Apple may be planning a powerful upgrade for the entry-level iPad

Apple did not bestow many upgrades on last year's iPad, the 7th generation model, but Evan Blass seems to think that the company will do so for this year's model. Apple upgraded the iPad a 10.2-inch display and 3 GB of RAM last year, but the device remained on the same A10 Fusion chipset that powered the iPad 2018 and which Apple introduced in 2016 with iPhone 7 series. The pixel density of the iPad has been stuck at 264 PPI since the release of the iPad 2012, too.

According to Blass, the 8th generation iPad, or iPad 2020, will feature the A12X Bionic chipset. It will also have a Lightning connector, unlike the rumoured 4th generation iPad Air. On the face of it, included the A12X Bionic in the entry-level would seem a strange one. Undoubtedly, the A12X Bionic would represent a massive uplift in performance for the iPad. Not only does the A12X Bionic have more cores and threads than the A10 Fusion, but it also has higher clock speeds and over 3x the volume of transistors.

However, Apple has only used the A12X Bionic in its premium iPad Pro line, which may demean its value somewhat considering that the iPad currently starts at just US$329. On the other hand, Apple could have excess stock of the A12X Bionic, and the iPad 2020 may be a way to get rid of them. Today's Apple Event commences at 10:00 PDT (UTC-07:00).