Apple is currently expected to announce new iPad Pro models sometime in April, and now accessories maker ESR has added a range of new iPad Pro cases and folios to its online store, offering some potential design clues.
While the covers suggest that the next generation iPad Pro will not have any significant design changes, informed ESR MacRumors that there will be fewer speaker holes on the new models. This is consistent with a report from Japanese website MacOtakara, which claimed in January that the number of speaker holes on the new iPad Pro models will be reduced by two-thirds. The reason for this change is unknown, however. If this information is correct, then it would look like this:
- 11″ iPad Pro: Previously 13 holes per speaker. The new version would have 8-9 holes per speaker.
- 12.9″ iPad Pro: Previously 17 holes per speaker. The new version would have 11-12 holes per speaker.
iPad Pro could get Thunderbolt support
Despite this change, both models will have four speakers like their predecessors, enabling stereo sound. In addition, the new iPad Pro is expected to receive the A14X chip, which is said to be almost identical to the M1 chip. Bloomberg recently reported that the devices could offer Thunderbolt support for the first time. This is due to the chip. Bloomberg also expects an improved camera and the use of mini-LED displays - at least in the 12.9" model. Other sources have already reported similar things. As always, it remains to be seen whether they will be right in the end. (Photo by Denis Rozhnovsky / Bigstockphoto)
