October is likely to be a good month for iPad fans with new models expected any day now. That includes a faster version of the iPad Pro and a redesigned budget iPad, according to leaks.
But don’t expect them to appear at a glitzy event. Apple is apparently going to launch these on the downlow.
It’s time for new iPads
While there have been numerous unconfirmed reports pointing to multiple new iPad models on the way, these aren’t required to know that Apple has fresh tablets up its sleeve. It’s only necessary to look at a calendar.
The iPad Pro line generally gets refreshed roughly every year and half. While new models sometimes come more quickly than that, there has never been a two-year gap. The last version debuted April 2021, so a replacement is almost certainly about to launch.
Apple is currently in the habit of bringing out out new budget iPad models every autumn – it’s done so since 2019. The leaves are falling which means it’s time for the iPad 10.
2022 iPad Pro
One can be almost virtually certain that the 2022 iPad Pro will have an Apple M2 processor, the same as in the 2022 MacBook Air. This will make the tablet better at running upcoming iPadOS 16 features, including Stage Manager and greater support for external displays.
The general design of the tablet is not expected to change, but tipsters say the next iPad Pro will include MagSafe so it won’t depend on its single USB-C port for charging. Another report alleges the tablet is getting a couple of mystery ports.
Apple is expected to stay with 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the tablet. The smaller model will allegedly stick with a standard LED, not move to mini-LED like the larger one.
iPad 10
Photo: Mysmartprice/Cult of Mac
Info leaking out of Apple says more dramatic changes are coming to the entry-level iPad 10. This is supposedly in for a redesign to include a larger screen. But it’ll supposedly hold onto its Home button.
The new iPad will also be the end of the Lightning port in tablets. It’s allegedly making the switch to USB-C, as every other iPadOS model already has.
And it recently slipped out that the iPad 10 will support Apple Pencil 2, while its predecessors worked with the original version.
It is not known whether inflation pressure will force Apple to raise the cost or if the 2022 version will stay at $329.
iPadOS 16.1
The fresh new iPad models will surely launch running iPadOS 16.1, which means they’ll be out at about the same time as the operating system update reaches other iPads, which is expected to happen in the last week of October.
Just so there’s no confusion, there was no iPadOS 16 – the OS upgrade has been delayed over a month to give more time complete Stage Manager, and will debut with version 16.1. Full support for external displays has been pushed back even further.
Plenty of other new features are coming too, like a major update to the Files app, a stand-alone Weather app, enhancements to the Mail app and many more.
