HIGHLIGHTS
- The low-cost iPad has a Lightning port and a Home button.
- For other iPads, Apple has already transitioned to a new design, USB-C.
- By 2024, a new European regulation will mandate that all Apple gadgets use USB-C
For a long time, the Apple budget iPad, which is the entry point to Apple's tablet experience, has essentially remained unchanged in design. Because to the lack of a redesign, the budget iPad still features a physical Home button, substantial bezels bordering the display, and a Lightning port for charging and wired connectivity, just like Apple's iPhone SE series. This could change this year, according to a new rumour claiming that the base iPad model will finally get a major upgrade. This update will add USB-C to the gadget, as well as a slew of other improvements.
What can we expect from the upcoming low-cost iPad?
To begin, the basic iPad is anticipated to have a smaller bezel and an all-display design as part of the overall overhaul. According to rumours, the gadget will have a bigger screen, measuring 10.5 or 10.9 inches. As a result, it's possible it'll get the new all-screen design, removing the traditional Home button for good. If this is the case, the physical button will only be available on iPhone SE models.
Other notable features include the cheap iPad's use of Apple's A14 Bionic SoC, which was previously seen in the 4th generation iPad Air and the iPhone 12 series. Even though it's a generation old, it's still a strong flagship processor. More crucially, this will bring 5G connectivity to Apple's entry-level iPad, bringing it up to speed in terms of wireless communication requirements.
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Finally, with the changeover to the new design, Apple is likely to employ USB-C on the base iPad, therefore ending the use of Lightning connectors on iPads. As a result, the latter would only be found in iPhones, which is also something that is expected to alter with the iPhone 14 series in 2022.
Surprisingly, a new European Union rule proposes that all consumer products must support USB-C charging by 2024, putting the onus on Apple to implement the standard on time. Apple has a big market in Europe, which it is unlikely to abandon. Adopting USB-C on the base iPad could be a smart place to start if you want to get rid of the iPad's proprietary port completely.
