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iPad Pro Proper Q4 iPad Pro A14 refresh

patent10021

patent10021

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 23, 2004
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I want a new iPad Pro for grad school but don't mind waiting a few months.

I definitely don't want to drop a grand on an old 2018 A12X.

What do you guys think about a possible Q4 A14 refresh?


EDIT: Just saw this thread.
www.macrumors.com

DigiTimes: 5G iPad Pro Models With A14 Series Chip to Launch in Fall 2020

Apple plans to release its first iPhone and iPad Pro models with 5G connectivity in the second half of 2020, according to a pair of reports today...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

Here's hoping for a Sept/Oct release and a non-cellular version.
 
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More recent and credible leakers are suggesting 1H'21.

Right now, with the higher education discount, you can get an iPad Pro for $749 minus $120-$130 for the AirPods if you sell them privately.
 
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JPack said:
More recent and credible leakers are suggesting 1H'21.
Click to expand...
For the iPad Pro with mini-LED, I’m starting to lose track of the leakers, but...

I think Guo Ming-Chi suggested manufacturing 2020 with possible 2021 Q1 release date. (Previously planned as 2020 H2 release.)

And L0vetodream said 2021 Q1 or Q2 release date.

It won’t be A14, since that arguably would be a step backwards. Probably A14X.
 
Normally ipad pro refreshes in march of the years so think 3-2021 will be the next one. So i got my 2020 this a month ago :)
 
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They're normally at irregular(ish) >12 month intervals (Sep 2015 -> June 2017 -> Oct 2018 -> Mar 2020) so mid-late 2021 (WWDC June or iPhone Sept events?) would fit the pattern, but in this case it sounds like the mini LED tech didn't fit in with this cycle nicely so they released the 2020s as a shorter 8-12 month cycle to fill in so the 2018s weren't left lingering on sale with no updates for over 2 years. Initially leaks pointed to late 2020, but it increasingly sounds like early 2021 at the earliest for all mini LED updates.
 
Falhófnir said:
They're normally at irregular(ish) >12 month intervals (Sep 2015 -> June 2017 -> Oct 2018 -> Mar 2020) so mid-late 2021 (WWDC June or iPhone Sept events?) would fit the pattern, but in this case it sounds like the mini LED tech didn't fit in with this cycle nicely so they released the 2020s as a shorter 8-12 month cycle to fill in so the 2018s weren't left lingering on sale with no updates for over 2 years. Initially leaks pointed to late 2020, but it increasingly sounds like early 2021 at the earliest for all mini LED updates.
Click to expand...

Not one single timespan you described was 12 months
 
EugW said:
For the iPad Pro with mini-LED, I’m starting to lose track of the leakers, but...

I think Guo Ming-Chi suggested manufacturing 2020 with possible 2021 Q1 release date. (Previously planned as 2020 H2 release.)

And L0vetodream said 2021 Q1 or Q2 release date.

It won’t be A14, since that arguably would be a step backwards. Probably A14X.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think that's accurate. And DigiTimes today is falling in line, now saying Q1'21.
 
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AutomaticApple said:
What about a 2020 iPad Pro?
Click to expand...

The A12Z in the 2020 iPad Pro is simply the A12X with one additional GPU core activity. I believe the CPU performance is the same and the GPU performance is maybe 8%-10% better under certain circumstances.

Speaking personally for me, I have a 10.5" iPad Pro that I bought in June 2017. The battery is declining pretty rapidly. I would have jumped on this 2020 refresh had it had a more modern processor. Yes, the A12Z is plenty powerful now and in the future and it's even running macOS on the Developer Transition Kit, but bottom line is I know Apple has the capability to make a better chip in 2020 than a 2018 chip, so I'm choosing not to invest the nearly $2K in a new iPad Pro (512GB + Magic Keyboard + Folio + Pencil + Apple Care) when I know Apple is readily able to do better.

I'll patiently wait until the next 11" iPad Pro update.
 
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So why not pick up a 2018 refurb? Or just go for a 2020 model. The current hardware really is great and also very powerful, so if you need one now I’d go for it. I know the CPU isn’t a massive leap forward, but how much faster does anybody need an iPad Pro to be?
 
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patent10021 said:
That's the point. 2020 iPad Pro's A12Z is basically the 2018 A12X with one more core "enabled". People are paying for 2018 CPUs.
Click to expand...
Not only... For me the RAM increase is worth more than the move from A10X to A12X. Having said that, since the ipad pro 10.5 is still quite competent I can wait until next year, even if a 6GB RAM ipad is tempting...
 
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I’m coming from a 9.7 2016 so I but the bullet yesterday and got the 11”. The 120hz is worth it alone. I pretty sure we won’t see another one until March 2021.
 
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patent10021 said:
That's the point. 2020 iPad Pro's A12Z is basically the 2018 A12X with one more core "enabled". People are paying for 2018 CPUs.
Click to expand...
I’m totally okay with that as the A12X processor is still a beast and ahead of it’s time. It beats the “new” A13 even, (that’s pretty darn amazing.) Plus, 1-3 year old Intel CPU’s are still being used and put in “New” PCs, Macs, and whatever... why not bring that up?
Obviously, I would like to see what the A14X or A15X will be like, but as it stands now... my iPad Pro 3 (2018) is my main driver and *knock on wood... is the best Apple device I have ever owned. I can’t believe it is as powerful as my Xbox One S and on par with MBP‘s i7 and i5 processors... and the iPad Pro 3-4 are pwning 90% of other computer manufacturers. That’s impressive.

Noe... I agree Apple pretty much re-releasing the A12X for the 4th iPad Pro was lame, but again, the A12X and A12Z... are still the most powerful Apple chips in any iOS/iPadOS device. That’s almost a 2-year old Processor, so imagine what the A14-15 will be. *Just another perspective. ✌🙂
[automerge]1593869560[/automerge]
Digitalguy said:
Not only... For me the RAM increase is worth more than the move from A10X to A12X. Having said that, since the ipad pro 10.5 is still quite competent I can wait until next year, even if a 6GB RAM ipad is tempting...
Click to expand...
Same. I struggle with my OCD everyday on IF I should sell my Pro just for that 6GB, but then I realize, I still haven’t even tapped more than 25% (or whatever) of my iPad Pro’s power with RAM, CPU, and the GPU.
I also remembered I used a Vista PC from 2007-08-2015 with just barely 2GB of RAM. I used that sucker for 7-years solid, without any issues, then occasionally for another year or so (I still have it and it’s usable.) When I really jumped into Apple’s ecosystem and products, I was amazed at how much faster and better they were/are. Windows (especially Vista) was a RAM eating monstrosity too, so the fact I used it for as long as I did (doing video, music, and RAW image file editing without ripping my hair out) shows if a device is manufactured properly with the software and hardware working seamlessly together, you get some great stuff.
***So while that 6GB is so very tempting, it isn’t a giant monumental leap from 4GB (it’s better of course,) but is it “sell my iPP for hopefully $700-750 and get the new one for 1,100+ dollars?”... better?🤔🧐

I want more RAM, but for now, I am going to keep fighting this annoying obsessive compulsion to buy the 2020 iPP as I love my current iPad Pro like a son. 😉😂
** slightly off topic... but, I am eager to eventually see 8-16GB or more in an iPad. 😱
If we can keep the world from exploding or ending for another 10-20 years... imagine how amazing a 2025, 2030, or 2040 iPad will be. 🤤😉😮😮😮

Micro-LED
A25X/Z
32GB RAM
WiFi 7
BT 6.5 or whatever
7000 or better aluminum
greatly improved speakers
maybe 4-6TB of storage
even more all screen display
and who knows what else.

*Ahem, sorry, as y’all were.



Kallum.
 
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My guess is Spring 2021 at the earliest.

I don’t think many are complaining about the hardware power of the current iPad Pro...and Apple knows this. They’re not in a rush even with 5G now available.
 
Just upgraded from the 2016 9.7 and it’s a huge difference. Love the 120hz refresh rate. Apple mobile cpus are overkill these days.
 
Kal-037 said:
I’m totally okay with that as the A12X processor is still a beast and ahead of it’s time. It beats the “new” A13 even, (that’s pretty darn amazing.) Plus, 1-3 year old Intel CPU’s are still being used and put in “New” PCs, Macs, and whatever... why not bring that up?
Obviously, I would like to see what the A14X or A15X will be like, but as it stands now... my iPad Pro 3 (2018) is my main driver and *knock on wood... is the best Apple device I have ever owned. I can’t believe it is as powerful as my Xbox One S and on par with MBP‘s i7 and i5 processors... and the iPad Pro 3-4 are pwning 90% of other computer manufacturers. That’s impressive.

Noe... I agree Apple pretty much re-releasing the A12X for the 4th iPad Pro was lame, but again, the A12X and A12Z... are still the most powerful Apple chips in any iOS/iPadOS device. That’s almost a 2-year old Processor, so imagine what the A14-15 will be. *Just another perspective. ✌🙂
[automerge]1593869560[/automerge]

Same. I struggle with my OCD everyday on IF I should sell my Pro just for that 6GB, but then I realize, I still haven’t even tapped more than 25% (or whatever) of my iPad Pro’s power with RAM, CPU, and the GPU.
I also remembered I used a Vista PC from 2007-08-2015 with just barely 2GB of RAM. I used that sucker for 7-years solid, without any issues, then occasionally for another year or so (I still have it and it’s usable.) When I really jumped into Apple’s ecosystem and products, I was amazed at how much faster and better they were/are. Windows (especially Vista) was a RAM eating monstrosity too, so the fact I used it for as long as I did (doing video, music, and RAW image file editing without ripping my hair out) shows if a device is manufactured properly with the software and hardware working seamlessly together, you get some great stuff.
***So while that 6GB is so very tempting, it isn’t a giant monumental leap from 4GB (it’s better of course,) but is it “sell my iPP for hopefully $700-750 and get the new one for 1,100+ dollars?”... better?🤔🧐

I want more RAM, but for now, I am going to keep fighting this annoying obsessive compulsion to buy the 2020 iPP as I love my current iPad Pro like a son. 😉😂
** slightly off topic... but, I am eager to eventually see 8-16GB or more in an iPad. 😱
If we can keep the world from exploding or ending for another 10-20 years... imagine how amazing a 2025, 2030, or 2040 iPad will be. 🤤😉😮😮😮

Micro-LED
A25X/Z
32GB RAM
WiFi 7
BT 6.5 or whatever
7000 or better aluminum
greatly improved speakers
maybe 4-6TB of storage
even more all screen display
and who knows what else.

*Ahem, sorry, as y’all were.



Kallum.
Click to expand...
It’s not worth it. I’m 99% sure that there will be monumental leaps in RAM and processor power with the next couple of generation of iPad’s. 6GB of RAM and a stale processor generation will not future proof you one bit if we start getting desktop class apps on iPad’s ... or possibly macOS. Save that money for an actual generational leap.
 
rkuo said:
It’s not worth it. I’m 99% sure that there will be monumental leaps in RAM and processor power with the next couple of generation of iPad’s. 6GB of RAM and a stale processor generation will not future proof you one bit if we start getting desktop class apps on iPad’s ... or possibly macOS. Save that money for an actual generational leap.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Anyone who's buying one of these gimped iPads either seriously really needs it now or doesn't mind burning money. But I don't think there is actually anyone in the world who "needs" an iPad now and can not wait a few months.
 
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