The iPad 2022 is expected to be the next generation of Apple’s popular tablet. And, based on the rumors so far, we’re much more excited about this model than we were in previous years.
According to sources, the 2022 iPad model could finally bring Apple’s basic tablet some much-needed improvements, with a full-screen design and a USB-C connector leading the rumor parade. We’ll be overjoyed if these claims prove to be true.
Continue reading for a rundown of everything we’ve learned so far about the iPad 2022. And please return soon as we will be updating this page with the most recent information.
iPad 2022 potential Release Date and Price
We should expect the iPad 2022 to arrive in the fall, just as the iPad 2021 did last year and previous basic iPads did in previous years. If that’s the case, we’d expect to see it alongside the iPhone 14 in Apple’s usual fall product announcement blitz, though Apple has been known to hold multiple product launches in the fall.
Let’s hope that the upgraded components, the rumors of which we’ll discuss shortly, don’t result in a price increase. The iPad 2021’s starting price of $329/£319/AU$499 makes it very accessible to average buyers, and Apple would be wise to keep it that low.
iPad 2022 Design
The iPad 2022 may look very different from previous versions, as Apple may be giving its tablet a much-needed makeover.
According to one source, Apple may replace the Lightning port found on previous iPads with USB-C, a much more versatile port. If that happens, we won’t see super-fast Thunderbolt 4 compatibility like on the iPad Pro, but USB-C will make connecting accessories or displays much easier. It will also help Apple comply with a recently passed EU law mandating USB-C on mobile devices by the end of 2024.
The leakers are still debating whether or not the new iPad will have a home button. Apple currently sells no other iPad without a home button, so it wouldn’t surprise us if Apple wants to make all of its iPads look like a proper family again. If the iPad 2022 lacks a home button, it will most likely be replaced by a Touch ID power button, as seen on the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models.
iPad 2022 Display
Along with the aforementioned redesigns, the iPad 2022’s screen could grow in size, from the current 10.2-inch model to possibly a 10.5-inch model. That means the best iPad cases currently on the market will no longer fit the new tablet.
If the iPad’s screen does grow in size, it is unlikely that other display features such as increased brightness, a wider Pro-grade color gamut, or a mini LED panel, which the iPad Air (2022) and iPad Pro offer, will be upgraded. After all, Apple will want to save some features for its more expensive models. Read More; iPod Touch: Everything You Need to Know
iPad 2022 Specs
According to current reports, the iPad 2022 will be powered by the A14 Bionic chip from the iPhone 12. That means there will be a significant performance difference between this and the iPad mini, which uses an A15 chip like the iPhone 13 series. When comparing an A14 iPad to the iPad Air and iPad Pro, both of which use Apple M1 chips with enhanced performance and capabilities, the gap becomes even wider.
The A14 chipset would still imply a 30% increase over the iPad 2021, which will help with running modern apps. Furthermore, the A14 chip is 5G-compatible, allowing the cell-connected iPad model to achieve faster data speeds than the current LTE model. Read also; REVIEW: Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
If it is released this fall, the iPad 2022 will run iPadOS 16, the recently announced software for iPads that is currently in beta. However, not all of the features in iPadOS 16 may be available, as some, such as Stage Manager, are exclusive to the M1 chip in the iPad Air and iPad Pro.
iPad 2022 Outlook
The iPad 2021 is still a good tablet, but it desperately needs some updates to compete with cheaper Android tablets. The rumored upgrades of a better chipset, a larger display, and an updated port are precisely what Apple requires to create a tablet that will appeal to more discerning buyers.
However, we remain concerned about a possible price increase. With the prices of many of Apple’s lower-priced products rising, it would be nice to see the iPad 2022 defy the trend. As fall approaches, we hope to learn more about the new base iPad.
