M1 iPad Pro 11'' Missed Opportunity

**Intro**

I recently got the M1 iPad Pro 11inch for review and I this is what I think about it.

On the surface, the 2021 iPad Pro looks no different than the 2020 model. It’s slightly thicker and can now be paired with a white version of the magic keyboard but, otherwise, it looks unchanged.

However looks can be deceiving.

**Design & Specs**

Apple has given the guts of this iPad Pro a huge overhaul, making an already powerful device downright ridiculous for a tablet. Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions now come with Apple’s M1 SOC—the same chip that powers the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro, Macbook Air and 24-inch iMac. They also allow for up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and support for proper USB-4/Thunderbolt devices. If you opt for the 12.9-inch model, you get the other major update: one of the most beautiful LCD displays I’ve ever used.

**M1 chip**

Thanks to the M1, the iPad Pro can now be configured with a Thunderbolt connection.That means no more frustration when you try to connect a Thunderbolt SSD or add more ports with a Thunderbolt dock. This is particularly relevant for creatives, who may be uploading thousands of photos using an SD card reader or backing up high-res footage to an SSD.

In terms of performance, Geekbench 5 scores prove that this is exactly the same chip you get in the M1 Macs, with the same single-core and multi-core performance. But as I found out in testing, that doesn’t mean the iPad Pro will perform on par with a proper M1 Mac. Gaming performance was really smooth in my test and if you have an Apple Arcade subscription paired with an Xbox or PS controller, you can turn the iPad into a mobile gaming console. What's improved with the M1 chip is the heat dissipation and power consumption, 9 watts compared to the 13 watts of the A12Z found in the 2020 model while playing demanding games. However I didn't see any significant FPS increase in most games, which could be a developer limit. So it means with the M1 iPad Pro you can play your favorite games just a bit longer.

**Software**

My disappointment with this is that the software is limiting the power of the M1 chip. Even after iPadOS 15 update, few if none of the productivity apps take full advantage of that powerhouse of specs. I actually postponed my review until after WWDC to give them a chance to show us optimized M1 apps.

If you were like me waiting for a Final Cut Pro iPad version, I'm sorry to disappoint you, it looks like it won't be happening anytime soon. I understand why Apple won't do that, since it will blur the line between Mac OS and iPad OS, and they already said they don't want that to happen.

**iPadOS 15**

Currently, apps are limited to the amount of RAM they can use, regardless of the amount available on the device. For example, despite the highest-end M1 iPad Pro featuring 16GB of RAM, on iPadOS 14, apps are limited to only use 5GB. In the second betas of iOS and iPadOS 15, Apple is introducing a new entitlement that developers may request that will expose their apps to more memory. However developer documentation doesn't specify how much extra RAM an app may be exposed to and also says this is limited to "supported devices."

For example, if Procreate’s developers receives authorization to use more RAM, it would mean that users will be able to surpass the current 115 layers limit. Procreate has already said that if Apple increases the limits, it will update to give iPad Pro customers as many layers as possible.

Other apps as Luma Fusion could take advantage of more stream channels or higher video quality when editing. For instance Capture One said they will have an M1 iPad app in 2022. But as you all know, it's never a good idea to buy a tech gadget today based on future update promises. It's even worse in this case because Apple didn't promise anything of the sort.

**Conclusion**

I honestly think that the M1 chip is an overkill for the iPad Pro, although I know why Apple did that which I will explain in detail in a future video. I was lucky enough to get the 11inch iPad Pro for review and I couldn't see much difference between it and my iPad Air 4. I will actually compare them in another video.

So unless you have the cash for it or you just desperately need that Mini-Led Display on the 12.9inch iPad Pro, I see few compelling reasons to get an M1 iPad this year.