bit more until June, and everything clicks.

 

[Spock]

As long it's at least an M3 PRO in the new iPad PRO I'm happy

Don't hold your breath on that one

 

[Whats-a-computer?]

Are we about to get an M4 iPad Pro?

i know it wont happen, but damn i would love that. iPad really needs some love.

 

[MayaUser]

M4 before iphone? guys, no words...iphone is first, always has been
iPhones shows us the way on the new SoC

 

[cpatrick08]

M4 before iphone? guys, no words...iphone is first, always has been
iPhones shows us the way on the new SoC

You mean Mac first. Iphone uses A series chips.

 

[MayaUser]

You mean Mac first. Iphone uses A series chips.

i mean the base future SoC will always comes first in iphones then Macs/ipads
i mean M4 will come after iphones "A18 pro" which M4 will be based on
iphones first 5nm then M1
iphones first 5nm+ then M2
iphones first 3nm then M3
guess whats coming

 

[spineto]

Hello.

Honestly, they should worry less about putting more power into the iPad (especially in the pro), and more about optimizing all that power it has. The main ballast that iPads have is their Operating System. In the end it's like buying a Ferrari, with a 600hp engine but limiting it by switchboard to 80mph and 90hp.

Put M3 or M4 chip with the current OS, it will be very very underutilized. Today, not even the M2 is made the most of on the iPad.

 

[alecgold]

Hello.

Honestly, they should worry less about putting more power into the iPad (especially in the pro), and more about optimizing all that power it has. The main ballast that iPads have is their Operating System. In the end it's like buying a Ferrari, with a 600hp engine but limiting it by switchboard to 80mph and 90hp.

Put M3 or M4 chip with the current OS, it will be very very underutilized. Today, not even the M2 is made the most of on the iPad.

I’m not entirely sure the M2 is overkill for the iPad.
When I connect my 4K screen and have Nebo.app and run a video PiP on the iPad and have word, outlook, finder and safari open on the screen, it tends to get rather hot. Certainly in the summer it often stops charging at 80% to prevent battery damage.
So perhaps the M2 isn’t that overpowered as many seem to think.
And the M3 might have a little bit more overhead space and less heat, so my iPad can charge to 100% while being used.

 

[spineto]

What happens is that what you indicate is done by a MacBook Air without getting disheved with very similar hardware.

I don't think we can argue that the power (which is a lot) of an iPad Pro M2 is wasted, mainly by the OS, seeing what an almost identical processor and hardware is capable of doing.

 

[PsykX]

I'd be extremely surprised to see the M4 come out before Q3-2024.
And the iPad didn't benefit all that much from M1 or M2, and I don't really see any benefit from M3 let alone M4. The OS will never make use of all that power.

The logical roadmap is to release the M4 on a macOS device first and foremost. THAT will benefit from a more powerful CPU, GPU and memory.

 

[MegaBlue]

I'd be extremely surprised to see the M4 come out before Q3-2024.
And the iPad didn't benefit all that much from M1 or M2, and I don't really see any benefit from M3 let alone M4. The OS will never make use of all that power.

The logical roadmap is to release the M4 on a macOS device first and foremost. THAT will benefit from a more powerful CPU, GPU and memory.

The OS does benefit from the power. I saw noticeable performance improvements in my render and export times from A12Z to M1. You just don't use the apps where it has an impact.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Zero chances of M4, zero. M4 is coming either in Autumn or next year, iPad pro is coming in May, regardless of what these codes mean

Accurate.

Both before and after Apple transitioned Macs over to Apple silicon with M1, Apple has consistently been leading every new Apple-made SoC generation with its best-selling and by far most important computer/device, iPhone.

iPhone 16 will be the first Apple product make the jump to the next generation of SoC which is named A18 for iPhone (and some iPads, maybe) and M4 for Mac (and some iPads, probably).

All of what Apple has become and most of what it gains every year emanates from the continued success and of iPhone.

Capital and most of the supply chain has to(!) first and foremost accommodate demand for the upcoming iPhone. What next gen. Macs and iPads launch when after the upcoming iPhone has launched is partially determined by the success and demand of said iPhone.

In other words, if we see any Mac or iPad releases before iPhone 16 launches in September then they'll all be M3 at best (iPad Air will probably get M2).

 

[PsykX]

The OS does benefit from the power. I saw noticeable performance improvements in my render and export times from A12Z to M1. You just don't use the apps where it has an impact.

Maybe 20 apps on the App Store such as Final Cut will clearly benefit from this, but not the OS per se. I rarely if ever see anything load with my A12Z and do not feel the need to upgrade at all.

On the other hand, macOS in its entirety will benefit from M4. I have an M2 Pro, and would still be constantly looking for more and more power.