The new iPad Pro and iPad Air are almost here. The next May 7th we have an appointment at Apple’s ‘Let loose’ event. It will be then when we finally discover Apple’s plans. From a new Apple Pencil 3, OLED screens on the iPad Pro… And the processor?
So far, the iPad Pro has Apple’s M2 Chip and the iPad Air has the M1 Chip. The logical evolution it would be that the iPad Air will go up to the M2 Chip and the iPad Pro to the M3 Chip. This would be a strategy similar to the one we have in the current range of Macs, existing models with Chip M2 and Chip M3.
An iPad Pro with M4 Chip six months after learning about the M3
According to Mark Gurman, there are chances that Let’s see an M4 Chip first in the iPad Pro and later on Macs. The reason would be that Apple wants to increase Neural Engine cores to have a processor ready for artificial intelligence that we will see at WWDC with the arrival of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
Are there enough reasons to release an M4 Chip now?
Since Apple launched its first processor for Mac, the M1 Chip, they are the ones they decide 100% when to launch new processors. Approximately a year and a half has passed between one generation and another:
- M1 Chip: November 10, 2020
- M2 chip: June 6, 2022
- M3 chip: October 31, 2023
- M4 chip: May 7, 2024
Of course, a parenthesis of just six months between one generation and another might seem strange and hurried. Now let’s see what improvements the M4 Chip would have and why it would start with the iPad.
The M4 Chip would be also manufactured in 3 nanometers, however, in a new way of doing them. The new manufacturing process is called N3E and would be a big step compared to the N3B currently used by the M3 Chip.
This change would be in Apple’s interest to make for a matter of cost savings, since the M3 Chip is not as optimized and it is more expensive when producing these chips. Apple’s intention is to switch to this manufacturing method as soon as they can.
This has happened before, the iPad has released a Chip on three occasions
Let’s recognize that it is a rare situation, but in Apple’s history has room for all situations. An iPad releasing a Chip before another main device has already happened up to three times:
- A4 chip: Apple’s first processor arrived in April 2010, while we did not see it in the iPhone 4 until June 2010.
- A5 chip: Again it was first released on the iPad 2 in March 2011 and later came to the iPhone 4S in October 2011.
- A14 chip: In 2020, the A14 Chip first arrived in the iPad Air in September 2020 and then in the iPhone 12 in October of that same year.
And what about Macs that have the M3 Chip?
It is the big question that we all ask ourselves, will it hurt the sale of Macs to know that there is an M4 Chip and that it is not available in them? If they market it properlyand we know that Apple Marketing works very wella new chip in the iPad Pro line wouldn’t necessarily kill Mac sales.
Besides, those clients who already They were thinking about buying a new Mac because they were looking for the latest processor they will have already done it. And those who need to buy a new Mac will buy the current one without waiting for an upcoming M4 Chip release. I have worked at an Apple dealer as a salesmanand I can assure you that few people are interested in having the latest Chip. Most They look for a Mac and They buy what is available at that time.
Furthermore, as iPad generations are lasting (about two years), equipping it with a M4 chip would be a more interesting decisionsince this iPad will easily continue to be on sale in October 2025 and by then it will surely let’s have the M5 Chip among us. So it would be strange to have an iPad Pro with M3.
There are three possible results about the Chip of the new iPad Pro
Yes, I know, they are lots of data and rumors that will finally be released on May 7. What will finally happen? Only Apple knowsbut it will be one of these three scenarios:
- iPad Pro with M3 Chip: Apple finally chooses to continue its M3 Chip family and thus not “harm” Macs or speed up the pace of updates. Without a doubt it is the most logical option and the one that we all took for granted until a few days ago.
- iPad with a modified M3 Chip: Apple may include modifications to the M3 Chip taking advantage of the excuse of more Neural Engine cores for artificial intelligence. Perhaps here they will take advantage and switch to the new manufacturing method that will allow them to save costs.
- iPad Pro with M4 Chip:Apple would launch a new generation of Chipyes, more efficient, with more power for artificial intelligence, and yes, with more arguments for people to buy this new iPad.
Whatever the end, in Applesfera you will be able to follow the Keynote of the new iPad very closely. There are very few days left to meet them!