With the rapid advancements in design, research and development, computing power, and foundry technologies, the iteration cycle of chip processors has become shorter and shorter. This directly leads to the accelerated shortening of the life cycle of digital products. Against this backdrop, Apple, as a global leading technology giant, its flagship tablet iPad Pro is one of the best examples of this phenomenon.
When many are still hesitating about whether to purchase an iPad Pro equipped with the M4 chip, Apple has quietly taken a new step - the M5 chip is about to be mass-produced and is expected to be launched in the second half of 2025, with the new iPad Pro being the first to adopt it. This means that consumers who are eager for the latest technology will soon be able to experience more powerful computing capabilities and better energy efficiency performance.
However, during this process, for those users who have not yet owned the M4 version of iPad Pro, should Apple consider lowering the prices of existing models to allow more people to enjoy the convenience and fun brought by top-notch scientific and technological achievements? Apple's M5 chip adopts the latest 3nm process technology N3P from TSMC. Compared with the previous process, its performance has improved by approximately 4%, and while maintaining the same performance, the power consumption has decreased by about 9%.
Such improvements may seem insignificant, but for users who are in pursuit of the ultimate experience, every percentage point of progress means a smoother operation and longer-lasting battery life. Therefore, when the new iPad Pro equipped with the M5 chip is launched, it will undoubtedly attract a large number of users who are in pursuit of high performance to flock to it. However, for those who are still using older devices or potential buyers with limited budgets, they may not need such cutting-edge technology.
After all, in this era of "excess performance", the iPad Pro with the M4 chip has already been sufficient to meet the daily needs of most people. Whether it is UI designers, painters, programmers, or video editors, this device can provide excellent performance support. Especially in the context of an unfavorable economic environment, more people tend to choose products with higher cost performance. Therefore, if Apple can timely adjust the price strategy of the M4 version of iPad Pro, it will undoubtedly attract more users to purchase, and at the same time, further enhance the brand's market share.
In fact, Apple has been gradually adjusting its pricing strategy in recent years to adapt to the changes in market demand. For instance, the low-priced iPad Air and entry-level iPad launched by Apple have achieved good sales results, helping the company achieve revenue growth while also expanding its user base. This indicates that in the increasingly competitive tablet market, merely relying on the high-end product line is no longer sufficient to sustain continuous growth.
Conversely, covering different levels of consumer demand through reasonable price positioning is the key to achieving long-term stable development. Considering the above factors, we believe that Apple should consider making an appropriate price reduction for the iPad Pro equipped with the M4 chip. The benefits of doing so are obvious: Firstly, it can enable more ordinary consumers to have the opportunity to access this top-level tablet computer, thereby increasing the product's popularity.
Secondly, for those users who are price-sensitive but still eager to experience high-quality life, the M4 version of the iPad Pro after the price reduction will become their ideal choice. Finally, this move also helps alleviate inventory pressure and promote capital recovery, providing more guarantees for the company's subsequent R&D investment. In conclusion, in this era full of uncertainties, only enterprises that keep up with the pace of market demand changes and flexibly adjust their business strategies can stand firm.