iPad Pro Waiting on 2022 iPad Pro Thread

[James Godfrey]

Yeah, this is what I realized when I made this thread and one of the first comments asked what I was hoping for in the next iteration of the device. I couldn’t think of much more I wanted besides smaller bezels (which might just end with a notch which I’m not sure I want) and a longer battery life. With the rumors of the next generation having a glass back (heavy and fragile) and wireless charging (which I don’t care for), and with the next model still likely being a year away, I just decided to order one now.

I got a 12.9” for $200 off. I figured, not only will I have to wait over a year for the next model, I’d likely have to wait months longer to get a discount this good again, so might as well just go for it now. The delivery date isn’t supposed to be for another month, but I’m fine waiting, and I’m hoping to get the Magic Keyboard on some kind of sale while im waiting with the holidays coming up.

Ironically, the release of the new MBPs is what convinced me to get the iPad. My current 4 year old iPad has been showing its age, and I’ve been wanting to make the 12.9” iPad my laptop replacement for years now. When I saw the prices of the new MBP, and I knew I’d never need that much power, but I also didn’t need a new laptop and didn’t want the 13” MBP or MBA with no ProMotion, dimmer displays, the old body, (it all feels archaic) I was like, maybe it’s just time to finally upgrade my iPad and go all out with the 12.9 Pro + MK + Apple Pencil. It’d be $1000 cheaper than ordering the MBP I would get, and hopefully, it will mean I will no longer be buying both a MBP and an iPad every few years.

We’ll see how it goes.

The issue with anything smaller than the current bezel size, is that the bezels themselves provide an area to grip the device without accidentally touch things on the display, so in theory smaller bezels sound great but functionally they won’t be.

Also remember rumours this far in advance are generally always wrong, and all the rumours point to a future iPad Pro not the next iPad Pro.

I am pretty certain all you will be missing out on when the next gen launches is a slightly faster chip (which I think all will agree isn’t required for the iPad Pro), minor spec bumps to the cameras and that is about it IMO.

The main focus of the M2 event in the fall will be the new redesigned MBA and I doubt Apple will want to distract people away from that with a redesigned iPad Pro too, Apple will want full focus in the media on their second gen silicon and their new redesigned Air.

I think the rumours we are currently seeing are likely based on leaked patents and internal testing leaks nothing more, and anything like what’s being rumoured will likely not be launched until 2024 at the earliest.

 

[darngooddesign]

The issue with anything smaller than the current bezel size, is that the bezels themselves provide an area to grip the device without accidentally touch things on the display, so in theory smaller bezels sound great but functionally they won’t be.

Apple figured out how to avoid accidental inputs with the first Mini which had tiny bezels on the sides you primarily held it with.

 

[James Godfrey]

Apple figured out how to avoid accidental inputs with the first Mini which had tiny bezels on the sides you primarily held it with.

Ah ok, must only be with iPad as if I grip my iPhone like an iPad it does all sorts to the screen ?

 

[xxray]

The issue with anything smaller than the current bezel size, is that the bezels themselves provide an area to grip the device without accidentally touch things on the display, so in theory smaller bezels sound great but functionally they won’t be.

People always say this whenever I bring up reduced bezels, but my iPads have always ignored my thumbs on the edge of the screen/that I’m holding the device with that are going past the bezels. Like for instance, to hold my 12.9” iPP, my thumbs already go past the bezel and are resting on the display because the bezels are already too small to not do this, but my iPad always knows to ignore those thumbs.

The trackpads on the MacBook Pros since 2016 have been comically large to where I pretty much always have some of my palm resting on the trackpad that isn’t meant to move the mouse, yet the Mac always knows to ignore this. I trust in Apple’s algorithms/software to ignore accidental touches.

Obviously, the only downside would be if your fingers cover up part of the display you’re trying to view, but there isn’t enough screen space taken up by my thumb or enough content at the edges of the screen to really matter, similar to the notch placement. I look forward to how futuristic and pretty an iPP with less bezel would look. It would be nice to have slightly smaller bodies or slightly larger screens too. It’d be the most efficient use of space.

 

[bscheffel]

Yes because…?

because with iPadOS 15 you can not....
1. Manage an iCloud music library (no smart playlists, no adding songs outside of iTunes Store (no lossless), no editing music tags)
2. Download files from iCloud Drive and make them stay downloaded like on Mac
3. Format an external SSD drive with encryption
4. Use an external webcam (or they could move the camera to top in landscape mode)
5. Use an external display to do anything other than mirror iPad screen with black letterbox bars

those would be the things on my wishlist - especially #1. Apple has gone from "Music is in our DNA" to "We are only interested in music if you want to pay us $9.99 a month forever"

 

[ericwn]

because with iPadOS 15 you can not....
1. Manage an iCloud music library (no smart playlists, no adding songs outside of iTunes Store (no lossless), no editing music tags)
2. Download files from iCloud Drive and make them stay downloaded like on Mac
3. Format an external SSD drive with encryption
4. Use an external webcam (or they could move the camera to top in landscape mode)
5. Use an external display to do anything other than mirror iPad screen with black letterbox bars

those would be the things on my wishlist - especially #1. Apple has gone from "Music is in our DNA" to "We are only interested in music if you want to pay us $9.99 a month forever"

Agree on pretty much everything on your list but I have my doubts that we’ll see much this year if at all. Fingers crossed though!

 

[MayaUser]

So from what im reading
1) If the next ipad pro comes until or at WWDC it will retain the M1
2) If the next ipad pro comes later this year (fall) , probably the most probably scenario, it will come with the M2 8cores cpu and 10cores gpu blizzard and Avalanche cores armv9 its a 50%-50% chance

And there are 2 scenarios for charging...
1) With glass back and with a puck like iphones, apple is expanding this charging ecosystem to the ipad too
2) With magsafe 3 , keeping the usbC port along side it

 

[bscheffel]

So from what im reading
1) If the next ipad pro comes until or at WWDC it will retain the M1
2) If the next ipad pro comes later this year (fall) , probably the most probably scenario, it will come with the M2 8cores cpu and 10cores gpu blizzard and Avalanche cores armv9 its a 50%-50% chance

And there are 2 scenarios for charging...
1) With glass back and with a puck like iphones, apple is expanding this charging ecosystem to the ipad too
2) With magsafe 3 , keeping the usbC port along side it

Given past history I think an October 2022 release date for new iPad Pro with M2 is most likely. It will also include change to landscape orientation for front camera.

I'm still so very confused about wireless charging and why it's needed for iPad. Adding a heavy glass back (even if partial) for puck charging seems clumsy and would require a new magic keyboard design. What's the benefit? Who is asking for puck charging on a large device like iPad?

Adding MagSafe 3 in addition to the existing TB port makes more sense but the point of MagSafe 3 is to not yank the device off the desk by hitting the cable - that's much less a worry on iPad since it is often used in hands/lap

Exactly what problem is Apple trying to solve here with wireless charging? I could argue magic keyboard is already a form of wireless charging.

I would much rather have a larger battery than wireless charging. iPad battery life is starting to lag compared to M1 MacBooks and iPhone

 

[MayaUser]

Adding MagSafe 3 in addition to the existing TB port makes more sense but the point of MagSafe 3 is to not yank the device off the desk by hitting the cable - that's much less a worry on iPad since it is often used in hands/lap

thats why its still on race...its not official we will get a heavier glass back
I would also opt for magsafe 3 and let my thunderbolt free while charging

 

[James Godfrey]

Given past history I think an October 2022 release date for new iPad Pro with M2 is most likely. It will also include change to landscape orientation for front camera.

I'm still so very confused about wireless charging and why it's needed for iPad. Adding a heavy glass back (even if partial) for puck charging seems clumsy and would require a new magic keyboard design. What's the benefit? Who is asking for puck charging on a large device like iPad?

Adding MagSafe 3 in addition to the existing TB port makes more sense but the point of MagSafe 3 is to not yank the device off the desk by hitting the cable - that's much less a worry on iPad since it is often used in hands/lap

Exactly what problem is Apple trying to solve here with wireless charging? I could argue magic keyboard is already a form of wireless charging.

I would much rather have a larger battery than wireless charging. iPad battery life is starting to lag compared to M1 MacBooks and iPhone

Yeah I can’t see a device with less than 10 hours average battery life getting reverse wireless charging, that just seems pointless to me.

The glass back as you say will require a new heavier magic keyboard, making the 12.9 feel like your lumping 2 MacBook airs around.

As for the change of orientation of the cameras, I still think this is a hardware limitation that is forcing apple to keep the cameras the way they are, the component for the pencil charger is a lot bigger than just a magnet and probably is forcing them to keep the cameras where they are…

I just have a feeling much like last year iPad was completely let down by the iPadOS 15 software, this year I think we will hear loads of weird and wonderful rumours then it will end up just looking exactly the same just with miniLED on the 11” and minor spec bumps to the cameras and the M2 chip.

 

[bscheffel]

Yeah I can’t see a device with less than 10 hours average battery life getting reverse wireless charging, that just seems pointless to me.

The glass back as you say will require a new heavier magic keyboard, making the 12.9 feel like your lumping 2 MacBook airs around.

As for the change of orientation of the cameras, I still think this is a hardware limitation that is forcing apple to keep the cameras the way they are, the component for the pencil charger is a lot bigger than just a magnet and probably is forcing them to keep the cameras where they are…

I just have a feeling much like last year iPad was completely let down by the iPadOS 15 software, this year I think we will hear loads of weird and wonderful rumours then it will end up just looking exactly the same just with miniLED on the 11” and minor spec bumps to the cameras and the M2 chip.

I just always assumed they would move the pencil charger to the side if they moved the camera.

 

[James Godfrey]

I just always assumed they would move the pencil charger to the side if they moved the camera.

Problem is the pencil would then cover the speaker grills

 

[hajime]

deleted

 

[hajime]

I have a M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2021. Deadline for returning is approaching. Wondering if I should return it or keep it given that there are news about upcoming 2022 iPad Pro.

I don't care about glass back nor wireless charging. The main feature I want to have is extended desktop screen mode on external 4K display. If Apple were to allow that, will the current Thunderbolt 3 port on the M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2021 be capable of doing it hardware wise? How likely will the 2022 iPad Pro be released before May? What I don't want to see is that I keep the iPad and in April/May Apple releases a new iPad Pro that can do extended screen mode but requires a new iPad Pro with Thunderbolt 4 port or whatever new port they can think of? The second thing I want is a larger screen iPad Pro. Do we need to wait for 1 or 2 more years?

 

[ericwn]

I have a M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2021. Deadline for returning is approaching. Wondering if I should return it or keep it given that there are news about upcoming 2022 iPad Pro.

I don't care about glass back nor wireless charging. The main feature I want to have is extended desktop screen mode on external 4K display. If Apple were to allow that, will the current Thunderbolt 3 port on the M1 iPad Pro 12.9" 2021 be capable of doing it hardware wise? How likely will the 2022 iPad Pro be released before May? What I don't want to see is that I keep the iPad and in April/May Apple releases a new iPad Pro that can do extended screen mode but requires a new iPad Pro with Thunderbolt 4 port or whatever new port they can think of? The second thing I want is a larger screen iPad Pro. Do we need to wait for 1 or 2 more years?

Nobody has answers to these questions besides guesses. I expect the next generation in fall. As to wether the current one would support extended monitor support, no idea. It’s been years for iPad Pro and the feature is still missing, that’s for sure. If the current iPad doesn’t have the features you need, get rid of it.

 

[hajime]

Nobody has answers to these questions besides guesses. I expect the next generation in fall. As to wether the current one would support extended monitor support, no idea. It’s been years for iPad Pro and the feature is still missing, that’s for sure. If the current iPad doesn’t have the features you need, get rid of it.

The current iPad is quite good. The only issues are:

1. No support for extended screen mode
2. Unnatural behavior of the file system (may remain the same even with iPad 2022 as it is the OS issue)
3. When launching the Camera app, regardless of going to take photo or video, there seem to be some kind of noise (like floating dusts) on the screen. Apple may use better lens for the 2022 models but nobody knows.
4. Better if 15" or 17" but 12.9" is OK especially we cannot have more than 2 apps opening at the same time.
5. Uneven loudness of clicking sound. No problem under 15.1 but after upgrading to 15.2 (replace iPad) and 15.2.1 (replacement iPad), they have this issue. Not a big deal. Hope they would fix it in 15.3.

Another way is to just keep it and upgrade 2-3 years later.

 

[rui no onna]

The current iPad is quite good. The only issues are:

1. No support for extended screen mode
2. Unnatural behavior of the file system (may remain the same even with iPad 2022 as it is the OS issue)
3. When launching the Camera app, regardless of going to take photo or video, there seem to be some kind of noise (like floating dusts) on the screen. Apple may use better lens for the 2022 models but nobody knows.
4. Better if 15" or 17" but 12.9" is OK especially we cannot have more than 2 apps opening at the same time.
5. Uneven loudness of clicking sound. No problem under 15.1 but after upgrading to 15.2 (replace iPad) and 15.2.1 (replacement iPad), they have this issue. Not a big deal. Hope they would fix it in 15.3.

Another way is to just keep it and upgrade 2-3 years later.

I think #1 & 2 are probably at odds with Apple's vision of how the iPad should function.

1. Without mouse and touchpad, how are you going to control apps/content on the extended screen? Apple may be reluctant to add certain functionality that requires a separate input device to be attached.

2. Sadly by iOS design.

 

[ericwn]

The current iPad is quite good. The only issues are:

1. No support for extended screen mode
2. Unnatural behavior of the file system (may remain the same even with iPad 2022 as it is the OS issue)
3. When launching the Camera app, regardless of going to take photo or video, there seem to be some kind of noise (like floating dusts) on the screen. Apple may use better lens for the 2022 models but nobody knows.
4. Better if 15" or 17" but 12.9" is OK especially we cannot have more than 2 apps opening at the same time.
5. Uneven loudness of clicking sound. No problem under 15.1 but after upgrading to 15.2 (replace iPad) and 15.2.1 (replacement iPad), they have this issue. Not a big deal. Hope they would fix it in 15.3.

Another way is to just keep it and upgrade 2-3 years later.

Most of what you mention is not specific to the pro models and is observed on any iPad, clicking noise bugs aside. And you can use three apps, with slideover, if I remember correctly.

 

[hajime]

I think #1 & 2 are probably at odds with Apple's vision of how the iPad should function.

1. Without mouse and touchpad, how are you going to control apps/content on the extended screen? Apple may be reluctant to add certain functionality that requires a separate input device to be attached.

2. Sadly by iOS design.

Does yours has this dust floating in air noise issue once the Camera app is launched?

 

[hajime]

Most of what you mention is not specific to the pro models and is observed on any iPad, clicking noise bugs aside. And you can use three apps, with slideover, if I remember correctly.

I forgot to mention one more thing. It takes a long time (about 10-15 seconds) for Magic Trackpad 2 to function. Not sure if other iPad also have this issue. Magic keyboard can function within 5 seconds.

 

[pretend.doctor]

Currently have a 2018 12.9, so it's around 3.5 years old now. Still pretty fast and all around a good device.

If the next model is redesigned or has significant updates, I'll spring for it. For me the biggest selling point of the 2021 version is mini LED, but couldn't justify getting a new device just yet - 2022/2023 sounds right to me.

 

[rui no onna]

Does yours has this dust floating in air noise issue once the Camera app is launched?

I’ve got poor lighting right now so there’s digital noise but I get the same from my iPhone SE 2020. No dust though.

With that said, the mid-range to high end iPhone cameras are usually better than the iPad’s.

I forgot to mention one more thing. It takes a long time (about 10-15 seconds) for Magic Trackpad 2 to function. Not sure if other iPad also have this issue. Magic keyboard can function within 5 seconds.

Magic Trackpad 2 connection is bluetooth. Magic Keyboard is physical (Smart Connector). It’s normal to have some delay with the Magic Trackpad.

 

[hajime]

I’ve got poor lighting right now so there’s digital noise but I get the same from my iPhone SE 2020. No dust though.

With that said, the mid-range to high end iPhone cameras are usually better than the iPad’s.




Magic Trackpad 2 connection is bluetooth. Magic Keyboard is physical (Smart Connector). It’s normal to have some delay with the Magic Trackpad.

Thanks.

Not sure if we are talking the same thing. The one I am using is called "Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Mac models with Apple silicon - US English". I can use it within about 5 seconds of turning it on. This is in pair with Logitech keyboard and mice. However, the Magic Trackpad 2 takes about 3 times longer to be functional.

 

[The Game 161]

Certainly nothing rumoured for this year's ipad pros give me reason to upgrade my 2021 12.9 ipad Pro. Sounds like 11 inch will get the mini Led display

 

[Ludatyk]

Certainly nothing rumoured for this year's ipad pros give me reason to upgrade my 2021 12.9 ipad Pro. Sounds like 11 inch will get the mini Led display

I’m definitely not upgrading my 2021 12.9 iPP to this year model… only tech I’m looking forward to is the Fold 4 along with the iPhone 14 Pro since Apple plans to remove the notch.