iPadOS 17.5 hints at OLED iPad Pros, new Apple Pencil with squeeze function

Apple's impending OLED iPad Pros are nearly here. Evidence of them and their new display tech was unearthed in iPadOS 17.5 firmware by 9to5Mac.

The outlet discovered four new iPad identifiers in the firmware - iPad16,3, iPad16,4, iPad16,5, iPad16,6 - which are expected to correspond to the iPad Pro's two sizes and two connectivity models - Wi-Fi and Cellular.

The report continues that the firmware suggests that the sizes are 11-inch and 12.9-inch and that the display tech is OLED.

This report corroborates earlier rumors. Apple has seemingly given the production of the 12.9-inch OLED to LG exclusively, and the 11-inch to LG and Samsung together. Production of the panels has reportedly pushed the launch of the new iPad Pro far beyond what Apple initially had planned - it's now 18 months since the last Pros hit the market.

Along with the new iPad models, iPadOS 17.5 brings news of a new Apple Pencil. The firmware references an Apple Pencil with squeeze gestures, which break down further into a "LongSqueeze" and "DoubleSqueeze". Additionally, the firmware shares that the new Apple Pencil will have Find My support.

According to Bloomberg's Power On newsletter, Apple will announce the new iPad Pros, a redesigned Magic Keyboard, a new iPad Air (possibly in two sizes), and the Apple Pencil 3 in the second week of May.

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