Bloomberg's Mark Gurman broke the Internet on Sunday by saying that Apple's next-generation iPad Pro is expected to be announced next week, Equipped with a completely new M4 chip rather than the current M3. While this may seem unlikely at first glance, there is actually other evidence that the M4 iPad Pro rumors are true.
Apple M series chip
The M1 was Apple's first chip designed specifically for Mac computers—which is why Apple called it “M.” However, the company later introduced M-family chips into the iPad Pro and then into the iPad Air. Since the current generation iPad Pro is equipped with an M2 chip, most of us were expecting to see a new iPad Pro with an M3 processor inside. However, Apple may have more ambitious plans for its flagship tablet.
Here's what Gurman had to say about the new iPads with the yet-to-be-announced Apple M4 chip:
I've heard that there's a good chance that the chip in the new iPad Pro will be M4 rather than M3. Moreover, I believe that Apple will position this tablet as its first truly AI-powered device, and that it will advertise every new product as an AI device from here on out. This is, of course, all in response to the artificial intelligence craze that has swept the tech industry over the past couple of years.
The company is already promoting the M3 as a chip ready to work with artificial intelligence-based tools. However, it appears Apple wants to sell the M4 as the ideal chip for such tasks, and putting it in the new iPad Pro with iPadOS 18 with new AI-powered features could be a great way to do that.
At the same time time will Apple really release the new M chip for the iPad and not the new Mac? There is some evidence to suggest that this is the case.
What about the iPad Pro M4? ?
When 9to5Mac discovered new display firmwares for four unreleased iPad models hidden in iPadOS 17.5 beta files, we also shared the IDs for each of those models:
- iPad16.3
- iPad16 ,4
- iPad16.5
- iPad16.6
It will probably be a new iPad Pro with a diagonal of 11 inches and 12.9 inches. -inch sizes, as well as versions for Wi-Fi and cellular communications. Although these identifiers may seem random, there is logic behind them. For example, the 2021 iPad Air 5 and iPad Pro are labeled “iPad13,x.” and all of them are equipped with M1 chip. This also applies to M1-powered Apple Silicon Macs.
M2-powered devices are typically labeled “14,” for example “iPad14,3” (iPad Pro Pro 2022) and Mac14.5” (MacBook Air 2022). For M3-based devices, Apple uses the code “15” (currently there are only Mac computers with this label).
The fact that the new iPad Pro is labeled “iPad16,x” instead of “iPad15,x” could be proof that it has a new Apple Silicon chip inside.
To add fuel to the fire, an anonymous leaker posted a supposed roadmap for Apple Silicon chips for the iPad on the private X account a few weeks ago. According to the source, the new iPad Air will run on the T8112 processor, that is, M2. However, the new iPad Pro has an unknown code “T8132” chip. For example, the M3 ID is “T8122.”
If you put everything together, a new iPad Pro with an M4 chip seems plausible.
More on iPad rumors
In addition to the new chip, the next-gen iPad Pro is expected to feature OLED displays for the first time. Additionally, the new iPads may feature a thinner design. Apple also plans to introduce the new iPad Air 6 in two different sizes, as well as an updated Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 3 with Find My and Shrink features; gesture.
The company will hold an event to unveil the new iPads next Tuesday, May 7.
- Apple is reportedly using market-leading OLED panels for the 2024 iPad Pro of the year.
- Tim Cook is hinting at a new Apple Pencil 3 coming next month – here's what the rumors say
- The accessory maker is now selling cases for the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air
- The release of the new iPad Pro and iPad Air will most likely take place in the second week of May; expect price increases for the iPad Pro.
