Sources: the new iPad Pro may launch with an M4 chip, kicking off Apple's AI strategy that will be expanded at WWDC; the new Pencil will have haptic feedback

Apple's top rivals are revamping their strategies for smartphones and headsets in a sign they smell an opportunity.

Bloomberg 2024-04-29 Mark Gurman

Context & Ripple Effects

The reported iPad Pro refresh had previously been framed as the product line’s first major redesign since 2018, with OLED and a redesigned keyboard among the expected changes. This report shifts the emphasis from a conventional M3-era refresh to an earlier major iPad Pro overhaul tied to Apple’s wider AI rollout.

The subsequent M4 announcement focused on AI-related tasks gives the reported chip choice added significance: iPad Pro would serve as an early hardware venue for the capabilities Apple planned to detail at WWDC.

First-order effects

Apple would position the iPad Pro as an initial device for its AI strategy rather than solely a premium tablet refresh, while the M4 would become its immediate performance and AI-compute message.
A Pencil with haptic feedback would add a more tactile differentiator to the iPad Pro accessory stack, affecting customers considering the tablet-and-stylus bundle.

Second-order effects

Apple’s smartphone and headset rivals, already described as revising their approaches, would face added pressure to connect AI features to device-specific hardware rather than present them as software alone.
The reported move raises the importance of on-device AI performance in premium-device marketing, alongside display, industrial-design, and accessory upgrades.

Third-order effects

If Apple continues introducing AI-oriented silicon through marquee devices, premium hardware launches may increasingly become the distribution channel for AI capabilities, not just annual specification upgrades.
The pattern points toward more differentiated compute across device categories: vendors may tailor chips and AI features to product roles rather than rely on a single flagship-platform story.

The trend: Consumer-device makers are turning custom AI compute and differentiated peripherals into a central way to refresh premium hardware categories.

Discussion

@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on threads
M4 in iPad Pro makes sense if these new models are more laptop like than ever. People will wonder why they shouldn't just buy an M3 MacBook Air, but an AI focused M4 in the iPad Pro changes the equation.
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on threads
So they're really gonna go all out and make these new iPad Pros irresistible huh M4 with AI features Haptic Apple Pencil OLED displays with thin bezels Matte display option Ultra thin new design MagSafe New aluminum keyboard No wonder they kept delaying and decided to have an eve…
@stroughtonsmith … Steve Troughton-Smith on mastodon
iPad has probably had the most dramatic shift of all of Apple's platforms, since its inception. It began as doing very few things to a very high quality, but now it does almost everything, badly. I hope history finds it to have been more than just an incubator for Apple's Mac s…
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
More Apple retail-related news: At some stores, employees are being asked to fill out surveys after giving Vision Pro demos in a push to close a sale. The Beats Solo 4 are going on sale May 2 and are en-route to Apple stores. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@parismarx Paris Marx on x
Building on what I was saying in this piece, Bloomberg reports: “One [Apple Store] employee says they haven't seen one Vision Pro purchase in weeks and that the number of returns equaled the device's sales in the first month that it was available.” https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@lukemiani Luke Miani on x
M4? What in tarnation?
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
M4???? We just got M3 a few months ago 😭 😭 But YES HAPTIC APPLE PENCIL
@tailosivetech @tailosivetech on x
Everyone who bought M3 Airs finding out you need the M4 chip with dedicated “AI cores” to run all the best AI features demoed at #WWDC24 [image of shocked Verne Over The Hedge Turtle]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
I could see this tbh I think we can safely assume an ANE of around 50+ TOPS int4 performance It'll be set for mobile AI workloads and let developers build for iOS/iPadOS. We've seen a lot for macOS but not mobile yet. Weird but makes sense
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
Good luck to whoever on marcom has to top the 2018 iPad redesign reveal video. I salute you. https://www.youtube.com/...
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
I'm convinced that these new iPad Pros are specifically an effort to finally get 2018 buyers to upgrade after 3 failed attempts (and various airs and others in between)
@stephenrobles Stephen Robles on x
Gonna edit podcasts SO fast on this
@tgod34748 @tgod34748 on x
@M3_Chip @markgurman Maybe the CPU and GPU get a small upgrade. The Macs with M3 have a 15,x model ID, which lines up with the A16 iPhone model IDs. The new iPad Pros have 16,x model IDs which lines up with the iPhone 15 Pro A17 Pro model IDs.
@tgod34748 @tgod34748 on x
@SaranByte There is many signs pointing to M4 in the new iPad Pro. The chip IDs, the model IDs, and now Gurman saying it. Along with Apple wanting to get rid of the flawed TSMC N3B node, and moving to N3E as soon as possible. But yeah, it is weird to launch a Mac-focused chip wit…
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
if the M3 MacBook Air was the best consumer laptop for AI then the M4 iPad Pro is gonna be a game-changer cos you'll be able to do, errr, something https://9to5mac.com/...
@saranbyte Saran on x
I find it hard to believe the M4 will be introduced this soon, especially alongside a new iPad Pro instead of a new Mac
@icave_dave @icave_dave on x
@SaranByte If you want every reviewer to pick one up, throwing it in a different device is maybe not a bad idea - same as when Apple held back the M3 so you had to get a MacBook Pro or iMac to play with it day one, not a MacBook Air.
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
New Apple AI details: There are concerns at high levels of Apple about whether people will actually use the new AI features. Some new features: auto-summarizing articles in Safari and missed notifications. Chatbot talks ongoing with Google and OpenAI. https://www.bloomberg.com/..…
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
New iPad Pro details: There is a strong possibility the new model will run the M4 chip, which will include a huge focus on AI. M4 chips are coming to the Mac later this year in an acceleration for Apple Silicon. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Some more iOS 18 details: There will be major upgrades to Mail, Photos, Fitness and Notes, but don't expect a full design overhaul. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
New Vision Pro details: Roadmap doesn't call for a new model until Fall 2026, as the company struggles to figure out how to make a cheaper version; VisionOS 2.0 is catch-up release, not a game-changer; Expansion to China is happening in very near future. https://www.bloomberg.com…
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The new Apple Pencil will be a big focus at the May 7 iPad Let Loose event. A new detail: it'll have haptic feedback for the first time alongside the new gestures. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@ishanagarwal24 Ishan Agarwal on x
Upcoming iPad Pro is getting a VERY surprising upgrade according to Bloomberg (Mark Gurman)! 🤯 The new tablets might feature Apple M4 chipset instead of M3. This is crazy development as M3 just launched in October & M4 Macs are expected come later this year. The chipset will... […
r/apple r on reddit
M4 Chips in New iPad Pros?
r/hardware r on reddit
Bloomberg: Strong possibility of M4 being introduced on May 7th for new iPad Pro

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