The new iPad Pro (2022) is always going to be an expensive tablet — “Pro” tells us — and rumors about M2 chipset and MagSafe compatibility don’t look like they’ll help that price tag.
However, leaks now suggest we don’t have to worry about price hikes: leaker LeaksApplePro, writing for iDropNews(opens in a new tab), has offered some of the prices we can expect for the next iPad Pro lineup, and it’s lower than we expected.
Apparently, the 11-inch version with 128GB of storage and 5G support costs $799, while the 12.9-inch version costs $1,099 for the same configuration. Those are significantly cheaper than their predecessors — the iPad Pro 11 (2021) is $999, while the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is $1,299.
Now, this price discrepancy could indicate a bug in leakers — they may be seeing information for different devices or currencies translated from different sources.
A cheaper iPad Pro?
We expect the 2022 model to have the exact same design as the 2021 model…and thus the same as the 2020 and 2018 models. Yes, Apple hasn’t completely changed the look of its pro-grade tablets.
But that means Apple doesn’t exactly need to spend as much on R&D or design to develop a new product after using the same manufacturing process for five years, so it can save money in that department.
Perhaps, the savings there will offset the price increase that Apple’s new M2 chipset will incur – after all, the company already makes quite a few of these silicon engines so it’s unlikely to be anything like the debut M1.
Some of the weirder leaks we’ve heard — like mini LED panels and MagSafe compatibility on all tablets — may not actually come to fruition either.
It’s also worth pointing out that the leaker doesn’t think Apple‘s rumored 14-inch iPad Pro, Apple’s largest ever, will be available right away, but could be launched in early 2023 at a higher price of $1,400.
Attractive MacBook Pro Alternative
With a roughly 13-inch screen, an M2 chipset, and a long-lasting battery, the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9 could be an attractive alternative to the MacBook Pro for some users.
According to the leak, the tablet will cost less than the $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999 laptop, and it will likely be thinner, with touchscreen and Apple Pencil support giving creative users an edge. It also likely won’t have some of the issues we’ve seen with the MacBook Pro, like its low-res front-facing camera.
It’s not for everyone, and the lack of a built-in keyboard in the iPad Pro, along with the lack of gaming prowess and relatively limited viewing angles, may make it a worse choice for certain types of users. In fact, your choice of iPad Pro vs MacBook Pro may depend on your laptop vs tablet preference. Both have pros and cons, depending on your specific use case.
However, if it does cost less, and has enhancements like MagSafe compatibility, it’ll increase its competition with the MacBook, which could make it one of the best iPads.
>>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery