Apple is reportedly working on a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro that could become a true replacement for conventional laptops, thanks to the multitasking features coming to iPadOS 16. The report comes almost a year after Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on iPads with larger screens, possibly with better multitasking abilities than the existing models. Gurman also predicted that such a device might still be two years away from making it to the market.
At WWDC 2022, Apple announced iPadOS 16 with a slew of new features, especially for M1 iPad users. The most notable of these is Stage Manager, which will be exclusive to the iPad Air and iPad Pro powered by the Apple M1. The feature offers multiple multi-tasking options ideal for large-screen devices. That includes resizable windows, center app, intuitive app arrangement to focus on the current apps, overlapping windows of different sizes in a single view, the ability to create app groups, and more. iPadOS 16 also brings proper external display support for M1 iPad users.
In a recent tweet, Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) CEO and serial tipster Ross Young claimed that Apple is working on a new iPad Pro with a 14.1-inch screen. According to Young, the device could be in line for an early-2023 release, which would be in line with Gurman’s prediction from last year that the large-screen iPad Pro could launch a couple of years down the line. Young also revealed some of the display-related specifications of the upcoming device, saying that it will have MiniLEDs and ProMotion technology.
Large-Screen iPad Pro With High-End Hardware
If the latest report is accurate and a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro is indeed in the works, it wouldn’t be a day too soon. Apple has long been under pressure from consumers to develop a large-screen iPad that could better accommodate trackpad input. If Apple truly wants users to ditch their traditional laptops for an iPad, this device would have the best chance of convincing users to do so. It would be especially true if the device turns out to be the sort of creativity powerhouse that CAD designers, video editors and other power users would want to use.
To turn an iPad into a laptop replacement, it would at least need a powerful processor, a ton of RAM, and lots of storage options, similar to the MacBook Pro models. As it turns out, that’s exactly what Apple might be looking to do. According to tipster Majin Bu, the new 14.1-inch iPad will be powered by the M2 chip and can be configured with up to 4TB of storage, and up to 32GB of unified memory. Even the base model of the rumored new iPad will apparently ship with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. If accurate, these specs would suggest that Apple is serious about challenging the status quo of traditional laptops with its upcoming large-screen iPad, but whether it will be successful in doing so remains to be seen.
