Apple final 12 months launched a brand new iPad Professional that’s primarily the identical because the earlier technology mannequin, however this time with the quicker M2 chip. Whereas rumors counsel that not one of the iPad fashions will get large upgrades in 2023, it appears that evidently Apple has been engaged on a “main iPad Professional revamp” for 2024. However at this level, iPad Professional doesn’t want a serious revamp, however higher software program.
The present state of iPad Professional and rumors concerning the future
The final main redesign of the iPad Professional was in 2018, when the corporate ditched the design with the House button in favor of the brand new one with an edge-to-edge display screen. Since then, regardless of the addition of the Magic Keyboard and improved cameras, the iPad Professional’s {hardware} has by no means modified a lot.
In fact, one thing else occurred in 2021. That was when Apple launched the primary iPad Professional with the M1 chip – till then a chip designed for Macs. And in 2022, iPad Professional was up to date once more with the identical M2 chip as MacBook Air and the brand new Mac mini.
Whereas the rumors for the 2023 iPad Professional usually are not thrilling, Bloomberg reported this week that Apple is engaged on a serious redesign for the 2024 model, which can be anticipated to function an OLED show for the primary time on an iPad. As well as, each Bloomberg and 9to5Mac have reported previously that Apple has thought of bringing MagSafe to the iPad Professional.
However actually, it’s not a brand new design that the iPad Professional wants – not even an much more highly effective chip.
iPad Professional wants higher software program
For years, the issue with the iPad hasn’t been {hardware}, however software program. For the reason that 2018 iPad Professional, Apple claims that its pill is quicker than most laptops. In the present day that is much more true with iPads powered by the identical chips as Macs.
Even so, the iPad software program is a large number. Though Apple got here up with the iPadOS title, it’s primarily a model of iOS optimized for bigger screens. With iPadOS 16, Apple tried to distinguish iPadOS with Stage Supervisor – a function that brings home windows to the iPad. Whereas Stage Supervisor actually permits a brand new degree of multitasking on the iPad, it’s nonetheless way more restricted than customers discover on macOS and Home windows.
Customers can solely open 4 apps per time on every display screen, which can be an affordable restrict for the iPad display screen however not for when you could have an exterior monitor related. Simply think about having that restrict on a Mac. And Stage Supervisor is buggy and inconsistent. You may’t even transfer and organize the home windows freely like in a desktop working system.
However that’s solely a part of the issue with iPadOS. Since it’s based mostly on iOS, the system is way more restricted and restricted. Highly effective software program obtainable on desktop platforms requires entry to some instruments that Apple merely doesn’t present on iOS. This ends in builders taking extra time and even contemplating whether or not it’s worthwhile to launch “professional” apps for iPadOS.
Even Apple, which likes to indicate that iPadOS is a superb platform for builders, has by no means introduced apps like Closing Minimize, Logic Professional, and Xcode to the iPad.
Will iPadOS 17 unleash the potential of the iPad?
It’s exhausting to inform at this level. With iPadOS 16 bringing an enormous focus to options that flip the iPad into a pc, we actually count on to see extra of this with future updates. Nonetheless, a latest report by Mark Gurman revealed that Apple has been prioritizing the event of its new AR/VR platform over iOS 17.
In different phrases, customers ought to maintain their expectations about options coming with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. And irrespective of how a lot Apple improves the iPad’s {hardware}, makes it quicker, or modifications its design, none of this may resolve its principal downside: having a “child software program” for a powerhorse system.
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