What you need to know
- Code within the latest iOS 14.5 beta points to a new A14X processor.
- The new chip will likely come in the new iPad Pros that are expected in the first half of 2021.
While some have dreamed of Apple's M1 chip coming to the iPad, it appears that we may be destined for an A14X chip in the 2021 iPad Pro.
As reported by 9to5Mac, code within the fifth version of the iOS 14.5 beta references a new "A14X" processor by comparing a new GPU chip name to earlier chip names.
Every Apple chip is referred to internally by a codename, and iOS 14.5 includes references to a GPU from a chip called "13G," which is not used by any currently available iOS devices. Based on the previous chip-naming schemes and information obtained by 9to5Mac, we can say that 13G is the A14X SoC, a variant of the A14 Bionic chip.
While the A14X is not the M1 chip that was launched in the new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, it appears to be based on the first Apple silicon processor.
According to our research, we also found that the A14X is based on the T8103, which is the codename for the Apple M1 chip used in the first Apple Silicon Macs. This corroborates a recent Bloomberg report that claims the next-generation iPad Pro will have "an updated processor that is on par with the faster M1 chip."
According to the outlet, the codenames for the new iPads are J517, J518, J522, and J523.
If you aren't planning on holding out for the new iPad Pro and trying to figure out what iPad is right for you now, check out our list of the Best iPad of 2021.
With this new information, everything is pointing to a new version of the iPad Pro being announced very soon. According to the rumor mill, Apple is preparing to host a virtual, pre-recorded event in April to announce the new iPads as well as its long-rumored AirTags.
Faster, better camera, and now with lasers.
After the 2018 iPad Pro revolution, Apple is back to the more standard evolution in 2020: An additional graphics core, ultra-wide camera, LiDAR scanner, iOS 13.4 trackpad support, and a new Magic Keyboard (coming in May).
