According to code references found in Apple’s latest iOS 14.5 beta, the next-gen iPad Pro will be powered by an as-yet-unreleased “A14X” chip.
The latest iOS beta release includes mention of a GPU called “13G,” a designation not seen in past or current A-series chips. Based on Apple’s silicon naming schemes, “13G” is thought to be a next-generation variant of the A14 system-on-chip design that has been tentatively dubbed “A14X” and is anticipated to power a revamped iPad Pro line.
The “A14X” design is thought to be based on Apple’s T8103 SoC. This chip, better known as the “M1,” was the first Apple Silicon chip to arrive with the M1 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini, which debuted last year.
Apple is also rumored to be using “J517,” “J518,” J522,” and “J523” as the internal codenames for its iPad Pro line. How those numbers correlate with specific hardware specifications is unknown, though past iPad releases typically include Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models.
Apple is expected to launch a new iPad Pro line with updated internal components in the coming weeks, potentially as soon as April. The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected to be the first Apple device to benefit from Mini LED technology that delivers better local dimming, color reproduction and contrast ratios than conventional LCD screens. Thunderbolt connectivity is rumored for both models.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac