The standard iPad could finally be due a redesign this year, according to screen specialists and regular tech tipsters Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).
In DSCC’s latest report and in a tweet from CEO Ross Young, new display sizes for the standard iPad are expected, alongside a rumored display upgrade for the MacBook Air 2022.
A new display size would require a new design for the standard iPad, which hasn’t see much of a design change since its original launch in 2011. Something akin to the iPad Air 2022 or iPad mini 6 design would seem most likely.
Just released our Apple iPad and Mac roadmaps in our Quarterly Advanced IT Display Report and see new display sizes next year for the iPad and MacBook Air. Will likely include in our talks at the SID/DSCC Business Conference on 5/9 for those interested.March 23, 2022
A new 2022 iPad could drop the Touch ID home button, likely in favor of Touch ID integrated into the power button like that of the iPad Air. And that would mean Apple could trim down the bezels of the iPad fitting in a larger display yet keeping the overall footprint of the tablet the same as the current model.
If Apple does this, it would mean the standard iPad would be rather similar to the iPad Air in terms of looks. But we’d not expect it to use the Apple M1 chip. More likely we would see the A15 Bionic or perhaps the rumored A16 Bionic chip expected in the iPhone 14 Pro.
Currently, the standard iPad is the cheapest way to get into iPadOS, with a starting price of $329; the new iPad Air starts at $599 and the iPad mini 6 $499. While the iPad’s design might be long in the tooth, it’s still a capable tablet with support for a huge swath of curated apps, Apple Pencil compatibility and the ability to work with a folio-style keyboard. As an entry-level tablet, it’s very well-equipped.
So a refined design and a specs boost would be much appreciated, if Apple can keep the starting price competitive. We’d also like to see the Lightning port killed in favour of USB-C connectivity, as is now the case with all other iPads.
There’s no clear indication of a release date, but we’d not be surprised to see a new standard iPad get revealed and released in the fall, potentially alongside the launch of the iPhone 14.
