Numerous Apple iPads to launch later this year with 14-inch or 15-inch iPad a way off yet

Mark Gurman has revealed new details about Apple's forthcoming iPads, including new Pro models. As has been reported previously, Apple is preparing to release a 10th generation entry-level model this year, albeit with only minor hardware changes. According to Gurman, this year's cheaper iPad will launch with the Apple A14 Bionic, a chipset that Apple first used in the iPad Air 4 and the iPhone 12 series.

Additionally, Gurman states that the iPad (10th Gen) will rely on USB Type-C, not Lightning. Currently, the basic iPad is the only model in Apple's iPad product stack that utilises the older Lightning connector. While the adoption of USB Type-C will bring a few improvements of its own, such as faster transfer speeds, the choice of the A14 Bionic will hold the iPad (10th Gen) back. Despite still being a capable chipset, the A14 Bionic does not support Stage Manager. As such, the iPad (10th Gen) will not support some multi-tasking features within iPadOS 16, unlike this year's new iPad Pro tablets.

Unsurprisingly, Gurman believes that Apple will upgrade the iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9 to the new Apple M2 chipset, rather than the rumoured M2 Pro or M2 Max. Instead, those chipsets will be headed the way of its first mixed-reality headset, a new Mac mini, plus upgraded MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 machines, covered separately. Gurman adds that Apple has codenamed the new iPad Pro tablets 'J617' and 'J620', presumably relating to the 11-inch and 12.9-inch tablets, respectively.

Separately, Gurman asserts that an even larger iPad will support Stage Manager, implying that it will launch with an Apple M SoC, rather than an Apple A series equivalent. Speculated to be in line for release in 2023 or 2024, Gurman reports that the tablet could have a display that measures between 14 and 15-inches. Based on previous leaks, this larger iPad has a 14.1-inch panel, although it is unclear whether it will be a larger iPad Pro or a second iPad Air model.

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