Apple is reportedly eying a late 2022 launch for an iPad refresh, and per a recent leak, it will offer a chip and 5G upgrade in a chassis that remains aesthetically unchanged compared to its predecessor. The vanilla iPad has been rocking the same fundamental design since 2014's iPad Air 2, which was the first Apple tablet to come equipped with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the home button. Soon after, the design made its way to the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Mini and the standard iPad.
But gradually, Apple deviated towards a more modern look for its tablets. The iPad Pro was first in line to ditch the home button and offered a uniformly thick bezel profile wedded to a sleek metallic build with sharp edges. The iPad Air from 2020 adopted the new design language as well. Last year, the sixth-generation iPad Mini also got a similar makeover. And with that happening, there were hopes that the vanilla iPad — the one that kickstarted Apple's tablet empire worth billions of dollars — would also get a fresh look for its tenth iteration.
Related: iPad Air 5 Rumors Indicate Significant 5G And Camera Upgrades
Well, it appears that a design makeover is not on the cards for at least another generation. As per leakster Dylan (@dylandkt) on Twitter, the upcoming 2022 iPad refresh will look identical to its predecessor that made its debut last year. However, those hopeful of a design transformation for the entry-level iPad will have to wait another year. And honestly, it's a tad disappointing to see Apple serve the same looks on its entry-level iPad. But in hindsight, it appears that Apple wants to offer an affordable iPad experience for another year by recycling the same chassis and only swapping a few internal components.
The iPad
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