iPad Pro M4 memory and monitor support - why is this less on the iPad Pro?

[Jamie0003]

It has the exact same chip as all the other Mac’s that now have M4, yet has half the base memory (8gb) forcing you to spend another £800 or so for 1tb to get 16.

Also, iPad Pro only works with one external screen at a time, despite the fact M4 supports up to 3.

Why? Why have Apple deliberately gimped the iPad over the Mac’s? All in the name of making us pay out the nose for storage upgrades.

I don’t get why nobody is talking about this, I’d love my next machine to be an iPad but I just can’t justify the insane cost just to get 16gb memory. Apple bumped the iPad Air to 16 gigs when the new Mac’s were revealed, so again….why not the iPad? There should at least be an option to upgrade to 16 gigs without adding storage, I don’t need more than 256 gigs.

I hope at least the multi monitor support can be rectified with a software update later on down the line, like when the MacBook Pro M2 (or 3 can’t remember) recently got a similar update, though this is iPad os so probably not, it really sucks

 

[01cowherd]

iPads also only support 60 Hz output, which I bet changes whenever Apple releases the rumored 120 Hz Studio Display.

 

[russell_314]

It has the exact same chip as all the other Mac’s that now have M4, yet has half the base memory (8gb) forcing you to spend another £800 or so for 1tb to get 16.

Also, iPad Pro only works with one external screen at a time, despite the fact M4 supports up to 3.

Why? Why have Apple deliberately gimped the iPad over the Mac’s? All in the name of making us pay out the nose for storage upgrades.

I don’t get why nobody is talking about this, I’d love my next machine to be an iPad but I just can’t justify the insane cost just to get 16gb memory. Apple bumped the iPad Air to 16 gigs when the new Mac’s were revealed, so again….why not the iPad? There should at least be an option to upgrade to 16 gigs without adding storage, I don’t need more than 256 gigs.

I hope at least the multi monitor support can be rectified with a software update later on down the line, like when the MacBook Pro M2 (or 3 can’t remember) recently got a similar update, though this is iPad os so probably not, it really sucks

Different operating system so different RAM requirements and uses. It’s the same reason the iPhone doesn’t have 16 GB RAM yet.

 

[Jamie0003]

Different operating system so different RAM requirements and uses. It’s the same reason the iPhone doesn’t have 16 GB RAM yet.

Kinda rubbish argument though, why does it support 16 if not needed?

 

[russell_314]

Kinda rubbish argument though, why does it support 16 if not needed?

For the same reason it supports 32 GB. I’m not saying there’s not an application for the iPad that would benefit extra RAM, but Apple isn’t quite up to giving the iPad the same platform as the Mac when it comes to specs and choices. my best guess as to why is because they feel these additional SKUs likely would not sell. It’s the same thing as if they offered 16 GB on the iPhone. Sure some people would buy it, but the average person likely wouldn’t.

 

[rui no onna]

I don’t get why nobody is talking about this, I’d love my next machine to be an iPad but I just can’t justify the insane cost just to get 16gb memory. Apple bumped the iPad Air to 16 gigs when the new Mac’s were revealed, so again….why not the iPad?

Apple probably figures additional sales from SKUs with 16GB RAM and 256-512GB storage aren’t worth the added complexity. Plus those who really need/want 16GB RAM will be forced to pay $400-600 more for the 1TB model.

There should at least be an option to upgrade to 16 gigs without adding storage, I don’t need more than 256 gigs.

iPads are glued together while MacBooks still use screws I believe. I reckon that makes it easier to do BTO MacBooks with customizable memory and storage capacity.

Mind, the 512GB -> 1TB upgrade costs $200 for the M2 Air and $400 for the M4 Pro so the extra 8GB RAM definitely ain’t free.

Sure, it would be nice if Apple had gone 16GB across the board on the M4 iPad Pros but Apple’s often been stingy with RAM (and storage for that matter).

 

[JPack]

iPadOS likely does not support more than one external monitor.

Component costs matter for Apple. On Mac, the OS is larger and needs the additional RAM.

 

[Jamie0003]

iPadOS likely does not support more than one external monitor.

Component costs matter for Apple. On Mac, the OS is larger and needs the additional RAM.

Then how do you explain Apple having 8 gigs as the base model for the last 10+ years?

 

[Jamie0003]

For the same reason it supports 32 GB. I’m not saying there’s not an application for the iPad that would benefit extra RAM, but Apple isn’t quite up to giving the iPad the same platform as the Mac when it comes to specs and choices. my best guess as to why is because they feel these additional SKUs likely would not sell. It’s the same thing as if they offered 16 GB on the iPhone. Sure some people would buy it, but the average person likely wouldn’t.

Point is though, the base M4 supports 16 gigs. Meaning Apple deliberately gimped the iPad version of this chip to make you have to spend more for the same amount of ram

 

[JPack]

Then how do you explain Apple having 8 gigs as the base model for the last 10+ years?

Apple was being stingy until consumers would no longer bear it this year. AI easily gobbles up a couple GB in use.

iPad base RAM should be 4GB to 6GB. With 8GB there is enough for AI already.

 

[russell_314]

Point is though, the base M4 supports 16 gigs. Meaning Apple deliberately gimped the iPad version of this chip to make you have to spend more for the same amount of ram

I mean, technically you’re correct that any device Apple sells that’s not maxed out is “gimped”. The base 16 GB MacBook Air is gimped because it doesn’t have 32 GB.

Apple designs a device and they come up with a minimum spec model that will work for what certain people do. I’m sure there is someone at the Apple campus that figured out how much RAM was needed to make iPadOS work for certain tasks. By doing this, they’re able to sell a product for a lower price but still offer higher priced models for people that need a higher spec.

I realize you’re not happy that they don’t offer a specific SKU for adding RAM. I’m sure someone at Apple decided people doing video editing or similar tasks with their iPad would also want a larger SSD. Maybe that’s incorrect and they made a bad decision, but I don’t know. They sometimes make bad decisions. If you want a good example look at the iPhone mini. It should’ve never happened but Apple listened to a small group of very loud people thinking it was going to sell.

While Apple promotes the iPad as a computer replacement, I don’t think they are that serious about it. It feels like the iPad is like Siri where occasionally they’ll do some improvement, but it’s a side project for them.

 

[Digitalguy]

Apple has been very stingy on base RAM on both Macs and iPads, to the point that people were surprised they moved to 16GB as base for Mac. Probably the main reason was Apple Intelligence, otherwise they might have stayed with 8 for the air or maybe gone to 12. They purpose has always been to give as little as possible to push people to upgrade, as they make much bigger margins on upgrade (they still do that with storage).
How much Apple intelligence is going to impact the iPad is unknown. I have heard estimates of around 4GB. If it took half of the RAM, turning the M series iPad into what are now 4GB RAM iPads, I would personally disable it (if possible).
I find reloads on 4GB iPad unbearable to the point that I sold my 2018 pro 12.9 even if the battery was still 98% (I kept the 6GB RAM model though).
Some poeple only use apps that take little RAM or don't care about reloads, I do. So personally I am giving up AI if necessary (and if possible) to avoid them.
I think the M5 iPad pro will probably increase the base RAM however

PS as for monitor support, I think tandem oled takes more capabilities (M3 would not be able to handle it) so it may factor in, but also I believe Apple does not care enough about reworking Stage Manager to make it work with multiple monitors.