iPad Pro update with M2 silicon expected any day

In short: It is reported that Apple will release an updated version of the iPad Pro with an updated processor in just a few days. The upgraded models, codenamed J617 and J620, will be offered with 11-inch and 12.9-inch displays, just like the current versions. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, they will be equipped with the same Apple M2 processor already used in the MacBook Air.

The update will be the first for the iPad Pro lineup in about a year and a half. All variants of the current generation iPad Pro use the M1 chip, which consists of an eight-core processor (four performance cores and four efficiency cores), as well as an eight-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. The tablet can be configured with 8GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of internal storage.

Gourmet believes the new iPads will be similar to the existing line, and the flat-edge design will continue for another cycle. Apple’s recently released iPhone 14 family uses the same design language.

Apple is also expected to release iPadOS 16.1 next week, the first version of iOS 16 for the iPad. The release could be timed to coincide with the launch of the new iPads and will almost certainly happen before October 27, when Apple holds its quarterly earnings report.

Related news also reports that Apple is working on a new entry-level iPad with a USB-C port. The updated tablet will additionally get the flat edges of the iPad Pro, which will make it more similar to Apple’s premium line. The entry-level iPad typically only gets a processor increase, which means a significant upgrade to the lineup.

The new iPads are expected to be unveiled on Apple’s website without the fanfare that accompanies a special press event. This is likely due in part to the fact that they will be offering stock trail specs and a previously seen design. Apple may also want to keep its marketing flair for the Reality Pro headset in 2023.

Image credit: Daniel Romero