The next-gen iPad Pro will use the Snapdragon X55 modem, meaning that it will support both 5G standards, including the fast 5G offered at particularly busy areas like airports, train stations and tourist hotspots. The claim has been made by noted leaker @L0vetodream.
mmWave is needed to get the gigabit speeds of the faster 5G standard, while sub-6Ghz offers slower speeds but much greater range …
@L0vetodream correctly predicted the launches of the current iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, and iPhone SE.
One tweet said that two new iPad Pro models would launch in Q1 or Q2 of next year, with an A14x processor. It also provided codenames for the models, L517 and J522. That would suggest either a March event or unveiling during WWDC.
Fast 5G (mmWave)
Another confirmed two things we’re already expecting – a mini-LED screen and 5G support – but claims to reveal the specific 5G modem Apple plans to use: the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55.
with mini led and 5G X55 baseband https://t.co/1C57Oms2HX
— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) June 3, 2020
The X55 is a Qualcomm chip.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon™ X55 5G Modem-RF System is a comprehensive modem-to-antenna solution designed to allow OEMs to build 5G multimode devices for a new era of connected experiences.
The Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System supports virtually any combination of spectrum bands and/or modes: 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz, standalone and non-standalone modes, TDD and FDD, spectrum sharing, LTE and legacy modes (3G, 2G). This is designed to enable OEMs to bring blazing fast connected devices to global networks in nearly any form factor.
Qualcomm claims that this is capable of speeds up to 7.5Gbps, though in practice 1Gbps would be the limit for most 5G infrastructure, and the fastest average speed seen on US networks was a little over half a gigabit, at 506Mbps.
It has previously been suggested that the iPhone 12 might use a similar modem, the X60. Apple is able to use Qualcomm chips after the two companies settled a messy legal battle.
Mini-LED
It was back in April of last year that we first heard Apple was working on mini-LED screens for both iPad and MacBook, a claim repeated in September.
Kuo believes that Apple prefers mini-LED style panels to OLED because the two technologies provide comparable color gamut, whilst the mini-LED technology is not as susceptible to image burn in.
Apple also likes the fact that it can source mini-LED panels from many suppliers whereas Samsung still dominates supply of medium-sized OLED displays.
A report in February said that Apple had already placed orders for the technology for upcoming iPads.
Innolux Mini LED has made a breakthrough. It is said that it has already had samples approved by Apple and is preparing to make displays for the latest iPad Pro tablet to be launched in the second half of the year.
At that time, a fall launch was expected, but a subsequent report said that supply-chain disruption had pushed this into next year.
As a consequence of the coronavirus supply chain disruption, Apple has reportedly delayed the release of the first 5G iPad to 2021. Economic Daily News reports that the product was originally meant to launch in the fall, but the epidemic has interfered with the roadmap.
You can learn more about what we’re expecting from the next iPad Pro models in our recent roundup.
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