This is the first time the M2 chip is sold in a 9-core GPU configuration.
Apple has quietly revised the specifications of its recently launched M2 iPad Air, revealing that it now features a 9-core GPU instead of the originally advertised 10-core GPU.
This probably explains why the score of the M2 iPad Air in 3DMark was slightly worse than the last-generation iPad Pro (which is powered by the M2 chip with 10 GPU cores).
This change was made quietly without any official announcement or explanation from Apple.
The M2 iPad Air, released last month during the "Let Loose" event was announced as having the same powerful M2 chip shipped in the M2 iPad Pro. However, Apple has silently updated its tech specs page on the US site to indicate that the iPad Air’s M2 chip has a 9-core GPU rather than 10 cores as initially advertised during the launch. Interestingly, this change is not yet seen in other Apple’s international websites or its original press release.
This would be the first time Apple has sold an M2 chip with a 9-core GPU in any device. Typically, M2 chips come with either 8 or 10-core GPUs – as seen in the 2022 MacBook Air lineup.
The M2 iPad Air performs worse compared to the M2 iPad Pro.
In our review of the M2 iPad Air, we found that its graphics performance was a tad lower than the last-generation iPad Pro. For example, in 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test, the iPad Air scored 23,634, while the iPad Pro reached 25,291. Similarly, in the Solar Bay test, the Air scored 7,726 versus the iPad Pro’s 8,878.
If it's true that the M2 chip in the iPad Air has a 9-core GPU, it would explain the performance discrepancy that we observed above.
That said, despite the small reduction in GPU cores, most users are unlikely to notice a significant difference in daily use. As mentioned in our review, we doubt that anyone who uses the new iPad Air will say it’s slow.
Whether this is a temporary change due to supply chain issues or an honest mistake remains to be seen. Hopefully, the company will clear things up soon with an official statement.
Until then, potential buyers should take note that the device’s graphics capabilities, while still impressive, are slightly lower than originally advertised.
Check out our review of the M2 iPad Air here.
Source: 9to5Mac
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