Why can’t I use Final Cut Pro on my iPad Pro 4th generation? 12.9 inch.

The 12.9" iPad Pro was first introduced, and the 11" only came later. Hence the "generations" of each do not align.

According to the Mactracker application, which has a very complete database of Apple products over the years:

The iPad Pro (12.9" 4th generation) was provided between March 2020 and April 2021, and had an A12Z Bionic processor

At that time, the iPad Pro 11" was only at the 2nd generation and it too had an A12Z Bionic processor.

The iPad Pro 11" 3rd generation is contemporary with the 12.9" 5th, both having been introduced in May 2021.

These are the first models with an M1 processor, and also the oldest ones supported, so it all adds up.

I am very confused when you look at the final cut pro info page on the Apple website it indicates you must have a "sixth generation iPad Pro 12.9 inch" and not a "fifth generation iPad Pro 12.9 inch".

1. Requires iPad Pro 11‑inch (4th generation or later) or iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (6th generation or later) and Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

It does not say fifth generation or later but sixth generation or later is this a misprint or incorrect information from Apple? Final Cut Pro for iPad - Apple (CA) (scroll to bottom of the page, note 1)

Final Cut Pro for iPad - Apple

You can install Final Cut Pro for iPad on your 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th or 6th generation), 11‑inch iPad Pro (3rd or 4th generation), or iPad Air (5th generation) with iPadOS 16.4 or later.

The app requires an M-series chip.

Then should say " iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (5th generation or later)."

hipphop - If you haven't already done so, send Apple your feedback via Feedback - Final Cut Pro - Apple

The 11” 4th generation is some two years newer than the 12.9”, and has an M1 processor.

When Apple launched iPad Pro it was 12.9” only.

The first 11” only came much later, at the same time as the third generation of the 12.9”, so having the same “generation number” like 4th, does NOT mean comparable machines.

Yeah the whole thing about generation on the ipad is pretty confusing and if you're not paying attention, especially when trying to bag yourself a nice refurb or second hand with a "great price deal", you may end up with one of the older generations. If price is cheap, check again.

Now on to the main author's question/concern - I own a 5th gen 12.9 ipad Pro and Final Cut Pro works on it. I'm not sure why another commenter is suggesting that it's only 6th gen and above, so I agree that the wording is incorrect and should read 5th gen and above on the iPad Pro 12.9. Hope that helps!

georgefrommarkham wrote:

Then should say " iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (5th generation or later)."

No.

The 6th generation has M2 processor, as does the 4th generation of the 11".

If the 5th generation (with M1) were supported, then so should the 3th generation of the 11".

So frustrating having a 4th gen 12.9” and not being able to use FCP…but the 11” can! 🤷 If LumaFusion works why can’t FCP?

I don't think it's a misprint, because these two: iPad Pro (11", 4th gen) and iPad Pro (12.9", 6th gen) are in effect of the same vintage - both introduced October 2022. They both have the M2 chip.

The 11" 3rd generation and the 12.9" 5th generation (both introduced in May 2021) had the M1 chip.

The whole generation naming system is absolutely horrible. It really serves no purpose at all except for marketing and just creates enormous confusion. Apple has so many devices of similar names that it should drop generational identifiers or rebrand devices as they go forward.

I can't even articulate how unacceptable this is. This iPad is NOT that old. I bought it mid 2020 and I am STILL paying my instalments on it, and it already has a chip that Apple is abandoning support for? I have been waiting for FCP for so long and now I have an obsolete iPad? This is so disappointing. This might be the straw that breaks my back on depending on Apple products.

Thank you for the tip - just responded to your link, for all the good it may do. I will be the first person to understand that companies have to be thinking forward, not backward, but the best ipad offering in mid 2020 should still be just as compatible just two and a half years later. I can't imagine most people being able to buy a new iPad Pro every 2 years. So upsetting.