Did they mention anything about RAM?
I don't think they included it in the video, but https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/ says it's 8 GB of RAM in 256/512 GB models, 16 GB RAM in 1/2 TB ones.
Apple introduces M4 chip
161–170 of 1001 posts
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#162Apple was really losing me with the last generation of intel macbooks but these m class processors are so good they've got me locked in all over again
The M1 Max that I have is easily the greatest laptop I've ever owned.
It is fast and handles everything I've ever thrown at it (I got 32 GB RAM), it never, ever gets hot, I've never heard a fan in 2+ years (maybe a very soft fan if you put your ear next to it). And the battery life is so incredible that I often use it unplugged.
It's just been a no-compromise machine. And I was thinking of upgrading to an M3 but will probably upgrade to an M4 instead at the end of this year when the M4 maxes come out.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#163I always wonder how constraining it is to design these chips subject to thermal and energy limitations. I paid a lot of money for my hardware and I want it to go as fast as possible. I don't want my fans to be quiet, and I don't want my battery life to be 30 minutes longer, if it means I get more raw performance in return. But instead, Apple's engineers have unilaterally decided to handicap their own processors for n…
Why not go with a Windows based device? There are many loud and low-battery life options that are very fast.
Yeah, one of my biggest frustrations as a person who likes keeping around both recent-ish Mac and Windows/Linux laptops is that x86 laptop manufacturers seem to have a severe allergy to building laptops that are good all-rounders… they always have one or multiple specs that are terrible, usually heat, fan noise, and battery life.
Paradoxically this effect is the worst in ultraportables, where the norm is to cram in CPUs that run too hot for the chassis with tiny batteries, making them weirdly bad at the one thing they’re supposed to be good at. Portability isn’t just physical size and weight, but also runtime and if one needs to bring cables and chargers.
On that note, Apple really needs to resurrect the 12” MacBook with an M-series or even A-series SoC. There’d be absolutely nothing remotely comparable in the x86 ultraportable market.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple usually massively exaggerates their tech spec comparison - is it REALLY half the power use of all times (so we'll get double the battery life) or is it half the power use in some scenarios (so we'll get like... 15% more battery life total) ?
Quickly looking at the press release, it seems to have the same comparisons as in the video. None of Apple's comparisons today are between the M3 and M4. They are ALL comparing the M2 and M4. Why? It's frustrating, but today Apple replaced a product with an M2 with a product with an M4. Apple always compares product to product, never component to component when it comes to processors. So those specs are far more impr…
Didn't they do extreme nitpicking for their tests so they could show the M1 beating a 3090 (or M2 a 4090, I can't remember).
Gave me quite a laugh when Apple users started to claim they'd be able to play Cyberpunk 2077 maxed out with maxed out raytracing.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#165The 256gb and 512gb models have 8gb of ram. The 1tb and 2tb models have 16gb. Not a fan of tying ram to storage. https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/
The economic reasoning behind this doesn't make sense to me. What do they lose by allowing slightly more freedom in configurations?
Fewer iPad SKUs = more efficient manufacturing and logistics, at iPad scale probably means a very real cost saving.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#166Seeing an M series chip launch first in an iPad must be result of some mad supply chain and manufacturing related hangovers from COVID. If the iPad had better software and could be considered a first class productivity machine then it would be less surprising but the one thing no one says about the iPads is “I wish this chip were faster”
To offer something better to those who have an iPad Pro M2 and a more powerful environment to run heavier games.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#167I’m far from an expert in Apple silicon, but this strikes me as having some conservative improvements. And in-depth info out there yet?
It surprised me they called it an M4 vs an M3 something. The display engine seems to be the largest change I don't know what that looked like on previous processors. Completely hypothesizing but could be a significant efficiency improvement if its offloading display stuff.
I'd rather they just keep counting up than some companies where they get into wonky product line naming convention hell.
It's ok if 3 to 4 is or isn't a big jump, it's the next one is really all I want to know. If I need to peek at the specs, the name really won't tell me anything anyhow and I'll be on a webpage.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple usually massively exaggerates their tech spec comparison - is it REALLY half the power use of all times (so we'll get double the battery life) or is it half the power use in some scenarios (so we'll get like... 15% more battery life total) ?
From their specs page, battery life is unchanged. I think they donated the chip power savings to offset the increased consumption of the tandem OLED
I’ve not seen discussion that Apple likely scales performance of chips to match the use profile of the specific device it’s used in. An M2 in an iPad Air is very likely not the same as an M2 in an MBP or Mac Studio.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#169Only in the new iPads though, no word when it'll be available in Macs.
In the video event, Tim mentions more updates at WWDC next month - I suspect we will see a M4 MacBook Pro then.
Haven't they been announcing Pros and Max's around December? I don't remember. If they're debuting them at WWDC I'll definitely upgrade my M1. I don't even feel the need to, but it's been 2.5 years.
Re: Apple introduces M4 chip
#170I'm extremely happy with my M1 iPad. The only real issue is aside from the screen eventually wearing out ( it already has a bit of flex), I can't imagine a reason to upgrade. It's powerful enough to do anything you'd use an iPad for. I primarily make music on mine, I've made full songs with vocals and everything ( although without any mastering - I think this is possible in Logic on iPad). It's really fun for quick j…
Any apps that work with MIDI controller on iPad? Also, can't you just use a USB-C hub for like $10 from Amazon?
I have more USB hubs than I can count.
You still only have one point of failure for the entire device that can't be easily fixed.
And most midi controllers work fine via USB or Bluetooth