The new iPad Pro (2022) was always going to be an expensive tablet – the ‘Pro’ tells us so – and rumors of an M2 chipset and MagSafe compatibility don’t seem to help at that price point.
However, the leaks now suggest that we need not fear a price increase: LeaksApplePro leaker, writing to iDropNews (opens in new tab)provided some pricing we can expect for the next iPad Pro lineup, and they’re lower than we expected.
Apparently, the 11-inch version will cost $799 for the 128GB storage and 5G-enabled version, while the 12.9-inch version will cost $1,099 for that same configuration. These prices are surprisingly much cheaper than their predecessors cost – the iPad Pro 11 (2021) was $999 for these same options, while the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) was $1,299.
Now, this price discrepancy could indicate that there was an error on the part of the leaker – perhaps the information they saw was from a different device or currency translated from a different source. But the lower cost is less likely to be a mistake than you might think.
A cheaper iPad Pro?
We expect the 2022 models to have exactly the same design as the 2021 models… and therefore the same design as the 2020 and 2018 models. Yes, Apple hasn’t exactly changed the look of professional-grade tablets.
But that means that after five years of using the same manufacturing processes, Apple doesn’t exactly have to spend as much on R&D or design to work on new builds, so it can save money in that department.
Perhaps, the money saved there will make up for the price hike that Apple’s new M2 chipset will incur – after all, the company has already made some of those silicon components at this point, so it’s not likely to be as expensive as the debut M1.
It’s also possible that some of the weirdest leaks we’ve heard – like mini LED panels on all tablets and MagSafe compatibility – won’t come true.
It’s also worth noting that the leaker thinks the supposed huge-screen 14-inch iPad Pro, which would be Apple’s biggest ever, won’t arrive right away and could launch in early 2023, for an even higher price of around of $1,400.
A tempting alternative to the MacBook Pro
With an approximately 13-inch screen, M2 chipset and long battery life, the iPad Pro 12.9 for 2022 could be a tempting MacBook Pro alternative for certain users.
The tablet, according to the leak, will cut the laptop from $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999 and will likely be thinner too, with a touchscreen and Apple Pencil support, giving it an edge for creative users. . It also probably won’t have some of the issues we’ve seen with the MacBook Pro, like its low-res front camera.
It won’t be for everyone, and the iPad Pro’s lack of a built-in keyboard, as well as its lack of gaming power and relatively limited viewing angles, could make it a worse choice for certain types of users.
In reality, choosing an iPad Pro versus a MacBook Pro probably comes down to your laptop versus tablet preference. There are pros and cons to both, and it depends on your specific use case.
But if the price is really lower, with improved features like MagSafe compatibility, then its rivalry with the MacBook will be enhanced and that will likely make it one of the best iPads to buy.