Apple has a special event coming up on May 7, and the company is expected to announce new iPads after a break of two years. And it’s going to be an important announcement, as Mark Gurman notes that the upcoming iPad Pro models could be the first ones to be powered by the next-generation of Apple Silicon, the M4 chip , positioning the new tablets as the first “AI-powered” products from the house of iPhone maker.
Gurman states there is "a strong possibility" that the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will feature the M4 chip instead of the M3 processor that debuted just six months ago.
Apple’s new era of AI devicesThis potential leap to the M4 would allow Apple to market the new iPad Pros as the company's "first truly AI-powered devices," Gurman says. The M4 is rumoured to pack an upgraded Neural Engine that significantly boosts performance for artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks.
If true, an M4-powered iPad Pro could steal a march on Apple's AI strategy before the company's traditional yearly software showcase, the Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ), in June. There, Apple is widely expected to detail its AI offerings across products and services, likely revolving around iPadOS 18, iOS 18, and macOS.
Gurman argues it could allow the company to lay out its "AI chip strategy without distraction" before WWDC's onslaught of software updates and potential hardware releases.
A shuffle in Apple's Silicon strategyStill, launching a new M-series chip for iPads ahead of Macs would be an unprecedented step for Apple. Historically, the company's latest A-series chips for iPhones precede each M-series release, with the M-silicon then trickling to iPads before Macs. An M4 iPad this May would upend that typical cadence.
Earlier rumours, and Gurman himself had noted that the new iPad Pro models would be powered by the M3 chip, the same chip found inside the latest generation of Macs.
Gurman concedes that if his M4 prediction holds, it could set up "the shortest cycle of Apple Silicon updates yet," with just 7 months separating the M3 and M4 generations versus around 10 months between M2 and M3.
In an earlier edition of his newsletter, Gurman suggested that Apple is preparing to introduce new Macs with M4, which will begin later this year. Gurman noted that the M3 chip chip would come in three variants: Donan, Brava, and Hidra. Donan, being the entry-level version, could power the iPad Pro models, as Apple has typically used vanilla silicon for iPads.
Gurman states there is "a strong possibility" that the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will feature the M4 chip instead of the M3 processor that debuted just six months ago.
Apple’s new era of AI devicesThis potential leap to the M4 would allow Apple to market the new iPad Pros as the company's "first truly AI-powered devices," Gurman says. The M4 is rumoured to pack an upgraded Neural Engine that significantly boosts performance for artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks.
If true, an M4-powered iPad Pro could steal a march on Apple's AI strategy before the company's traditional yearly software showcase, the Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ), in June. There, Apple is widely expected to detail its AI offerings across products and services, likely revolving around iPadOS 18, iOS 18, and macOS.
Gurman argues it could allow the company to lay out its "AI chip strategy without distraction" before WWDC's onslaught of software updates and potential hardware releases.
A shuffle in Apple's Silicon strategyStill, launching a new M-series chip for iPads ahead of Macs would be an unprecedented step for Apple. Historically, the company's latest A-series chips for iPhones precede each M-series release, with the M-silicon then trickling to iPads before Macs. An M4 iPad this May would upend that typical cadence.
Earlier rumours, and Gurman himself had noted that the new iPad Pro models would be powered by the M3 chip, the same chip found inside the latest generation of Macs.
Gurman concedes that if his M4 prediction holds, it could set up "the shortest cycle of Apple Silicon updates yet," with just 7 months separating the M3 and M4 generations versus around 10 months between M2 and M3.
In an earlier edition of his newsletter, Gurman suggested that Apple is preparing to introduce new Macs with M4, which will begin later this year. Gurman noted that the M3 chip chip would come in three variants: Donan, Brava, and Hidra. Donan, being the entry-level version, could power the iPad Pro models, as Apple has typically used vanilla silicon for iPads.
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