New iPad and iPad Pro models are here
Today’s the day that Apple finally showcases a new range of iPads to the world; more specifically the first batch of the company’s tablets to sport its upgraded M2 chipset, which itself debuted in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro earlier this year, in June.
The M2 iPad Pro range serves as a direct follow-on from last year’s models, both of which utilized Apple’s M1 chipset and could be had with an 11-inch or a 12.9-inch display.
We were also introduced to a new base 10th-generation iPad, that bids farewell to the Lightning port and home button, sporting a design closer in style to the iPad Air and powered by the A14 chipset.
That aside, here’s everything on the new iPads, as it’s happening.
23:26:48 – October 18, 2022
The sun sets on another Apple launch day, and the most memorable news seems to be the reintroduction of fun and vibrant colors to the Apple lineup. The new iPad (2022) looks good, get a capable feature update, and even stick the camera in the right spot for good video calls.
You can preorder a new iPad right now. We’re hoping to have a full review soon of all the new Apple gear, and we’ll tell you if these are the best iPads Apple has ever made, or if you’re better off finding a deal on an older tablet.
Of course, the addition of the M2 chip to the iPad Pro family is the most important tech development, but we’ll have to wait and see how much affect it has on the new iPad OS 16. Some of the iPad OS features that split the screen and run multiple apps are forthcoming, and those will greatly benefit from the M2 chip.
We’re also very curious to see how much the Neural Engine upgrade helps the iPad OS. Google relies heavily on its machine learning features in its Tensor G2 chipset, and that platform is coming to a tablet device very soon. It’s unclear how much of a boost iPad OS gets from the Neural Engine, and which features benefit.
This is certainly a day for the history books, as long as that book is “The History of Apple’s Lightning Port,” because today Lightning is a step closer to being history. Not only did Apple remove Lightning from the regular base model iPad, it also pulled the port from the new Apple TV 4K remote!
That’s right, as of today Apple’s Siri remote for Apple TV has a more advanced connection port than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Hopefully soon we can finish this book and ship it: we’re ready for USB-C everywhere.
More news keeps coming about these iPad models, and they don’t reach shelves until next Wednesday, October 26. We’ll keep updating our stories and get a hands-on review with these exciting new tablets, so keep checking back.
22:01:16 – October 18, 2022
Of course we can’t forget about the new Apple TV 4K that Apple quietly slipped in beside the big new iPads. The new Apple TV gets better HDR support with HDR10+, a format that is similar to Dolby Vision, a format the device already handled. Inside is the Apple Bionic A15 chip, and if it’s good enough to power the iPhone 14 then surely it’s good enough to run a streaming box.
The remote gets a slight upgrade as it drops the lightning port and charges over USB-C. One more nail in the lightning port coffin, as two former lightning devices go USB-C today, in the Apple TV remote (ok, it’s a weird flex) and the tenth generation iPad.
We still think the remote could have gotten a better upgrade. The Apple TV 4K comes with one of the easiest remotes to lose of any streaming device we’ve tried. It’s ergonomically designed to slip between couch cushions.
20:43:53 – October 18, 2022
While the tenth gen iPad (2022) gets a whole new look this year and a fresh coat of paint, the iPad Pro (2022) gets a little bit better at doing the things it already could. For instance, it could already shoot video, but now the new M2 chip lets it shoot 4K video in the Apple ProRes format.
The iPad Pro could already use the Apple Pencil 2, but now it gets a special trick. It can detect when the pencil is hovering up to 12mm away, and it does … stuff. It does art stuff, and it also makes a text box bigger? Apple wasn’t very clear, but we have ideas.
What if the hover action could, say, show you the text of an email without having to open it, just by hovering over the preview? What if it could show you a larger image preview in the Gallery, without having to open full screen? What if you could open a day in your calendar simply by hovering the pencil above it?
Those are great features, and we enjoyed them almost ten years ago when Samsung started using hover features with its phones, including the Galaxy Note II. That phone used a stylus, but it did not need a battery charge and it did not cost an exorbitant fee, it was free.
Samsung eventually even pulled off hovering with its smartphones, stylus-free. The Galaxy S4 used this feature, called Air View, just by hovering your finger over the phone. The feature set grew to be quite extensive. We will see if Apple goes beyond the basics with the Apple Pencil hover.
19:44:35 – October 18, 2022
Those new tenth generation iPads look snazzy in the flashy new colors, though we’re not sure the blue is as vibrant as Apple says its in announcement headline. At least it doesn’t make us sad. We especially dig the pink and yellow, seen above.
There was another surprise with the iPad today, but not the iPad (2022). The ninth gen iPad (2021) got a price change, but not in the direction we’d guess. In the UK, we woke with an iPad that cost £329, and now that same iPad from last year costs £369. In the U.S. the price has stayed the same.
We’re not going to speculate on global currency fluctuations, but needless to say we consider it timeless advice that you can rely on the old product dropping in price when the new product arrives. This is a rare instance that defies the rule.
19:08:39 – October 18, 2022
The camera on the iPad Pro got an upgrade this year, but not the kind we’re used to seeing. The actual lenses and sensors don’t seem to have changed. You still get a 12MP main camera and a 10MP ultra-wide lens.
It’s the video capabilities that have changed, and that’s thanks to the new Apple M2 chip. Instead of upgrading the camera hardware, Apple has added hardware encoding and decoding for video formats, including the ProRes format used by the iPhone 14 Pro camera.
The iPad Pro (2022) is the first iPad that can record in ProRes format on its camera. You can record 4K video up to 30 fps, though a video like that uses around 7GB of storage per minute of recording.
For that reason, the iPad Pro with 128GB of storage can’t record at the full 4K resolution. The same was true for the iPhone 14 Pro with 128GB of storage. You need to buy a larger capacity to use the full video resolution while recording.
The iPad Pro (2022) is available now for preorder, and we give you a full rundown of the best way to buy this powerful video editing tool.
18:35:22 – October 18, 2022
The new iPads are especially interesting for the way they are slowly phasing out older Apple ideas. Indeed, these devices could mark the beginning of the end for some old Apple specs, and good riddance, we say.
First is the home button, which is now gone from the base model Apple iPad. The fingerprint reader has been moved to the power button, and the home button is gone.
The home button was a feature on the original Apple iPhone, and has been a part of Apple’s mobile family ever since. Now the iPhone SE is the only device remaining with the home button.
Second is the addition of USB-C to the iPad line, omitting the lightning port. Lightning was introduced at the same time as the original iPad mini, and quickly took over Apple devices, replacing the much larger 30-pin iPod connector. Now it seems Apple is abandoning lightning, and maybe too quickly.
The iPad Pro dropped lightning for USB-C and Thunderbolt last year. The iPhone is rumored to drop lightning as a result of recent legislation by the EU. The newer USB-C port is a significant upgrade, with faster data rates and more capabilities than the older lightning.
18:11:49 – October 18, 2022
Unlike the iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard, the new 10th-gen iPad sports its own, dedicated Magic Keyboard Folio, which appears to come in two parts: a magnetically attached back cover that features an integrated hinged kickstand that you can set at any angle through its range of motion, and a keyboard and trackpad combo that attaches to the edge of the 10.9-inch iPad magnetically; relaying data and power through integrated POGO pins.
The scissor action keys offer 1mm of travel, sport a 14-key function row and a ‘click-anywhere’ trackpad, while the whole things only appears to be available in white at launch.
It’s priced at $249 / £279 / AU$399.
17:00:32 – October 18, 2022
To remedy this newfound incompatibility – as spotted by TechRadar’s senior editor for TV & audio, Matt Bolton – Apple explains “a new USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter is required for pairing and charging”.
The price for the privalge of being able to use your shiny new iPad with your Apple Pencil? An addition $9 / £9 / AU$15 for Apple’s official USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter. Ouch.
16:53:03 – October 18, 2022
With all the key details out of the way, let’s take a moment to recognise that the new 10.9-inch iPad trades Lightning for USB-C, but still only supports the first-generation Apple Pencil.
This means that, while you can now attach a host of new accessories more conveniently and directly than ever before, you can’t physically connect or charge the only Apple Pencil that the 10th-gen iPad is compatible with.
15:36:37 – October 18, 2022
As for the iPad Pro 2022, both sizes replace their respective predecessors, starting at the same US price as before: $799 for the 11-inch model and $1,099 for the 12.9-inch version. They go on sale on October 26.
Here’s the full pricing breakdown for the 11-inch model:
- 128GB WiFi-only: $799 / £899 / AU$1,399
- 128GB cellular: $999 / £1,079 / AU$1,649
- 256GB WiFi-only: $899 / £1,019 / AU$1,579
- 256GB cellular: $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,829
- 512GB WiFi-only: $1,099 / £1,249 / AU$1,929
- 512GB cellular: $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,179
- 1TB WiFi-only: $1,499 / £1,699 / AU$2,629
- 1TB cellular: $1,699 / £1,879 / AU$2,879
- 2TB WiFi-only: $1,899 / £2,149 / AU$3,329
- 2TB cellular: $2,099 / £2,329 / AU$3,579
…and the 12.9-inch model:
- 128GB WiFi-only: $1,099 / £1,249 / AU$1,899
- 128GB cellular: $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,149
- 256GB WiFi-only: $1,199 / £1,369 / AU$2,079
- 256GB cellular: $1,399 / £1,549 / AU$2,329
- 512GB WiFi-only: $1,399 / £1,599 / AU$2,429
- 512GB cellular: $1,599 / £1,779 / AU$2,679
- 1TB WiFi-only: $1,799 / £2,049 / AU$3,129
- 1TB cellular: $1,999 / £2,229 / AU$3,399
- 2TB WiFi-only: $2,199 / £2,499 / AU$3,829
- 2TB cellular: $2,399 / £2,679 / AU$4,099
15:28:38 – October 18, 2022
Apple is keeping the 9th-generation iPad on sale for the time being, with the starting price remaining at $329 in the US. The new 10th-generation iPad effectively slots in on top, starting at $449. It goes on sale on October 26.
Here’s the full price breakdown:
- 64GB WiFi-only: $449 / £499 / AU$749
- 64GB cellular: $599 / £679 / AU$999
- 256GB WiFi-only: $599 / £679 / AU$999
- 256GB cellular: $749 / £859 / AU$1,249
15:22:51 – October 18, 2022
Here’s the hotly anticipated M2-powered iPad Pro. Same two sizes as last year, the M2 chip running the show, up to 2TB of storage, ProRes video capture, WiFi 6E and a new hover gesture for the Apple Pencil are among the main upgrades here.
Head on over to our dedicated iPad Pro 2022 explainer or read on for a deeper spec breakdown:
- 11-inch Liquid Retina display (LED) or 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (mini-LED)
- 2338×1668 (11-inch) or 2732×2048 (12.9-inch) resolution
- 120Hz ProMotion
- 600nits SDR brightness (both)
- 1000nits XDR brightness (12.9-inch)
- 1600nits peak HDR content brightness (12.9-inch)
- Quad stereo speakers
- Apple M2 chip (8-core CPU w/ 4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores, 10-core GPU, 16-core NPU)
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB storage
- 8GB RAM (128GB, 256GB, 512GB storage models)
- 16GB RAM (1TB, 2TB storage models)
- 12MP wide rear camera – records up to ProRes 4K @ 30fps or 240fps slow motion video
- 10MP ultrawide rear camera – 125-degree field of view
- LiDAR scanner
- TrueDepth 12MP front camera – 122-degree field of view, Face ID
- WiFi 6
- 5G (optional) via nanoSIM & eSIM
- USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4)
- Works with Apple Pencil (2nd generation) + supports Apple Pencil Hover
- Runs iPadOS 16 out the box
- 28.65-watt-hour battery (11-inch)
- 40.88-watt-hour battery (12.9-inch)
- Quoted battery life: 10-hours use (WiFi-only)
- Weight (11-inch, WiFi-only): 1.03 pounds / 466 grams
- Weight (11-inch, cellular): 1.04 pounds / 470 grams
- Weight (12.9-inch, WiFi-only): 1.5 pounds / 682 grams
- Weight (12.9-inch, cellular): 1.51 pounds / 685 grams
- Colors: silver or Space Gray
15:14:24 – October 18, 2022
And here we go! Starting with the colorful new 10.9-inch standard iPad.
Say farewell to the home button, this new tablet renders the entire iPad range home button-free. It also sticks the front 12MP camera in a landscape orientation (the Apple logo on the back is still in portrait).
USB-C is the big addition here, so farewell Lightning. A beefier A14 chip, ongoing Apple Pencil (1st-gen) support and compatibility with a new dedicated Magic Keyboard accessory round out the main talking points here. Check out our full iPad 2022 explainer for a much deeper dive into what Apple’s newest standard iPad offers up.
Here are the key details you’re likely wondering about:
- 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display
- 2360×1640 resolution
- 500 nits brightness
- Landscape stereo speakers
- Apple A14 chip (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core NPU)
- 64GB or 256GB storage
- Touch ID top button
- 12MP rear camera – records up to 4K or 240fps slow motion video
- Landscape 12MP front camera – 122-degree field of view, Center Stage
- WiFi 6
- 5G (optional) via nanoSIM & eSIM
- USB-C
- Compatible with a new purpose-made Magic Keyboard
- Works with Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Runs iPadOS 16 out the box
- 28.6‐watt‐hour battery (quoted 10-hours use – WiFi-only)
- Weight (WiFi-only): 1.05 pounds / 477 grams
- Weight (cellular): 1.06 pounds / 481 grams
- Colors: blue, pink, yellow, and silver
14:53:03 – October 18, 2022
Still no word yet from Apple, but every time the clock chimes we get closer. The last word was CEO Tim Cook’s tweet earlier this morning, and we’ve spotted a clue, or at least an indication that we’re looking at an iPad Pro.
Among all the floating doodles that fly by is a camera bump with two lenses, similar to the bump on the current iPad Pro. That tablet gets a camera upgrade among iPads, with a 12MP main camera and a 10MP ultra-wide lens. Apple calls this the Pro camera system.
It’s unclear if the Apple M2 chip will benefit a better camera setup because that chipset is used in laptops, not mobile devices. The Apple A16 platform on its newest iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is a very different beast that the Apple M2 chipset.
Still, we did see camera improvements in the Apple Macbook Pro that used the M2 chip versus its predecessor, This is likely as much due to improved hardware, but image processing is part of the chip’s design.
Of course, there could be no camera upgrades coming. The camera bump is one of the few identifiable features on an iPad. It’s otherwise just a slab of glass, now that the home button is gone. If Apple wants to tease an iPad launch, there aren’t many doodle options.
14:34:51 – October 18, 2022
Let’s talk about the all-important Apple M2 chip that we’re expecting to be running the show inside these new October iPads.
First unveiled at Apple’s WWDC 2022 event in June, it’s already at work inside some MacBooks – as mentioned earlier. Despite the name, performance-wise the M2 sits beneath the M1 Pro and M1 Max (announced in October 2021), as well as (unsurprisingly) the M1 Ultra that showcased in March this year.
To quote Apple, compared to the standard M1, the M2 boasts an “18 percent faster CPU, a 35 percent more powerful GPU, and a 40 percent faster Neural Engine. It also delivers 50 percent more memory bandwidth compared to M1, and up to 24GB of fast unified memory”.
The hook that’s more important where the iPads are concerned is the promise of improved power efficiency. The M1-powered iPad Pro 2021 promises ten-hours of use per charge but in practice we found the tablet rarely reach that promise. Hopefully, with the M2, Apple can push that figure up by an hour (or more).
14:09:57 – October 18, 2022
We were hoping for Apple to drop the announcement on its new slates just over an hour ago and 60-minutes later, still nothing from the company’s newsroom. All that means, however, is go time must be edging that much closer – maybe things’ll be different in 50 minutes time…
13:47:06 – October 18, 2022
Whether you’re already tempted by the current iPad lineup or are holding out hope for the potential price drop on the new iPads we’re expecting today, keep your eyes peeled on our Best iPad Deals roundup, which is constantly being updated to bring you the best prices on Apple’s prized slates.
13:18:46 – October 18, 2022
The iPad’s ability to facilitate a range of digital creatives wasn’t lost on TechRadar’s managing editor for Lifestyle – Josie Watson, who’s also an artist in her spare time.
She’s already compiled a wishlist of features she’d like to see from this year’s iPad Pros. What do you think?
13:15:28 – October 18, 2022
Good Morning (or afternoon, depending on where you’re tuning in). All signs point to Apple releasing its new iPads any time now, with the Apple Store buy pages for iPads set to ‘be right back’ and Tim Cook throwing out a tempting tweet.
Let’s dive in.
By Philip Berne
