A Taiwanese website has reported that Apple's 10th generation iPad will feature "major" design changes.
Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil a new generation of its entry-level iPad and if rumors are to be believed, the brand's 10th generation iPad, which is said to arrive this September, will feature a new design and even better hardware. A report from a Taiwanese website said that not only is Apple's 10th generation iPad currently in production, but it will also feature "major" improvements on its design and hardware.
MacRumors reported on the findings of Taiwanese website DigiTimes, which revealed that the 10th generation iPad from Apple will feature a larger 10.5-inch display and slightly thinner bezels, as well as a flat-edged enclosure with a protruding rear camera. Apple's entry-level tablet device is expected to have a Touch ID home button, however recent leaked renders indicated a missing headphone jack, unlike previous iPad models.
Apple's 10th Generation iPad May Be More Powerful
Aside from the redesign, Apple's 10 generation iPad is rumored to be powered by the faster A14 Bionic chip and will be capable of 5G support for cellular models. The A14 Bionic chip is already being used in the fourth-generation iPad Air and four of the iPhone 12 models.
The report added that Apple is looking to launch the 10th generation iPad in September, however sources cited in the report expressed concern over temporary power restrictions established by the Chinese government in the southwestern Sichuan province in China. An intense heat wave caused the government to cut power to industrial users in 19 cities throughout the province until August 20 to allot energy to residential areas. This caused industrial power users to temporarily suspend production at this time.
Apple tablets such as the 10th generation iPad are mainly produced in Sichuan by manufacturing companies such as Foxconn and Compal. The report said that a six-day power shutdown is unlikely to affect production efficiency in August. But in the event of a longer power outage, companies such as Apple may need to adjust their timelines.
USB-C Finally Coming to the Entry-level iPad
One of the most anticipated updates to the upcoming Apple 10th generation iPad is the change from Lightning to USB-C. Right now, the entry-level iPad is the only iPad model that still uses Apple's proprietary Lightning connector instead of the USB-C, which has long become a standard across mobile devices, 9to5Mac reported.
Apple is rumored to finally move from the Lightning connector to the USB-C for the upcoming 10th generation iPad, which opens up more possibilities for users of the tablet. USB-C is known to support faster transfer speeds and a wider variety of peripherals.
In terms of pricing though, Apple is expected to increase the price of the upcoming 10th generation iPad. The ninth generation iPad currently sells for $329, but inflation, rising costs, and increasing prices of current Apple products all point to a higher price for the entry-level iPad.
Finally, expect the upcoming 10th generation iPad to have the same storage capacity of either 64GB or 256GB. Apple is expected to announce the 10th generation iPad during the Mac and iPad Pro event.
