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Apple Rumored to Be Developing 5G iPad Pro With mmWave Support

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Apple is developing 5G-enabled iPads with mmWave support, according to sources cited by industry publication DigiTimes.

A paywalled preview of the report claims Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering will supply antenna-in-package technology for the 5G iPads, in addition to 5G iPhones. While not specified, it is almost certain that these models would be iPad Pros given 5G is a high-end feature with higher production costs.

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While the first 5G iPhones are expected in fall 2020, the report does not indicate when the 5G iPads would be released. Major new features often come to the iPhone before the iPad, but a notable exception was the third-generation iPad receiving LTE support in March 2012, prior to the iPhone 5 in September 2012.

mmWave or millimeter wave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, making it best suited for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.

The complete report should be published by tomorrow, and we will update this post if there are any additional details to share.

Update: The full report is now available and it speculates that 5G iPads could be released as early as the second half of 2020.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tags: 5G, DigiTimes
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
zorinlynx
81 months ago
I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well. A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
Rychiar
81 months ago
I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
zorinlynx
81 months ago

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?
If you're on the go a lot, nothing beats having a device that's always connected to the Internet, without having to fiddle with hotspot connections all the time. When I tether my laptop I have to reconnect it every time I wake it up. Sure, it's quick, but it's another step. Meanwhile if it's always connected, I just open it and get to work no matter where I am.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
name99
81 months ago

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?
Maybe take this as a teachable moment? The world is full of different people...
YOU don't think the hassle of slight delay, confirming the hot spot, and iPhone battery usage are worth ~$100. (Neither do I.) But SOME people do...
Just like some people don't think a bottle of wine is worth $500 rather than $20, while other people do. Or that a hotel night is worth $400 rather than $60.

Depends on how much money you have. Depends on how often you need to perform the operation. Depends on how your telco charges for hot-spots vs adding another device to the plan. etc etc

The world is big...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G
gsurf123
81 months ago

Yeah, i am surprised Apple has never put a cellular chipset in their laptops. It’s one of the things that i love about my iPad. I have had cellular since the very first ipad 10 yrs ago. I am still grandfathered in on the original ATT data plan. Unlimited data for $29 And have transfered it to every iPad i have owned since. Currently using the 11” iPad Pro which has replaced my laptop Completely.
There is no need for this if you have a phone.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Greenmeenie Avatar
Greenmeenie
81 months ago

There is no need for this if you have a phone.
yes, you can use a hotspot...but then you drain your iphone battery insanely fast. So although i get your point, there is something to be said to have a dedicated ipad with cellular to get work done on. For me personally, I love having cellular on my iPad. It is why I first ditched my laptop for an iPad. And now with the iPad Pro, i don’t need a laptop at all for my artwork, photography & video editing. But everyone is different. So whatever works for you. It’s all good.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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