Apple may finally offer your much-needed iPad an much-needed technology update. Sources at 9to5Mac claim that Apple’s next base tablet will switch from a Lightning port to USB-C when it launches in the fall. Like most recent iPads, you can connect directly to monitors and other peripherals while improving the speed of wired data transfers.
There are also clues to a broader performance update. The new iPad entry is supposed to include a larger screen with the same resolution as the iPad Air. You won’t get the same picture quality as Air, but you won’t have to settle for a significantly smaller screen just to save money. Apple will also equip the iPad with Air’s fourth-generation A14 Bionic chip and introduce 5G support for cellular variants, according to informants.
No mention of whether or not Apple will update the iPad’s design, including support for the Magic Keyboard or second-generation Pencil. It would not be surprising if the board received a makeover, however. The base iPad is the latest model to adhere to Lightning, a home button, and other features that have been around for a decade or more. If the rumor is correct, the new version would jump into the modern era while giving buyers a reason to spend more on Air.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, regardless of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn you an affiliate commission.