iPad Pro With A14X Chip, 5G, and Mini-LED Display Expected in First Half of 2021

Apple plans to launch new iPad Pro models with an A14X chip, 5G connectivity, and a Mini-LED display in the first or second quarter of 2021, according to the increasingly reliable Twitter account L0vetodream.

iPad Pro 5G and Mini LED feature
The leaker claims that the new iPad Pro models will be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55 modem, which supports both mmWave and sub-6GHz. mmWave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, ideal for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.



iPhone 12 models are also expected to use the X55 modem, but beyond that, Apple is reportedly developing its own 5G baseband technology for future devices. Apple acquired Intel's smartphone modem business last year to bolster that effort.

While multiple sources initially pointed towards a late 2020 refresh of the iPad Pro, including Ming-Chi Kuo and Jon Prosser, there have now been several reports indicating that the new A14X/5G/Mini-LED models are likely to debut in 2021. This would make sense given that Apple just refreshed the iPad Pro in March, and even though that was a relatively minor update, another refresh later this year would seem rather quick.

New features on the latest iPad Pro models include an A12Z Bionic chip that is very similar to the A12X chip, an Ultra Wide camera that enables 0.5x zoom, a LiDAR Scanner for enhanced augmented reality, and better sounding microphones.

L0vetodream accurately revealed several details about the new iPhone SE before any other leakers that we know of, including that the device would launch in the second week of April and come in three storage capacities. Likewise, the account accurately claimed that new iPad Pro models would launch in the third week of March.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

44267547 Avatar
64 months ago
Which basically debunks OLED Ever being a consideration for the iPad with mini LED being the next step forward. (Which is totally fine.) The 5G aspect doesn’t interest me, the performance and display improvements however does.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclardy Avatar
64 months ago

Which basically debunks OLED Ever being a consideration for the iPad with mini LED being the next step forward. (Which is totally fine.) The 5G aspect doesn’t interest me, the performance and display improvements however does.
Glad they didn't go OLED - the way I use my iPad would have made for some crazy burn-in. My screen time each day is 8-9 hours since I use it as a secondary display for my Mac, and other times just leave email/slack open on it with the display set to auto-off after 10 minutes.

I really don't see why anyone would want OLED on a tablet or laptop, sure the colors are great and the black levels are perfect, but for anything other than movies/tv, why does that matter?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BuffaloTF Avatar
64 months ago

They can’t even launch MiniLED for the tiny Apple Watch yet somehow they are already gonna include it in the iPad and maybe the MacBook?

I am still doubting it. Just look how long it took Apple to release an OLED iPhone which did not even make it on its whole line up yet
Mini LED and Micro LED are totally different things.

Micro LED isn't anywhere near ready for prime time. Mini LED exists today - it's a form of full-array local dimming, and uses smaller LED lights behind the screen to form lighting zones -- hundreds up to around a thousand for bigger TVs, an Apple Watch is so small there'd be like 4 zones. Micro LED is an LED behind every single LCD pixel and what is expected to replace OLED...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
64 months ago
Still waiting for a software reason to update my older iPad Pro.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfan90 Avatar
64 months ago
bump the ram, better graphics, slim the bezels
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
64 months ago

This would be a big refresh. I'd probably jump in and retire my 5th gen iPad.

I'm really wondering what Apple will do when they manage to integrate the modem into their processors, will they dump the 2 versions (wifi vs. cellular) and make all iPads cellular enabled? Or will they have a software block to disable the modem on some models?
I would not be surprised if they disable it with software. I still don’t think it is worth paying extra $150 for the celular connectivity in the current line up.



bump the ram, better graphics, slim the bezels
Exactly! I could not care less for 5G, all I want is for the bezels to shrink, better CPU/GPU/RAM, and larger base storage options. I would like for them to bring back the headphone jack as well.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)