Apple and Qualcomm are reportedly bringing 5G to the iPad Pro in 2021

Fancy a 5G enabled iPad? Well, it looks like you will have to wait until 2021, at least according to the reliable Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities, a financial services company in Asia, and has regularly provided accurate rumours about upcoming iPhones, iPads and Macs.

Commenting in the Economic Daily News (EDN), Kuo stated that Apple will start using liquid crystal polymer (LCP) soft boards in future iPad Pros, which are designed to increase network performance while minimising signal loss. 5G signals reportedly have a shorter range and weaker penetration than 4G signals, so OEMs are going to have to get creative to produce 5G enabled devices that also have good signal.

Hence, manufacturers cannot simply swap out a 4G modem for a 5G one, which is where LCP soft boards come in. These should allow iPad Pros to deliver better 5G signal than if Apple manufactured them with conventional boards. Kuo also predicts that Apple will first introduce LCP boards into 5G iPhones before ramping up production for the release of 5G enabled iPad Pros in 2021. Only two more years to wait then.