iPad Pro M1 iPad Pro...why?

[spiderman0616]

It's very easy to say something like, "Well....M1 is in the iPad Pro now! I guess it's going to become a Mac pretty soon!" This is just simply not how Apple operates. Right now Apple is retro-fitting the M1 into all their existing products and designs--the new iMacs being the lone exception so far with a dramatic new redesign. The new iPad Pro features the same design and OS as before, just with the M1 chip and the usual awesome hardware upgrades you would expect from an iPad refresh. The M1 MacBook Air/Pro and M1 Mac mini have the same OS and design as before, but with the performance of an iOS/iPadOS device now that Intel has been kicked to the curb.

What you saw yesterday was Apple telling the world that their entire product line is eventually going to these new M chips or some variant of them. There's no reason the M has to only mean Mac--maybe it can just signify that this transition was a Mac-first transition. And with the RAM and display upgrades the iPad Pro got yesterday, there's no reason that we shouldn't be able to run our favorite professional Mac apps on the iPad Pro.

What you're most likely to see at WWDC this year (FINALLY), as others have mentioned, is things like Xcode, ProLogic, etc. coming to iPad Pro. At that point, you're right back to the age old question: do I want to use these apps on iPadOS or macOS? But macOS on an iPad or iPadOS on a Mac as they CURRENTLY are--that's just not a good UX, even if you allow dual booting. Apple is all about "iPads do these things, and Macs do these things."

We are not going to see a Frankenstein iPadOS/macOS device. It's just not how Apple operates. What we're going to see over the next couple of years is Apple REALLY flexing their design muscles now that they have such awesome silicon to work with. A lot of people are completely missing the forest for the trees as far as what the M1 means for Apple industrial design.

Right now Apple is transitioning. They're releasing their M1 chips for more and more devices, but keeping those devices pretty familiar to the user base. Next they're going to give the new iMac treatment to all the rest of the products too. And finally, I believe within the next 3 or 4 years, they're going to release an Apple Silicon device that obsoletes the Mac AND iPad both. Maybe sooner. But it's not going to be a Mac running iOS or an iPad running macOS. It's going to be a whole new thing with new software.

 

[darkpaw]

This constant rumble of "Apple's going to put macOS on an iPad!" seems very much displaced, to me. They've had a year of widgets anywhere on the iOS Home Screen, but only in that little Today View bit in iPadOS. The iPad's screen is big enough for widgets to be extremely useful, but they haven't done it. If they're waiting for iPadOS 15, then what does that say about Apple's engineers or the iPadOS roadmap? A full year without an obvious update. It should've been in there right at the start.

They split iOS into iOS and iPadOS just a couple of years ago in 2019. Do you think Apple are going to put macOS on an iPad so soon after this change? They said they split it so they could focus on features that were more relevant to each hardware form factor. Putting macOS on an iPad so soon seems a weird decision.

Do you want a full-on Mac-like experience in a tablet? You'd have to add a mouse/trackpad and keyboard to get any use out of it. If you didn't, can you imagine trying to write code in an app like Xcode or IntelliJ's IDEA with a massive keyboard on your screen? It wouldn't be possible.

What you're hoping for is some magical device that has all the hardware of a mouse, keyboard, ports, screen, processor and storage, in a tablet form without compromises. That's likely not possible. There's a reason a MacBook Air has a keyboard and trackpad attached to the screen; because it *needs* them.

Or do you just want a device that you can connect your current monitor, storage, keyboard and mouse to? Well you already have that in the Macs that Apple currently makes.

Some previous comments have pointed out that 13" is pretty small for all-day coding; I disagree, and I have indeed done all-day coding on a 13" MBP and a 13" MBA. I believe the 11" in an iPadOS device is too small for that, but 13" in a macOS device is fine. (And, before you say that a 12.9" iPad Pro with macOS would therefore fit the bill, it doesn't, for the reasons I've stated above.)

Also, let's not ignore the many reasons this wouldn't be as "cool" as people think:
1. It would be useful for too few people. Most buyers just want a device they can play a game or watch a movie on.
2. The iPad brings simplicity and power to everyone. It took Apple ages to add a Files app, and it doesn't grant access to most of the iPadOS filesystem. They're hardly likely to allow Terminal with full root access on there.
3. There are too many peripheral things you do with a Mac that you'd have to do with macOS on an iPad. Some of these won't be possible because Apple would need to lock down the device (like they've done with iOS and iPadOS), and so some use cases will be impossible.

 

[thelookingglass]

What you're most likely to see at WWDC this year (FINALLY), as others have mentioned, is things like Xcode, ProLogic, etc. coming to iPad Pro. At that point, you're right back to the age old question: do I want to use these apps on iPadOS or macOS? But macOS on an iPad or iPadOS on a Mac as they CURRENTLY are--that's just not a good UX, even if you allow dual booting. Apple is all about "iPads do these things, and Macs do these things."

We are not going to see a Frankenstein iPadOS/macOS device. It's just not how Apple operates. What we're going to see over the next couple of years is Apple REALLY flexing their design muscles now that they have such awesome silicon to work with. A lot of people are completely missing the forest for the trees as far as what the M1 means for Apple industrial design.

It WAS about keeping a clear delineation between iPads and Macs, back when there was no hardware parity and, more importantly, when there was no price parity. You don't want people in the market for a Mac buying 30-50% cheaper iPads instead.

This move is different. It brings iPad and Mac hardware on the same level. But, most of all, it gives iPad Pro a price PREMIUM vs similar hardware on the Macs. Go look at the price of a 12.9" 1TB/16GB RAM iPad Pro and compare it to the same MBA or MBP. iPP is way more expensive.

So now Apple can actually bring the MacOS experience to iPad. The UX issue you mentioned is absolutely moot now because of things like the Magic Keyboard with the built-in trackpad. A "dual boot" feature seems clunky for Apple, but I could totally see a scenario where you're able to slide into MacOS if a Magic Keyboard is attached. OR, perhaps iPadOS really starts to fork from iOS and shift more into MacOS territory just for the iPad Pros.

There are a ton of possibilities here. But I think hardware and price parity are dead giveaways that the two platforms are about to merge in some very meaningful ways. There is absolutely no reason otherwise to shift to 8GB/16GB RAM and increase the price to match/exceed Macs.

 

[thelookingglass]

Also, let's not ignore the many reasons this wouldn't be as "cool" as people think:
1. It would be useful for too few people. Most buyers just want a device they can play a game or watch a movie on.
2. The iPad brings simplicity and power to everyone. It took Apple ages to add a Files app, and it doesn't grant access to most of the iPadOS filesystem. They're hardly likely to allow Terminal with full root access on there.
3. There are too many peripheral things you do with a Mac that you'd have to do with macOS on an iPad. Some of these won't be possible because Apple would need to lock down the device (like they've done with iOS and iPadOS), and so some use cases will be impossible.

For the people in 1, they can get a non-Pro iPad. An iPad Pro that had functionality that far exceeds the regular iPads would give meaning to the "Pro" moniker (finally).

As for point 2, there's absolutely no reason they can't integrate the software that makes the transition seamless. Absolutely no reason. Now that pricing of the Pros is on par or more expensive than equivalent Macs, there's nothing for Apple to fear.

3 is moot if you allow iPad Pros to run MacOS or some variant that's very close to full MacOS.

 

[Digitalguy]

This constant rumble of "Apple's going to put macOS on an iPad!" seems very much displaced, to me. They've had a year of widgets anywhere on the iOS Home Screen, but only in that little Today View bit in iPadOS. The iPad's screen is big enough for widgets to be extremely useful, but they haven't done it. If they're waiting for iPadOS 15, then what does that say about Apple's engineers or the iPadOS roadmap? A full year without an obvious update. It should've been in there right at the start.

They split iOS into iOS and iPadOS just a couple of years ago in 2019. Do you think Apple are going to put macOS on an iPad so soon after this change? They said they split it so they could focus on features that were more relevant to each hardware form factor. Putting macOS on an iPad so soon seems a weird decision.

Do you want a full-on Mac-like experience in a tablet? You'd have to add a mouse/trackpad and keyboard to get any use out of it. If you didn't, can you imagine trying to write code in an app like Xcode or IntelliJ's IDEA with a massive keyboard on your screen? It wouldn't be possible.

What you're hoping for is some magical device that has all the hardware of a mouse, keyboard, ports, screen, processor and storage, in a tablet form without compromises. That's likely not possible. There's a reason a MacBook Air has a keyboard and trackpad attached to the screen; because it *needs* them.

Or do you just want a device that you can connect your current monitor, storage, keyboard and mouse to? Well you already have that in the Macs that Apple currently makes.

Some previous comments have pointed out that 13" is pretty small for all-day coding; I disagree, and I have indeed done all-day coding on a 13" MBP and a 13" MBA. I believe the 11" in an iPadOS device is too small for that, but 13" in a macOS device is fine. (And, before you say that a 12.9" iPad Pro with macOS would therefore fit the bill, it doesn't, for the reasons I've stated above.)

Also, let's not ignore the many reasons this wouldn't be as "cool" as people think:
1. It would be useful for too few people. Most buyers just want a device they can play a game or watch a movie on.
2. The iPad brings simplicity and power to everyone. It took Apple ages to add a Files app, and it doesn't grant access to most of the iPadOS filesystem. They're hardly likely to allow Terminal with full root access on there.
3. There are too many peripheral things you do with a Mac that you'd have to do with macOS on an iPad. Some of these won't be possible because Apple would need to lock down the device (like they've done with iOS and iPadOS), and so some use cases will be impossible.

Nothing is impossible. If Apple wanted, they could easily put MacOS on the M1 iPad, but they don't want to because it's not in their interest

 

[Digitalguy]

For the people in 1, they can get a non-Pro iPad. An iPad Pro that had functionality that far exceeds the regular iPads would give meaning to the "Pro" moniker (finally).

As for point 2, there's absolutely no reason they can't integrate the software that makes the transition seamless. Absolutely no reason. Now that pricing of the Pros is on par or more expensive than equivalent Macs, there's nothing for Apple to fear.

3 is moot if you allow iPad Pros to run MacOS or some variant that's very close to full MacOS.

Yes, there are things to fear... Mac is an open platform and they don't get 30% on software... Also they will not allow apps that are not at least somewhat optimized for touch on the tablet itself. So it won't be MacOS, probably some kind of desktop mode (à la DEX, but better) when connected to a display, but apps will come from the store.

 

[spiderman0616]

It WAS about keeping a clear delineation between iPads and Macs, back when there was no hardware parity and, more importantly, when there was no price parity. You don't want people in the market for a Mac buying 30-50% cheaper iPads instead.

This move is different. It brings iPad and Mac hardware on the same level. But, most of all, it gives iPad Pro a price PREMIUM vs similar hardware on the Macs. Go look at the price of a 12.9" 1TB/16GB RAM iPad Pro and compare it to the same MBA or MBP. iPP is way more expensive.

So now Apple can actually bring the MacOS experience to iPad. The UX issue you mentioned is absolutely moot now because of things like the Magic Keyboard with the built-in trackpad. A "dual boot" feature seems clunky for Apple, but I could totally see a scenario where you're able to slide into MacOS if a Magic Keyboard is attached. OR, perhaps iPadOS really starts to fork from iOS and shift more into MacOS territory just for the iPad Pros.

There are a ton of possibilities here. But I think hardware and price parity are dead giveaways that the two platforms are about to merge in some very meaningful ways. There is absolutely no reason otherwise to shift to 8GB/16GB RAM and increase the price to match/exceed Macs.

I agree with you to an extent--the biggest clue to Apple's intentions yesterday though was not the M1, the new design, the bells and whistles, etc. It was the RAM. They clearly have big plans for iPadOS to be compatible with full blown Mac apps. That does NOT mean they intend to slap macOS on an iPad, even in dual boot mode or some weird Dex situation, and then declare everything "converged".

They're going to make a completely new device. It won't be called an iPad. It won't be called a Mac. It will be something else. iPad is being handcuffed by iPadOS right now, and the Mac is too complicated for the average iPad user. Apple is preparing for something much bigger than what a lot of you are imagining right now. I'm probably going to stand pat on my M1 MBA for now until I have a clearer picture of the roadmap.

 

[Digitalguy]

I agree with you to an extent--the biggest clue to Apple's intentions yesterday though was not the M1, the new design, the bells and whistles, etc. It was the RAM. They clearly have big plans for iPadOS to be compatible with full blown Mac apps. That does NOT mean they intend to slap macOS on an iPad, even in dual boot mode or some weird Dex situation, and then declare everything "converged".

They're going to make a completely new device. It won't be called an iPad. It won't be called a Mac. It will be something else. iPad is being handcuffed by iPadOS right now, and the Mac is too complicated for the average iPad user. Apple is preparing for something much bigger than what a lot of you are imagining right now. I'm probably going to stand pat on my M1 MBA for now until I have a clearer picture of the roadmap.

I think it will still be iPad and Mac, not something different or hybrid. But M iPads will receive a different treatment or even a different iPadOS.

 

[KPOM]

With Apple, I find that they do (or don’t do) many things not because of technological constraints, but philosophical ones.

For example, they never brought replaceable batteries and expandable storage to the iphone, because they felt that it would compromise the design of the product.

They removed the headphone jack from the iphone for a similar reason - they want to push users to embrace wireless accessories, for no other apparent reason than they have this “utopian” vision of everyone doing so.

I agree that there is nothing stopping an ipad from running macOS (and running it well). I just don’t see Apple doing so because that’s not how they envision people using an iPad.

Steve Jobs also had a philosophical objection to an iPad with a screen smaller than the original. But Eddy Cue convinced him there was a market for the iPad mini. He also objected to styluses, and yet we now have the Apple Pencil. I think that's actually a good example. Apple didn't want a phone or tablet that relied on a stylus for basic input, and still has not added Pencil support for the iPhone, but is increasingly incorporating the Pencil in its promotion of the iPad Air and Pro.

The loss of the 12" MacBook created a bit of a void in Apple's lineup that the iPad Pro being able to run Mac apps (even if not full blown macOS) would fill. Naturally, the 12.9" iPad Pro has the screen space to make full blown macOS feasible, as well.

 

[jz0309]

I think putting M1 into the iPad Pro was a very smart move by Apple:
1. It frees up the design team to focus on A15 and M2 development vs a A14x, A15 AND M2
2. it simplifies the supply chain
3. Significant marketing boost for iPad

what else we will see in the future, eg more powerful apps for iPad, or even touch for a Mac (eg running iPadOS in it's own window), hopefully we'll get a glance at WWDC ...

 

[KPOM]

I agree with you to an extent--the biggest clue to Apple's intentions yesterday though was not the M1, the new design, the bells and whistles, etc. It was the RAM. They clearly have big plans for iPadOS to be compatible with full blown Mac apps. That does NOT mean they intend to slap macOS on an iPad, even in dual boot mode or some weird Dex situation, and then declare everything "converged".

They're going to make a completely new device. It won't be called an iPad. It won't be called a Mac. It will be something else. iPad is being handcuffed by iPadOS right now, and the Mac is too complicated for the average iPad user. Apple is preparing for something much bigger than what a lot of you are imagining right now. I'm probably going to stand pat on my M1 MBA for now until I have a clearer picture of the roadmap.

I see the iPad Pro being able to run macOS apps, not necessarily macOS, sort of the way m1 Macs can run iPad and iPhone apps, albeit with limitations. Macs will likely always have superior multitasking and connectivity, but a converged device will be sufficient for many.

 

[spiderman0616]

I see the iPad Pro being able to run macOS apps, not necessarily macOS, sort of the way m1 Macs can run iPad and iPhone apps, albeit with limitations. Macs will likely always have superior multitasking and connectivity, but a converged device will be sufficient for many.

Exactly--and I'll probably buy one too!!!

 

[Adelphos33]

I serious doubt Apple will do a dual boot, or allow MacOS on the iPad, at least for a few years. I think something like Final Cut Pro and other pro apps (none of which I use) will be introduced, along with stuff like better external display support that could use the extra power.

 

[007p]

I don’t get why people insist on throwing iPad and iPad Pro together. I hardly see Apple putting the M1 into an iPhone or base iPad. The iPad Pro is more expensive than some Macs, anyone choosing to buy the iPad Pro over a MacBook should be made aware of the differences.

The argument about iPadOS is pretty pointless. Apple clearly didn’t split them up because of the iPad Pro, they did so for all iPads. That would hardly change.

I find it odd how people are so against something like MacOS or MacOS apps on an iPad Pro purely because it has a touch screen. If I plug a touch screen into a Mac Pro it doesn’t blow up...I just can’t use the touch screen.
Same with some apps that require a game controller, the world doesn’t end, you just have to connect a controller instead of touching the screen.

How is there honestly an argument for ‘you can’t have something that requires a mouse and keyboard on an iPad Pro’. No one is going to force a user to use it, but the option would be there if you wanted to. Having a few options would be nice after dropping 2k+ on a so called ‘computer’ you know? Want to use the touch screen, that’s why iPadOS is there. Want finer control, connect a keyboard/mouse and load up apps (or OS) that utilise it better.

I don’t see any reason to shove the M1 into the iPad Pro if something wasn’t coming that could use, it’s just too much of a jump. Could be wrong, but I’d hope by now Apple has realised that just throwing hardware at this thing isn’t working anymore. While MacOS is probably a stretch, I think the hypervisor framework and allowing VMs officially probably isn’t.

The reviews are going to be interesting. I remember only last year for the 2020 iPad Pro how many complaints it got due to the limitations iPadOS. Literally nothing has changed since then other than dramatically increasing the hardware performance for currently no reason. I almost wonder why they have even released it now given how slated iPadOS is going to be now. But then I’m fairly certain we’re about to see something like the M1X in Macs so it makes sense to get the iPad Pro out of the way now.

 

[spiderman0616]

Steve Jobs also had a philosophical objection to an iPad with a screen smaller than the original. But Eddy Cue convinced him there was a market for the iPad mini. He also objected to styluses, and yet we now have the Apple Pencil. I think that's actually a good example. Apple didn't want a phone or tablet that relied on a stylus for basic input, and still has not added Pencil support for the iPhone, but is increasingly incorporating the Pencil in its promotion of the iPad Air and Pro.

The loss of the 12" MacBook created a bit of a void in Apple's lineup that the iPad Pro being able to run Mac apps (even if not full blown macOS) would fill. Naturally, the 12.9" iPad Pro has the screen space to make full blown macOS feasible, as well.

I have to disagree on the screen size only because the aspect ratio on the iPad Pro is not optimal for office work, in my opinion. That was one of my frustrations when I finally ponied up for a 12.9" Pro earlier last year--on paper, yeah, the screen is pretty close to the same overall area as a MacBook. In day to day use though, it almost feels square. I realize the iPad Pro is rectangular, but the real estate doesn't feel nearly as usable as a Mac's "normal" laptop screen ratio even though they're so close in size. So if I had my work apps running side by side in multiple pairings, kind of like how I use Spaces on Mac, everything still felt more tall and skinny.

This is a minor complaint, but my list of minor complaints actually GREW when I switched up to the 12.9" model, and most of them have to do with screen real estate. In the end, the iPad Pro's screen, as well as the rest of its feature set, is still currently designed to do iPad things, and the Mac is still currently designed to do Mac things. That was fine for me for a while, but in my workflow the iPad was a victim of its own success. I took the time and learned how to use all the Serif apps, Ferrite, LumaFusion, etc. All amazing apps--it's mindblowing that you can do stuff like that on a tablet now.

At the same time though--I was starting to hit a wall again, where more and more often the answers to my more advanced questions or tasks to complete was "The iPad version doesn't do that, but the Mac version does."

So again, I reiterate, they're going to keep blurring that line until the product that REALLY takes over for both is ready. This is just an intermediate step, and I consider yesterday's iPad launch kind of an intermediate iPad. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely drooling over that new screen and the Center Stage feature, and if money were no object, I'd be all over it. But the fact of the matter is that I have fallen in love with my M1 MBA, and I don't see switching back again this soon.

 

[spiderman0616]

I don’t get why people insist on throwing iPad and iPad Pro together. I hardly see Apple putting the M1 into an iPhone or base iPad. The iPad Pro is more expensive than some Macs, anyone choosing to buy the iPad Pro over a MacBook should be made aware of the differences.

The argument about iPadOS is pretty pointless. Apple clearly didn’t split them up because of the iPad Pro, they did so for all iPads. That would hardly change.

I find it odd how people are so against something like MacOS or MacOS apps on an iPad Pro purely because it has a touch screen. If I plug a touch screen into a Mac Pro it doesn’t blow up...I just can’t use the touch screen.
Same with some apps that require a game controller, the world doesn’t end, you just have to connect a controller instead of touching the screen.

How is there honestly an argument for ‘you can’t have something that requires a mouse and keyboard on an iPad Pro’. No one is going to force a user to use it, but the option would be there if you wanted to. Having a few options would be nice after dropping 2k+ on a so called ‘computer’ you know? Want to use the touch screen, that’s why iPadOS is there. Want finer control, connect a keyboard/mouse and load up apps (or OS) that utilise it better.

I don’t see any reason to shove the M1 into the iPad Pro if something wasn’t coming that could use, it’s just too much of a jump. Could be wrong, but I’d hope by now Apple has realised that just throwing hardware at this thing isn’t working anymore. While MacOS is probably a stretch, I think the hypervisor framework and allowing VMs officially probably isn’t.

The reviews are going to be interesting. I remember only last year for the 2020 iPad Pro how many complaints it got due to the limitations iPadOS. Literally nothing has changed since then other than dramatically increasing the hardware performance for currently no reason. I almost wonder why they have even released it now given how slated iPadOS is going to be now. But then I’m fairly certain we’re about to see something like the M1X in Macs so it makes sense to get the iPad Pro out of the way now.

This is probably pretty close to the way this is going to play out. I think all the pro Apple apps that are most likely coming with the next OS updates are going to be iPadOS-ified. They're not just going to throw the Mac version on there and call it a day.

 

[rumz]

I agree with you to an extent--the biggest clue to Apple's intentions yesterday though was not the M1, the new design, the bells and whistles, etc. It was the RAM. They clearly have big plans for iPadOS to be compatible with full blown Mac apps. That does NOT mean they intend to slap macOS on an iPad, even in dual boot mode or some weird Dex situation, and then declare everything "converged".

Or it could just mean it’s more cost effective to use the M1 than to produce another variant in between the A14 and the M1. 8gb is a natural progression from the 6 they previously had; 16 could just be a “because we can” to upsell a certain portion of their iPad Pro customers since they’re using the M1 anyways.

I’d like to believe the ram in these things and the hardware parity with M1 macs means more for iPadOS. I’m just trying to keep my expectations in check

 

[spiderman0616]

Or it could just mean it’s more cost effective to use the M1 than to produce another variant in between the A14 and the M1. 8gb is a natural progression from the 6 they previously had; 16 could just be a “because we can” to upsell a certain portion of their iPad Pro customers since they’re using the M1 anyways.

I’d like to believe the ram in these things and the hardware parity with M1 macs means more for iPadOS. I’m just trying to keep my expectations in check

Yep—same here. I’ve been waiting for years and here we still are. I’ll switch back eventually I’m sure though. Show me the software, Apple.

 

[pdoherty]

Because iPad is just....an iPad. Dreams of it being a full fledged iMac is just that. It can NEVER handle the requirement of a laptop. And Apple WILL keep it that way!

What specs does the new iPad Pro fail on compared to the MacBook Air or Pro with the M1?

None.

 

[petvas]

I am pretty sure that Apple will bring Apple Silicon macOS apps to the iPad with the next version of iPadOS. I don‘t know it for a fact, but it makes a lot of sense now.

 

[pdoherty]

Whether Apple makes the iPad Pro boot into MacOS UI or not, they may not do that, but may still encapsulate Mac apps in such a way as to make them launchable from the iPad GUI. iPad Pro users with a keyboard and trackpad/mouse would then use the app as if it was an iPad-native app. Same way they’re letting Mac OS users run their iPad apps.

 

[NT1440]

It WAS about keeping a clear delineation between iPads and Macs, back when there was no hardware parity and, more importantly, when there was no price parity. You don't want people in the market for a Mac buying 30-50% cheaper iPads instead.

This move is different. It brings iPad and Mac hardware on the same level. But, most of all, it gives iPad Pro a price PREMIUM vs similar hardware on the Macs. Go look at the price of a 12.9" 1TB/16GB RAM iPad Pro and compare it to the same MBA or MBP. iPP is way more expensive.

So now Apple can actually bring the MacOS experience to iPad. The UX issue you mentioned is absolutely moot now because of things like the Magic Keyboard with the built-in trackpad. A "dual boot" feature seems clunky for Apple, but I could totally see a scenario where you're able to slide into MacOS if a Magic Keyboard is attached. OR, perhaps iPadOS really starts to fork from iOS and shift more into MacOS territory just for the iPad Pros.

There are a ton of possibilities here. But I think hardware and price parity are dead giveaways that the two platforms are about to merge in some very meaningful ways. There is absolutely no reason otherwise to shift to 8GB/16GB RAM and increase the price to match/exceed Macs.

Apple is not going to half ass this. There is a reason why just a year or two ago they branched iPadOS into its own thing. That kind of decision is made with an eye years out into the future. There may be feature parity, but Apple is clearly going to tailor the UX to the unique capabilities of the form factor. They’ve been making this clear for years now.

 

[rumz]

What specs does the new iPad Pro fail on compared to the MacBook Air or Pro with the M1?

None.

Yep. When the guts of the iPad Pro are the same as the guts of a Mac mini (I/O aside)-- there's no technical reason why an iPad Pro couldn't run MacOS. I'd be surprised if they didn't have that working in the lab. It's almost guaranteed Apple wouldn't make that an option for consumers, not with their philosophy on touch devices. Muddies the messaging and/or experience. It seems more like they're trying to arrive at a new computing paradigm somewhere between iOS and Mac OS.... and it's just taking way longer than most of us would like.

 

[Deliro]

Yep. I know it's all just branding but M1 on the iPad plus same RAM options as M1 Macs seems to me to be pointing towards convergence sooner rather than later.

This.. I do feel the iPad will run MacOS, or a hybrid of the two, at some point. The iPad is a great device. However it's mobile watered down OS and software hamstrings it.

 

[lddhtx]

The iPad is obviously missing many core software features but has very powerful hardware. Apple knows this. Change is right around the corner. iPadOS 15 will bring killer improvements to the Files app, Home Screen, external display support, and window management, but most importantly Apple will introduce their pro apps such as Xcode, Final Cut, etc. There will hopefully be more “pro” APIs so developers can bring coding apps to the iPad. Once this happens, the iPad will be on par with even more Mac workflows.



Personally, I never want the iPad to run macOS. I want Apple to improve iPadOS such that it’s features are on par with macOS but in a mobile and touch friendly way.