Apple’s Mac Pro and Mac Studio are set to remain on the M2 generation until mid-2025, delaying their upgrade to the M4 chip. This means the newly released M4 iPad Pro will surpass both in performance for certain tasks over the next year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, only the MacBook Air and these two high-end desktops will be left with the M2 chip throughout 2024. Meanwhile, all other Apple laptops will transition to the M4 chip, highlighting an unusual upgrade cycle where the iPad Pro temporarily holds the title for best single-core performance in Apple’s lineup.
Comparisons on Geekbench show the M4 iPad Pro outperforms the M2 Ultra by about 25 percent in single-core performance. Interestingly, the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip also matches the M2 Ultra in single-core CPU power. However, when it comes to multi-core performance, the M2 Ultra still leads, especially in tasks requiring multiple cores.
Despite this performance anomaly, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro offer significant advantages over the iPad Pro. They support more RAM, have more ports, and maintain performance without throttling. Their operating systems also fully utilize the hardware capabilities, unlike the iPad Pro. High-end Mac users, accustomed to longer waits between upgrades, will likely appreciate the forthcoming enhancements when they arrive.
