Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has claimed Apple is testing bringing wireless charging to the iPad, with next year’s iPad Pro release expected to feature a glass back to enable wireless charging for the first time to the device, with a new iPad mini rumored to be launching before the end of the year.
According to the report, “Apple’s development work on the new iPad Pro is still early,” so ultimately the feature could be canceled or postponed until an even further future iteration, but Gurman’s sources claim the company is experimenting with changing the device’s materials to bring them in-line with the iPhone, which has been featuring glass backs in recent years, presumably for the purpose of wireless charging.
On the topic of charging, the report claims Apple is still exploring a wireless charger that would work similarly to AirPower, Apple’s infamous charging pad that was canceled following development issues in 2019, and that as part of its development of the next iPad Pro, the company may also be looking into bringing MagSafe to the iPad.
The company is testing a similar MagSafe system for the iPad Pro. Wireless charging will likely be slower than directly plugging in a charger to the iPad’s Thunderbolt port, which will remain as part of the next models.
Gurman reports that the updated iPad mini, expected to have a larger 8.4-inch display, may have narrower bezels and may potentially drop the front-facing Home Button. For now, it is unclear whether Apple may have a side-integrated Touch ID sensor like the iPad Air, or bring Face ID to the iPad mini.