Which processor?
The chips in the latest iPads are as powerful as those in desktop Macs
The CPU – central processing unit – is the heart of any computing device, providing the speed and power that it needs to perform a variety of tasks. For many years, the iPad was limited in power compared to the various desktop and laptop Macs, as the iPad’s compact design simply couldn’t handle the powerhungry Intel processors used in the Mac range, or the heat generated by those powerful processors either.
All that changed when Apple began to develop its own range of Apple silicon chips, starting with the M1 system-on-a-chip (SoC) used in most of the latest Macs. Apple also introduced the M1 to the iPad range with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2021, which meant that the iPad Pro could now provide the same impressive performance as the M1-based MacBook Pro, Mac mini and 24-inch iMac. The iPad Air was also updated recently, gaining its own M1 processor in early 2022. However, the current ninth-gen iPad and sixth-gen iPad mini still have older A-series processors, so it’s worth thinking about your choice of processor when choosing a new iPad.
The ninth-gen iPad is very much the affordable, entry-level option, and is powered by an A13 Bionic chip that is a few years old now. It’s no weakling, as the A13 Bionic is a 6-core processor running at 2.6GHz, along with an 8-core Neural Engine that handles advanced machine learning tasks, such as the Live Text feature introduced with iPadOS 15. That’s more than adequate for routine tasks such as web browsing, watching films and video, or doing some office work with Pages or Numbers. However, the A13 Bionic lacks the graphical horsepower of newer processors, so it won’t be able to handle the latest 3D games, or high-end graphics or video work.
Different league
There’s a similar Bionic chip in the current sixth-gen iPad mini, although the mini steps up to the more recent A15 Bionic. This is a 6-core chip running at 2.9GHz, with a more powerful 16-core Neural Engine. It’s also backed by a 5-core GPU that provides extra power for demanding graphics tasks, which means that the little iPad mini can provide surprisingly strong all-round performance for such a compact device.
However, the M1 chip used in the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro is in a different league entirely, with Apple claiming that the M1 iPad Pro models provide 50% faster CPU performance than previous versions, and 40% faster graphics performance. This means that the current iPad Air and Pro provide a genuine alternative to conventional laptop and desktop Macs (such as the MacBook Air) because they’re now using the very same processors as the Mac for the first time.
The LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor used by the rear cameras of the iPad Pro and recent iPhones is a key part of Apple’s grand plans for the future of AR and VR technology.
The LiDAR sensor helps to improve camera performance in low-light conditions, but it can also calculate depth within an image or scene. This is similar to the TrueDepth technology used with the front-facing camera to map the contours of your face so that you can use Face ID to unlock the iPad Pro or an iPhone.
However, the LiDAR sensor is more precise than Face ID as it uses lasers to bounce rays of light off objects and measure their distance from the camera. This enables you to shoot photos and videos that contain accurate 3D data, which can then be used in AR and VR apps – all ready for Apple’s longawaited VR headset.