After Apple gave most of its iPad lineup a makeover, the budget iPad is finally expected to get an overhaul too.

The budget iPad in the Apple lineup, which is the entry point to Apple’s tablet experience, has largely remained without a design update for a long time now. The lack of design overhaul means that even now, the budget iPad still has a physical Home button, thick bezels flanking its display, and a Lightning port for charging and wired connectivity – akin to Apple’s iPhone SE lineup. This, though, could change this year, with a new rumour stating that the base iPad model will finally get a significant overhaul. This overhaul will bring USB-C to the device – along with a host of other changes.

To begin with, the overall change is likely to see the basic iPad also adopt a slimmer bezel and all display design. Rumours about the device suggest that it could get a larger screen, measuring 10.5 or 10.9 inches. This, in turn, suggests that it could get the new, all-screen design – finally ditching the physical Home button. If this is true, then the physical button would only be found in the iPhone SE series.

Other key details include the use of Apple’s A14 Bionic SoC in the budget iPad, which previously featured in the 4th generation iPad Air and the iPhone 12 lineup. While already a generation old, it is still a capable enough flagship grade processor. More importantly, this will bring 5G connectivity into the fold for Apple’s budget iPad, hence bringing it up to speed in terms of wireless connectivity standards as well.

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Finally, the switch to the new design will likely see Apple also use USB-C on the basic iPad, bringing the use of Lightning ports to an end on iPads. The latter would thus only be found in iPhones, which too is something that has been rumoured to be changed with 2022’s iPhone 14 series itself.

Interestingly, a new law proposed by the European Union has stated that all consumer devices must feature USB-C for charging by 2024, which left the onus to Apple to adopt the standard in time. Europe is a significant market for Apple, which it will likely not want to let go of. Adopting USB-C on the base iPad could be a good place to start, in order to completely let go of its proprietary port.