Apple has big plans for its iPad lineup — if you believe the recent rumors and reports, that is.
On Wednesday, Bloomberg said Apple plans to launch new iPads as early as April. They’ll have better processors and improved cameras, but otherwise be the same size and have a similar design to the current iPad Pro, which comes with an 11-inch or a 12.9-inch display.
The new processor will be “on par” with Apple’s most powerful processor, the M1, which is currently powering the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. And at least one of the iPad Pro models — likely the larger one — will have a Mini-LED display for better brightness and contrast ratios than the current iPad Pro models.
The new iPad Pros will also have a new Thunderbolt connector. It will look the same as the previous one, but it will allow connectivity with additional peripherals, such as monitors and hard drives.
Finally, Bloomberg says Apple will also refresh the iPad with a thinner and lighter design, albeit later this year. A new iPad mini with a larger display is also purportedly coming, which is in line with a rumor we heard earlier this month, though there’s no word on when it may launch.
On Friday, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo chimed in with his predictions (via MacRumors). He says that a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display will enter mass production in mid-to-late April, which roughly coincides with Bloomberg’s timeline.
This might mean, however, that Apple’s rumored March 23 event won’t happen — or that it will happen next month. The company is likely to launch new iPads, the long-rumored AirTags, and a new Apple TV at the event.
Kuo also said Apple will launch an iPad Air with an OLED display in the second half of 2022, while the more advanced Mini-LED display will remain reserved for the iPad Pro.