[Snowworm]

Even better, Apple could port MacOS to the M1 iPad. Maybe they could have both iOS and Mac OS merged together and allow people to switch between tablet and desktop mode (like what they have done with Samsung devices). They could sell an external keyboard + trackpad for the desktop mode.

[bpye]

I would be entirely unsurprised if Apple doesn’t already have macOS builds targeting the M1 iPad…

[user_7832]

For sure, there were A14 based mac minis given to devs during the switch. The only "missing" components are drivers for the display/speakers etc which is the smallest part of getting a working system (compared to the OS + kernel).

It's also this thing that infuriates me to some extent. Apple can do amazing things if it wanted but... it doesn't appear to care about consumer benefit.

[ece]

More freedom for users is less money in their pocket.

[saagarjha]

A12Z-based.

[scarface74]

Why is that even conjecture?

It’s the same processor as in the M1 Mac and the dev ARM kits had A14s.

[kitsunesoba]

They probably won't ever fully merge the UIs of macOS and iOS, but given that the underpinnings of the two are so similar it would make a lot of sense for iPadOS to be able to suspend its touch-based userland and boot up a macOS-based KB+mouse userland.

[Veliladon]

Mac Catalyst is basically UiKit userland for macOS. I think Springboard and Finder will remain discrete UI paradigms but I think iPadOS might be going towards a place where it can use either depending on what it has connected (see: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/06/apple-patent-ipad-with-...).