The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro may be a bit thicker because of the mini-LED display

When Apple hosts its upcoming “Spring Loaded” event on Tuesday, April 20, many people are going to expect to see a new iPad Pro. And that device is probably going to have a new display technology, if the rumor mill is accurate. The new tablet may even be a bit thicker to accommodate for that change.

That’s according to a new report today from MacRumors, which cites a series of photographs the publication received that reportedly details exact measurements for the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The publication couldn’t share the images themselves, but passed along the report regarding a slightly thicker iPad Pro thanks to the adoption of a mini-LED display.

The photographs reveal that the new iPad Pro, as far as the biggest variant is concerned, will have nearly the same exact dimensions as the current model. No big surprise there. However, the new model will apparently be a tad thicker than the current iteration, measuring in at a whopping 0.5mm thicker.

From the report:

The 12.9-inch model will measure in at 280.65mm long (11.04 inches), 215mm wide (8.46 inches) and 6.4mm thick (0.25 inches). With the exception of the thickness, those dimensions are about the same as the dimensions of the current ‌iPad Pro‌, and that matches up with rumors we’ve heard suggesting that there will be few design changes to the device.

6.4mm is 0.5mm thicker than the thickness of the current 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, which is 5.9mm thick. The change in thickness may be due to the inclusion of the mini-LED display, a feature that will be unique to the 12.9-inch model.

However, the report goes on, saying that there could be some changes to the camera system in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro as well:

Prior rumors have indicated the camera lenses of the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models will protrude less, and there will be some small changes to the size of the camera bump. The design drawings suggest the camera bump will measure in at 27.67mm by 27.67mm, slightly larger than the prior 27mm x 27mm camera bump.

Meanwhile, the 11-inch iPad Pro model is expected to retain the same design and dimensions of the current model. That would apparently confirm that Apple’s adoption to a mini-LED display for the iPad Pro lineup will be a slow transition, only going forward with the 12.9-inch model for now. The 11-inch variant will likely retain the LCD panel the current model has.

As far as other changes are concerned, the new iPad Pro lineup is expected to adopt 5G support, while also introducing a slightly improved version of the A14 processor, going with the A14X. That processor is supposedly more in line with the M1 processor Apple introduced in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini late last year, as far as capability is concerned.

In any event, we probably don’t have long to wait to see how this all pans out. Apple is expected to unveil the new iPad Pro lineup, along with the oft-rumored AirTags, redesigned iMac models, and more at the special event tomorrow.

Are you already planning on upgrading to the iPad Pro with a mini-LED display if Apple does indeed announce one?