Newly leaked timing of Apple’s next iPad Pro refresh suggests that the premium tablet may jump straight to the M7 processor and skip the M6 generation altogether.
Note that this is a combination of rumor and speculation. A leak on Wednesday only says that the next iPad Pro is a year away with “faster chips.” But going with the M7 processor makes sense, given the timing annd Apple’s previous practices.
Why the iPad Pro might skip to the M7
Apple often uses the iPad Pro line to showcase some of its most advanced technologies. There’s no better example than OLED screens, which have been in these tablets for years while MacBook users are still waiting.
But what’s most telling is that Apple debuted the M4 processor in the iPad Pro. The tablet was the only computer with the chip for months. Clearly, Apple tries to keep its top-of-the-line tablet on the cutting edge.
So when Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that “Apple Inc. is preparing an upgraded iPad Pro line” and “the updates will largely focus on internal improvements, including faster chips,” suspecting this will be the M7 isn’t much of a stretch. Here’s why.
M6 could have a short life
The current iPad Pro model uses the M5 processor introduced in fall 2025. The M6 is expected a year later, but will supposedly stick around for an amazingly short amount of time – about six months.
The M7 will allegedly launch in the first half of 2027, and seems poised to appear first in an entry-level MacBook Pro.
But Bloomberg just claimed that Apple is testing prototype iPad Pro models also set for release in the first half of 2027. As noted, that report does not identify the chip, and it certainly could be an M6, but the M7 will apparently be available, and given Apple’s habit of keeping the iPad Pro line updated with its most recent processors, the M7 seems a very strong possibility.
Not much is known yet about the M7’s capabilities, but earlier reports suggest it could place a greater emphasis on on-device AI processing. That would fit neatly with Apple’s broader push into Apple Intelligence and increasingly powerful machine-learning features across its product lineup, including its tablets.
Other new features in the 2027 iPad Pro
Beyond a faster chip — whether the M6 or M7 — Cupertino could make another change to improve performance.
“Apple has previously tested a vapor chamber cooling system for the tablets, to improve sustained performance and reduce overheating,” reports Bloomberg as part of Wednesday’s leak.
Fans are impractical in ultra-thin tablets, making a vapor chamber a better option. This is a sealed, flat container containing a small amount of liquid placed near a processor. As a chip generates heat, the liquid evaporates and carries that heat across the chamber, where it condenses and releases the thermal energy more evenly. The process keeps temperatures lower, reducing the need for thermal throttling.
Plus, Wednesday’s report from Bloomberg contained a smattering of other details about the 2027 iPad Pro. Apple is allegedly testing four models, which likely correspond to 11-inch and 13-inch versions with both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. The company is not expected to introduce a major redesign, suggesting the current ultra-thin form factor and Tandem OLED displays will remain in place for another generation.
There’s no word on pricing, but if Apple sticks with pricing for the current versions, the upcoming models could come in near $1,199 for the 11-inch variant and $1,499 for the 13-inch one.
