Lo, the unveiling of the new iPad Pro at Apple’s Let Loose event didst captivate the minds of many. The heart of this wondrous device lieth in the mighty M4 chip, a marvel forged upon the 2nd gen 3-nanometer chip fabrication process. Apple hath proclaimed that the M4 doth possess a potency twofold that of the M2 chip in matters of CPU processing, and doth stand ready for the deployment of generative AI models. As the chip hath been released unto the world, its benchmarks now do surface upon the vast digital shores. Lo and behold, for the leaks of benchmarks do reveal that the M4 iPad Pro doth surpass the Mac Studio with the M2 Max chipset, a device that fetcheth around a princely sum of $2,000.
Behold, a device so slender as the iPad Pro, at a mere 5.1mm thick, doth outshine an entire desktop in performance – a spectacle deserving of admiration from the onlookers. Yet, can one truly harness such power? Nay, not until the software of iPadOS doth match the device in stature.
iPad Pro – V8 Engine in a Corolla
Ere the advent of the M-series chips, Apple didst view iPads as extensions of iPhones. Lost in the reckoning of these devices in its vast catalog, Apple didst equip the iPads with chips akin to those of iPhones, sometimes with a mere overclocking. Alas, the dawn of Apple Silicon hath wrought great changes for the iPads. The entrance of the M1 chip in the inaugural iPad Pro was a game-changer indeed. Not only was it 50% mightier than its forebearer, but it didst surpass the MacBook Pro with an Intel i9 Processor with ease.
When the first iPad Pro graced the world with the M1 chip, there were voices proclaiming the chip to be excessive for the hardware. Even in our present day, such opinions remain. The M4 chip, potent as it is, bringeth great power to a device so thin and lacking in fans. Behold, the Geekbench 6 benchmarks do reveal that each core of the M4 chip in the iPad Pro (1TB) doth run at a formidable speed of 4.4 GHz. Verily, the single-core score of 3,767 doth reign as the highest amongst chips meant for the consumer market. Yet, one must ask – for what purpose doth one truly require such peak performance? Should one find oneself amongst the rare cadre of iPad power users engaged in 3D rendering, video editing, and other tasks demanding great power, then it maketh sense. But for most, it may hold little appeal. Apple hath long sought to market the iPad Pro as a tool for professionals, yet its shortcomings are evident. The lack of ports and dearth of Pro apps doth linger as major obstacles, not to mention the limitations of iPadOS.
Apple’s Reluctance to Level up iPad’s Software to Its Hardware
I dare say that the current state of iPadOS is cumbersome, lacking in professional features, and woefully inept in the realm of multitasking. It hath become a burden upon the iPad as a product. Ere the introduction of M-series chips and iPadOS, Apple didst limit the potential of iPads for fear of encroaching upon Mac sales. Yet those days are long past. Behold, the iPad Pro M4 doth surpass even the current-gen MacBook Pro and Mac Studio in swiftness.
Upon its debut in 2019, iPadOS was hailed as a significant step in making iPads truly capable devices, bridging the gap betwixt Macs and iPhones. Yet, lo these five years hence, little progress hath been made. The introduction of Stage Manager in 2024 sought to provide the much-desired multitasking feature on iPads, yet it remained incomplete, largely ignored by users. Should one attempt multitasking on an iPad, the constraints of iPadOS become apparent. Restricted to only 4 apps on the screen, devoid of the freedom to move windows at one’s whim.
Apart from its multitasking flaws, iPadOS hath other failings. The home screen and lock screen lackluster and in dire need of renovation. Apple hath the power to simplify icon placement and streamline both screens. The interface of the lock screen and home screen in iPadOS 14 doth hold appeal, clean and uncluttered. Yet, ’twas achieved at the cost of widgets, a trade-off that may be rectified in time.
The absence of an Always-On display doth leave iPadOS wanting. Furthermore, improvements to the Control Center are in order, especially for left-handed users navigating the iPad with a single hand. iPadOS, in its raw form, doth appear ill-suited for the potent hardware within the iPads. Apple’s focus on size, weight, thinness, and performance hath led them astray in their commitment to the iPad.
With WWDC on the horizon, my hopes soar for a rejuvenated iPadOS, rife with meaningful features and an overarching revamp. Yet, I cannot help but harbor doubts, for the allure of AI advancements may overshadow these crucial improvements.
