Allegedly Leaked 2021 iPad Pro CAD Images Suggest Few Design Changes
We’re expecting to see new iPad Pro models in the next couple of months, and we’re today seeing what are claimed to be CAD images of the 2021 11-inch iPad Pro. The models don’t tell us much, unfortunately, revealing only two minor changes from the current model …
Tech blogs 91mobile and MySmartPrice on Tuesday posted a series of allegedly leaked factory CAD images of Apple’s upcoming fifth-generation 11-inch iPad Pro.
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Rumors suggest Apple plans to announce two new iPad Pro models in both 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions, and today’s images offer perhaps the clearest indication yet that Apple’s next-generation iPad Pros will have minimal if any, external design changes.
According to MySmartPrice, the the fifth-generation 11-inch iPad Pro will be the same thickness, but Apple will “shave off some millimeters from the length and breadth.” The device may also exhibit changes to the internal speaker system, by potentially reducing the number of speakers grilles and relocating them.
Previous rumors about the next-generation iPad Pro models indicate no changes to the display size or housing, but A-series chip performance is expected to be “significantly improved.”
According to one rumor, the rear cameras are said to protrude less in the new iPad Pro models. Specifically, the camera bump will remain, but the protrusion of the individual camera lenses will not be required.
There is also the suggestion that Apple will release standard iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch updates, while also making a separate high-end mini-LED 12.9-inch model, which could be about 0.5mm thicker to accommodate the higher-spec display.
DigiTimes believes Apple is working on a 5G iPad with mmWave support, which would be positioned as a high-end iPad Pro, and 5G support could be released alongside the new mini-LED display.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that a mini-LED iPad Pro launch is expected in the first half of this year, while DigiTimes also believes a mini-LED iPad Pro will launch in early 2021, as does Korea’s ETNews.
Claimed CAD images of the 2021 11-inch iPad Pro emerge
The speaker grilles also appear to be smaller, which aligns with an earlier rumor.
We’re so far expecting one notable change to the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro: the adoption of mini LED backlighting.
This swaps out the dozens to hundreds of white LEDs used for current backlit LCD screens for thousands of much smaller ones. Having this degree of control over where backlighting is and isn’t enabled allows for deeper blacks in unlit areas, greater brightness in lit areas, and therefore greater contrast ratio. Mini LED is also more power-efficient than the larger LEDs used in today’s iPads.
This represents a different path to Apple’s latest iPhones, which all use OLED screens. Adding mini LED backlighting to older LCD screens does have a couple of advantages over OLED, however: less risk of burn-in, and greater longevity.
We’ve had several reports indicating that Apple will adopt a mini LED for the largest 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but no word on the 11-inch model, suggesting that the feature may remain exclusive to the top-of-the-range model for now.
This does seem consistent with Apple’s desire to maintain the differentiation of the most expensive iPad. The 2020 10.9-inch iPad Air adopted the form factor of the much more expensive 11-inch iPad Pro and offered a surprising number of Pro features. That meant that many of those who would have laid out the cash for the Pro would instead buy the Air. If you want the larger screen, however, you have no option but to buy the Pro. Introducing mini LED to the 12.9-inch model first would create yet another incentive to spend more on the top model.
If you want to take a look at more of the claimed 2021 11-inch iPad Pro CAD images, check out the source link.
macrumors