Apple may have only updated the iPad Pro line in May 2021, but you can bet that development for the next iteration is already well underway. In this article we round up all the news and rumours about what you can expect when the iPad Pro (2022) arrives – from its likely release date to new features, design changes, spec upgrades and more.
When will the iPad Pro (2022) be released?
At the time of writing, there’s no confirmed release date for the next generation of iPad Pro (or even concrete evidence that it exists), but we can look at when the last few models arrived to give us a clue.
- iPad Pro 11in (3rd Generation): May 2021
- iPad Pro 12.9in (5th Generation): May 2021
- iPad Pro 11in (2nd Generation): March 2020
- iPad Pro 12.9in (4th Generation): March 2020
- iPad Pro 11in (1st Generation): November 2018
- iPad Pro 12.9in (3rd Generation): November 2018
Now, as you can see, there’s no set window that Apple has adopted for introducing updates to the iPad Pro. It’s a little more settled on other iPad models, with Apple seeming to favour September, as we saw with the last two iterations of the standard iPad and the iPad Air. There are also rumours that a new iPad mini will be unveiled in the autumn, joined by an updated 10.5in iPad, which fits the September timeline.
It seems more likely to us that Apple will keep the Pro line distinct from the other models, so another first half of the year release date would be when we’d expect to see the next generation.
How much will the new iPad Pro (2022) cost?
Again, we remain in the realms of speculation when it comes to pricing, as Apple has made no announcements in this regard. So we need to use the last few generations as our North Star. Here’s how the baseline models lined up:
- iPad Pro 12.9in (5th Generation): £999/$1,099
- iPad Pro 11in (3rd Generation): £749/$799
- iPad Pro 12.9in (4th Generation): £769/$799
- iPad Pro 11in (2nd Generation): £969/$999
With that in mind, we think Apple will try to stick to the sub-£999 price tag in the UK and $1,099 in the US, as it’s one of those ‘magic’ figures that suggests quality but (relative) affordability.
What new features will we see in the iPad Pro 2022?
What surprises has Apple got up its sleeve for the 2022 update? Let’s look at the evidence.
Upgraded display for 11in iPad Pro
One of the strongest rumours we’ve seen so far is that the 11in iPad Pro will be granted parity to its larger sibling by the introduction of a mini-LED display, just like the 12.9in iPad Pro received in 2021. This technology is a step up from the normal LED LCD screens, as it allows more control over the contrast, making darker parts of the image even more dark, while also boosting the richness of colour and the maximum brightness of the display.
If you haven’t encountered this type of technology before, which Apple calls Liquid Retina XDR, you can read about it in our full review of the 12.9in iPad Pro (2021) and in our guide to what is Mini-LED?
This feature won’t just be reserved for the 11in iPad Pro (2022) though, as we’ve already seen plenty of rumours that Apple will be introducing it on the next MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Glass backs and wireless charging
Various news outlets, including Bloomberg, are reporting that the new iPad Pros will feature glass backs rather than the current aluminium ones. This is to allow the introduction of wireless charging for the first time on the iPad range.
While it’s been long rumoured that Apple would like to do away with all ports on its devices, we can’t see this being the time when it happens, as Pro users like to have the option to plug accessories into their devices to expand their capabilities. So wireless charging will be a welcome additional alongside the USB-C port rather than replacing it.
Reverse charging
The introduction of wireless charging could also usher in another feature that’s been popular on Android devices for a while – reverse charging. This rumour is much more tentative, but we could see Apple allowing the back of the new iPad Pros to act as a wireless charging pad for devices like the new iPhone 13 or Apple Watch Series 7.
M1X or M2 processor
Apple always likes to bestow the best of its processor line-up into the iPad Pros, which is one of the reasons they are so ridiculously powerful. It would be in keeping with this ethos, then, to see the anticipated M1X chip make an appearance at the heart of the 2022 models.
There is of course no confirmation of this as yet, but with our best clairvoyance hats on, we think there’s a pretty good chance. To find out more, read everything we know about the M1X and M2 chip.
As you can see there is plenty to be excited about for the next iteration of Apple’s iPad Pros. We’ll be updating this article as more news comes to light, so be sure to check back regularly to see what we find.
In the meantime, if you don’t want to wait until 2022 to get your hands on the flagship tablet, take a look at our roundups of the best iPad deals and where to buy the M1 iPad Pro models.