"M1 Chip is Innovation" iPad Pro Bringing Mac Performance... Supports Up to 2TB

iPad Pro with M1 Chip
Top Specification in Professional Line
Industry's Fastest Processor Equipped
50% Faster CPU than Before
40% Faster GPU than Previous Model

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Apple has unveiled a new iPad Pro model featuring its self-developed system-on-chip (SoC) M1. Among the professional-grade iPad Pro lineup, this top-tier model is equipped with the industry's fastest processor, enhancing its capabilities.

iPad Pro with M1 Chip

On the 20th (local time), Apple held a special event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, to reveal the new iPad Pro. Greg Joswiak, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, introduced the product, saying, "The groundbreaking M1 chip was an innovation for Macs (desktops and laptops), and we are very pleased to bring this chip to the iPad Pro. There is no device comparable to the iPad Pro."

The most notable feature of the new iPad Pro is the application of the M1 chip, a semiconductor chip designed by Apple itself. The M1 chip, previously used in Mac products that had Intel processors, integrates the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) into one chip.

The iPad Pro’s 8-core CPU incorporates the world’s fastest CPU cores in a low-power chip. It boasts up to 50% faster CPU performance compared to Apple’s previous chipset, the A12Z Bionic. The GPU, equipped with 8 cores, is up to 40% faster than its predecessor.

With the M1 chip, the new iPad Pro features an advanced image signal processor (ISP), a high-bandwidth unified memory architecture with up to 16GB of memory, and device storage capacity up to 2 terabytes (TB). Power efficiency has also improved, enabling the battery to last all day.

Over 10,000 Mini LEDs Applied... Enhanced Camera

The new Liquid Retina XDR display has also been applied. More than 10,000 state-of-the-art mini LEDs are used across the entire back of the display to improve image quality. It offers a full-screen brightness of up to 1000 nits, peak brightness of 1600 nits, and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, which is expected to assist professionals in their work.

5G service is included, enabling faster internet usage. Users can enjoy video streaming, real-time collaboration, and high-resolution FaceTime calls. It supports the most 5G bands among devices in its class.

The camera system is specially designed for the iPad. For the first time, it supports Smart HDR 3, providing a pro-level camera and a LiDAR scanner simultaneously. It features a 12MP front ultra-wide camera and includes Center Stage for video calls. Center Stage is a function that uses the wider field of view of the front camera and the M1’s machine learning capabilities. It automatically zooms out and keeps the user centered in the frame by tracking their movement.

The new iPad Pro comes in two versions: 11-inch and 12.9-inch. Colors are available in Silver and Space Gray, with five storage options up to 2TB. The 11-inch Wi-Fi model is priced at 999,000 KRW, and the Wi-Fi plus cellular model starts at 1,199,000 KRW. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro Wi-Fi model costs 1,379,000 KRW, and the Wi-Fi plus cellular model starts at 1,579,000 KRW. The product will be available for order from the 30th in 31 countries and regions, including the United States, via the Apple website and Apple Store app. In-store purchases at Apple Store locations will be possible from mid-May onward.