Upcoming iPad Pros may sport an M4, rather than M3, processor

In his latest “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the new iPad Pro will kick off Apple’s shift into AI hardware. 

Earlier this month, he broke the news that Apple is accelerating its computer processor upgrades and plans to release the M4 chip later this year alongside new iMacs, MacBook Pros and Mac minis. The big change with the M4: a new neural engine will pave the way for fresh AI capabilities. Now Gurman says there’s another development. This year’s Macs may not be the only AI-driven devices with M4 chips.

“I’m hearing there is a strong possibility that the chip in the new iPad Pro will be the M4, not the M3,” he writes. “Better yet, I believe Apple will position the tablet as its first truly AI-powered device — and that it will tout each new product from then on as an AI device. This, of course, is all in response to the AI craze that has swept the tech industry over the last couple years.”

By introducing the new iPad Pro ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple could lay out its AI chip strategy without distraction, he adds. Then, at WWDC, it could focus on how the M4 chip and new iPad Pros will take advantage of the AI software and services coming as part of iPadOS 18 later this year. 

“I fully expect Apple to position the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 line as built around AI as well,” Gurman says. 

The new iPads are expected to debut at Apple’s May 7 “Let Loose” event. It will be held at 7 a.m. (Pacific) with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. 

This info from Gurman is from the free edition of “Power On”. If you like it, consider subscribing to Bloomberg.com—you’ll receive the newsletter earlier and get exclusive access to a Q&A section.