Apple updates iPads with more power and a splash of color

Apple has announced a series of updates to its iPad range and has launched a new version of the Apple TV set-top box.

The tech giant unveiled a redesigned version of its most basic iPad alongside an update to the top-of-the-line iPad Pro.

There was no fancy virtual event like the iPhone 14 Pro. Instead, Apple quietly updated its online store and sent out a barrage of press releases.

The new entry-level iPad got rid of the home button, moved the front-facing camera to the longer side of the device, and changed the Lightning connector to the more common USB-C connector.

Which is probably just as well after a recent EU ruling required all devices to adopt the USB-C charging standard.

There’s also an updated version of the iPad Pro that includes Apple’s powerful proprietary M2 chip for faster performance.

The new iPad will go on sale on October 26, the company has confirmed, from £499.

The new iPad Pro will also be available on the same date, starting at £899.

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said it was the “most advanced line of iPads ever made”.

Apple also introduced a few new colors to the entry-level iPad lineup. It is available in either blue, pink, yellow or silver.

Industry expert Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight said the new devices are the latest example of Apple “executing its proven strategy of expanding the device portfolio in each segment to cater to everyone.”

“In each category there is a device for everyone at different prices,” he said.

He also praised the introduction of the USB-C connector on iPad, saying it eliminated “complexity and fragmentation for users.”

However, he warned that as many people face rising living costs, introducing more devices is a risk for the tech giant.

“It represents a real test of consumers’ appetites to opt for these latest shiny devices,” he said.

“As well as the true power of the Apple brand in a difficult economic climate where everyone is tightening their belts.”

Apple has also unveiled a third generation of its Apple TV set-top box.

The two most important updates include a new A15 Bionic processor that improves performance while supporting HDR10+ video quality. The new Apple TV 4K (2022) comes with a Siri-enabled remote and prices start at £149.

Apple called the new Apple TV “more powerful, fun and affordable than ever, with stunning cinematic quality.”

MORE: The first 2007 iPhone just sold for way, way more than an iPhone 14 Pro

MORE : People think this 160-year-old painting shows a woman on her iPhone