iPadOS 16 is still in beta testing until now. The new features and features demonstrated on WWDC, as well as the hardware-level threshold set by the Apple software team "to experience", have made iPadOS 16 reach unprecedented discussion.
In our experience, the "pre-stage dispatch" function greatly releases the productivity of iPad Pro (even M1 iPad Air), and the ability to connect to external display expansion makes it more like a PC in the traditional sense. The positioning of
iPad is getting closer and closer to the "your next computer" mentioned by Apple .
However, the "pre-desk dispatch" function is not a feature of iPadOS 16, but more like a "chip"-level function, only M1 iPad, including iPad Pro and iPad Air.
, the once powerful iPad Pro 2018/2020, was excluded, which also means that within a few years, they have been strategically abandoned in functionality and have also become "outdated" products.
Image from: itopnews
Many technology practitioners questioned the simple and rough "one-size-fits-all" distinction, believing that "pre-stage dispatch" will not eat too much performance or memory, while ordinary users have expressed condemnation, believing that Apple is forcing them to replace devices.
official website small words: The pre-stage scheduling function is limited to M chip iPad
. In the face of objection, Apple did not respond publicly, but continued to adjust iPadOS 16. After several months of adjustment, Apple finally found a compromise solution, which can be said to have surrendered.
"Pre-Terminal Scheduling" function has finally been delegated to
. In the fourth developer beta version of the latest iPadOS 16.1, Apple has delegated the "Pre-Terminal Scheduling" function to iPads that are not M1 chips.
Specifically, the pre-stage scheduling function adds support for A12Z and A12X chips based on the M1 chip .
iPad Pro 2018 Image from: Ars Technica
However, while the functions are decentralized, Apple has temporarily blocked the use of "pre-stage dispatch" function on external monitors, which is also a limitation that has always existed in recent beta versions.
At the same time, Apple also stated that the external display function will be unlocked for the M chip iPad in subsequent versions, and the old iPad Pro may not be able to enjoy it.
Image from: macromors
A12Z, A12X chip version of iPad Pro When using pre-desk scheduling, similar to M chips, it can support up to 4 real-time apps or app combinations.
. In MacRumors' test, the iPad Pro 2018 and iPad Pro M1 experience are almost the same, and the switching of the background app is very smooth.
But as mentioned in our experience, the pre-desk scheduling is still not stable enough and is easy to crash. Even if you upgrade to iPadOS 16.1, there will still be many problems.
, especially in the case of external monitors, this function is temporarily blocked in the beta version, giving the Apple software team more time to polish it.
"Pre-time dispatch" function exists both on iPadOS and macOS. It is part of Apple's process of integrating different platforms in recent years, but the workload and difficulty in it are obviously beyond expectations.
Previously, "pre-stage scheduling" was limited to M chips. It seems that it makes more sense to blame the M chip platform for the reason for the inadequacy, rather than performance. What exactly does
pre-scheduling require?
is now delegated to A-series chips, and many users also hope that iPad mini 6 and iPad Air 4 will also have desktop-level productivity.
In fact, in macOS Ventura, pre-stage scheduling can support M1, M2 and some Intel chips at the same time. The statement that it is only for the M chip platform is self-defeating.
Left: A12Z, right: A12X, the structures of the two are exactly the same. Picture from: TechInsights
It is worth noting that the two chips A12Z and A12X are two special existences among A-series chips. They do not adopt the traditional A-series architecture, but have been redesigned. The CPU uses 4 performance cores and 4 energy-efficiency cores, while the GPU has 8 cores (7 for A12X). The A-series chip designed for
and iPhone are a combination of 4+2 core CPUs and 5 core GPUs. The A12Z (A12X) is relatively closer to the M1 (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU).
Mac mini with built-in A12Z chip. Pictures from: macrumors
. Before the release of M chip Mac, A12Z was used for the SoC of Mac mini (DTK Developer Kit) announced by WWDC 2020 for developers to adapt to macOS of the Arm platform in advance.
From the core positioning point of view, A12Z and A12X are more like M series chips. In this way, adapting to iPad Pro 2018/2020 to pre-station is also a way to go.
However, the "pre-stage dispatch" on the A12Z and A12X chips will not support external display, which may be related to the GPU performance being inferior to M1.
does not support extended pre-stage scheduling, and productivity is greatly reduced
Apple's animation special effects on iPadOS require powerful graphics rendering capabilities, and driving larger screens and resolutions also requires higher performance GPU. It may be a bit difficult to be born four years ago.
In addition, both the iPad Air and iPad Pro on the M1 chip platform have 8GB or more memory, which is also a threshold for the previous "pre-stage dispatch".
But nowadays, A12Z and A12X iPad Pro are only 6GB of RAM, but judging from the adaptation results, they do not bring significant differences to the experience.
When displaying "pre-stage dispatch" in WWDC 2022, Apple stated that iPadOS will use virtual memory technology with the M1 chip to provide up to 16GB of memory for some apps with high performance requirements.
virtual memory technology has become the standard configuration of intelligent systems. It has existed in Linux, Windows and Android for a long time, and has little to do with chip performance.
As long as Apple wants, virtual memory is like a switch, unlocked with code. In other words, the "virtual memory" technology in iPadOS 16 can be extended to all iPads.
"Pre-time dispatch" cross-platform, and may be an extremely distinctive feature in iPadOS 16. Judging from Apple's current adaptation process, it requires sufficient performance basis and has high requirements for GPUs. Ordinary A-series chips may be difficult to compete with in Apple's eyes.
Only the A12Z, A12X and M chips with 8 core GPUs can bring a qualified user experience to "pre-stage scheduling". If you want to use pre-stage scheduling on an external monitor, the M chip is the lowest threshold.
As for larger memory, it may not be a hard threshold, and in this case, it is difficult for pre-stage scheduling to continue to be placed on iPads of other A-series chips.
Apple has given up, and the old iPad Pro will continue to live. After the "pre-stage dispatch" function is delegated, Apple also issued a brief statement to the public, saying that the M1 chip is still needed to use pre-stage dispatch on multiple monitors.
But due to "too high voices" and "strong interest from users", the Apple software development team found a way to provide single-screen pre-desk scheduling function for these iPad Pros.
We mentioned earlier that scheduling before a larger screen will make your workflow more efficient, and it will still appear slightly cramped if you use it on an iPad only. The pre-stage scheduling of
iPad Pro 2018/2020 is still a "incomplete version", and it also seems like a compromise. Since Apple has not released the hardware benchmarks required for the pre-release scheduling function in detail, the above analysis is actually a guess about the current adaptation plan.Only Apple itself knows the answers to these questions whether the 8-core GPUs of
A12Z and A12X can realize the dual-screen front scheduling function and what is the gap with M1.
It is not surprising that M1, a desktop-level chip, is stuffed into iPad Pro. It is reasonable to blur the boundary between iPadOS and macOS, but the final result has caused the disconnection between the two generations of products in the large version of iPadOS 16, which is extremely rare.
Even now, Apple has brought a single-screen "pre-desk dispatch" function to iPad Pro 2018/2020 through "work" but due to the chip, it still seems to be hidden.
In recent years, the Mac product line has been in the x86 transition to the Arm architecture, and Intel and M chips exist together. In some functions, chip exclusive has appeared.
. In the iPad product line, similar camp transformations have occurred, which is reasonable to make the difference in performance and function.
is just a problem with the pre-desk scheduling function of iPadOS 16. For Apple, which is good at software design and interaction, it should have done better, rather than being stabbed by old users, and then repaired after being criticized.
