8GB vs 16GB M4 iPad Pro: Is the 10-core CPU Worth $600?!
TLDRIn this video, the host compares the performance of two iPad Pro models with M4 chips: one with 8GB RAM and a 9-core CPU, and the other with 16GB RAM and a 10-core CPU. Despite the higher specs, tests reveal minimal differences in performance between the two models. The 1TB model with 16GB RAM shows only a slight edge in CPU and GPU benchmarks, with Geekbench scores differing by 8% and graphics tests showing a 1% FPS increase. Real-world applications like Affinity Photo 2 and Lightroom mobile also show negligible differences. The host concludes that the extra cost for the higher-spec model does not yield significant performance benefits, advising viewers to save money by opting for the base model.
Takeaways
- 💡 The new iPad Pro models feature M4 chips with either a 9-core or a 10-core CPU.
- 💰 The 10-core CPU model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage costs significantly more than the 8GB RAM, 256GB model.
- 📦 Both iPad Pro models come in lightweight boxes and include a 20W power adapter.
- 🔥 In initial speed tests, the 1TB model showed a 46% faster read speed and a 76% faster write speed compared to the 256GB model.
- ⚙️ The single-core CPU performance was almost identical between the two models, with a slight 8% difference in multicore performance.
- 🎨 For graphic-intensive tasks, there was only a 1% difference in FPS between the two models in the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme test.
- 📷 In photo editing with Affinity Photo 2 and Lightroom Mobile, the performance difference was minimal, with the 8GB model sometimes outperforming the 16GB model.
- 🌡️ Thermal imaging showed that the 10-core CPU model had a larger hotspot, indicating potentially more heat generation.
- 🛡️ The new iPads have an improved thermal system with graphite cooling and a copper Apple logo for better heat dissipation.
- 📈 In Geekbench ML tests, the extra RAM did not significantly improve the neural engine's performance.
- 💻 The overall performance difference between the two models was minimal, with most applications not needing to utilize the extra RAM and the graphics performance being identical.
Q & A
What are the differences between the 8GB and 16GB M4 iPad Pro models?
-The 16GB model has 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM compared to the 8GB model's 9-core CPU and 8GB of RAM. The 16GB model also has faster SSDs.
Is there a significant performance difference between the two models?
-The performance difference is minimal, with an 8% difference in multicore CPU performance and up to 14% in certain instances. The GPU performance is nearly identical.
What was the Geekbench score for the single core performance of both models?
-The single core Geekbench scores were almost identical at 3718 for the 8GB model and 3728 for the 16GB model.
How did the 16GB model perform in the graphics test compared to the 8GB model?
-The graphics test showed a slight edge for the 8GB model with a score of 53,978 compared to the 16GB model's 53,508.
What is the impact of extra RAM on the Geekbench ML test for the neural engine?
-The extra RAM did not significantly impact the performance in the Geekbench ML test, with both models scoring nearly the same at around 9500.
How did the 16GB model perform in the Affinity Photo 2 benchmark?
-The 16GB model showed a slightly higher multicore CPU performance in the Affinity Photo 2 benchmark, with a difference ranging from 12.5% to 14% in certain tasks.
What was the result of the Lightroom mobile export test?
-Both models completed the Lightroom mobile export test at the same time, with a completion time of 2 minutes and 32 seconds.
What FPS difference was observed in the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme test?
-The 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme test showed a 1% difference in FPS, with 51.8 FPS for the 8GB model and 52.4 FPS for the 16GB model.
What thermal differences were observed between the two models during the stress test?
-The 10-core CPU model had a larger hotspot area during the stress test, indicating slightly higher heat dissipation needs, but both models performed similarly in terms of temperature.
What is the conclusion about the value of the extra CPU core and RAM in the 16GB model?
-The extra CPU core and RAM in the 16GB model do not provide a significant performance boost to justify the additional cost, making the 8GB model a more cost-effective choice.
What iPad accessories does the sponsor ESR offer?
-ESR offers a range of iPad accessories, including the Shift magnetic case, stylus pen, and the Rebound magnetic keyboard case 360, both of which come with a detachable magnetic case.
What is the verdict on the value of the 1TB storage option in the iPad Pro?
-The 1TB storage option is not deemed worth the extra cost for most users, as the performance difference is negligible and the additional storage may not be necessary.
Outlines
🚀 Unboxing & Performance Testing New iPads with M4 Chips
The video opens with the host expressing excitement about the new iPads featuring M4 chips. They discuss the different core options (nine-core and ten-core) and the potential performance benefits of the more expensive models. The unboxing reveals lightweight boxes and two iPad models, one with 256GB and the other with 1TB of storage, the latter offering 16GB of RAM and a ten-core processor. The host plans to test various applications and conduct thermal camera tests to assess performance and potential slowdowns. They note the thinness and lightweight feel of the iPads and the prominent camera bump. The video also mentions the included power cables and 20W power adapters, hinting at a test for higher wattage in a future video. The performance testing begins with jazz disbench, comparing the speed and storage capacity of the two models, revealing that the 1TB model has significantly faster read and write speeds. Geekbench 6 tests show almost identical single-core performance, with a slight edge to the 1TB model in multicore performance. The host concludes that, based on these tests, the extra cost for the higher-end model may not be justified.
🤖 GPU Performance & Real-World Application Testing
The second paragraph delves into GPU performance, with a focus on how the extra RAM might affect the Neural Engine's performance as seen in previous tests. The host runs Geekbench ML to test the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and finds that the additional RAM does not provide a significant advantage in this test. They then use Affinity Photo 2 to test a variety of tasks that utilize CPU, GPU, and RAM, finding only minor differences in multicore CPU performance. Lightroom mobile is used to edit high-resolution images, and despite the heavier load, both iPads complete the task at nearly the same time. The host notes that iPadOS allows for up to 12GB of RAM allocation to a single app, which might not fully utilize the extra RAM in the 1TB model. 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme is used to test gaming performance, with a slight difference favoring the base model. A new solar Bay test with ray tracing is also conducted, showing minimal difference between the models. Thermal imaging reveals that while both iPads have improved cooling systems, the 10-core model has a larger hotspot area. The host emphasizes that the new iPads have better heat dissipation thanks to the graphite cooling and copper Apple logo.
📊 Comprehensive Testing & Conclusion on iPad Models
The final paragraph summarizes the extensive testing conducted on the iPads, including file decoding, encoding, and various other performance metrics. The host highlights that the overall score improvement is minimal, with only a 4.9% difference in the total score, and a 6% difference in CPU performance. The GPU performance difference is negligible at 1%, while the memory performance shows a slightly higher improvement due to increased RAM bandwidth and faster SSDs. The host discusses potential reasons for the small performance differences, such as app optimization for iPadOS, thermal throttling, and the possibility that the base model can run at higher speeds due to fewer cores. They conclude that the extra cost for the higher-end model is not justified, as the performance differences are minimal, especially in graphics-intensive tasks. The host decides against keeping the more expensive model and advises viewers to save money by opting for the base model, which offers similar performance at a lower price point.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡M4 chips
💡RAM
💡CPU Benchmark
💡Geekbench
💡Thermal cameras
💡iPad OS
💡ESR
💡Affinity Photo 2
💡Lightroom Mobile
💡3D Mark Wildlife Extreme
💡Neural Engine (NPU)
Highlights
Apple has introduced M4 chips into the new iPads with both 9-core and 10-core processors.
The 10-core CPU model has 16GB of RAM compared to the 8GB in the base model.
The iPads were tested with various applications and stress tests to evaluate performance differences.
The 1TB model with 10-core CPU showed a 46% faster read speed and 76% faster write speed compared to the 256GB model.
Single-core CPU performance was almost identical between the two models.
Multicore CPU performance difference was only 8%, less than expected.
ESR赞助提供了最佳的iPad配件，包括磁性保护套、触控笔和带有可调节角度的键盘保护套。
图形测试显示，基础款iPad在性能上甚至略快于更高端型号。
Geekbench ML测试中，额外的RAM并没有带来预期的性能提升。
在Affinity Photo 2的基准测试中，两款iPad在多核CPU性能上的差异在12.5%到14%之间。
Lightroom Mobile的测试中，两款iPad导出同样数量的照片耗时相同。
3D Mark Wildlife Extreme测试中，额外的RAM和核心仅提供了1%的帧率提升。
在Solar Bay with Ray tracing测试中，全规格模型的性能仅略高于基础模型不到1%。
热成像测试显示，10核心CPU型号的热点区域更大。
新一代iPad拥有更好的散热系统，包括石墨散热和铜制苹果标志。
文件解码和编码测试显示，整体得分略高，但CPU差异仅为6%，GPU差异为1%。
在处理图像、文档和视频时，两款iPad的差异几乎可以忽略不计。
额外的RAM和核心可能因为iPad OS的优化限制而未能充分发挥作用。
对于大多数用户而言，额外花费600美元购买10核心CPU和更多RAM的iPad并不值得。