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The next iPad Pro could be cooler, smarter, and maybe even foldable

Apple’s next iPad might be so cool you’ll need a jacket

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The iPad Pro (2024) during JerryRigEverything's bend test.
iPad Pro (2024) JerryRigEverything

So, Apple’s apparently cooking up some new stuff, and it’s a mixed bag.

First, the cool part: They’re working on putting a “vapor chamber” cooling system into the iPad Pro, maybe around 2027, according to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman. This is the same fancy cooling tech that’s already in the iPhone 17 Pro. Basically, instead of a fan, it uses a super-thin chamber with liquid that evaporates and condenses to spread heat out. Why? Because iPads are getting ridiculously powerful (the latest one is already as fast as a Mac Studio!), and they need a way to keep cool when you’re doing heavy stuff like gaming or editing video, especially with all the AI features coming.

New iPad may get a faster M6 chip

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By the time this iPad comes out, it’ll likely have an even faster M6 chip. This vapor chamber thing will probably be one of the big reasons to splurge on the Pro instead of the Air, especially if you do intense work. And hey, maybe this tech could even make its way into the MacBook Air someday, since that doesn’t have a fan either.

Now for the less exciting news – Apple is apparently getting ready to stick ads right into Apple Maps, maybe as soon as next year. Think like how businesses can pay to show up higher in App Store searches, but for restaurants or local shops on the map. They say they’ll use AI to make the ads relevant, maybe trying to make it feel less annoying than Google Maps ads, but still… ads.

This is already rubbing people the wrong way. We pay a fortune for Apple gear, and it feels like every time you turn around, there’s another pop-up trying to sell you Apple Music, TV+, or more iCloud storage. Adding ads to Maps just feels like another step in the wrong direction.

Oh, and that huge 18-inch foldable iPad people have been whispering about? Sounds like it’s hit some major snags. They’re reportedly struggling with making it light enough, making the screen durable, and figuring out how to price it without it costing a bazillion dollars. So, don’t expect to see that thing until 2029, maybe even later.

Cool tech, but seriously with the ads?

The vapor chamber idea? That’s genuinely cool. It shows Apple is serious about making iPads that can handle real pro-level work without melting. It’s real innovation. And the foldable iPad delay? Totally understandable; that stuff is hard to get right.

But the ads in Maps? Ugh. It just feels greedy. Apple built its whole brand on being premium and clean. Shoving ads into essential apps chips away at that image, especially when we’re already paying top dollar. They need to be careful not to annoy the very people who love their products. It’s a tricky balance between pushing tech forward and just pushing more ways to make money off us.

Moinak Pal
Moinak Pal is has been working in the technology sector covering both consumer centric tech and automotive technology for the…
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