Apple Ramping Up M1 Production as New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Expected to Reach Five Million Shipments in 2021

[MacRumors]

Apple is seemingly expecting high demand for its new M1-powered iPad Pro as the company has asked its main chip supplier, TSMC, to ramp up production of the chip for its new iPad, and newer Mac computers, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes.

Earlier this week, Apple unveiled a brand new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro powered by the M1 Apple silicon chip, the same chip powering the newly announced 24-inch iMac, and previously released Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

The M1 chip first started shipping in November, and amid an ongoing global chip shortage, demand for the chip is even more pronounced thanks to the new iPad Pro. DigiTimes reports that TSMC had a previous goal of 120,000 chip wafers per month for the second half of the year. Thanks to a strong push from Apple, TSMC now has its eyes set on 140,000 to 150,000 monthly chip waters from the second to the fourth quarter of the year.

Even though the new iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac were announced this week, they won't begin shipping until the second half of May. The significant delay between announcement and shipments is likely due to strain put on Apple's suppliers.

Research cited by another DigiTimes report today suggests that the new higher-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro which features a new Liquid Retina XDR Display, will reach 5 million shipments this year. The new iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac will be available for pre-order starting Friday, April 30.

Article Link: Apple Ramping Up M1 Production as New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Expected to Reach Five Million Shipments in 2021

 

[calstanford]

It's kind of crazy people are using the same (M1) or basically the same (A14) chip from iPhone Mini's all the way to 24" iMacs

 

[EagleGSU]

Anyone with prior experience with apple preorders care to share how next Friday will work? What time will the preorders start? Will it be limited, where it could potentially sell out within minutes?

 

[BvizioN]

I just wish the Retina XDR display was on the 11" also. The larger one is just a bit too large for me to travel with.

 

[contacos]

Anyone with prior experience with apple preorders care to share how next Friday will work? What time will the preorders start? Will it be limited, where it could potentially sell out within minutes?

Pre-Orders usually start at 5 AM (Cali time) and depending on the product, they usually sell out within minutes in the sense that the delivery days are being pushed further and further

 

[justperry]

Wish we got (Job) the iPad Pro's instead of these horrible MS surface thingies.

How many (useable) chips are there on a wafer?

 

[EagleGSU]

Pre-Orders usually start at 5 AM (Cali time) and depending on the product, they usually sell out within minutes in the sense that the delivery days are being pushed further and further

Does the site normally handle the traffic pretty well? I figure if any company can handle such demand it’d be Apple...but I’ve been surprised before.

 

[dumastudetto]

Anyone with prior experience with apple preorders care to share how next Friday will work? What time will the preorders start? Will it be limited, where it could potentially sell out within minutes?

The new 12.9" is the best iPad Apple has ever made. Customer demand to acquire one will be off-the-charts. Stock is expected to be extremely constrained for months, so you'll need to be online the moment orders go live if you want a launch day delivery.

 

[dumastudetto]

Does the site normally handle the traffic pretty well? I figure if any company can handle such demand it’d be Apple...but I’ve been surprised before.

Yes the site is built to handle enormous traffic. iPhone launches are bigger and the store never crashes.

 

[ggx12]

Anyone with prior experience with apple preorders care to share how next Friday will work? What time will the preorders start? Will it be limited, where it could potentially sell out within minutes?

It depends if you are looking for a very specific model or not. If iPhone launches are an indication, some models sell out faster than others so be very attentive if you are looking for a specific configuration. That being said, it will not be phrased as 'sold out', you'll just see a later shipping date (so like, not the launch batch).

I don't remember the time pre-orders start but it's typically known beforehand. Be sure to stay alert the previous days on here

 

[EagleGSU]

Yes the site is built to handle enormous traffic. iPhone launches are bigger and the store never crashes.

Great! Thanks for the info. I’m hoping for the 12.9 WiFi and 5G model. So maybe it’ll be easier to get than just the WiFi. Wishful thinking.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

I just wish the Retina XDR display was on the 11" also. The larger one is just a bit too large for me to travel with.

I had been more attracted to the 11” in the past as well, but I’m going to make the leap to the 12.9”. I think it will easier on my eyes, long term.

 

[innovationwho]

So there isn’t a chip shortage. Got it.

 

[zombierunner]

So can we expect the M1 in the iPhone 13 Pro?

 

[ggx12]

Alternatively, be sure to check other retailers as well (e.g. amazon) as they sometimes have launch stock. I remember you could get a M1 MBA faster there back in December.

 

[contacos]

Does the site normally handle the traffic pretty well? I figure if any company can handle such demand it’d be Apple...but I’ve been surprised before.

I would recommend using the Apple Store App. When I was checking the website on my MacBook to pre-order the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the website still showed "we will be back soon" 5 minutes after 5 am while the Apple Store App already let me make the purchase.

 

[cardfan]

My wife asked what’s new. Brighter screen. Other than that you won’t tell difference. Same old iPad.

 

[dumastudetto]

Great! Thanks for the info. I’m hoping for the 12.9 WiFi and 5G model. So maybe it’ll be easier to get than just the WiFi. Wishful thinking.

I'm certain the WiFi only models will sell out first. You'll probably have a few minutes more time going for a 5G model. ?

 

[djcerla]

I just wish the Retina XDR display was on the 11" also. The larger one is just a bit too large for me to travel with.

Same. I was ready to buy, will wait next year’s model.

 

[cardfan]

The new 12.9" is the best iPad Apple has ever made. Customer demand to acquire one will be off-the-charts. Stock is expected to be extremely constrained for months, so you'll need to be online the moment orders go live if you want a launch day delivery.

As was the prior one. The 2018 and 2020 ones are still overkill for what iPadOS and these apps can do.

 

[MacWorld78]

I wish this iPad Pro can switch over to either MacOS or iPadOS on a M1 chipset.

 

[rp2011]

With M1 Macs being able to run iPhone and iPad apps at developer discretion, I expect WWDC will announce that M1 iPad Pros will go the other way and allow Mac apps at developer discretion.

 

[LiE_]

So there isn’t a chip shortage. Got it.

There is, because Apple is buying them all up ?

 

[Isengardtom]

I suspect something big at WWDC with regards to this. I mean we don’t need M1 + 8GB / 16GB ram to play Grindstone and browse the web

 

[dumastudetto]

As was the prior one. The 2018 and 2020 ones are still overkill for what iPadOS and these apps can do.

For example, people who use Adobe apps will immediately see benefits from these super-performant iPads Pros. Every year we see more and more advanced applications making their way to iPad Pro - with better UI, improved functionality, and delightful experience. These latest updates will only broaden the appeal to developers.

I expect Final Cut Pro and Xcode will be coming soon.

Anything that allows for a richer, smoother, more refined user experience is far from overkill.