Apple plans to update its base iPad model this fall and will release a ninth-generation aimed at students. The ninth-gen iPad will sport a thinner design and a faster processor, says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
It was September 2020 the last time Apple updated its base iPad. The update included a faster and more powerful A12 Bionic chip. The iPad starts at $329 or $299 for education customers.
The ninth-generation iPad will likely carry over the current design featuring Touch ID and a Home Button. The updated model will also feature a faster processor to provide improved performance and graphics in a thinner form factor.
The ninth-gen iPad will join an updated iPad mini, according to most rumors. Display analyst Ross Young says Apple’s sixth-generation iPad mini will sport an 8.3-inch display, which will be a significant bump up from the current iPad mini’s 7.9-inch display. The larger size is possible, thanks to a narrower bezel design and the removal of the Home button.
The fall will be a busy one for Apple, as in addition to the new iPad and iPad mini, Apple will debut its new iPhone lineup and new Apple Watch lineup this fall. New AirPods and MacBook Pro models are also said to be in the pipeline.