Apple iPad Pro (7th Gen) Release Date, Price & Specs Rumours

The current iPad range is one of the most populated we’ve seen.

It includes two iterations of the standard iPad, the iPad mini, the iPad Air, and the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, so there’s plenty to choose from.

It seems Apple isn’t stopping there, though: rumours suggest it could be adding an even larger iPad Pro to the lineup.

With a launch event expected imminently, here’s everything you need to know.

When will the new iPad Pro be released?

Apple didn’t release a new iPad Pro in 2023, or any tablets at all for that matter. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, usually a reliable source of Apple news, doesn’t think we’ll have to wait much longer.

Initially, he said that Apple will launch new iPad Pro and iPad Air models before the end of March 2024. However, Gurman now claims that Apple’s suppliers abroad have increased production of the new iPad Pro, aiming for a launch in early May.

With that in mind, it seems almost certain that we’ll see at least one new iPad Pro model at the next Apple event, which is confirmed to take place on 7 May 2024.

For context, here’s when the past iPad Pro models have launched:

• iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (6th gen): Oct 2022
• iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (5th gen): Apr 2021
• iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (4th gen): Mar 2020
• iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (3rd gen): Oct 2018
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch (2nd gen): June 2017
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch (1st gen): Mar 2016
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st gen): Nov 2015

How much will the new iPad Pro cost?

These are the starting prices for each model in the latest iPad Pro range from 2022.

• iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi (2022): $799/£899
• iPad Pro 11-inch Cellular (2022): $999/£1,079
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi (2022): $1,099/£1,249
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch Cellular (2022): $1,299/£1,429

If Apple introduces the rumoured 14-inch iPad Pro, we are likely to see price rises at the top of the range. However, it’s not clear how expensive any of the models will end up being at this stage.

What specs and features will the new iPad Pro have?

As you might expect, there have been more leaks and rumours regarding the Pro than any other upcoming iPad model.

Design

According to code found in iOS 17.4 by MacRumors contributor , the upcoming iPad Pro is likely to feature a landscape Face ID camera. The code specifies that during Face ID setup, the iPad needs to be in landscape mode with the camera at the top of the screen.

In the 10th-generation iPad, Apple moved the front-facing camera to the side of the device to enable its use in landscape mode. It seems that Apple is continuing this trend with future iPads.

Currently, the iPad Pro is the only model with Face ID, so the code suggests that Apple may be relocating the front-facing camera from the top to the side of the device. However, there’s a possibility that Apple could also introduce Face ID to the iPad Air, in which case this change would apply to that device as well.

It’s unclear how Apple has managed the transition to a landscape Face ID camera on the new iPad models, given that the second-generation Apple Pencil connects to both the iPad Air and iPad Pro via an inductive magnetic charger on the same side.

However, there are rumors suggesting that Apple might introduce a new Apple Pencil alongside the updated iPads, potentially offering a solution to this challenge.

Display

A new report by The Elec claims that OLED displays for Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models have entered production.

OLED displays mark a first for the iPad lineup, with Apple previously using OLED technology in the iPhone and Apple Watch. OLED offers deeper blacks and more vibrant colours compared to LED or mini-LED, albeit usually at a higher cost.

iPad Pro models from 2017 onwards support ProMotion, offering a variable refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz. With OLED and LTPO display technology, this rate could drop even lower, potentially reaching 10Hz or less to save battery. For comparison, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models can go down to 1Hz in always-on display mode.

Meanwhile, there have also been a slew of rumours regarding the 14-inch iPad Pro that may or may not appear alongside the two standard models this year.

Display analyst Ross Young originally suggested, in June 2022, that the 14-inch iPad Pro will feature a mini-LED display, just like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But in a tweet later that month, he posted that the larger iPad would instead have a standard LED panel, as on the 11-inch iPad Pro, citing cost as a possible reason.

Then, in December 2022, Young suggested that Apple is planning to move the entire iPad line to OLED (via Macworld) by 2024. This matches what Gurman wrote (in January 2023). He predicted that coming to the iPad in the spring of 2024 (via Macworld) is “an updated design and OLED screens”.

Apple is also said to be working on its own micro-LED displays (via Macworld) that could eventually make their way into a new larger iPad. Gurman also wrote in January that Apple would start transitioning its whole lineup to micro-LED displays, starting with the Apple Watch.

Another leaker named has also posted that a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro is in development. Display analyst Ross Young also claimed in 2022 that a 14.1-inch iPad Pro model was in development, and that “early 2023” was a likely release schedule.

In December 2022 Young was reported to have changed this prediction, suggesting that “Apple is no longer planning to launch a 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display in early 2023”, via MacRumors . Young went on to claim that Apple is no longer planning to launch the new 14.1-inch form factor, so it may never launch.

With the release of Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro on the iPad, it makes a lot of sense for Apple to offer an iPad with a larger screen and external display support.

Performance

Before they deleted their account, X leaker Analyst941 reported (via Macworld) that Apple was planning on releasing the new iPad Pro with external support for up to two 6K monitors running at 60Hz, the potential inclusion of an M3 Pro chipset, plus a “special version of iPadOS 17” that was being developed for the larger iPad Pro models.

A tweet from June 2022 by Majin Bu suggested that the 14-inch iPad Pro would contain an M2 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of base storage, we would only expect to see the M2 used in the 14-inch iPad Pro if it launches separately to the rest of the range.

However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that the upcoming M4 chip, equipped with a neural engine for enhanced AI capabilities, might feature in the next iPad Pro.

It’d be a real surprise for the M4 to debut on the iPad rather than the Mac, though AI has become a feature of mobile devices in 2024.

If true, the M3 chip might be featured in the iPad Air and smaller iPad Pro models, while the M4 would be exclusive for the brand new 14-inch iPad Pro. On the other hand, there’s still a chance the M3 chip might be also skipped entirely from this year’s iPad Pro.

The current iPad Pros are powered by the M2 chip, so it makes sense for at least one M3 to appear in 2024. But due to the iPad’s thin, fanless design, it seems more sensible for a standard M3 to be int the new iPad Pros, rather than the M3 Pro.

Apple currently offers iPad Pro configurations ranging from 128GB to 2TB, alongside various colour options and screen sizes. Considering this extensive array of configurations, there is speculation that the company might begin with 512GB as the entry-level option. However, it’s more probable that Apple will eliminate the 128GB model from the lineup.

Battery & charging

The 2024 iPad Pro may feature MagSafe charging, as suggested by MacRumors. This follows previous rumours about Apple’s exploration of wireless charging for the iPad, including testing MagSafe capabilities.

Additionally, since new iPad Pro models are expected to receive design updates alongside the introduction of OLED displays, a glass back may increase vulnerability to damage. However, it also could enable compatibility with new wire-free accessories.

Furthermore, the iPad may support 15W magnetic Qi2 chargers, providing users with additional charging options.

Accessories

In addition to the iPad Pro, reports suggest that the Apple Magic Keyboard will also undergo an update. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman states that Apple intends to redesign the accessory to give “the iPad Pro a more laptop-like appearance” while incorporating a “larger trackpad.”

Although Gurman didn’t elaborate further, the inclusion of a larger trackpad in the iPad Pro would undoubtedly be a welcome change.

And of course, the official invite for the 7 May event all but confirms that there’ll be a new model of Apple Pencil.

As you can see, there are plenty of rumours and speculation about the next-generation iPad Pro. We’ll update this article once more is revealed. In the meantime, see our guides to the best iPads and best tablets.