Apple Inc.’s next iPad Pro will feature a chip made using a three-nanometer process, according to a new report.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that the chip will be known as the M3. It’s one of several upgrades that Apple is expected to introduce for the iPad Pro, a higher end version of the standard iPad. The enhanced tablet is expected to make its debut next year in the spring or early summer.

The iPad Pro made its original debut in 2015 and was most recently refreshed last October. The tablet is available in two editions: an 11-inch version and a 13-inch configuration that costs about $300 more. Both editions’ screens are based on mini-LED display technology.

According to Bloomberg, the next iteration of the iPad Pro swaps the mini-LED displays for OLED panels. OLED technology provides better contrast and higher refresh rates, two metrics that contribute to image quality. It’s also less prone to certain types of display errors.

Like the current iPad Pro, the next iteration of the tablet is expected to be available in two editions. The entry-level edition will ship with an 11-inch display while the more expensive configuration is expected to include a 13-inch panel.

Under the hood, Apple’s upgraded iPad Pro reportedly features a new chip called the M3. It’s said to include a central processing unit with eight cores and a graphics processing unit with 10 cores. Apple will reportedly manufacture the chip using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.’s newest three-nanometer process.

Compared with TSMC’s previous-generation manufacturing technology, the three-nanometer process offers up to 35% higher power efficiency. That means next year’s iPad Pro might have a longer battery life than the current iteration. It’s believed the three-nanometer process can also facilitate an up to 15% improvement in chip performance.

In conjunction with the iPad Pro upgrade, Apple is expected to refresh its Magic Keyboard tablet accessory. It’s a detachable keyboard that doubles as a tablet stand. When it’s attached to the iPad Pro, consumers can use the two devices like a laptop.

The revamped Magic Keyboard reportedly resembles a laptop keyboard more closely than the current version. To improve the user experience, Apple is said to have added a larger trackpad.

Apple’s iPad business generated $5.79 billion in revenue last quarter, a 20% decline from the same time a year earlier. The company also missed the consensus analyst estimate of $6.41 billion. The enhanced iPad Pro that Apple reportedly plans to launch next year could give it an opportunity to boost consumer interest in the tablet series.

In 2024, Apple is also expected to introduce an upgrade to its iMac all-in-one-computer. It’s believed that the machine will feature the same three-nanometer M3 chip as the upcoming iPad Pro. 

Image: Apple