Apple’s most exciting upcoming iPads may not be Pro models

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

The rumors about a small iPad have changed. Ross Young, a supply chain analyst, predicted last week that the device would be branded as an iPad Pro and that it would have the same display as the iPad Pro. According to a report from MacRumors, Young predicts that the 14.1-inch tablets won't have MiniLED or a 120Hz display.

There are rumors that the entry-level iPad, which sells for $329, will get a big upgrade with modern specifications.

Image: Apple

It does seem a bit confusing, but the move does make sense. Stage Manager will be coming later this year and will benefit from extra screen space. It wouldn't hurt for Apple to shy away from high prices for the first iPad that could really take advantage of the system, so less expensive doesn't necessarily mean cheaper. The people who would appreciate more screen real estate the most would be the iPadOS enthusiasts, who don't like having to choose between getting a bigger canvas or sticking with the beautiful display tech from the 12.9-inch Pro.

The first quarter of 2023 will be when the iPad will be released, according to Young.

Part of the decision to not put a maxed-out screen on the 14.1-inch could be due to supply chain considerations. It seems like Apple may not be able to keep up with demand for the MiniLED-equipped iPad Pro. It would take over two weeks for me to get the base model of the Pro, whereas I could get the Air within hours. It's not easy to find configurations of the MacBook Pro with a 14.2 inch MiniLED display.

It won't be a problem for Apple's entry-level iPad to have MiniLED panels. According to 9to5Mac, the iPad Air will get a refresh later this year, which will include the same resolution as the current device. The current model has a screen of 2160 x 1620.

According to 9to5 the upgraded iPad will join every other current iPad model in having a USB-C connection instead of the Lightning one, and it will also have 5G capabilities. The A14 chip is an upgrade from the current A13 chip. The report doesn't mention whether the company will update the tablet's design along with its capabilities, but if it's really getting a new screen and port, it'd be very strange How could you fit a larger screen and a home button in the same space?

The iPad Pro will get a refresh later this year, according to Mark Gurman. They are expected to get the M2 chip, which Apple announced at the conference. Last year, it was rumored that the 11-inch iPad Pro would get the MiniLED, but recent rumors have it that the smaller iPad won't get the advanced display tech. The upgrade to iPadOS may work well with an upgrade to a desktop-class processor. It seems that those may be from the lower end of the iPad range.