The iPad Pro 2024 is (surprise!) probably going to land sometime in 2024, having failed to arrive in 2023. In fact, it might arrive very soon, with an Apple event set for May 7.
Although we haven't heard much about the device by way of official details, the rumors we have come across suggest Apple's next Pro-level tablet will be a much bigger upgrade than we saw with the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022).
In fact, ‘big’ is the key word here, because some sources suggest that this year's iPad Pro may be even larger than the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro – though it’s likely that Apple will keep making models in the current sizes, too. It might also have an OLED screen for the first time on an iPad, so this could be a significant improvement.
That’s not all we’ve heard, either. Below, you’ll find all the latest news, leaks and rumors surrounding the iPad Pro 2024, including details on its possible release date and specs. We’re also adding to this article whenever we hear something new, so keep it bookmarked and check back soon.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next top-end iPad
- When is it out? Probably May 7
- How much will it cost? Unknown but expect a very high price
iPad Pro 2024 release date and price
iPad Pro 2024: expected release date and price
The iPad Pro 2024 will probably be announced on May 7, as Apple is holding an event on that date. This Apple event will start at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST, and the invite strongly hints at iPads being present.
That date is in line with leaks too, with one iPad Pro leak talking about an early 2024 launch, another suggesting that the next iPad Pro will land sometime between now and June 2024, and yet another saying the iPad Pro 2024 will land late in the second quarter of the year, likely meaning May or June. One leak even got as specific as saying the iPad Pro 2024 would land on the week commencing May 6, which lines up perfectly with this Apple event.
All that said, the 11-inch iPad Pro 2024 might be in short supply at launch according to some leaks, so you might have to wait longer to get your hands on that one.
As for price, Apple may keep pricing similar to current models, if the screen sizes remain the same. That would mean a starting price of around $799 / £899 / AU$1,399 for the 11-inch version and $1,099 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 for the 12.9-inch model.
And, of course, if these slates have larger screens or switch to OLED, both of which are possibilities, their asking prices are sure to be higher, too. We've heard rumblings that Apple's first OLED iPad Pros could cost more than some of the best MacBooks, while a more recent leak suggests the OLED iPad Pro 2024 will cost between $100-$200 more than current models.
Reputable leaker Mark Gurman also says to expect "higher price points" for the iPad Pro 2024. So it sounds like prices probably will rise.
iPad Pro 2024: rumored design and display
As noted above, one of the biggest changes coming to the iPad Pro 2024 could be a bigger screen. We’ve heard talk of a 14.1-inch iPad Pro display multiple times, while a 16-inch iPad Pro display has been talked about, too. Elsewhere, there’s been more general talk of larger iPad Pro screens in the future.
That said, a more recent iPad leak suggests it will instead just have a 13-inch screen, with a 14-inch iPad Pro size apparently having been considered but now scrapped. In the same leak, we heard that Apple is apparently working an a new version of its Magic Keyboard with an aluminum top case, that would leave it looking like a MacBook's keyboard.
The sources who mentioned a 14.1-inch model also said more about it, claiming that the next iPad Pro will have a mini-LED display – like the latest 12.9-inch models.
The other big leak surrounding a future iPad Pro is the possible switch to an OLED screen. This would arguably be better than the mini-LED currently used by the iPad Pro 12.9, and certainly better than the IPS LCD display used by the iPad Pro 11.
That said, while we’ve heard talk of an OLED iPad Pro a number of times, this claim is at odds with the mini-LED screen leak above. That had previously led us to believe that Apple might launch a new mini-LED model first, followed later by an OLED iPad Pro.
But with most recent leaks now mentioning OLED, and even code in iPadOS 17.5 suggesting an OLED screen is planned, we're inclined to believe that the mini-LED model has been shelved, especially as that one was said to have a 14-inch display, while recent leaks suggest it will instead have a 13-inch screen.
One leak even states that the larger iPad Pro 2024 will be 12.9 inches once again, but with a different 1920 x 2880 resolution. For reference, the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is 2048 x 2732. The same source states that the upcoming 11-inch model will match its predecessor at 1668 x 2388 though, and that both will have OLED displays.
Another source also points to the same screen sizes as the current models for the iPad Pro 2024 (so 11 inches and 12.9 inches), and again mentions an OLED upgrade.
Elsewhere, we've heard that the iPad Pro 2024 is being revamped, though the source didn't specify what they mean by this. This might be a reference to the larger size or OLED screen though. Or it could be a reference to a glass back, as we've elsewhere heard that the iPad Pro 2024 might support wireless charging via MagSafe, which would likely require a glass back.
There’s a chance Apple will also move the selfie camera to one of the long edges of the slate, since that makes it more useful in a landscape orientation, which is how iPads tend to be positioned – especially for video calls.
The company actually already did this with the iPad 10.9 (2022), but not with the latest iPad Pros. However, reference to a Face ID-enabled selfie camera in this position has been found in iOS 17.4, suggesting that it's something Apple is working on.
The issue it would have to solve is the Apple Pencil charger, as that currently sits on the same edge as the camera would want to be, and there’s probably not room for both. So, we might have to see more extensive design changes for the iPad Pro to allow for this switch.
We've also now seen leaked CAD (computer-aided design) drawings of the iPad Pro 2024. These show a very similar design to current models, but with different dimensions.
The 13-inch (or possibly 12.9-inch) model is said to be 281.58 x 215.53mm, making it slightly bigger than the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), while the 11-inch model is listed as 249.70 x 177.51mm, making it taller but narrower.
These dimensions match up with an earlier leak, which also stated that the iPad Pro 2024 would be thinner than the current model. Specifically, the 13-inch model is said to be 5.0mm thick (down from 6.4mm) and the 11-inch one is said to be 5.1mm thick (down from 5.9mm).
Finally, we've heard that the bezels on the iPad Pro 2024 could be 10-15% smaller than on the previous model.
iPad Pro 2024: rumored cameras and battery
There's no real news on the iPad Pro 2024's cameras yet, except that as mentioned above, it's possible that the iPad Pro 2024's selfie camera will be in landscape orientation, which is better for video calls.
We don't yet know anything about the battery either, except that the iPad Pro 2024 may support wireless charging via MagSafe according to one leak.
For reference though, the iPad Pro 11 (2022) has a 7,538mAh battery, and the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has a 10,758mAh one, so it's likely that the batteries in the next models will be at least that big.
iPad Pro 2024: rumored specs and features
For power, the iPad Pro 2024 might have an M2 chipset according to one source, which would see it match current models. They also claim that it will start with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Those last two details are higher than the starting configurations of current Pro models, but you can spec existing models to match, if you've got the extra cash.
On the storage front, we've also heard that the iPad Pro 2024 could top out at a massive 4TB.
It would seem odd for Apple not to upgrade the chipset in a new iPad though, and indeed a slightly more recent leak suggests Apple is working on an iPad Pro with a super-fast M3 Pro chipset.
According with my source Apple would be testing a smaller version of macOS exclusively for the new iPad Pro M2!"Mendocino" should be the codename for macOS 14. A simplified version should be planned for the M2. pic.twitter.com/f4RrainlZ1October 20, 2022
And finally, leaker Majin Bu – who has a mixed track record when it comes to predictions – has claimed that Apple is working on a “smaller” version of macOS for the latest iPad Pro models.
While we’d take this with a pinch of salt, Apple has clearly been trying to bridge the gap between tablets and laptops for a while, so it’s certainly possible that this will happen, and if it does, we’re sure to see this operating system on the next iPad Pro.
Check back regularly for the latest developments surrounding the iPad Pro 2024 and in the meantime, check out our rundown of the best iPads. If you're already looking to buy one of Apple's tablets, our constantly-updated collection of the best iPad deals is a good place to start.
