iPad Pro Waiting on 2022 iPad Pro Thread

[mrLucas]

According to MacRumors’ Buyers Guide, a new iPad Pro is released on average every 500 days. It looks like, based on the 2021 model, the next iPad Pro will likely be released in September or October 2022.

That makes perfect sence, since it will be after Mac Pro is released with apple silicon Pro Max processor in June 2022.

I want to see 256gb being the entry level model, XDR coming to 11” and M2.
*iPad should lead with M2 processor, since it doesnt get the Max and Pro versions

Cant wait to get one ? (but they need to bring those three things for me to upgrade)

 

[Isengardtom]

I agree, it’s time to update the iPad Air base tot 128 GB and the pro to 256 GB

 

[koigirl]

I have ordered a 2021 iPad Pro 11 256 to replace my 2017 IPP 10.5. The 12.5 incher is too big for my purposes. I am second-guessing myself bc it lacks mini-LED but then I read about problems with that display technology so I think why wait.

My question which I can’t find an answer to is predicted release date for IPP 11” with mini-LED. Should that be expected in March of 2022 or not until October? If it’s March, I’ll probably return and just wait but if it’s October, that will be close to another year and I’ll just trade in then on the new LED one.

Also, is mini-LED worth waiting for? In all other ways, 2021 IPP 11 will be big upgrade for me.

 

[rui no onna]

Also, is mini-LED worth waiting for? In all other ways, 2021 IPP 11 will be big upgrade for me.

Personally, it's nice to have but it wouldn't bother me at all if the iPad Pro didn't have it.

 

[xxray]

I have ordered a 2021 iPad Pro 11 256 to replace my 2017 IPP 10.5. The 12.5 incher is too big for my purposes. I am second-guessing myself bc it lacks mini-LED but then I read about problems with that display technology so I think why wait.

My question which I can’t find an answer to is predicted release date for IPP 11” with mini-LED. Should that be expected in March of 2022 or not until October? If it’s March, I’ll probably return and just wait but if it’s October, that will be close to another year and I’ll just trade in then on the new LED one.

Also, is mini-LED worth waiting for? In all other ways, 2021 IPP 11 will be big upgrade for me.

You do you, but I wouldn’t have upgraded my iPad this year (was coming from a 2017 10.5 iPP as well) without a major display improvement like mini-LED. I was so tired of the lack of contrast/washed out blacks on the 10.5 iPP. But, for context, I’m a very particular user when it comes to wanting dark inky blacks, because I often use my devices in dark rooms and with dark mode, pure black backgrounds with white/light gray text. I value it and notice it more than probably 90%-95% of users. The blooming on the 12.9” 2021 iPP is very noticeable to me, and it is distracting, but I still consider the display to be quite the improvement over the previous LCD displays.

From what reviewers and people online have said, the new mini-LED MacBook Pros have much less blooming than the 2021 iPP, so maybe in the next generation of the iPP, Apple will fix or greatly reduce the blooming and bring the improved version with less blooming to both the 11” and 12.9” models.

 

[The Game 161]

I’m not sure what they could add to improve things on the 12.9. All the main improvements need to be done on software

11 inch will get mini led but 12.9? I doubt there will be much difference aside from reverse wireless charging

 

[darngooddesign]

I’m not sure what they could add to improve things on the 12.9. All the main improvements need to be done on software

People have said that the new MBPs exhibit less blooming under the same conditions so the mini-led screen tech could be refined. Beyond that, moving the front camera to prioritize landscape and improving bass in the speakers would be nice. I personally would like backlit keys and a caps lock light in the Smart Keyboard Folio.

 

[SmugMaverick]

I can see an M2 iPad Pro and the 11” getting mini led display this time as a slight improvement due to the redesign being the main feature in 2022.

M2 Macbook Air is also due so they both could come in the spring event.

I’m still unsure about this strong rumour of wireless charging and glass back on the iPad coming, it makes no sense but I assume it’ll be MagSafe.

I could see a thicker device with a smaller camera bump, bigger battery and iPhone 4 style design similar to the rumoured iPhone 14, iPad Pro in 2018 started the new flat edge designs at Apple so it could be the first again.

 

[kristalsoldier]

Sorry, but I agree with @nicetriangles here. The M1 chip and its variants are industry changing. It sounds more like you just don't appreciate the impact that they have, as opposed to any upgrades being boring. There have absolutely not been boring upgrades in the last year and a half.

Which industries, precisely? And in what ways has it transformed them?

 

[Jl006p]

I regret selling my 2018 12.9" iPad Pro. I upgraded to the M1 Pro with 1TB and 5G connectivity. After the initial excitement it really felt like the same iPad. I had it for a few weeks before it got stolen.

I have the new 16" MBP but I do miss having the iPad for certain things.

Now that I have a huge screen I'll prolly end up getting the 11" iPad Pro. I really hope they give it the XDR display next year. If the iPad Air didn't top out at 256GB I'd prolly choose that over the 11". Heck, even a 2nd gen 11" iPad Pro with the A12Z is still plenty of power for what I need.

I really can't think of what more they can do with the hardware of the iPad Pro. The M1 is overkill for iPadOS.

• XDR display for 11"
  • Maybe even make the 11" a bit bigger?
• MagSafe fast charging
• Nano Texture Glass
• 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
• Redesign the smart keyboard folio
  • My old Smart Keyboard folio got all wrinkled up and the keys started to fade. They age horribly
  • Something to secure the Apple Pencil in place. The second I slide my iPad into my bag the pencil falls off
• New colors? Silver and Space Gray are getting so boring. A fresh paint of coat would be exciting. I would like to see a matte black color
• Kill off 128GB and make 256GB the base model

The rest of my desires are all software related. iPadOS is a disservice to this incredible device.

 

[James Godfrey]

Personally I am not expecting much from the 2022 iPad Pro (which I expect will get launched in the fall).

The current rumours for a refreshed design are… glass back/wireless charging and landscape orientated apple logo cameras etc…

Firstly with the glass back/wireless charging situation, I don’t think this is going to be happening next year, primarily because Apple have really only just launched a new colour option with the Magic Keyboard… why bother doing that when 18 months later they are going to have to launch a new magic keyboard, just doesn’t seem very Apple, they can quite easily run til late 2023/early 2024 with their magic keyboard offering.

Secondly with the landscape orientated rumours, that would mean the volume rockers and Apple Pencil charging locations would all have to move as well as speaker placements, seems like hell of a lot of work for what is a relatively minor improvement, on top of that why would apple bother with their centre stage workaround on the iPad then centre the camera in landscape 18 months later, there is a reason why centre stage is only on the iPad line up and it’s likely because apple are struggling to justify the additional R&D costs making the iPad primarily landscape

I am not saying these features arnt coming, but I highly doubt it’s going to be in 2022, probably more like 2024.

-

What I am expecting is exactly the same chassis, minor camera spec bumps, M2 chipset, miniLED on 11”, possibly slightly slimmer bezels, other than that I can’t see much else coming.

 

[Traverse]

I’ll be selling my 2021 12.9” iPad Pro next year and upgrading to whatever the 2022 11” iPad Pro offers. After finally owning and using the larger iPad, I’ve learned that I prefer the smaller device.

As far as what I want from the 2022 iPad Pro, really my only complaint about my current devices is that it’s built as a portrait device. I use this iPad in landscape the majority of the time and my hand is always covering the Face ID sensor. I really hope, at least for the Pros, they just move the camera to the top bezel from the perspective of using it in a Smart Keyboard.

Also, to mirror something I believe @rui no onna has mentioned, the iPads with the standard A-series processors seem to be able to last longer between charges than iPads with the X-variants or M1. It'll never happen, but I'd be happy with an 11" iPad Pro equipped with the A15. That would have all the performance I need and use less power.

 

[James Godfrey]

I’ll be selling my 2021 12.9” iPad Pro next year and upgrading to whatever the 2022 11” iPad Pro offers. After finally owning and using the larger iPad, I’ve learned that I prefer the smaller device.

As far as what I want from the 2022 iPad Pro, really my only complaint about my current devices is that it’s built as a portrait device. I use this iPad in landscape the majority of the time and my hand is always covering the Face ID sensor. I really hope, at least for the Pros, they just move the camera to the top bezel from the perspective of using it in a Smart Keyboard.

Also, to mirror something I believe @rui no onna has mentioned, the iPads with the standard A-series processors seem to be able to last longer between charges than iPads with the X-variants or M1. It'll never happen, but I'd be happy with an 11" iPad Pro equipped with the A15. That would have all the performance I need and use less power.

I really hope apple pull the landscape orientation out of the bag, but there is a hell of a lot more to it than what people initially think.

Moving the camera would mean repositioning most of the other components including: magnetic charger for pencil, speakers, volume buttons, I really think Apple have tried moving everything around but then realised it was far too much work for what minor improvement it will give and settled on Centre Stage as a workaround, and that is why I think they have pretty much kept that as an iPad only feature, and haven’t brought it to the iPhone or Mac line up.

 

[Traverse]

I really hope apple pull the landscape orientation out of the bag, but there is a hell of a lot more to it than what people initially think.

Moving the camera would mean repositioning most of the other components including: magnetic charger for pencil, speakers, volume buttons, I really think Apple have tried moving everything around but then realised it was far too much work for what minor improvement it will give and settled on Centre Stage as a workaround, and that is why I think they have pretty much kept that as an iPad only feature, and haven’t brought it to the iPhone or Mac line up.

Eh, they could also put the camera at the bottom bezel when in landscape mode. Not sure how much Center Stage could help that wonky angle. At least they could add the sensors there. I'd have to check, but does FaceID actually use the camera itself? I thought it was the dot projector/reader. If it doesn't also use the camera they could move the seniors to the bottom edge and keep the camera on the left edge and the Pencil unmodified.

 

[James Godfrey]

Eh, they could also put the camera at the bottom bezel when in landscape mode. Not sure how much Center Stage could help that wonky angle. At least they could add the sensors there. I'd have to check, but does FaceID actually use the camera itself? I thought it was the dot projector/reader. If it doesn't also use the camera they could move the seniors to the bottom edge and keep the camera on the left edge and the Pencil unmodified.

I can’t see them implementing the actual camera in the bottom bezel, as otherwise they would have simply avoided the notch and done the same in the MBP’s, it would give a looking up your nose view during FaceTime etc…

In order to only incorporate the Face ID sensors into the bottom bezel would require the dot projector, flood illuminator and the second infrared camera to be moved to the bottom, which is still quite a bit to be moved/altered, on top of this, there is a reason why that bottom bezel doesn’t have any sensors on it, primarily because there are still a large portion of users who use the iPad in portrait and they would then have the same issue landscape users have, so by solving a problem for a number of users it will be creating a problem for a number of users also.

**

Based on current rumours the only thing I can see possible is…

The magnetic charger connection getting completely removed, then moving the cameras and Face ID sensors to the top landscape bezel, and utilising the rumoured magnetic charging on the back of the device to be the way the pencil pairs and charges… at the same time introducing the rumoured Magic Keyboard 2 which has a pencil slot in the hinge which also charges and stores the pencil and also uses the magnetic charging on the back of the iPad to connect rather than the 3 pin smart connector.

The reason I think this is because the way the pencil currently charges on the iPad is a bit meh, as it is almost guaranteed to detach when being put in a bag or whatever anyway.

What we have to remember about rumours of upcoming devices is anything which is coming out this long before a product sees the light of day is generally always wrong, the rumours to look out for will be those that are circulating after WWDC 2022, as these will be a lot closer to what we will see during the fall of 2022.

 

[darngooddesign]

Personally I am not expecting much from the 2022 iPad Pro (which I expect will get launched in the fall).

The current rumours for a refreshed design are… glass back/wireless charging and landscape orientated apple logo cameras etc…

Firstly with the glass back/wireless charging situation, I don’t think this is going to be happening next year, primarily because Apple have really only just launched a new colour option with the Magic Keyboard… why bother doing that when 18 months later they are going to have to launch a new magic keyboard, just doesn’t seem very Apple, they can quite easily run til late 2023/early 2024 with their magic keyboard offering.

Secondly with the landscape orientated rumours, that would mean the volume rockers and Apple Pencil charging locations would all have to move as well as speaker placements, seems like hell of a lot of work for what is a relatively minor improvement, on top of that why would apple bother with their centre stage workaround on the iPad then centre the camera in landscape 18 months later, there is a reason why centre stage is only on the iPad line up and it’s likely because apple are struggling to justify the additional R&D costs making the iPad primarily landscape

I am not saying these features arnt coming, but I highly doubt it’s going to be in 2022, probably more like 2024.

-

What I am expecting is exactly the same chassis, minor camera spec bumps, M2 chipset, miniLED on 11”, possibly slightly slimmer bezels, other than that I can’t see much else coming.

The speakers and charging port are already optimized for landscape so they wouldn’t need to move. Volume buttons are interesting because if they stayed in the same place they are actually reversed for how they should logically be with plus logically needing to be on the right. I’ve always thought that + and - should changed based on the orientation with plus being the top button regardless of which way you hold it.

 

[DanTSX]

I just want the IPP 12.9" screen scaled down to 11" and battery life on par with contemporary iPhone 14 Pro Max.

 

[The Game 161]

I might just wait for the rumoured 2023 15 inch iPad Pro.

 

[James Godfrey]

The speakers and charging port are already optimized for landscape so they wouldn’t need to move. Volume buttons are interesting because if they stayed in the same place they are actually reversed for how they should logically be with plus logically needing to be on the right. I’ve always thought that + and - should changed based on the orientation with plus being the top button regardless of which way you hold it.

Only problem is if the camera is going to be where it rumoured that means the pencil magnetic charger would have to go on the edge where the camera is now, which would cover the speaker grills.

 

[darngooddesign]

Only problem is if the camera is going to be where it rumoured that means the pencil magnetic charger would have to go on the edge where the camera is now, which would cover the speaker grills.

The bezel is pretty thick I bet they could fit both.

 

[James Godfrey]

The bezel is pretty thick I bet they could fit both.

If not they could always go with a notch ?

 

[James Godfrey]

I'd be surprised if an M# chip gets announced in an iPad before any Mac, at least right now. Given that, we would have to at least wait until the MacBook Air is announced (rumors point to summer 2022) for the introduction of the M2.

Honestly, all I see happening during the next refresh is an M2 spec bump and the 11" getting a mini-LED display along with other minor niceties (camera improvement, more wireless bands, etc.) Given Apple's current design direction, I don't think we'll see a refreshed design any time soon.

I'll upgrade my Pro next time they change the screen tech - whether that be OLED or Micro-LED.

I fully agree with this…

Rumours this early on are almost always wrong…

The current rumours are….

1. Glass back, although on paper this sounds like a nice idea, I think everyone is in agreement that the weight and fragility will put many people off even buying it, who wants an even heavier iPad???

2. Reverse wireless charging, who is even asking for this on an iPad, also on top of that I would presume it would be MagSafe, in which case I would expect MagSafe 2 to be launched which transfers data as well as charging mainly for it to be used with a new redesigned magic keyboard, but again why would Apple launch a white magic keyboard this year only to refresh it completely next year, it just seems a bit of wasted development time, I doubt the white keyboard would have boosted sales of the accessory.

3. Apple Logo and Camera Orientation Changes, this is the only rumour which may ‘possibly’ happen, however, I very much doubt it without a complete redesign as it will require a lot more internal changes than just moving the cameras IMO, again it’s a lot of development for what will essentially be a pretty minor change in general usage, on top of this with Apple introducing centre stage this year seems like a sort of a workaround as apple haven’t found a way to incorporate the cameras in the landscape orientation as of yet as the pencil charger is essentially right where the camera would need to be, which also explains why the centre stage feature never came to the Mac or the iPhone this year, it’s a workaround feature which is an iPad exclusive at this point.

-

Overall I expect a fall launch of the M2 iPad Pro with general camera improvements, miniLED coming to the 11”, maybe a slight improvement of miniLED over the last gen (less blooming etc), probably slightly better speakers but that is pretty much it.

We know that the iPad Pro’s are likely going to be launched alongside the redesigned MacBook Air in the fall, and I doubt Apple will want that to be overshadowed by a redesigned iPad Pro within the same event, I think the iPad Pro will be a side launch with the main star being the MacBook Air.

 

[darngooddesign]

A glass back would change the iPad thickness and people were already annoyed that they had to buy a new Magic Keyboard because the MiniLED 13" iPad Pro was slightly thicker, can you imagine Apple telling people they now have to buy the MagicKeyboard-3.

 

[James Godfrey]

A glass back would change the iPad thickness and people were already annoyed that they had to buy a new Magic Keyboard because the MiniLED 13" iPad Pro was slightly thicker, can you imagine Apple telling people they now have to buy the MagicKeyboard-3.

100% plus with a glass back the three pin connector will be gone too… I think the current design will be in for at least another couple of years… Apple don’t really need to change anything on the device, their main focus should be software at the moment as it’s currently playing catch up

 

[darngooddesign]

100% plus with a glass back the three pin connector will be gone too… I think the current design will be in for at least another couple of years… Apple don’t really need to change anything on the device, their main focus should be software at the moment as it’s currently playing catch up

If Apple can use the smart connector and magnets with a metal back, they can figure out how to use them with a glass back. I just don't think they will.