Apple M4 iPad Pro base model ships with 12GB memory but limits usable RAM to 8GB for tiered pricing

The base 8GB model of the M4 iPad Pro uses memory chips with a combined capacity of 12GB, but Apple restricts the usable RAM to 8GB. This restriction maintains the price gap between the 8GB and 16GB configurations, as upgrading to 16GB requires purchasing a 1TB or 2TB storage model. The limitation affects access to advanced Apple Intelligence features in iPadOS 27, which require at least 12GB of unified memory, leaving 8GB iPad Pro users excluded despite the hardware capacity.