Apple Inc. is working on a new iPad Pro with wireless charging and the first redesign of the iPad mini in six years, seeking to maintain sales for this category of gadgets, sales of which revived during the pandemic. About it writes Bloomberg.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – June 05, 2021 – Technology
The Cupertino-based company plans to release a new iPad Pro in 2022, and the iPad mini – later this year, the agency said, citing sources. The main change in the design of the tested iPad Pro will be the transition to a glass back panel instead of the current aluminum body. It is planned that the updated iPad mini will have a narrower screen, while the tests have already tested the possibility of removing the “Home” button.
The popularity of tablets during a pandemic
Last year, the iPad became a more important part of Apple’s portfolio as people looked for new ways to work, study and have fun at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last six months of 2020, iPad sales jumped by 43% compared to the year before. Growth continued in the first three months of 2021 when sales of tablets amounted to 7.8 billion dollars – 79% more than in the same quarter a year earlier.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., which assembles the iPad, cut losses by 0.9% in Taipei on Friday, according to Bloomberg. Competitors BYD Electronic International Co. rose 6.2% in Hong Kong. Shares of Apple rose 2% on Friday in New York.
Apple has increased iPad hardware capacity. Now you need to give him software for Mac, the publication writes.
What is expected in the new models?
In the new Pro model, the transition to the glass rear panel is tested, in particular, for the first time the possibility of wireless charging. The change in material will bring the iPad closer to the iPhone, in which Apple in recent years has moved from aluminum to glass back panels.
According to the interlocutors of the agency, discussing internal issues, Apple’s work on the new iPad Pro is at an early stage, and the company’s plans may change or be canceled before the launch next year. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
Wireless charging replaces the conventional power cord with an inductive mat, making it easier for users to charge the battery. It has become a common feature in smartphones, but a rarity among tablets. Apple added wireless charging to the iPhone in 2017, and last year updated it with the MagSafe system on magnets, which provides a more stable charging speed.
The company is testing a similar MagSafe system for the iPad Pro. Wireless charging is likely to be slower than directly connecting the charger to the Thunderbolt iPad port, which will remain in future models.
As part of the development of the next iPad Pro, Apple is also testing wireless reverse charging technology. This will allow users to charge iPhones or other gadgets by placing them on the back of the tablet. Apple has previously worked to ensure that the iPhone can charge AirPods and Apple Watches.
In addition to the next-generation iPad Pro and iPad mini, Apple is also working on a thinner version of the entry-level iPad for students. This product is scheduled for release later this year, at about the same time as the new iPad mini.
According to the interlocutors, the company from Cupertino is still exploring the possibility of creating a future wireless charger that will work similarly to the failed AirPower – a charging pad designed to simultaneously power the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. The company is also exploring alternative wireless charging methods that can work longer distances than an inductive connection. However, the implementation of such technology in the product is likely to take several more years.
The last time Apple updated the iPad Pro was in 2018, and the last two updates concerned performance and camera technology. The iPad mini was last updated in 2019 with Apple Pencil support and a faster chip. The entry-level iPad was updated with a faster processor last September.
Read also: Should Mummy Apples Be Left on the Tree?
Source: Ukrgate