Significant upgrades over the previous generation include the new Apple M1 processor, the addition of 5G support in cellular models, support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB4, and for the 12.9-inch model, a new mini LED Liquid Retina XDR display. [6] The iPad’s general availability was temporarily constrained by an ongoing chip shortage of 2020 and 2021.
In spite of minor differences in weight and thickness due to hardware upgrades, the tablet is virtually identical to its predecessor. The fifth generation iPad Pro debuted support of Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 with its USB-C port.
The 12.9-inch model, in contrasts, boasts mini LED HDR display called the Liquid Retina XDR display built in with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, full screen brightness of 1000 nits and a peak brightness of 1600 nits (HDR). [15] Both models support True Tone, ProMotion, 120 Hz variable refresh rate, and P3 wide colour gamut.
In addition to the second generation Apple Pencil, the Smart Keyboard Folio, and the Magic Keyboard, the tablet supports third-party external accessories such as game controllers (Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox controllers). Apple’s fifth-generation iPad Pro can also be used with many other peripherals that transform it into a versatile computer.
Some reviewers said that its overboosted processor was limited by iPadOS and the lack of professional macOS applications,[20][21] while other criticized the placement of its camera system.
[22] The Verge criticized the lack of multiuser support like the Mac but praised the Mini-LED and cameras.
iPad Pro (2022): Release date and guide to the new Pro iPad
Development of the next model is well underway, but when will the new iPad Pro launch, and what design changes, new features and tech specs can we expect? Reports suggest we could see Apple equip the 11in model with a Retina XDR display like its larger sibling has. But perhaps the biggest rumor of them all is news that Apple could introduce an iPad Pro with an even larger screen (more on all that below).
However, Apple may wait a little longer to launch the next generation iPad Pro if it intends to equip the 11in model with mini-LED display like its larger sibling. Sources in the supply chain have indicated that an Apple supplier (BOE) is working on gigantic 15-inch OLED panels that could plausibly end up in an iPad at some point in the future. What’s more, the respected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claimed in June 2021 that Apple itself has been testing 14-inch-16-inch iPads, and that devices in such a form factor will “continue to blur the lines between tablet and laptop”.
More recently, in July 2022, DSSC analyst Ross Young has claimed that a 14.1-inch iPad Pro is in development at Apple that could launch in early as 2023. When the report was published in January 2022 BOE was said to still at an early stage of development, and the project is unlikely to yield actual commercial products for another year or two – and may never do so at all, sources say, “due to the difficulty of the technology”. But considering how expensive the 12.9-inch model already is, and how much more commercially successful the company’s cheaper and small alternatives are, it seems like a long shot for a 14- or 15-inch iPad Pro to appear in the near future. Gurman and others have indicated that the new iPad Pro will have a glass back in order to make wireless charging (dubbed MagSafe by Apple) possible. If Apple switches from aluminium to glass on the back it could actually increase the weight of the iPad Pro. According to ET News Apple is looking into adopting ‘dry etching’, which is a process that can leaf to thinner and lighter displays.
Apple has recently introduced some new shades to the Mac line up that could be shared with the iPad Pro. For example, Basic Apple Guy shared a concept design of the iPad Pro in Midnight: Apple always likes to bestow the best of its processor line-up into its pro tablets, which is one of the reasons they are so ridiculously powerful. Various news outlets, including Bloomberg, are reporting that the new iPad Pros will feature glass backs rather than the current aluminium ones.
There have been other reports though that suggest the glass backs have proved problematic, as they make the iPads more prone to breakages and may also add to the weight. The suggestion that the 11-inch iPad Pro will be granted parity with its larger sibling with the introduction of a mini-LED display seems likely, however, as per Ming Chi Kuo’s tweet above, it is possible that fans will have to wait another year for the arrival of the technology due to cost implications.
This technology is a step up from the normal LED LCD screens, as it allows more control over the contrast, making dark parts of the image even darker, while also boosting the richness of colour and the maximum brightness of the display. Another rumour posted by 9to5Mac states that Apple has been experimenting with a new design for the iPad Pro that would see the infamous notch come to the platform for the first time. We’ve seen other reports that say Apple is thinking of positioning the cameras on the longer side of the chassis, essentially making them landscape orientated devices. Display analyst Ross Young shared in the MacRumors Show in July 2022 that he expects under-display Face ID to first arrive on the iPad.
iPad Pro 2020 vs. iPad Pro 2021 Buyer’s Guide
In April 2021, Apple updated its popular iPad Pro lineup, introducing a faster M1 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR display, a Thunderbolt port, and more, replacing the previous models from March 2020. Although the 2020 iPad Pro models have now been discontinued by Apple, it is common to find them available at discounted prices with third-party retailers. Being only a year apart, the 2020 iPad Pro has more in common with its 2021 successor than it has in contrast, including key features such as the design and rear camera setup. Liquid Retina display with 264 ppi, full lamination, oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone
Apple’s specification breakdown shows that the two iPad Pros share an overwhelming majority of features. Even so, there a number of meaningful differences between the 2020 and 2021 iPad Pros that are worth highlighting, including their display technologies, processors, and front-facing cameras. 2020 iPad Pro Liquid Retina LED display with 600 nits max brightness (typical) 2021 iPad Pro Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display with 1,000 nits max full-screen brightness. The 12.9-inch 2020 iPad Pro, as well as the two generations of the 11-inch models, have the exact same Liquid Retina LED display, featuring 120Hz ProMotion, full lamination, an anti-reflective coating, P3 wide color, and True Tone.
The result is an improved visual experience that captures the brightest highlights and subtle details in even the darkest images. Now creative professionals, including photographers, videographers, and filmmakers, can view and edit true-to-life HDR content on the iPad Pro. If you can take advantage of the new display by consuming or creating HDR media, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro presents a clear upgrade over the 2020 model.
6GB in the 2020 iPad Pro will be adequate for casual users, but 8GB will be defter at handling multiple windows of the same application and a range of intense background tasks. Ultimately, iPadOS is excellent at memory management, so it is unlikely that the amount of RAM in your iPad will be important in most cases. The improved specifications of the 2021 model’s camera facilitate a 2x optical zoom out and Center Stage for video calls. As well as being considerably faster, Thunderbolt opens up the potential for compatibility with a much broader range of Thunderbolt-only accessories such as external hard drives and monitors.
Therefore, if the 2021 iPad Pro, which starts at $799, is already moving out of your price range and you want an accessory such as the $299 Magic Keyboard, you may need to opt for the older iPad Pro to bring down the overall cost. The iPad Air offers a large number of features shared with the iPad Pro, such as the latest all-screen design, a fast, capable processor, practical features like USB-C, and compatibility with the latest Apple accessories, all at a lower price point. Unless you need iPad Pro features such as a more advanced camera setup, Face ID, more RAM, or stereo audio recording, the iPad Air is the best option for the average consumer. The M1 chip shows a distinct performance bump over the A12Z, but most users will likely not have workflows that can take advantage of the added power.
5G connectivity is the only other reason that it may be worth buying the 2021 iPad Pro, but again only a minority of users who choose the cellular configuration will likely be able to take advantage of it. If you are intending to keep your iPad Pro for more than a few years, it may be worth buying the newer model to ensure better performance over time through successive updates and with more demanding apps.
For the latest pricing on 2020 and 2021 models, check out the iPad Pro section of our Apple Deals roundup.
The Next iPad and iPad Pro Could Bring Plenty of Upgrades
The iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 could be unveiled in September, while the iPads might be saved for October, alongside an update to iPadOS 16. That could mean flatter edges, a curved-corner display, USB-C charging and maybe a side-placed Touch ID button, almost like a budget version of the iPad Air. If that’s true, it could also mean the basic iPad won’t be able to use the extra Stage Manager multitasking modes in iPadOS 16. This could also allow the entry iPad to work with the second-gen Pencil, and possibly with Apple’s line of Magic Keyboard cases. The iPad Pro, meanwhile, hasn’t seen a refresh since spring 2021, when it added 5G, an M1 chip and a Mini LED display for the larger 12.9-inch version. My biggest iPad request, besides revamping the OS extensively to make it a better Mac alternative, is fixing the front camera placement.
Zoom meetings on iPads in landscape mode (which is how they mostly orient themselves if you use any sort of keyboard case) have their cameras placed off to the side. While Apple’s zoom-in Center Stage camera tech helps a bit, it doesn’t address eye-contact issues — I usually look like I’m staring off into space during my iPad Zooms.
Apple’s two-year-old Magic Keyboard is useful but has shortcomings: It lacks a row of function keys, it’s expensive and can’t fold back into a folio-type orientation for reading or sketching. It’s unlikely Apple would make the case less expensive, but I’d love to see an upgraded model with function keys, and maybe even added USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. Would Apple make the iPad Pro MagSafe yet another unique accessory, separate from the iPhone and MacBook versions? The 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro was the only model to have a step-up Mini LED display, similar to the recent MacBook Pros, offering deeper blacks and more dynamic contrast.
A report from MacRumors suggests that two of Apple’s suppliers are preparing OLED displays in larger sizes (up to 15 inches) for future iPad models.
Second leak claims 14-inch M2 iPad Pro is real, to feature Mini-LED and ProMotion, coming 2023
A second and more reliable source has backed up reports from earlier this week claiming a new 14-inch iPad Pro is on the way. The report claims Apple is working on a new 14-inch M2 iPad Pro with 512GB of base storage and 16GB of RAM.
It also says Apple will replace the current M1 iPad Pro (2021) with a new M2 version for its existing 11-inch and 12.9-inch form factors, with thinner bezels also coming to the latter.
iPad Pro (2022): All you need to know about the next-gen iPad Pro range
Here we’ve rounded up all there is to know about the iPad Pro (2022) range so far, including the latest release date rumours and what to expect from the upcoming tablets. Twitter leaker @dylandkt suggested in a now-deleted tweet that the iPad Pro “is coming in the Fall” – or Autumn to those in the UK, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman agreed months later in March 2022.
newsletter, Gurman suggests that the launch will take place between September and November this year, mirroring the 16-18 month gap that Apple tends to follow for its Pro releases (aside from the 2021 update, that is!
And it made no mention of the tablets at its Far Out event on 7 September, with Tim Cook saying “We’re here to talk about three products that have become essential in our lives: iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch“. If you can’t wait until October – or whenever Apple eventually announces new models – take a look at our iPad buying guide to find out which is the best tablet for you right now, and we list the best. Young has a great track record when it comes to display-related leaks, nailing previous Apple flagship iPhones and iPads months ahead of release, so there could be something to the rumour. Twitter leaker Majin Bu has also released details, suggesting it could pack the Apple M2 chipset alongside 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, though the tipster isn’t quite as reliable with a hit-and-miss track record. Interestingly, Young notes that the 14.1in model isn’t due until sometime in 2023, which clashes with current rumours of a September/October 2022 announcement for the M2-powered iPad Pro range.
One of the most prevalent rumours right now is arguably one of the most obvious; the 11in iPad Pro (2022) is expected to match the 12.9in model’s Mini-LED display, after missing out on the tech in the 2021 range.
The news comes from the eerily accurate Ming-Chi Kuo, suggesting in a July 2021 note to investors that the iPad Pro 11in and MacBook Air will both get the mini-LED upgrade in 2022.
In fact, Tech Advisor Editor Jim Martin described the Mini-LED display as “phenomenal” in his 4.5-star iPad Pro 12.9in (2021) review. Despite not changing the overall form factor of the upcoming range, the new models of iPad Pro are rumoured to sport glass backs in place of the aluminium currently used.
The claim was backed up again in September 2021, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman doubling down on the glass rear and reverse wireless charging capabilities of the upcoming iPad Pro range. This would allow owners to charge a Qi-enabled iPhone or AirPods by placing them on the rear of the tablet – handy for quick top-ups. Instead, the company is developing prototypes with a larger Apple logo (similar in size to that of the new MacBook Pro) made entirely from glass to allow for wireless power transfer. In fact, leaker @Dylandkt claims that they’ve heard “nothing but concerns from multiple sources” about the wireless charging/MagSafe capabilities, so it may get pushed back or canned altogether. As well as a glass rear and reverse wireless charging, one analyst suggests the iPad Pro could get an updated design – though the leaker isn’t sure if it’s for this year’s model, or it’s just something in the works behind closed doors at Apple Park. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also suggests that the M2 could be on the cards for the new iPad Pro range, claiming that the new chipset’s CPU will be slightly faster than the M1 but will pack the same eight-core architecture. While it might not be exclusive to the iPad Pro range, Apple has taken the unusual step of confirming a number of new and improved accessibility features headed to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 later this year. What’s more, the feature can also be used in real life to provide captioning when talking to someone close by – ideal for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Okay, so this one is a little more out there, and chances are it won’t be on the 2022 model, but there are rumours that Apple could be bringing under-display camera and Face ID technology to the iPad Pro before it makes its debut on the iPhone.
iPad Pro 2021 leak hints at a thicker tablet — thanks to a killer upgrade
Normally Apple prides itself on offering the thinnest possible devices, so adding extra thickness is rare and usually reserved for an important reason. These are relatively minor changes in the grand scheme of things, but it does show that the iPad Pro range is constantly evolving. Other changes rumored to be coming to the iPad Pro 2021 range include an upgraded Apple Pencil 3 , Thunderbolt connectors, and a brand new chipset.
Though rumors are divided as to whether this chipset will be the A14X Bionic , or something new that promises to rival the Apple M1 chip in Cupertino’s Mac range.
Apple M2 iPad Pro series prices leaked along with details about more-responsive iPad mini and laminated iPad
3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , Arc , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , DIY , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , RISC-V , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker With plenty of rumors already suggesting that Apple will show off a couple of 6th-generation M2 iPad Pro tablets at an event in fall, it may be the purported 14.1-inch variant that will come later. However, the leaker asserts that this huge tablet will utilize a mini-LED panel and support ProMotion, which conflicts with details recently offered by another source.
New iPad Pro 2022: everything we know so far
The rumors so far don’t make the new iPad Pro sound like a huge reinvention, but we are starting to get the impression that they could bring some useful refinements. Latest news Apple has said that iPadOS 16 won’t launch until after iOS 16 (opens in new tab), which in turn suggests we might not see a new iPad Pro until after the iPhone 14.
That’s what Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a great track record for Apple information) reckons anyway, though one smaller leaker thinks that a 14.1-inch version is coming. There is a major leaker who thinks that the new iPad Pro (2022) line won’t get a large version though, so take it with a pinch of salt. It’s worth noting that we had previously heard that the iPad Pro 2022 might get an OLED screen instead, but more recent reports suggest that switch is further out. Later rumors suggested that the tablet might not have an entirely glass back, as that would make it incredibly fragile, but that the Apple logo on the rear could be made of this material, so MagSafe would work in that one particular spot. We’ve now heard multiple times that the iPad Pro (2022) will get MagSafe, with one report adding that it will apparently also get an M2 chipset – but that this will have the same CPU as the M1, just with more GPU cores and some speed improvements. We’ve also heard that future iPad Pro models might be focused on landscape orientation, with a horizontal Apple logo and cameras. A major name in Apple news said that the iPad Pro (2022) would see a redesign over its predecessors, but while the source holds weight, there isn’t actually much information regarding what ‘redesign’ actually means. iPad Pro devices are incredibly expensive tablets, and if you’re buying extras like Apple Pencils, keyboard folios, carrying cases, various apps and more, you could find yourself forking over loads just to use the thing. If you use your iPad Pro as a professional (like the name suggests), by editing video, music or images, working on multiple documents simultaneously, or even playing games, you can find the battery drains incredibly quickly. In fact, battery drain on the iPad Pro is so fast that we’ve often found plugging it in while working only offsets the power use, but doesn’t charge it back up.
This could be an issue for apps that need lots of RAM to run, including AR tools and editing software, and indeed some developers have complained about this limitation. A RAM cap could stop developers creating apps that need more power too, which would have implications for iPad software in the long run.
Multitasking is an issue, as you can’t view three apps simultaneously, or split the screen horizontally, two use cases which certain users might find very useful. iPadOS 15’s Universal Control looks useful, as it lets you drag and drop files and windows between your iPad and a Mac – but iPhone compatibility would make this feature truly seamless for people.
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