New iPad Pro models with 5G reportedly coming first half of 2021

Editorial Director of News and Content

| June 3, 2020

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Rumors say the iPhone may gain 5G connectivity later this year, and now a new report claims that the iPad Pro may not be far behind.

Apple is reportedly aiming to launch a new iPad Pro with 5G support and other upgrades in the Q1 or Q2 of 2021. Twitter user @L0vetodream (via MacRumors), who has been the source of accurate leaks in the past, claims that Apple will give new iPad Pro models the Snapdragon X55 modem that supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G.

next year Q1 or Q2 https://t.co/1C57Oms2HX

— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) June 3, 2020

Sub-6GHz 5G is better at reaching long distances and penetrating buildings but its speeds aren't as fast as mmWave. Meanwhile, mmWave 5G can get you super-fast speeds but its signal doesn't travel far and it's not great at penetrating buildings. In the US, T-Mobile and AT&T offer both flavors of 5G while Verizon currently only has mmWave, but it says it's planning to offer the low-band 5G in the second half of 2020.

Also reportedly coming with these new iPad Pro models is a new A14x processor, up from the A12Z that's in the latest iPad Pro tablets that launched in March. Apple is said to be giving these new iPads mini LED displays, too, which could help the tablets be thinner and lighter.

The smaller of these new iPad Pro tablets is reportedly codenamed J517 while the larger is J522.

The recent iPad Pro upgrade was a fairly minor one all things considered, but it makes sense that Apple would still wait a year or so before launching new models. That refresh gives Apple time to continue working on these next models that feature major upgrades like a new display technology and 5G connectivity.