Chip off last year’s block?
Perhaps the biggest question mark around an updated
iPad Pro is what processor it would use. Apple’s
tablets tend to use the X variant of the company’s
A-series chips, which often features not only better
performance, but improved graphics capabilities as
well. The most recent version of the iPad Pro used the
A12X Bionic chip, while the iPhone 11 Pro line, released
last autumn, is built around the company’s currently
top-of-the-line A13 Bionic processor.
That would seem to suggest that a new iPad Pro
would feature an A13X Bionic chip – however, Apple
has previously skipped generations of the chip; there
was, for example, never an A11X. Some rumours have
speculated that this means revamped iPad Pros will not
launch until the autumn, when they would incorporate
a new A14X chip – presumably an improved version of
the A14 chip that will be used in this year’s iPhones.
That said, it seems unlikely – though not impossible –
for Apple to launch them at the same time.
Also likely to be missing in a March iPad Pro refresh
are 5G cellular capabilities. Again, it would be unusual
for Apple to add those in an iPad model before a
similarly-equipped iPhone – and more to the point, the
company is probably still not quite ready to roll out
5G-enabled devices, based on Tim Cook’s comments
during the latest quarterly financial call.
Is it possible that the company could release an
updated iPad Pro in March and in the autumn? It
wouldn’t be the first time the company has made a
rapid turnaround, but we’ll have to wait a few weeks
yet before even the first of those two shoes drops.Chip off last year’sblock?
Perhapsthebiggestquestionmarkaroundanupdated
iPadProiswhatprocessoritwoulduse.Apple’s
tabletstendtousetheXvariantofthecompany’s
A-serieschips,whichoftenfeaturesnotonlybetter
performance,butimprovedgraphicscapabilitiesas
well.ThemostrecentversionoftheiPadProusedthe
A12XBionicchip,whiletheiPhone 11 Proline,released
lastautumn,isbuiltaroundthecompany’scurrently
top-of-the-lineA13 Bionicprocessor.
ThatwouldseemtosuggestthatanewiPadPro
wouldfeatureanA13XBionicchip–however,Apple
haspreviouslyskippedgenerationsofthechip;there
was,for example,neveranA11X.Somerumourshave
speculatedthatthismeansrevampediPadProswillnot
launchuntiltheautumn,whentheywouldincorporate
anewA14Xchip–presumablyanimprovedversionof
theA14chipthatwillbeusedinthisyear’siPhones.
Thatsaid,itseemsunlikely–thoughnotimpossible–
forAppletolaunchthematthesametime.
AlsolikelytobemissinginaMarchiPadProrefresh
are5Gcellularcapabilities.Again,itwouldbeunusual
forAppletoaddthoseinaniPadmodelbeforea
similarly-equippediPhone–andmoretothepoint,the
companyisprobablystillnotquitereadytorollout
5G-enableddevices,basedonTimCook’scomments
duringthelatestquarterlyfinancialcall.
Isitpossiblethatthecompanycouldreleasean
updatediPadProinMarchandintheautumn?It
wouldn’tbethefirsttimethecompanyhasmadea
rapidturnaround,butwe’llhavetowaitafewweeks
yet beforeeventhefirstofthosetwoshoesdrops.