What’s in the future for iPad?

We’re hearing that a future iPad — maybe not the very next model, but likely within a year — could use miniLED screen tech. As we covered in last month’s How It Works (MF #351), miniLEDs will deliver a wider colour gamut and higher contrast ratio than the LCDs used today, with none of OLED’s downsides, such as burn–in. As a bonus, miniLED is very lightweight, meaning iPads could be even lighter and more portable.

Another rumour is that iPads could use LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) Soft Board to connect components, tech that would reduce signal loss and improve networking performance.

Although iPad Pro’s camera has just been upgraded, future models could step up to a triple–lens rear camera like the one in iPhone 11 Pro, which could work together with the iPad Pro’s new LiDAR 3D sensing technology for even more immersive AR, gaming, and a groundbreaking true–depth portrait photo mode.

Beyond this, 5G is a certainty, enabling connectivity 10 to 20 times faster than today, but only when Apple is sure it’s got the tech right.

Further down the line? We’d love to see an iPad with wireless charging, and maybe easy user–switching so everyone sharing a family iPad can have it set up the way they like. And how about a foldable iPad, which could fold down (or maybe roll up) to a truly portable size? We can dream.