iPad Pro 2022's 'new' A12Z chip isn't very new at all

iPad Pro 2020's 'new' A12Z flake isn't very new at all

(Epitome credit: Tom'due south Guide)

Apple makes a big deal nearly the power of its tablets, just the new iPad Pro 2020 flake is pretty much merely a recycled and tweaked version of silicon from the 2018 model.

That'due south according to a deep dive conducted past flake analysis specialist TechInsights, which institute that the Apple's A12Z bit in the 2020 iPad Pro is identical to the A12X in the third-generation iPad Pro, only with an extra graphics accelerator cadre.

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In this case, it would wait like Apple unlocked an extra GPU core on the A12X, which comes with vii graphics cores, to create an octa-cadre GPU to go alongside the eight-core CPU of the A12Z.

Our iPad Pro 2020 review noted that Apple tree's latest high-cease tablet delivers a balmy hike in functioning over the 2018 model, which could be partially thanks to the additional GPU cadre. It's hardly a night-and-day functioning difference. Merely for people peachy on playing graphically intensive mobile games, that picayune bit of extra power could be appreciated.

However, people with a 2018 iPad Pro might not see much of a benefit from upgrading to the 2020 tablet, unless they are especially keen on the dual camera and LiDAR setup the iPad Pro 2020 has. But if you're using an older 10.5-inch iPad Pro from 2017, you lot're more probable to do good from an upgrade to the 2020 iPad Pro.

Our analysis confirms #Apple #A12Z GPU scrap found within #iPadPro (model A2068) is the same as A12X predecessor. A report of our findings is underway & will be available as role of TechInsights' #Logic Subscription. Learn more here https://t.co/WWQqlPorNF picture.twitter.com/RsQEADpZscApril 13, 2020

With iOS 14 on its way, there'due south a take a chance that the extra graphical headroom the new iPad Pro has could be put to use. Given Apple tree seems to be leaning heavily into the LiDAR capabilities of the 2020 iPad Pro, and such capabilities could come over to the iPhone 12, we'd not be surprised to see a swath of augmented reality features go farther baked into iOS 14.

Apple is also gear up to add a fully-fledged widget system into iOS 14, which could use the extra graphical grunt of the A12Z chip to make various animations and real-fourth dimension content in the widgets look more attractive and slick.

Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor at Tom's Guide with a focus on news, features and stance articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he's also got an involvement in cars. When not at his desk-bound Roland can be plant wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face.