Apple's 2022 iPad Pro: Everything We Know

[Daalseth]

I got a 2021 12.9 inch iPP last December.

1. I didn't want to wait another year
2. The M1 is already way faster than anything I'm going to need.
3. Until they overhaul iPadOS to make use of the M series power it's moot anyway.
4. I honestly do not see what the ApplePencil3 could add that I don't already have on my AP2.
5. I have the MiniLED Display
6. MagSafe charging is irrelevant to me as is reverse charging.
7. A titanium chassis would be gilding the lilly.

So I didn't wait and am really enjoying having my iPP now.

 

[Mizouse]

I’m going to need to see what the next iPadOS versions bring before I will ever consider another iPad.

I started off with the 3rd gen iPad thinking it could fit in between a MacBook and iPhone like Steve Jobs claimed. But for my use I leaned more toward wanting laptop abilities.

I then picked up the 10.5” iPad Pro after thinking it would be more like a computer because of that “What’s a computer?” ad and claims it could replace one. Disappointed it still didn’t work for me.

So I ended up now with an M1 MBA and have been thoroughly enjoying that as it suits my use.

The only thing I miss about my iPad was how convenient it was to sit on the can and watch YouTube videos or play games. ?

 

[Skandalous]

The number 1 feature request from me is landscape mode as the default configuration...meaning having the camera on the broad edge of the tablet!

Same here. The M1 Pro Max has eaten into most of my iPad Pro (2018) usage, but I still like to use the iPad Pro for videoconferencing, which I do daily. But the camera placement is a dealbreaker. I don't know any professional who uses an iPad Pro regularly in portrait, and I wouldn't purchase another until, at the very least, the option is offered for a landscape camera.

 

[jeffpeng]

Thats a lot more important, to make the iPadOS a lot more useful. At least at WWDC we can see if we are getting anywhere.

I'm not sure we'll ever be getting that. I can't see Apple compromising on the iPads "touch first console" identity, which I think would be needed to crack this open. I kinda think that if you buy into using a touch first device traditional computing stuff just falls by the wayside to some degree. It's amazing for touch/stylus centric things, it's kinda fine to type something up real quick with a keyboard, but it ain't a full Mac replacement and I have the feeling Apple doesn't want it to be.

I mean what's absolutely true is that it kinda begs the question what an update actually brings to the table. Even the 2018 iPad Pro really is fast enough for most anything you can throw at it, so fast in fact that it's hard to spot the difference. None of the ideas the article propose seem even "nice to have". So I can actually get why people don't see the point as long as iPadOS is what it is. But maybe there is no point. Maybe it's just incremental updates from here on out until they figure out that magical unification of MacOS and iPadOS into kinda the same software that can switch between both and do both reasonably well.

Since.... think about it. i(Pad)OS and MacOS are, under the hood, much more alike than actually different. The difference is mostly the UI and Window Manager, and you could conceivably unify those into something that can do both reasonably well, possibly with switching a mode or something like that. Yet .... I honestly believe Apple doesn't want that for the foreseeable future, at least not as long as you can run basically anything on your Mac. So as long as they don't close down MacOS or open up iPadOS .... and the former the user base won't accept while the latter Apple will not unless they are forced to .... I see that as the divide between the two "Operating Systems" you cannot bridge.

I wish they’d do a new Apple Pencil that you can reverse to use as a rubber (Americans: I mean what you call an eraser, not a condom!)

???

 

[corinthos]

Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad Pro, and while there are no major design updates that we know of, there are some new features that are worth looking forward to.

This guide aggregates everything that we know about the 2022 iPad Pro so far based on the rumors that we've heard.

Mini-LED Display

Apple last year introduced an updated 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini-LED display technology, and in 2022, both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the iPad Pro will feature a mini-LED display.

Apple calls the mini-LED display of the iPad Pro a "Liquid Retina XDR display" that offers improved dynamic range with true-to-life details, vivid colors, and HDR. The current display in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro uses over 10,000 LEDs across the back of the display, allowing for up to 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and a 1 million-to-1 contrast ratio.

With the update, the higher-quality mini-LED display will no longer be limited to Apple's largest and most expensive tablet.

M2 Chip

The 2021 iPad Pro models adopted the same M1 chip used in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro rather than continuing to use an A-series chip as typical iPads do.

That put iPad Pro performance on par with Apple's Macs, and it's likely Apple is going to stick with Mac chips for the pro-level iPads. In 2022, Apple is expected to introduce the successor to the M1, the M2.

The M2 chip will be used in 2022 versions of the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and of course, the iPad Pros. It will have the same 7 to 8-core CPU, but it is expected to have updated 9 to 10-core GPU options.

The M2 chip will offer speed and efficiency improvements over the M1, but specifics aren't known at this time.

MagSafe Charging

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation version of the iPad Pro will support MagSafe wireless charging, much like the iPhone.

Apple could be planning to add a glass back to the iPad Pro and has been testing such a feature, but due to concerns about breakability, Apple might instead opt for a larger Apple logo made of glass that would facilitate wireless charging.

If Apple opts for the glass Apple logo, it would presumably have magnets underneath and a MagSafe charger would be able to align with those magnets for quick and easy charging. One of the iPads that Apple is testing is said to have MagSafe with stronger magnets than the magnets in the iPhone, and it is also said to allow for faster wireless charging speeds.

Reverse Wireless Charging

Along with MagSafe wireless charging, the next-generation iPad Pro could support reverse wireless charging capabilities, which would let the iPad be used to charge iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories by laying them on the back of the iPad.

A New Apple Pencil?

We've heard rumors that Apple is working on a new version of the Apple Pencil, but most of that information dates back to early 2021 and we haven't heard anything since then. It's unclear if we're actually going to get a new Apple Pencil.

There were rumors that there would be a black Apple Pencil option back in 2021, but that didn't happen, so it might not have been accurate.

Titanium Chassis

DigiTimes says that Apple is working on a titanium chassis for the iPad, which would replace the aluminum used in the current models, but titanium is an expensive material so this may be unlikely or a feature limited to the highest-end iPads.

Future iPad Pros

The 2022 iPad Pro models will continue to use a mini-LED display, but Apple is working on OLED technology for future Macs and iPads. Apple could add an OLED iPad to its lineup in 2023 or 2024, and the iPad Pro could perhaps be the first iPad to adopt an OLED display.

Apple is also developing iPad displays larger than 12.9 inches, but a larger-screened iPad isn't expected to come out for a few years. Larger displays and OLED technology could go hand in hand.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Apple's 2022 iPad Pro models, see something we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Article Link: Apple's 2022 iPad Pro: What to Expect

Dear Tim Cook,
I don’t want/need a next-gen iPad Pro with vibranium chassis, infinity stone coated display glass, quantum reverse-osmosis wireless charging, a matching (2nd) notch at the bottom of the iPad, nor quadra M1 processor.

Instead, just give me what I want: a non-gimped USB-C port, full HDMI out capabilities with up to 4K resolution in full aspect ratio, better battery life, non-gimped iPadOS that allows TRUE MULTITASKING (let me resize my app windows and position them as I please, not how you SAY it should be done), a REAL file system with access to ALL data, app/system files included. And PLEASE for the love of Woz, give me the REAL PRO apps! Yes, Final Cut PRO, Logic, etc.

Oh, also, while you’re at it, get into your Mission Impossible mode and sneak back into your Apple iPad development lab and put in an additional USB-C or TB4 port into that next-gen puppy!

Do all of that, and I will personally lobby the Apple board to approve your $85 Million stock incentive for 2021!

 

[BornAgainMac]

Looking back, I wish I would have stuck with a base model iPad Pro. It just can't use the memory and storage like a Mac can use it.

 

[Tagbert]

the FaceID should be replaced. I got an iPad Pro and I use it mostly horizontally. Every time I try to unlock it, got messages that sensor is covered by my hand.

Many people are wishing for the camera and FaceID to move to the long edge. that would get it out of the way. Otherwise, you might just need to shift your hand a little bit.

I would not want to get rid of Face ID. The Touch ID on the iPad Air is more clumsy. Face Id on the iPad is smooth and fast and has a wide field of view.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Bigger! Better! Brighter! Ballsier!

You read it here first.

 

[alex2792]

What’s the point of updating the hardware when software is the problem?

 

[Shirasaki]

Well, at least M2 can run genshit at 60fps, hopefully.

/s

Of course, iPadOS is likely going to be as limited as they are.

 

[Wingdinger]

How about an iPad Mini Pro? Or at the very least an iPad mini without the **** screen? ? If the current mini had a ProMotion Display it’d be perfect in my book.

 

[HiVolt]

It's only gonna get more ridiculously expensive...

I'm still waiting for apple to release a larger iPad for "the rest of us" that don't need a Pro, but like the 12.9" display size.

 

[sos47]

i hope, the new iPad Pro will have wired headphone support and charging simultaneously.
i use my ipp for music production, with many apps running at the same time, the battery drains fast.
Running macOs Apps would be a killer

 

[DeepIn2U]

I just want the XDR display on the 11" model. The 12.9" is too large for what I need it for. Everything else is gravy. I'd love iPadOS to bleed even more macOS features in. It's already pretty great as a laptop replacement in some instances. A native terminal without side loading something would be amazing.

iPadOS 15.x is amazing and great, I also hope Apple continues to evolve iPadOS but as iPadOS NOT to try to be macOS.

on a completely mobile OS device like the iPad, why would you want Terminal or need it?
- how useful would terminal be without a keyboard when fully mobile? (I’m sure you can’t say without a keyboard you’d not use it.).
- to what effect is terminal going to be useful?

I think people are wanting or expecting the iPad Pro or any iPad to ‘be a Mac’ when it’s not designed, planned, nor envisioned to be a Mac. (See below).

I have a 2018 iPad Pro (3rd gen) which still is fast as can be but I'll upgrade to an M2 11-inch iPad Pro 2022 *if* one software rumor comes true... Gurman and others are reporting this year Pro apps including Final Cut Pro are coming to iPad Pro, but only on M1 & M2 versions. That would get me to upgrade far more than a mini-LED screen.

YES!
Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro are great professional software that could work synergistically with iPad Pro, in my humble opinion and wants. That said I don’t think Logic Pro would come to iPad Pro due to nature of a good/great/long-time Logic Pro user requires with both their hardware connections and workflow. Keyboard Shortcuts, heavy mouse input and navigation would seriously
a) cramp your arms reaching up to touch or touch-hold the screen for even small adjustments of virtual knobs, levers, adjusting wave forms, pitch, etc. This doesn’t make sense using just the iPad itself.
c) Standard 2 external screens, amp, pre-amp, midi controller, microphones, drums, bass, guitar(s) all connected just kinda defeats the purpose of a mobile device intended to be mobile the majority of the time to be stationary.
c) RAM … the ram requirements and the storage for both Logic and FCP is just insane! 8GB unified memory for Logic users on Mac Mini or MBA M1 usually ends up with crashes of apps or the entire system itself, and using storage swap to compensate is not ideal.

Having FCP/LP in a mobile setting for adjustments for pinch would be great but we’ll need more than 16GB of RAM for such an implementation to be effective. considering the costs currently for iPad Pro 11” and 12.9” and with say 16/32/64GB RAM … most users would just get the 14” MBP or iMac or Mac Mini (future with 32/64GB options) and call it a day.

Needs MacOS more than hardware refresh.

NO it doesn’t.

Some, like yourself, want the iPad to have MacOS, however are you willing to:
- pay for the higher RAM options you need to fully use MacOS like you do on any other Mac?
- will you complain because of port limitations of iPads? There’s been years of threads/tube videos of people hating the 2016-2021 MBP 13” due to just having USB-C … #donglelife Did everyone just forget about this since the 14/16” MBP refresh?! (Scratches my head).
- huge increase of costs and then dealing with the directly above compromise?! No I highly doubt you and many others would.

iPad OS is the biggest limiting factor.

I disagree. I think certain lack of features or limitations maybe even bugs within iPadOS is the limiting factor.

I feel (and know) a LOT of people loathe my ‘remember when’ posts about mobile phones, based on my experiences, and that’s cool. I do think a LOT of people wanting MacOS on iPad Pro forget the roots of where the concept for iPad came from and I sincerely implore you to do a search of Apple’s Knowledge Navigator concept from 1987 on YouTube.
- Flat table resting device with large screen, huge camera (‘87 what do you expect), no connected KB/Mouse, a digital virtual AI/assistant (this literary is Siri decades in concept).

yes times have changed, the vision has changed and much for the better (thank you Tchao from Newton days for the inception to make iPad into iPad Pro; again the concept of Newton using a stylus for natural handwriting code Apple had then ‘scribble’ navigation, software ideas all evolved. No access to terminal there).

If we think of the iPad/iPad Pro as a companion device or even a stand-alone device for a casual user, with a lot of power and features, many will understand it’s supposed to be its own product, not to be a Mac.

Yes I‘d love to see much more powerful software but not to just dump a macOS version into iPadOS, nor do i personally want iPad Pro to be macOS. There was a reason why the iPhone‘s kernel is shared with MacOS but the top UI layers were not brought over. Same reasons hold true today, especially for iPadOS. could I be wrong, yes, but currently I’m not seeing the need for an iPad Pro to be a Mac with macOS.

 

[singularity0993]

Now if the software doesn’t improve, there is nothing to expect.

 

[Admiralbison]

Yeah, yeah, yeah - M2, M3 iPad Pro etc..this year has more specs. Who cares!?!?!


Nothing short of full blown MacOS on at least the iPad Pro line is going to cut it this day and age.

I am desperately waiting for Microsoft to get it’s stuff sorted out with a SQ3 Surface Pro X and Windows 11 being tablet friendlier so I can get off this blasted wall gardened digital prison and single monopoly App Store that is iOS/iPadOS.

Samsung’s tablets may not have the hardware power of M1 iPad Pros, but at least they are putting meaningful effort in software/OS to give users more power and control and if Luma Fusion gets on Android, hopefully that will encourage more pro-app/software developers to go to the multiple App stores on Android.

 

[kyleh22]

A rumored titanium iPad Pro is interesting. I’d also like to see it on the MacBooks.

Is there a benefit of titanium over aluminum?

 

[Admiralbison]

put some beef behind the iPadOS… why have such a big chip only to be limited by the OS

Because iPadOS is still just iOS marketed as a tablet software.

Apple doesn’t want to give iPad users an OS that gives them control and freedom outside of their monopoly App Store.


MacOS on M1 iPad Pros would be the greatest thing, but it would threaten Apple’s cash cow App Store.

 

[duanepatrick]

How good is M2 tho? I am more excited about the chip rather than the device itself lol.

 

[Admiralbison]

The iPad can never be a pro laptop replacement as long as it has the Fisher Price iPad OS. Why is Apple missing this?

Because it would give users freedom and control outside of Apple‘s monopoly App Store on iOS that’s why.


I recon if it came down to a choice between an M1 Macbook with MacOS or an M1 iPad Pro with iOS/iPadOS

Apple would want users to go with the iPad Pro because you have to get everything through their App Store, whereas with MacOS the App Store is rarely needed outside of system updates.


I would love to see a categorized poll of Mac Users where do they mostly get their applications, programs and software from.

Personally, I rarely touch the App store on MacOS.

 

[Admiralbison]

How good is M2 tho? I am more excited about the chip rather than the device itself lol.

M2 will be as good as iOS/iPadOS dictates it to be.

 

[Admiralbison]

Please let the other rumor of a landscape camera be right. Almost no one uses an ipad in portrait mode.

Where did you get those stats from?

 

[Rafterman]

Where did you get those stats from?

Especially the iPad 12.9, which is more squarish, while the 11 is more rectanuglar. The 12.9 doesn't really matter which orientation you hold it.

 

[krspkbl]

got an 11" 2021 pro. love it and no need to upgrade. that means i can skip over the mini led ipads and upgrade when the OLED ipads come out ?

 

[Tagbert]

How good is M2 tho? I am more excited about the chip rather than the device itself lol.

If the M2 comes out now, it is probably using A15 cores as seen in the iPhone 13. The M1 uses the A14 cores from the iPhone 12. Most reports put the A15 as around 8% faster than the A14.

The iPad is not being held back in any way by the M1. There is little that the M2 would bring to an iPad that you don’t already have with the M1. You’d have a hard time telling the difference between an M1 iPad Pro and the 2018 iPad Pro with the A12x processor. The processors are not the problem. The iPad OS is not built to do much more than the iPad does now.

It is possible that, once they get all of this Apple Silicon transition out of the way, Apple will come back to iPad OS and add some thing. It would be nice to see better support for external monitors. That would probably require something like a more flexible windowing system. Maybe they would address some of the inadequacies of the Files app just on a whim. An adventurous person might imagine them opening up their multitasking to allow active background apps. We can dream, anyway.