Rumors suggest that Apple still has several new devices arriving before the end of the year, including a range of Macs and iPads. It doesn’t look like we’ll have an event in October 2022, but updates are coming soon, likely via a press release. If you’re considering buying a Mac or iPad, be sure to check out our list to find out what’s safe to pick up now and what isn’t.
The iPad Pro was last updated in April 2021, and we’re expecting an updated version before the end of 2022. There aren’t huge design changes coming, but some features are worth worth waiting for.
The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will be refreshed, but rumors suggest that only the 12.9-inch model will have a mini-LED display, despite some reports that had indicated that Apple might bring the technology to both models.
Apple’s updated iPad Pros are expected to use the M2 chip that was first introduced in the new MacBook Air in June, bringing speed and performance improvements. There have also been rumors of wireless charging support, with Apple possibly adding a new, larger glass Apple logo on the back that would enable MagSafe charging.
Reverse wireless charging is also a possibility with the new iPad Pro models capable of charging iPhones, AirPods and other devices.
Apple has long offered a basic, low-cost iPad which is available at a price of around $300, but this year the inexpensive iPad gets features that were previously limited to high-end iPads.
Apple will refresh the tired old design that the low-cost iPad has used for years, introducing a 10.5-inch screen with a more modern look with flat edges and rounded corners. We’ve already seen this design used for the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
The flat-edged design usually accompanies a bezel-less interface, but rumors currently suggest that the iPad will continue to have top and bottom bezels as well as a Touch ID Home button, but whether that’s true remains to be seen. Apple could opt for the same Touch ID power button design used for the iPad mini and iPad Air.
With the exception of the low-cost iPad, every iPad uses a USB-C port, and Apple will swap Lightning for USB-C with the 10th generation iPad refresh.
We might also see some camera improvements, and a faster chip is a sure thing (likely the A14), but one thing the iPad might lose is the headphone jack. Removing the headphone jack would bring the low-cost iPad in line with the rest of the iPad line.
The MacBook Pro M1 Pro and M1 Max were released in October last year, and we could see new M2 Pro and M2 Max models released before the end of the year. The release of new models of MacBook Pro should be expected as soon as this fall, but it is possible that the schedule will be pushed back due to the supply constraints that Apple has had to deal with.
There hasn’t been a Mac mini refresh since 2020, when the M1 chip was added, but Apple has no plans to discontinue the desktop machine just yet. A refresh is on the way and updated Mac mini devices could include M2 and M2 Pro chips.
We don’t expect any design changes, and the more premium chips will likely be reserved for the Mac Studio, which is like a hybrid of the Mac Pro and Mac mini.
AppleTV
Apple last updated Apple TV in April 2021, and it might be time for a refresh. Rumors suggest that a new model with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM is in development, and it could be ready to launch before the end of 2022.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said several times this year that Apple plans to drop the price of the Apple TV when it refreshes, but whether that will actually happen remains to be seen.
Given that the Mac Pro hasn’t been updated since 2019 and doesn’t yet use Apple silicon chips, obviously now is not a good time to buy. Although we heard rumors in early 2022 suggesting that the Mac Pro could be refreshed before the end of the year, it now looks like a new Mac Pro won’t arrive until 2023.
While we may have several months before the Mac Pro sees an update, we don’t recommend buying one at this time. You’re definitely going to want to wait for Apple to bring its super-fast Apple silicon chips to its most high-end business machine.
Rumors suggest that the Mac Pro will use an M2 Ultra, an upgrade to the M1 Ultra first introduced in the Mac Studio and an even more powerful M2 Extreme chip. The M1 Ultra features up to a 20-core CPU and a 64-core GPU, and the M2 Ultra might be even more powerful.
The M2 Extreme will be Apple’s most powerful chip yet, and BloombergMark Gurman said the chip could have over 40 CPU cores and 128 GPU cores.
Wrap
Note that this list is based on rumors we’ve heard, so it’s possible that some of these refreshes will be delayed until 2023. Apple’s product release schedule isn’t always straightforward, but if you can wait a purchase, it’s a good idea to wait until a new product announcement if you’re worried about getting the latest and greatest device.
We have more product release schedules available for each Apple device in our dedicated buying guide, which is an invaluable resource for Apple fans.