9 Things We Want Most From Apple's 2022 iPad and iPad Pro

pcmag.com:

Late October often means it's time for new iPads. Apple has refreshed its entry-level iPad line in the fall over the last few years so the timing is ripe. More importantly, it's been a solid 18 months since it updated the iPad Pro lineup. Both series of slates are expected(Opens in a new window) to see new hardware in the coming days, in addition to the release of iPadOS 16.

With that in mind, we've put together a list of all the features we're hoping to see on the new iPads this year.

Apple is widely known for recycling its designs, and the standard iPad model is one that's been recycled over and over. The current design language dates back years and is sorely behind the general trend in tablet design for the early 2020s.

For the last few years, the standard iPad has featured thick bezels above and below the display. One benefit of this design is that the Touch ID button, placed below the screen, still fits in the chassis. However, the iPad Air and iPad Pro models have ditched the Touch ID in favor of Face ID and nearly bezel-less designs. Further, many Android tablets have trimmed their bezels to reduce the amount of bordering around the screen. That means the current-get iPad is a holdover from tablet designs of yesteryear. It's time to move on.

The iPad Air and iPad Pro moved away from Apple's proprietary Lightning port to USB-C. The standard iPad, however, remains stubbornly stuck on Lightning. We want to see it drop Lightning once and for all for USB-C. Given the recent UE mandate, it's highly probable.

Apple typically provides modest processor upgrades for its entry-level iPad. The current 9th-generation iPad has the outdated A13 Bionic on board. We don't expect the vanilla iPad to add the most recent M2 chip, but