iPad Pro What Will The M2 iPad Pro Bring to the Table? Is an M2 iPad Overkill?

[thadoggfather]

I genuinely do not know what M2 iPad would bring over M1 iPad since M1 iPad is already overkill for iPadOS and M2 would result in more thermal throttling since they run a bit hotter and more power hungry iirc.

I think without enhanced screen tech (OLED on mini or microLED on 11" Pro for example) there wouldn't be a compelling reason to really upgrade.

 

[darngooddesign]

I think a redesign is in order since they had this current design since 2018… but I honestly don’t see what they can do with it. Perhaps, move the FaceID camera to landscape… that’s about it.

We all know there’s going to be some wireless charging capabilities which will help free up the USB-C port… but a redesign brings different accessories to go along with it.

Yep. There was already an uproar over the Mini LED 13" requiring new keyboards, now imagine that happening again with both sizes.

 

[Ludatyk]

Yep. There was already an uproar over the Mini LED 13" requiring new keyboards, now imagine that happening again with both sizes.

Umm.. I don’t recall it being an uproar. The issue was Apple releasing a new Magic Keyboard when the existing one fit it… albeit it wasn’t up to Apple standards.

Once news came that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit the newest iPP the noise quickly became silent. Because we all had an idea that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit… we just needed confirmation. As soon as people realized that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit the newest one… it was highly sought after.

I recall Best Buy had refurbished Magic Keyboards for $99 bucks… pains me to this day I missed out on it.

 

[darngooddesign]

Umm.. I don’t recall it being an uproar. The issue was Apple releasing a new Magic Keyboard when the existing one fit it… albeit it wasn’t up to Apple standards.

Once news came that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit the newest iPP the noise quickly became silent. Because we all had an idea that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit… we just needed confirmation. As soon as people realized that the existing Magic Keyboard can fit the newest one… it was highly sought after.

I recall Best Buy had refurbished Magic Keyboards for $99 bucks… pains me to this day I missed out on it.

That's the point, the uproar was that you might not be able to use the $350 keyboard from your previous 13" iPad.

There's really no need for a new physical design that changes its size. Instead of making it thinner they could keep the thickness and use a bigger battery. (hopefully) Moving the camera to landscape shouldn't require a size change. If Apple is going to change the design and size a lot, wait until they increase its size to the rumored 14".

 

[PBG4 Dude]

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[darngooddesign]

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[sparksd]

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Me. I didn't care for the Boy Scout Merit Badge.

 

[doboy]

Hope Apple passes on the M2 for the iPad Pro and wait until 3 nm M3 is ready.

 

[kristalsoldier]

Nothing wrong with lifting glass, just make sure you take a taxi to the pub.

More importantly, a taxi on the way back from the pub!

 

[minimo3]

They will likely lock new upcoming features behind an artificial M2-required paywall. E.g. true windowed multitasking requires an M2 iPad.

 

[Ludatyk]

They will likely lock new upcoming features behind an artificial M2-required paywall. E.g. true windowed multitasking requires an M2 iPad.

Umm.. guessing we won't move past this huh. Craig already mentioned Stage Manager for M1 iPads marks the standard going forward, so... there shouldn't be any new features designed only for an M2 iPad.

If anything they build upon Stage Manager with an M2 iPad... perhaps, they give M2 iPads more freedom with resizing windows. Instead of 4 currently on screen.. they are given 6, that's the only aspect I see. But what sets the M1 and M2 iPads apart will be the hardware.. not necessarily software features.

 

[darngooddesign]

They will likely lock new upcoming features behind an artificial M2-required paywall. E.g. true windowed multitasking requires an M2 iPad.

Yeah nah.

If Apple were as nefarious as you think they are then Stage Manager would require the iPad Pro, but here it is on the more affordable iPad Air. You even get window management and external display support on the base iPad Air.

SplitScreen and Slide-over came out eight years ago and they're still being used; they're going to stick with Stage Manager for windowing for at least the next four years and it runs on the M1.

Its worth reminding all the "the old Apple would never" types that Split Screen had an "artificial paywall" of the iPad Air 2 which was the newest iPad at the time. Not even the iPad Mini which was being sold then got split-screen.

 

[MandiMac]

I genuinely do not know what M2 iPad would bring over M1 iPad since M1 iPad is already overkill for iPadOS and M2 would result in more thermal throttling since they run a bit hotter and more power hungry iirc.

1. A M2 iPad isn't meant for those who already have a M1 iPad.
2. M2 would only result in thermal throttling if you use the chip a 100 % for a prolongued time like 5-10 minutes. That's rendering and exporting files. But even when you're gaming, chances are that the M2 is not used a 100 % all the time (maybe if you're gaming in 120 fps mode).
3. 15 % more CPU and 30 % more GPU performance are nothing to be sneezed at, too.

 

[jazz1]

They will likely lock new upcoming features behind an artificial M2-required paywall. E.g. true windowed multitasking requires an M2 iPad.

I truly hope that isn't the case. But this would be kind of like BMW accessories paywall. Maybe we can "rent" window multitasking at a use by use basis I guess I am particularly sensitive about this topic as I did buy an M1 iPad on the hopes it would take longer to become outdated. But, of course Apple, "didn't promise me a rose garden". I plucked down the money on my own accord.

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[xraydoc]

1. A M2 iPad isn't meant for those who already have a M1 iPad.
2. M2 would only result in thermal throttling if you use the chip a 100 % for a prolongued time like 5-10 minutes. That's rendering and exporting files. But even when you're gaming, chances are that the M2 is not used a 100 % all the time (maybe if you're gaming in 120 fps mode).
3. 15 % more CPU and 30 % more GPU performance are nothing to be sneezed at, too.

I suspect if Apple does put the M2 in the next iPad Pro, it'll have to be downclocked insofar as CPU/GPU speed to fit within an iPad thermal profile, which will definitely reduce the speed benefit.

And if they do, I'm betting there will be no software features that the M2 can do that the M1 will not. At least so far, there's no M2-specific features of macOS, so I'm suspecting there will be no unique features to iPadOS on M2.

For now, I'm not seeing anything on iPadOS that taxes the M1, let alone requiring an M2.

 

[Sensamic]

If M2 IPP has less battery life and runs hotter then that would be a serious problem.

 

[darngooddesign]

There are a couple of reasons why Apple wont put the M2 in the iPad, the most obvious is that there are Macs still with the regular M1. So I suspect that Apple is going to do something non-performance on the Pros like move the front camera to landscape and use the 4-pin connector, and wait until the M3 before upgrading the chips.

 

[Digitalguy]

There are a couple of reasons why Apple wont put the M2 in the iPad, the most obvious is that there are Macs still with the regular M1. So I suspect that Apple is going to do something non-performance on the Pros like move the front camera to landscape and use the 4-pin connector, and wait until the M3 before upgrading the chips.

I wouldn't count on the camera moving to the front, there is a very good reason for it being where it is, as discussed already in other threads

 

[Digitalguy]

They will likely lock new upcoming features behind an artificial M2-required paywall. E.g. true windowed multitasking requires an M2 iPad.

They won't lock anything at all. This is probably based on the false assumption that stage manager would run fine on non M1 iPads... just because "they are fast". No, it's not a matter of CPU speed. There are 3 main reasons why only M1 can run stage manager:
1. RAM
2. storage speed (this is probably not very important, since swap is not a requirement for stage manager)
3. pro display XDR (only M1 can run it, A12Z can't). This is probably a very important reason, maybe even the most important one, although many haven't even considered it...

The fact that many could say "I don't care about the 6k Apple display" or "I would be ok with running half as many apps with Stage Manager" (both apply to me too) does not change the fact that only M1 can run stage manager with its current minimum requirements.
I don't think that Apple wanted to directly push people to upgrade from 2018 and 2020 pro iPads (although they'll happily take this "externality"). Apple makes a lot of money by selling as many devices and accessories as they can, not so much by making their devices obsolete as quick as possible. They couldn't like external display support to their own monitors of course (Studio and XDR). But they wanted external monitor support to work on THEIR displays.
For the exact same reason M1 and M2 can only run 1 external monitor, because they cannot run 2 6k displays and the internal monitor, so Apple prefers to drop support for a second monitor altogether rather than not supporting their 6k monitor when running 2 external displays.
There is basically nothing that M2 can do and M1 (not even monitor support) can't so there will be no "locked" features.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I mainly do tablet stuff and some light laptop work with my iPad, so I don't really care to upgrade to M2 if it shows up.

The current iPad Pro is WAY more powerful than what I do with it, and it is my main device.

My personal computing needs fall squarely in the "your next computer is not a computer" demographic ( I do have a company-issued PC for work).

 

[v1ctorS]

I think a redesign is in order since they had this current design since 2018… but I honestly don’t see what they can do with it. Perhaps, move the FaceID camera to landscape… that’s about it.

We all know there’s going to be some wireless charging capabilities which will help free up the USB-C port… but a redesign brings different accessories to go along with it.

I hope they're going to reposition the front facing camera to landscape. I'm also hoping for a new Magic Keyboard that is made out of aluminum and has a larger track pad. I was on the verge of buying the current gen iPad, but the weird camera angle in video calls is not acceptable for me.