Category: Tablets Batteries

 Apple is rumored to release new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models as soon as next month. The new iPad will be the first update to the ‌iPad Pro‌ lineup since April 2021, and will be an overall incremental upgrade that brings new features and capabilities to the highest-end iPad.

Apple is reportedly planning an event in October to announce new ‌iPad Pro‌ models, a new benchmark ‌iPad‌, and an update for the Mac. As October approaches, we’ve outlined five of the biggest features and changes coming to the upcoming iPad Pro.

Wireless charging

According to Bloomberg, the next-generation iPad Pro is expected to include some form of wireless charging. Apple has reportedly tested glass backs instead of aluminum casings or using a larger glass Apple logo for the upcoming iPad, which would allow for wireless charging, although Apple has faced some challenges implementing the technology. Apple is also considering adding MagSafe to the iPad, but how it will be implemented is still unknown.

New connector

The upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ will feature two new four-pin connectors of some sort, as opposed to the three-pin Smart Connector found in the current ‌iPad Pro‌. The current three-pin ‌Smart Connector‌ in the ‌iPad Pro‌ is used to connect accessories like the Magic Keyboard. The inclusion of an updated four-pin connector expands the types of accessories supported by the iPad.

M2 chip

The current ‌iPad Pro‌ uses the M1 Apple silicon chip released in November 2020. The ‌M1‌ chip was Apple’s first Mac-specific custom processor, and it also appeared in the ‌iPad Pro‌ a few months later. For the upcoming “iPad Pro,” Apple is expected to use the updated M2 chip announced last June. According to Apple, the “M2” chip is 20% faster than the “M1” chip.

In the ‌iPad Pro‌, the ‌M2‌ chip will support features like Stage Manager that ships with iPadOS 16, which allows users to connect the ‌iPad‌ to an external display and have overlapping windows. According to Apple, iPadOS 16 will be released in October, likely alongside the updated iPad Pro.

The new Apple Pencil?

A video from April 2021 is said to show the third-generation Apple Pencil with a glossy finish and a redesigned tip. Despite the alleged leaks, Apple hasn’t announced a new “Apple Pencil” for nearly four years since the second-generation model debuted in 2018.

It’s been over a year since we’ve heard any major rumors about a new “Apple Pencil,” so it’s unclear what the situation is. If a new Apple Pencil does appear, we don’t expect major design changes, but the latency may improve due to internal hardware upgrades and software optimizations.

Reverse wireless charging?

According to Bloomberg, Apple has tested reverse wireless charging for the ‌iPad Pro‌, which will allow ‌iPad‌ owners to charge their AirPods or iPhone by placing it on the back of the ‌iPad‌. Apple is rumored to eventually plan to offer bilateral charging for accessories like AirPods to the ‌‌iPhone‌‌, but that has yet to happen.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>iPad battery

 While time is running out for the iPad Pro 2022 update, Apple hasn’t missed an annual update since 2019, and there are still rumors that they’ll launch this year. The upgrade to the M2 processor is a virtual lock, but there are rumors of other changes that some iPad fans might have to look forward to this year, including possibly increased wireless charging and a larger battery.

Here’s everything we know about the iPad Pro 2022 so far, including expected release date, specs, design, display, and more.

iPad Pro 2022 release date

Favorite possibility for the iPad Pro 2022 launch is Apple’s rumored October event, which should also see the debut of the MacBook Pro 2022 models. Apple’s October event last year was on October 18, 2021, so if they follow the same pattern, this year’s event is on October 17, 2022.

iPad Pro 2022 Design

While the basic design of the iPad Pro 2022 should look similar to last year’s model, there are some rumored design tweaks that could have a major impact on usage.

The first is a potential move to glass, adding wireless charging to the iPad Pro. This was first reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman back in 2021, although it was later challenged by a report from 9to5Mac. Assuming this is a form of MagSafe charging, it’s already seeping into Apple’s lineup again, starting with the iPhone 12 and more recently back to the MacBook.

Last month, a leak from Mac Otakara, a fairly reliable source of supply chain rumors, suggested that the chassis of the iPad Pro 2022 model will be almost unchanged, but will be changing from a 3-pin connector to a 4-pin connector. The current MagSafe 3 chargers on MacBooks use a 5-pin design, so this is unlikely to be a MagSafe charging port, but it could improve power transfer to and from peripherals like the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard.

iPad Pro 2022 Display

The underlying display technology on the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 models should be the same as last year. Early rumors suggested that the 11-inch model would feature a similar mini-LED panel to the 12.9-inch model, but recently analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Ross Young both said the LCD and mini-LED lineups will remain separate this year. Both are expected to move to OLED panels in 2023.

Early rumors also claimed that the iPad Pro 2022 models feature an iPhone-like notch in the display, and more recently the MacBook Pro and now the MacBook Air 2022, but there have been no new leaks about this effect recently. Especially after the release of the new “Dynamic Island” for the iPhone 14 Pro, it’s unclear what the future holds for the notch on more of Apple’s mobile devices.

iPad Pro 2022 Specifications

The M2 chip is the only spec update available for the iPad Pro 2022 models. Based on the MacBook Air and the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro, we can expect a considerable increase in performance and maybe even a slight increase in battery life.

The latter will likely benefit from the larger battery in the new model, something 9to5Mac and others have suggested. This wouldn’t be a shocking move, as battery life on the 12.9-inch model has suffered a bit compared to its predecessor, likely due to its mini-LED display.

Appearance

The most significant challenge for the 2022 iPad Pro models is the iPad Air 5, which became a formidable rival to Apple’s top-tier tablet last year. The lack of a ProMotion 120Hz display is the biggest drawback compared to the updated Pro models, so depending on your usage, its $599 entry point versus the smaller iPad Pro’s $799 might be too tempting to pass up.

For those who use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, the M2 upgrade may be enough to affect them. While most users’ tablets don’t need this level of power, the iPad Pro isn’t for most users.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>iPad battery

 Apple recently updated its back-to-school MacBook Air with a new M2 chip and a better camera and display. However, Apple’s iPad lineup will still be upgraded in 2022. The mid-range iPad Air got the M1 chip in the spring, but the entry-level iPad and iPad Pro were stalled until the fall. If you’ve been waiting for a new iPad model, here’s what you can expect.

Entry-level iPad: All-new design, plus USB-C

The entry-level iPad could get a major upgrade, according to a new report from Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac. The current entry-level ninth-generation iPad still has a Lightning port and an original circular Touch ID home button, but the design may eventually change to match the iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models. That could mean flatter edges, a curved display, USB-C charging, and a Touch ID button placed on the side, almost like a budget version of the iPad Air.

The base iPad can get the A14 chip found in the previous-generation iPad Air, which would be an upgrade from the A13 in the current iPad, but lack the M1 found on the Air and Pro models. If true, it could also mean the base iPad won’t be able to use the extra Stage Manager multitasking mode in iPadOS 16.

The entry-level iPad adopted the body design of the previous iPad Air in a similar fashion a few years ago. The move to USB-C charging feels long overdue. This would also allow entry-level iPads to be used with the second-generation Pencil, and possibly Apple’s line of Magic Keyboard Folios.

The 9to5Mac report also claims that entry-level iPads could get optional 5G cellular, which would be an upgrade from the current model’s LTE option. However, the price of entry-level iPads may rise, which is something to be aware of.

iPad Pro: A belated improvement

Meanwhile, the iPad Pro hasn’t seen an update since spring 2021, when it added 5G, an M1 chip, and a Mini LED display to the larger 12.9-inch version. Signs point to a new model launch in October.

The report also states that the Pros get the M2 chip that was recently introduced in the MacBook lineup, which seems to be the most obvious move. Other things that may or may not change:

Will the iPad finally fix the camera position?

The biggest iPad request, in addition to extensive improvements to the operating system to make it a better Mac replacement, also fixed the placement of the front-facing camera.

While Apple’s Zoom Center Stage camera technology helps, it doesn’t solve the eye contact problem. I would love to switch the camera to a longer edge, but who knows if that will be the case this year. Apple hasn’t changed the camera position on its latest iPad Air, so it feels unlikely.

An improved Magic Keyboard?

Apple’s Magic Keyboard from two years ago was useful, but it had drawbacks: It lacked a row of function keys, was expensive, and couldn’t fold back into a folio orientation for reading or sketching. It’s unlikely Apple will lower the price of the case, but I’d like to see an upgraded model with function keys and maybe even add a USB-C/Thunderbolt port. Currently, there are no reports that this will happen.

New pencils?

Apple’s Pencil is also pretty old now, and the second-generation model, while sturdy, is long and awkward to store. Will Apple consider a more compact Pencil, or one that’s easier to incorporate into the iPad Pro design? Another programmable touch-sensing feature or two on the side would also help. Again, there are no reports on this.

MagSafe can be used

Some rumors point to the addition of wireless charging to the Pro tablets. Will it be MagSafe? MagSafe is present in Apple’s recent MacBook Pros, iMacs, and iPhones. One of the odd things about MagSafe so far is that each instance involves a different type of charger. Will Apple make the iPad Pro MagSafe another unique accessory separate from the iPhone and MacBook versions? Apple’s iPad Magnetic Smart Connector already offers this type of snap-on charging accessory functionality for devices like the Magic Keyboard, although Smart Connector-compatible accessories are still few and far between.

Will the display technology be the same?

The 12.9-inch 2021 iPad Pro is the only model with a boosted Mini LED display, similar to recent MacBook Pros, offering deeper blacks and more dynamic contrast. The 11-inch model may still not get Mini LED this year. Instead, the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPads will likely feature OLED displays in an upgrade over the next year.

Battery Life

 The more power-hungry nature of the iPad Pro and its keyboard case could mean a useful battery upgrade is in the works. In my experience, the 2022 iPad Air tends to have faster battery life than the M1 Air. The MacBook Air now outperforms the iPad in battery performance, and maybe in 2022 the iPad Pro might catch up.

>>>>>>>>>>>>iPad battery