The MacRumors Show: New iPad Pro With the M4 Chip for AI?

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the possibility of the next-generation iPad Pro featuring the M4 chip and what else to expect at Apple's "Let loose" event.


While Apple's upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ models have been expected to feature the M3 chip for over a year, recent reports have unexpectedly suggested that the new devices will instead contain the as-yet-unannounced M4 chip and that a key new feature of the processor will be an upgraded Neural Engine optimized for AI tasks. Introducing the M4 chip in an iPad and only six months after the previous chip generation would be unprecedented moves, but there is evidence to suggest that it is a plausible possibility.

Apple's "Let loose" event is expected to focus on the unveiling of redesigned ‌iPad Pro‌ models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, a high-end Magic Keyboard accessory, and a new Apple Pencil. We also talk through the three other announcements that Apple could have in store for the event.

The special event will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the announcement of Apple's "Let loose" event.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

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Top Rated Comments

PortoMavericks Avatar
13 months ago
The Hardware isn't the problem with the iPad. They attach a rocket to it and it will still be an iPad.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Windoes Avatar
13 months ago
If M4 100% buy, if M3 95%
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Squirrrrel Avatar
13 months ago
According to Gurman, it'll have an M3, or maybe an M4, but it will definitely be an iPad with a chip of some sort in it and a screen, possibly even a power button. It may also feature a new version of iPadOS later this year.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
13 months ago

they cant use the M3 chip in new iPads. M1 M2 M3 ALL have a major security flaw that cant be fixed with software.

People dont want to buy chips with a major design flaw built into them.

This is why they are moving on and using the M4. They can redesign this chip to fix the major flaw.
Loads of processors have design flaws... most are sufficiently patched, and rely on other conditions to be present that there is really not much of a threat to a regular user. Most users don't even know their devices processors have design flaws, and never will or be affected by it.

And who knows, M4 might end up with a design flaw... it's much more common than people realise. And most software mitigations are more than enough.

You're probably doing other things that put you at way more of a security risk.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
13 months ago
If Apple would force people to upgrade all their gear to M4 just to use their AI cook-up, they might as well wave good-bye to their shares.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
13 months ago

they cant use the M3 chip in new iPads. M1 M2 M3 ALL have a major security flaw that cant be fixed with software.
GoFetch is an unfortunate flaw, but it’s real-world impact is questionable as it’s very difficult to actually exploit it.

It affects Intel’s 13th and 14th generation “raptor lake” processors too, not just Apple Silicon. And the sky doesn’t seem to be falling over at Intel either.

Also, if the M4 is coming out in a few days, it’s not clear that GoFetch will even be fixed considering it was only discovered a couple of months ago. It will take much longer than that to re-design a significant part of the CPU’s memory architecture and get it into production.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)