Apple will apparently be unveiling new iPad Pro models a bit later than initially expected. However, a number of juicy rumored details about the specs have emerged, including upgrades that have not been seen before in previous iPad models. The iPad Pro came with lots of standout features that made it a cut above its other variants when it debuted back in 2015.
For starters, it’s the largest iPad Apple ever made, with up to a 12.9-inch screen that’s as big as those on many laptops. The last iteration of the iPad Pro, in early 2020, boasted a speedy A12Z processor, but that’s now being succeeded by the iPad Air 4 and its newer A14 processor, putting it a bit behind the pack in terms of hardware. This is expected to change at an upcoming launch event, however, which Apple was thought to have planned for March 23.
New reports, though, including from Bloomberg, are suggesting that the event will instead take place in April. The new iPad Pro is expected to come in the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch size options as the last generation, with an emphasis on internal upgrades. Instead of running on an A14 processor like the latest iPad Air, Apple will reportedly be fitting it with something that’s “on par with the faster M1 chip in the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.”
New iPad Pro: How Much Better Will It Be?
Apple is said to be incorporating its rumored Mini-LED technology into the bigger 12.9-inch iPad Pro variant, which will mean a better, brighter, and more accurate display. Other notable improvements that are expected include better cameras and faster data-sync speeds as a result of replacing the previous USB-C port with a Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt port — like used on the latest Macs — would be also capable of connecting external monitors, storage drives, and other accessories without the need for a new charger.
Instead of introducing nominal changes for the sake of making the iPad Pro more modern than its predecessor, the rumored changes sound like Apple is trying to make it perform more like a MacBook, but with the form and portability of a tablet. If Apple does equip the next iPad Pro with a processor that’s comparable to the MacBook’s M1, which can easily outperform A14 processors, then it will certainly be the most powerful iPad yet and could represent a significant shift towards laptop-like performance in a tablet form factor.
