Apple M2 chip may first feature on new iPad Pro by end-2022: Report

Apple is seemingly gearing up to refresh its iPad Pro range later this year, and the said device could introduce the awaited M2 processor to Apple’s custom chip lineup. Word on the same comes via Mark Gurman, who regularly tracks Apple’s market activities.

However, it’s important to note that this is not the first time that Apple has been expected to introduce its second generation custom chip on any of its devices. Earlier this month, during its March 2022 ‘Peek Performance’ event, Apple was previously expected to launch a new, redesigned MacBook Air powered by the second generation M chip.

Instead, Apple launched an even more powerful variant of its first-gen custom processor, called M1 Ultra. Apple also introduced the latest generation iPad Air, powered by the M1 chip.

Now, Gurman’s report has claimed that Apple will launch its second generation M2 chip aboard a new iPad Pro series, before the end of 2022. This would not be the only change to the iPad Pro series, which as per rumours is now also expected to get MagSafe wireless charging. However, this is not the only device where the M2 would initially feature — as it so happens, the upcoming MacBook Air is still in line to get the M2 upgrade.

The latter only makes sense, since the present generation MacBook Air already has the M1 chip, and is a few years old as well.

Apple presently has four variants of its M1 chip across its devices — from the M1 powering its iPads and the MacBook Air, to M1 Pro and M1 Max aboard the MacBook Pro range, and finally, the M1 Ultra that was launched earlier this month on the Mac Studio.

Reports have suggested that once Apple unveils the base variant of the M2 later this year, subsequent launches may showcase the M2 Pro, Max and Ultra through 2023 as well.

Rumours have suggested that the M2 chip could be more efficient in terms of power consumption than before, and more importantly, would also feature a more powerful integrated GPU.