The current iPad range is one of the most populated we’ve seen.
It includes two iterations of the standard iPad, the iPad mini, the iPad Air, and the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, so there’s plenty to choose from. It seems Apple isn’t stopping there, though: rumours suggest it could be adding an even larger iPad Pro to the line-up.
Here’s everything we know about the next-generation iPad Pro, including a potential new 14-inch model.
When will the new iPad Pro be released?
Apple didn’t release a new iPad Pro in 2023, or any tablets at all for that matter.
However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman doesn’t think we’ll have to wait much longer. He says that Apple will launch new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in March 2024.
This may be timed to coincide with a spring event, or Apple may just publish press releases instead.
For context, here’s when the past iPad Pro models have launched. Apple doesn’t maintain a consistent schedule, but never goes more than 18 months between generations.
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (6th gen): Oct 2022
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (5th gen): Apr 2021
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (4th gen): Mar 2020
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (3rd gen): Oct 2018
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch (2nd gen): June 2017
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch (1st gen): Mar 2016
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st gen): Nov 2015
How much will the new iPad Pro cost?
At the moment, these are the starting prices for each model in the latest iPad Pro range from 2022.
- iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi (2022): $799/£899
- iPad Pro 11-inch Cellular (2022): $999/£1,079
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi (2022): $1,099/£1,249
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch Cellular (2022): $1,299/£1,429
If Apple introduces the rumoured 14-inch iPad Pro, we are likely to see price rises at the top of the range.
Apple tends to move up by units of 100, and there are 300 between the base 11- and 12.9-inch models. So it seems reasonable to speculate that the 14-inch iPad Pro will start at $1,399/£1,529 or thereabouts.
What specs and features will the new iPad Pro have?
As you might expect, there have been more leaks and rumours regarding the Pro than any other upcoming iPad model.
Design
According to code found in iOS 17.4 by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, the upcoming iPad Pro is likely to feature a landscape Face ID camera. The code specifies that during Face ID setup, the iPad needs to be in landscape mode with the camera at the top of the screen.
In the 10th-generation iPad, Apple moved the front-facing camera to the side of the device to enable its use in landscape mode. It seems that Apple is continuing this trend with future iPads.
Currently, the iPad Pro is the only model with Face ID, so the code suggests that Apple may be relocating the front-facing camera from the top to the side of the device. However, there’s a possibility that Apple could also introduce Face ID to the iPad Air, in which case this change could apply to that device as well.
Display
A new report by The Elec claims that OLED displays for Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models have entered production.
OLED displays mark a first for the iPad lineup, with Apple previously using OLED technology in the iPhone and Apple Watch. OLED offers deeper blacks and more vibrant colours compared to LED or mini-LED, albeit at a higher cost.
iPad Pro models from 2017 onwards support ProMotion, offering a variable refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz. With OLED and LTPO display technology, this rate could drop even lower, potentially reaching 10Hz or less to save battery. For comparison, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models can go down to 1Hz in always-on display mode.
Apple
Meanwhile, there have also been a slew of rumours regarding the 14-inch iPad Pro, that may or may not appear alongside the two standard models this year.
Display analyst Ross Young originally suggested, in June 2022, that the 14-inch iPad Pro will feature a mini-LED display, just like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But in a tweet later that month, he posted that the larger iPad would instead have a standard LED panel, as on the 11-inch iPad Pro, citing cost as a possible reason.
Then, in December 2022, Young suggested that Apple is planning to move the entire iPad line to OLED (via Macworld) by 2024. This matches what Gurman wrote (in January 2023). He predicted that coming to the iPad in the spring of 2024 (via Macworld) is “an updated design and OLED screens”.
Apple is also said to be working on its own micro-LED displays (via Macworld) that could eventually make their way into a new larger iPad. Gurman also wrote in January that Apple would start transitioning its whole lineup to micro-LED displays, starting with the Apple Watch.
The rumour of a larger-screened iPad started with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman back in June 2021. He wrote that Apple was considering making iPads with larger displays (via Macworld), but not to expect anything for a few years.
Another leaker named Majin Bu has also posted that a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro is in development. Display analyst Ross Young also claimed in 2022 that a 14.1-inch iPad Pro model was in development, and that “early 2023” was a likely release schedule.
In December 2022 Young was reported to have changed this prediction, suggesting that “Apple is no longer planning to launch a 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display in early 2023”, via MacRumors . Young went on to claim that Apple is no longer planning to launch the new 14.1-inch form factor, so it may never launch.
With the release of Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro on the iPad, it makes a lot of sense for Apple to offer an iPad with a larger screen and external display support.
Performance
Before they deleted their account, X leaker Analyst941 reported (via Macworld) that Apple was planning on releasing the new iPad Pro with external support for up to two 6K monitors running at 60Hz, the potential inclusion of an M3 Pro chipset, plus a “special version of iPadOS 17” that was being developed for the larger iPad Pro models.
A tweet from June 2022 by Majin Bu suggested that the 14-inch iPad Pro would contain an M2 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of base storage, we would only expect to see the M2 used in the 14-inch iPad Pro if it launches separately to the rest of the range.
The current iPad Pros are powered by the M2 chip, so it makes sense for an M3 to appear in any new 2024 models. But due to the iPad’s thin, finless design, it seems more sensible for a standard M3 to be at the heart of the new iPad Pros rather than the M3 Pro.
Apple currently offers iPad Pro configurations ranging from 128GB to 2TB, alongside various colour options and screen sizes. Considering this extensive array of configurations, there is speculation that the company might begin with 512GB as the entry-level option. However, it’s more probable that Apple will eliminate the 128GB model from the lineup.
Battery & charging
The 2024 iPad Pro may feature MagSafe charging, as suggested by insider information from MacRumors. This follows previous rumours about Apple’s exploration of wireless charging for the iPad, including testing MagSafe capabilities.
Additionally, since new iPad Pro models are expected to receive design updates alongside the introduction of OLED displays, a glass back may increase vulnerability to damage. However, it also could enable compatibility with new wire-free accessories.
Furthermore, the iPad may support 15W magnetic Qi2 chargers, providing users with additional charging options.
Foundry
Accessories
In addition to the iPad Pro, reports suggest that the Apple Magic Keyboard will also undergo an update. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman states that Apple intends to redesign the accessory to give “the iPad Pro a more laptop-like appearance” while incorporating a “larger trackpad.”
Although Gurman didn’t elaborate further, the inclusion of a larger trackpad in the iPad Pro would undoubtedly be a welcome change.
As you can see, there are plenty of rumours and speculation about the next-generation iPad Pro. We’ll update this article once more is revealed. In the meantime, see our guides to the best iPads and best tablets.
