New iPad Pro 2022: everything we know so far

The iPad Pro from 2021 (Image credit: TechRadar)

The iPad Pro (2022) could be one of the best tablets of 2022, if Apple carries on its winning streak: the iPad Pro (2021) was one of our favorite slates from concluding year, as Apple's Pro tablets offer loads of ability and great-looking screens.

We've heard a few rumors about this upcoming iPad Pro so far, and that's considering some retrieve the new slates could exist a reinvention for the series afterward a few years of similar-looking slates.

Apple needs to make sure its iPad Pro (2022) is impressive, and that'due south because contest is coming: the anticipated Samsung Milky way Tab S8 family unit could steal its thunder, especially if the rumored Tab S8 Ultra is as big and powerful as leaks suggest.

Ahead of an official unveiling for the Galaxy Tab S8, nosotros've listed all the information provided by leaks and rumors below. There's as well a wish-list for the tablet, which explores what we want to see based on its predecessors and trends in the tablet market place.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Apple tree's sixth-gen tablet designed for professionals
When is it out? Likely mid-2022
How much volition information technology cost? Probably starting at $799 / £749 / AU$i,199 and going way, way upward

iPad Pro (2022) cost and availability

iPad Pro 2020 12.9 — (Image credit: Future)

The iPad Pro (2021) was launched in Apr and released in May, roughly a year on from the 2020 model, so information technology makes sense that the 2022 version could follow the aforementioned pattern. Nosotros've got no official confirmation or even rumors of that, but it seems likely.

As Apple's most expensive line of tablets, yous can't expect the new iPad Pros to be inexpensive. The iPad Pro 11 (2021) started at $799 / £749 / AU$1,199 and went up to $2,099 / £ane,899 / AU$3,099, while the 12.nine-inch model started at $i,099 / £999 / AU$1,649 and capped out at $2,399 / £2,149 / AU$3,549.

We haven't heard information on the new iPad Pro pricing, but these prices likely won't get changed too much in 2022.

News and rumors

The first matter to know about the iPad Pro 2022 is that despite talk that Apple is exploring larger iPad Pro screen sizes for some bespeak in the hereafter, information technology will probably be the same size as the iPad Pro 2021, meaning you'd be able to get it in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes. That'south what Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a great rails tape for Apple information) reckons anyhow.

In the same report, Kuo claimed that the iPad Pro 11 (2022) would go a Mini LED screen. The iPad Pro 12.ix (2022) plainly volition equally well, but that'south not an upgrade for the 12.9-inch model, every bit the current version already uses Mini LED.

It'south worth noting that we had previously heard that the iPad Pro 2022 might get an OLED screen instead, only more recent reports suggest that switch is further out. A screen change which seems more likely is that the 11-inch iPad Pro could get mini-LED, a display tech only used on the 12.nine-inch model in 2021.

In other news, according to a report, the next iPad Pro will follow adapt from the iPhone 12 and adopt MagSafe - that's the ability to connect, via magnets, to prune-on peripherals like magnetic chargers and cases.

In addition this report suggests the tablet will come with a glass dorsum and will support wireless and reverse wireless charging - the latter is then y'all can power up other gadgets using the tablet. Later rumors suggested that the tablet might not have an entirely glass back, equally that would make it incredibly fragile, but that the Apple logo on the rear could be fabricated of this material, and so MagSafe would piece of work in that ane particular spot.

Nosotros've also heard that future iPad Pro models might be focused on landscape orientation, with a horizontal Apple logo and cameras. This could also mean a new aspect ratio, though that's merely speculation for now. It'south worth noting that the source of this leak claims not to exist sure whether this change will happen in time for the iPad Pro 2022 though.

A major name in Apple tree news said that the iPad Pro (2022) would encounter a redesign over its predecessors, but while the source holds weight, there isn't actually much information regarding what 'redesign' actually means.

What nosotros want to see

1. Lower the cost

If yous've already read the pricing section above, we probably don't need to go into more than detail as to why nosotros desire to see a lower price from the iPad Pro (2022).

iPad Pro devices are incredibly expensive tablets, and if you're buying extras like Apple Pencils, keyboard folios, conveying cases, various apps and more than, you could discover yourself forking over loads only to utilize the thing.

While the iPad Air 4 does offer lots of the Pro models' specs at a lower cost, it'due south non quite the same, and so some people might want to get the iPad Pro (2022)'s power without the huge cost.

2. Bundle the Apple Pencil

Talking of expensive, let'due south discuss the Apple tree Pencil. It's a useful addition for the tablet - some would call it vital - only unlike Huawei's Yard Pen or Samsung's South Pen, the stylus doesn't come arranged with the tablet.

This ways, if you're considering buying the tablet and want the Apple Pencil too, the cost proffer is fifty-fifty college, which might nudge you towards one of the competing premium tablets.

Plus, bundling the Apple tree Pencil would assistance Apple tree crevice downwards on the myriad knock-off Apple Pencils that don't always work every bit intended.

3. Improve the battery life

We found both the 2021 and 2020 iPad Pros lasted most ten hours of standard employ on a single accuse. Sounds fine, right? Well, no, considering 'standard use' involves watching Netflix, browsing social media and the similar.

If you use your iPad Pro equally a professional (like the name suggests), by editing video, music or images, working on multiple documents simultaneously, or even playing games, you can find the bombardment drains incredibly speedily.

In fact, battery drain on the iPad Pro is so fast that we've often found plugging it in while working only offsets the power apply, but doesn't accuse it back up.

Ability improvements need to be found, whether that'south by adding software optimizations that reduce ability drain, or simply shoving in a bigger bombardment. Oh, and faster charging would be nice too - in this 24-hour interval and historic period, 18W only isn't fast plenty.

4. No processing power restrictions

Co-ordinate to app developers, the iPad Pro (2021) limits how much RAM each app tin can use to only 5GB - since the summit-end version of the slate offers 16GB of RAM, that's a strangely depression cap.

This could be an issue for apps that need lots of RAM to run, including AR tools and editing software, and indeed some developers have complained about this limitation.

A RAM cap could end developers creating apps that need more power too, which would have implications for iPad software in the long run. We'd like to see this cap dropped, either for the iPad Pro (2022) or maybe beforehand for all iPads.

five. iPadOS improvements

iPadOS is a fine tablet operating system, but in that location are still some important productivity tools that are missing, despite iPadOS 15'southward improvements.

Multitasking is an effect, as you lot can't view 3 apps simultaneously, or separate the screen horizontally, ii utilize cases which certain users might find very useful.

iPadOS fifteen'due south Universal Control looks useful, equally it lets you drag and drop files and windows between your iPad and a Mac - just iPhone compatibility would make this characteristic truly seamless for people.

There aren't too many useful abode screen widgets for the key productivity apps either, though that'due south not something Apple tin exercise much virtually, as it'south downwards to developers.

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Deputy Editor, Phones

Tom'due south role in the TechRadar team is to specialize in phones and tablets, but he also takes on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fettle trackers and more. He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Eastward Anglia, and outside of TechRadar works in movie.