Apple’s Entry iPad Said to Get A14, USB-C and More This Year: Report

Apple is planning to launch a big refresh of the entry-level iPad sometime this year — reports 9to5Mac.

Instead of the iterative updates we’ve seen Apple make to the tablet in years past, the 10th-generation iPad will supposedly be a much bigger deal.

Sources told the publication that this year’s base iPad will get the A14 Bionic chip, 5G and, for the first time ever, USB-C connectivity, opening up the possibility of connecting to an external display. The entry iPad will also get the same Retina display from the iPad Air.

The no-suffix iPad is the most pocket-friendly option in the product line right now, with last year’s iPad 9 starting at $429. A relatively low price point has resulted in the iPad missing out on a better screen, USB-C, and, for the longest time, a major design update, but a lot of that might change with the upcoming model.

Apple will finally switch the iPad over to USB-C with this year’s release. With that, Apple will have successfully transitioned its entire iPad lineup to USB-C just in time for an EU requirement for the connectivity standard expected to take effect by 2024.

iPads from previous years have featured LCD screens, but the iPad 10 is being rumoured for a Retina display. The upcoming iPad is expected to have the same screen resolution as the iPad Air 5 that launched earlier this year. If that’s true, a slight upgrade in screen size to 10.5 inches or even 10.9 inches is likely.

The 2022 iPad will also pack Apple’s A14 Bionic chip under the hood. At the same time, cellular models will gain 5G support. In comparison to its predecessor’s A13 Bionic, the 10-gen iPad’s A14 Bionic offers a 30% performance uplift.

There is no word yet on how (or even if) Apple will significantly change the physical design of the entry-level iPad with this year’s refresh. However, with Apple reportedly changing so much about the device, it’s a pretty good bet that the tech giant will revamp its exterior as well.

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