final.cut on ipad how come it has less features than final.cut i have on desktop ?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Final Cut reduced features
“Processing Power” does not necessarily equate to more capabilities.
For whatever reason(s) … iPadOS and associated apps are simply NOT a 1:1 replacement for MacOS.
(although the “gap” has been “closing” over the last few years).
I get your point about iPadOS and FCP being more limited, but let’s be real — the M4 iPad Pro has more raw power than some Macs that can run the full desktop version of Final Cut Pro. So it’s not that the iPad “can’t” — it’s that Apple won’tlet it.
The hardware’s there. The chip is capable. What’s missing is Apple allowing the iPad to run proper pro software without artificial restrictions.
So this isn’t about capability — it’s about ecosystem control. And until Apple opens that up (macOS on iPad, anyone?), the iPad Pro will always be a Ferrari stuck in traffic.
Hi BenB,
I hear you — that used to be true, but I think we’re in different territory now.
The M4 iPad Pro is faster than some Macs that do run full Final Cut Pro with no limitations — including the fanless MacBook Air. So hardware-wise, the iPad isn’t really the problem.
It feels more like iPadOS is the gatekeeper, not the chip. Would be interesting to know whether it’s a technical limitation or just a product strategy from Apple.
Probably because neither iPadOS nor the iPad have the capabilities and resources available to macOS and any Mac computer that can run the current desktop version of FCP.
Thanks — that makes sense.
I get that iPadOS isn’t macOS, and the architecture is different — but with the M4 chip now in iPads, the hardware seems fully capable of handling much more than it currently does.
Do you think the gap is closing mainly because of iPadOS limitations, or is it more that app developers (like Apple with Final Cut) are holding back certain features?
It’s interesting that some third-party apps are getting more powerful on iPad, while Apple’s own tools like Final Cut still feel watered down. Especially when FCP runs with full features on a fanless MacBook Air — why not on an M4 iPad?
Tom’s right. Tablets are not nearly as powerful as desktop computers.
CPU is only one factor. There is a lot more in the OS architecture that enhances the hardware capability, and sure Apple would like you to buy a Mac to go with your iPad.
Thanks Tom — appreciate the reply.
That makes sense at a high level, but it still leaves me wondering: the M4 iPad Pro clearly has the raw performance, and the iPad version of Final Cut is Studio-only — so why limit its capabilities when macOS on a fanless MacBook Air can run the full version of FCP with no trouble?
Is it really just a software limitation of iPadOS? Or is Apple intentionally holding back features on the iPad version of Final Cut?
Feels like the hardware is ahead of the software right now — curious to hear your take.
Final Cut Pro in iPad have less feature than in Mac version
