Apple refreshed its iPad portfolio with the iPad Air in March 2022, featuring the same chip as the iPad Pro models from 2021. It then refreshed the range again with the iPad (10th generation) and iPad Pro models with an M2 chip.

What else have the latest iPad Pro models brought to the party to differentiate themselves from the rest of the iPad line up though, and live up to their "Pro" name?

Here is everything you need to know about the next-generation iPad Pro 2022 models.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 - main image
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022)

Release date and price

  • Pre-order from 18 October 2022
  • Available from 26 October 2022

Apple announced the iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 12.9-inch with the M2 chip on 18 October 2022. Both are available to pre-order now and they will both hit shelves from 26 October.

In terms of price, the iPad Pro 11-inch starts at $799 in the US and £899 in the UK, while the iPad Pro 12.9-inch starts at $1099 in the US and £1249 in the UK. For the US, that's the same price as the previous iPad Pro models. For the UK, it's quite a significant price increase.

Design

  • Same as 2021 models
  • Space Grey and Silver

The next-generation iPad Pros look the same as their predecessors, with an aluminium body, uniformed bezels with Face ID and the front camera at the top of the display. Unlike the iPad (10th generation), the front camera remains at the top of the display rather than move to the side.

There were rumours the devices would switch to a titanium alloy construction for better durability and superior scratch resistance, but that wasn't to be this time around.

There were also rumours of an extra camera lens, though the iPad Pro 2022 models stick with a dual setup on the rear, along with a Lidar sensor, all positioned within a square housing in the top left corner. The Smart Connector is positioned at the rear of the iPad Pro (2022) models, as it was on the 2021 models and there is a magnetic strip on the edge.

Display

  • 12.9-inch / 11-inch sizes 
  • True Tone, ProMotion, P3
  • Apple Pencil hover feature

The iPad Pro (2022) models feature the same size displays are their predecessors. They also feature the same technology, with the 11-inch model opting for a Liquid Retina OLED display, while the 12.9-inch model offers a Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display.

Both offer Apple's ProMotion technology, a P3 colour gamut and True Tone. They also both offer a fully laminated display and fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.

The 11-inch model has a 2388 x 1668 resolution, while the 12.9-inch model has a 2732 x 2048 resolution, though both result in a pixel density of 264ppi. The 12.9-inch model has a peak brightness of 1600nits though, while the 11-inch model offers 600nits.

Both models offer a feature called Apple Pencil hover which sees them recognise when an Apple Pencil is 12mm above the display, meaning a new way to interact with the screen.

Specs and hardware

  • M2 chip
  • Up to 2TB storage
  • Wi-Fi 6E support

The next-generation iPad Pro models run on the M2 chip, which is the same as what is found on the MacBook Air 2022. This chip offers an eight-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. There is also 100GB/s memory bandwidth and a choice of 8GB or 16GB RAM.

Both the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro have a Media Engine, like the MacBook Air and they both come with a promise of up to 10 hours of video or up to 9 hours of surfing the web. Charging happens via USB-C on both models.

Storage options for both iPad Pro models is 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. They are both 5G compatible if you pick the Wi-Fi and Cellular model. They also both support Wi-Fi 6E, which is said to offer faster Wi-Fi connection.

Cameras

  • Dual rear (10MP+12MP)
  • 12MP front camera, Center Stage
  • LiDAR sensor

Both the iPad Pro 11-inch and the iPad Pro 12.9-inch feature dual rear cameras. There's a 12-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and there's a 10-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with an f/2.4 aperture.

You'll get up to 2x optical zoom out and up to 5x digital zoom. There's also Smart HDR 4 for photos.

The front camera meanwhile, is a 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture. It offers features like Center Stage, Smart HDR 4 for photos and Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control.

Next iPad Pro rumours: What happened?

Here is everything we heard about the next iPad Pro 2022 models before they were revealed.

17 October 2022: A future iPad dock could turn it into a smart home display

Apple is reportedly working on a new type of iPad dock that would turn it into a large touchscreen smart home display, according to Mark Gurman.

17 October 2022: M2 iPad Pro tablets could be just days away

Apple's updated M2 iPad Pro tablets could be announced "in a matter of days" according to a new report, with new 11 and 12.9-inch models in the cards.

11 October 2022: Apple's big iPadOS 16.1 update reportedly just two weeks away

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed iPad OS 16.1 is on track to be released on week beginning 24 October.

24 August 2022: New iPadOS to follow after iOS 16 release, Apple to break with convention

Apple confirmed that it is to break with convention and stagger the release of its iPhone and iPad operating systems.

16 August 2022: Apple could hold October event for new iPads

A blog post from Lanzuk on Korean blog Naver has claimed the 10th generation of the entry level iPad could be announced at the "end of October", alongside new iPad Pro models.

7 August 2022: Apple will delay iPadOS 16 release until October, here's why

Apple's iPadOS 16 has been delayed and won't release at the same time as iOS 16 this year, it has been claimed. Due in October instead, it is said the delay is partly due to the some of the new ambitious multi-tasking features set to come with the software build. 

27 June 2022: Two new M2 iPad Pro models tipped for this year, 11 and 12.9-inch

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman doubled down on his March prediction that Apple will add its latest silicon to the next iPad Pro models. He has also revealed that they will retain the same display sizes as the current, M1 devices: 11- and 12.8-inches.

13 June 2022: New Apple iPad Pro 14.1-inch in development, could wait until 2023

Display analyst Ross Young tweeted claiming supply chain sources have confirmed a 14.1-inch iPad Pro is being developed. It's said the tablet will feature Mini LEDs and offer the company's ProMotion technology, but it may not arrive until early 2023.

6 June 2022: iPadOS 16 teased during WWDC with a swathe of new features

Apple announced some of the new features coming to iPad in its next operating system release - iPadOS 16.

3 June 2022: Apple might show off new iPadOS 16 multitasking features at WWDC 2022

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed Apple will reveal a major software update for the iPad during WWDC. The update, iPadOS 16, will make Apple's tablets function more like laptops. More specifically, the update will usher in a new multitasking interface with more resizing options. 

28 March 2022: Apple iPad Pro with M2 chip and MagSafe charging rumoured for fall release

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed in his 27 March Power On newsletter that he expects the next iPad Pro models to launch in the fall and come with the long-rumoured M2 chip.

23 January 2022: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch could upgrade to mini-LED

Leaker @dylandkt tweeted that the iPad Pro 11-inch is expected to get an upgrade to a mini-LED display like the 12.9-inch model in 2022. The Twitter account has since been deleted though.  

21 December 2021: Is this Apple's next iPad Pro? Leaked renders reveal new 2022 design

Leaked images shared by Chinese website MyDrivers, suggested the next Apple iPad Pro model will feature a display notch to accommodate front-facing sensors, a triple camera setup on the back, slimmer bezels, and a design similar to Apple's iPhone 13 series. 

5 October 2021: Apple is planning on bringing OLED to the iPad Pro after all, but not until 2023 at the earliest

Despite reports pointing to Apple expanding mini-LED to the 11-inch iPad Pro and perhaps even an upgraded iPad Air throughout 2022, display experts and insiders are now pinpointing 2023 to 2024 as the year Apple will ultimately bring OLED to the iPad - most likely starting with the 12.9-inch model. 

4 October 2021: Apple tosses OLED iPad plans, will focus on improved mini-LED displays instead

A report by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that the company has ultimately decided to focus on implementing mini-LED across the entire lineup, instead of switching to OLED.

21 December 2020: The iPad Pro may not receive OLED display until 2022

Despite plenty of rumours indicating an OLED display would be coming to the iPad Pro's next generation, a report suggested the technology won't arrive on Apple tablets until 2022. Instead, the devices face a temporary upgrade to Mini-LED displays before making the full transition to the more advanced OLED in 2022. Only the 12.9-inch model got the mini-LED treatment in 2021 though.