12.9" iPad Pro remains Apple's fastest tablet, as 9.7" model's A9X chip is underclocked
Though the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro features the same A9X processor as its 12.9-inch variant, the two chips don't actually run at the same speed, resulting in slightly more horsepower for Apple's largest tablet.
Apple doesn't like to promote the geekier technical specifications of its devices, particularly the memory and clock speed found in its custom A-series chips. And in unveiling the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the company simply said that it features the same A9X-branded chip as the 12.9-inch model.
But in a comparison of the two devices, Apple has quietly revealed that the A9X processor found in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is actually underclocked to slower speeds.
Specifically, Apple compared the performance of its A9X chips to that of a two-generations-old A7 processor. While the A9X in the 12.9-inch iPro is 2.5 times faster than the A7, the A9X in the 9.7-inch model is slightly slower than that --?2.4 times faster.
There's an even greater disparity between the two processors when it comes to graphics: The 12.9-inch iPad Pro boasts graphics processing five times faster than the A7, while the 9.7-inch tablet and its A9X processor are 4.3 times faster.
It's possible that battery and heat concerns led Apple to underclock the A9X for the smaller 9.7-inch tablet. With less space to work with, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro must feature a smaller battery and less surface area to dissipate heat from its processor.
Though both iPads are labeled as "Pro," there are a number of trade-offs between the two tablets, in both directions. In another leg up for the 12.9-inch model, its integrated Lightning port has faster charging and data transfer because it is built on the USB 3 specification. The 9.7-inch model features a slower USB 2 Lightning port.
But the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also has a number of advantages over the larger model, most notably a True Tone display that automatically adjusts colors to the user's current environment. The smaller "Pro" also features a 12-megapixel rear camera (and accompanying camera bump) with flash. Even the forward facing camera is higher resolution, with Retina Flash capabilities as well.
Preorders for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro begin this Thursday, and the device will get into the hands of consumers a week later. It starts at $599 for the 32-gigabyte model.
Apple doesn't like to promote the geekier technical specifications of its devices, particularly the memory and clock speed found in its custom A-series chips. And in unveiling the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the company simply said that it features the same A9X-branded chip as the 12.9-inch model.
But in a comparison of the two devices, Apple has quietly revealed that the A9X processor found in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is actually underclocked to slower speeds.
Specifically, Apple compared the performance of its A9X chips to that of a two-generations-old A7 processor. While the A9X in the 12.9-inch iPro is 2.5 times faster than the A7, the A9X in the 9.7-inch model is slightly slower than that --?2.4 times faster.
There's an even greater disparity between the two processors when it comes to graphics: The 12.9-inch iPad Pro boasts graphics processing five times faster than the A7, while the 9.7-inch tablet and its A9X processor are 4.3 times faster.
It's possible that battery and heat concerns led Apple to underclock the A9X for the smaller 9.7-inch tablet. With less space to work with, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro must feature a smaller battery and less surface area to dissipate heat from its processor.
Though both iPads are labeled as "Pro," there are a number of trade-offs between the two tablets, in both directions. In another leg up for the 12.9-inch model, its integrated Lightning port has faster charging and data transfer because it is built on the USB 3 specification. The 9.7-inch model features a slower USB 2 Lightning port.
But the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also has a number of advantages over the larger model, most notably a True Tone display that automatically adjusts colors to the user's current environment. The smaller "Pro" also features a 12-megapixel rear camera (and accompanying camera bump) with flash. Even the forward facing camera is higher resolution, with Retina Flash capabilities as well.
Preorders for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro begin this Thursday, and the device will get into the hands of consumers a week later. It starts at $599 for the 32-gigabyte model.
Comments
Considering how much less pixel there are on the smaller pro, the actual on screen performance of the smaller device should be higher than the big one.
It's actually incredible that they got so much power in such a small form factor.
Come on, apart from USB2, in everything else, the difference is marginal. This device has 1/2 the internal volume of the Ipad pro, it's an actual miracle of performance.
A better screen than on the big pro, a top notch camera and it does auto-white balance (which the big one should have had too, probably wasn't ready then).
So battery life is the reason the 9.7" Pro doesn't support USB 3? Is that why the iPad mini 2 didn't have the same color gamut as the iPad Air but now the mini 4 has better display than the Air 2. So it was a UX issue then but now it's not?
I think that's a bunch of BS. It's one thing to leave out 3D Touch out of the iPhone SE as their probably isn't the space available for the Taptic Engine. Or it's possible Apple hasn't perfected the tech for 3D Touch on larger displays yet and that's why we don't have it in the iPads. But I think it's clear there are things Apple does to create artificial differentiation to get you to spend more money. Why is the better camera only available on the largest iPhone? Is that really a space issue or is that a way for Apple to get you to buy the more expensive iPhone and drive up ASPs? Same with the iPad mini. Was there an engineering reason the retina mini had an inferior display or was it just a way for Apple to get more people to spend more on an Air instead? I think it's pretty clear 16 > 64 and 32 > 128 storage increments aren't about UX but about getting you to spend $100+ more.
Yes, there may actually fracking be an engineering argument (which includes parts availability at volume) behind most of the things you list : that's it.
I'm glad I own the 12.9" Pro. Anyone who buys the 9.7" model with only 2GB RAM is a sucker.