Apple is expected to announce a new iPad Pro on May 7. After a mild M2 update in late 2022, rumors indicate a significant refresh coming to Apple’s high-end tablets this year. Here’s everything we know about it.
Release date
Image source: Apple Inc.After rumors about Apple introducing the new iPad Pro in early 2024, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says he expects Apple to announce this device in early May. In one of his Power On newsletters, he reported that Apple was preparing a “special version of iOS 17.4 with support for the new hardware.” Although this product might be released alongside iPadOS 17.5, Apple has confirmed a special event for May 7.
In addition, OLED panel production started in February 2024. While Apple has enough 13-inch displays, it’s lagging behind with 11-inch screens. With that LG is now also producing these displays to help Samsung.
Design: Apple embraces OLED displays
After differentiating both iPad Pro models by their display (LCD for the 11-inch model and miniLED for the 12.9-inch version), Apple is said to see the same panel technology for the different screen sizes.
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Actually, of all the rumors, this is the one we have heard the most about during the lifecycle of the 2022 iPad Pro. In October last year, DSCC’s Ross Young predicted that both iPad Pro models would have an OLED display in 2024.
According to him, Apple is making this switch because “costs are falling,” OLED performance is improving thanks to tandem stacks and phosphorescent blue emitters. Besides Young, many other analysts reinforced that OLED is coming to the new iPad, such as The Elec, Omdia, Bloomberg, and more.
Recently, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, said Apple is increasing the display size of the larger iPad Pro from 12.9 inches to 13-inches. Besides that, it’s unclear if Apple will change the aluminum finish of this tablet or if it will have any other design change.
A matte display option could be a reality
Image source: Jonathan S. Geller for BGRAccording to Weibo user Instant Digital, who has a great track record with hardware Apple leaks, Cupertino is planning a Nano Texture-like glass surface for the display panel in the upcoming iPad Pro.
With that, Apple would offer both glossy and matte finishes for the iPad Pro. Matte screen protectors are very popular for iPads since they improve drawing and writing with an Apple Pencil. In addition, this nano-texture glass would also have a blue-light blocking technology to help protect the eyes while also reducing reflection.
Interestingly, this would be the first time Apple offers a matte display for the iPad Pro. If this leak is accurate, Cupertino will expand its nano-texture technology from its Pro Display XDR and Studio Display products to its tablets for the first time.
These are the dimensions for the new iPad Pro
A 9to5Mac‘s accessory maker source revealed the possible dimensions for the new iPad Pro models, showing they will get thinner but slightly bigger.
- 11-inch iPad Pro: 249.7 mm x 177.5 mm x 5.1 mm / previously: 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm x 5.9 mm
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro: 281.5 mm x 215.5 mm x 5.0 mm / previously: 280.6 mm 214.9 mm x 6.4 mm
With these models getting thinner, we worry they could be more bendable or the battery could be compromised somehow.
Front facing camera should have a new spot
With the tenth-generation iPad, Apple switched the front-facing camera from the top to the center of its right side. This change improves how users appear on a video call, as people have been using the iPad more in horizontal mode rather than vertical.
9to5Mac‘s Filipe Espósito discovered iOS 17.4 hints at a new iPad with a landscape Face ID camera. While BGR has already corroborated that Apple would be expanding the iPad 10 look to more tablets, Espósito could confirm this possible change through new strings added in the first beta of iOS 17.4.
According to him, iOS 17.4 beta files suggest that Apple is working on an iPad with a TrueDepth camera (an iPad Pro) placed at the top when it is in landscape orientation. Since previous iPad Pros had the front-face camera at the top when the tablet was in portrait mode, this suggests the new iPad will offer this helpful tweak.
With this change, it would be easier to participate in video call conferences, as iPad users usually have their tablets in landscape orientation most of the time. In addition, the iOS setup process has been rewritten, according to the journalist. “Face ID needs to be in landscape to learn how to recognize you,” says a new system string. “During Face ID setup, iPad needs to be in landscape with the camera at the top of the screen. Once setup is complete, Face ID works in portrait and landscape,” another message reads.
With this change, video calls will look more natural when the iPad is connected to the Magic Keyboard; also, Center Stage is still expected to be a feature of this new tablet.
At the moment, it’s unclear if Apple will improve the TrueDepth system on the new iPad Pro or if it will have the same specs as the 2022 model.
Color options
Since Apple redesigned the iPad Pro in 2018, it has offered both Space Gray and Silver models, just like the high-end MacBook Pro. In previous years, Apple has also provided this iPad in gold and rose gold options, but it’s unclear if this high-end model could offer more colors again.
At the moment, it seems that “fun” colors will be prioritized in other iPad lines, such as the base and Air versions. But a space black color might not be discarded after the introduction of new M3 MacBook Pro models.
The M3 chip should power the 2024 iPad Pro
With all M2 Macs announced, Apple is now moving forward to the M3 chips. In October, the company announced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max variants of the new family, which currently powers the MacBook Pro models.
The base model offers up to 24GB of RAM and an 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, up to 35% faster than M1 and up to 20% faster than M2). It offers a 10-core GPU, up to 65% faster than M1 and up to 20% faster than M2
If Apple follows the trend, Apple could add the M3 chip to the 2024 iPad Pro, unlocking new GPU capabilities, such as hardware ray-tracing, and more.
Lastly, it’s unclear if Apple could add 16GB of RAM for more storage options or if it’s planning to switch the current storage options available. At the moment, here are the specs of the high-end iPad:
- 128GB with 8GB of RAM
- 256GB with 8GB of RAM
- 512GB with 8GB of RAM
- 1TB with 16GB of RAM
- 2TB with 16GB of RAM
Will there be camera upgrades to the 2024 iPad Pro?
Image source: Christian de Looper for BGRThe iPad Pro usually has cameras on pair with the latest iPhone releases. If Apple follows the trend, these are a few improvements we could see with the upcoming iPad:
- A 48MP main camera
- Ultra Wide lens with 12MP
- Smart HDR 5 + Photonic Engine
- Cinematic Mode with new recording options
- Action Mode
- Autofocus on the front-facing camera
In addition, Apple cou