The latest Apple iPad software is only in beta, but it seems to have revealed a new Apple Pencil, ready to work, perhaps, with the expected iPad Pro. But did Apple mean to reveal this so soon?
A new Pencil for the iPad could be on its way.
April 6 update below. This post was first published on April 3, 2024.
When the latest developer beta software, iPadOS 17.5, landed on Tuesday, April 3, it gave several clues that foreshadow the new device, according to 9to5Mac. Of course, it didn’t actually name a new Apple device—the company is way too smart for that—but what was found were multiple pieces of evidence that “point to a new gesture called “squeeze” for Apple Pencil. The gesture can be used for quick interactions such as adding shapes, signatures, stickers, or a text field. Presumably, the gesture will be triggered by pressing the Apple Pencil surface.”
The thing is that as far as we know, there are no pressure sensors on the barrel of any of the three models of Apple Pencil, so the only easy explanation is that a new product, an Apple Pencil with this capability, is coming.
The report goes on: “Apple has also updated the interface for pairing an Apple Pencil for the first time to support new, non-existent hardware. Earlier this year, 9to5Mac had already found evidence of Apple Pencil support in the Find My app. Currently, there’s no Apple Pencil model that can be tracked via the Find My network.”
I’d say this would be an excellent feature to have. The Apple Pencil is a great accessory, but it is as easy to lose as any other pencil, so locating it with Find My would be a tremendous thing.
Another reference in the software, spotted by MacRumors, specifically refers to “ApplePencilV4” and, for reference, there are only three Apple Pencils so far, so that’s pretty unmistakable.
There are no details in the software of what the squeeze could be for, so the results are conjecture, but Apple will have thought through exactly what would benefit the Pencil most.
There have previously been rumors that the Apple Pencil would be compatible with Apple Vision Pro, but there’s no indication in the new software whether that’s right or not.
April 4 update. The iOS 17.5 pre-release beta that revealed the likely existence of an all-new Apple Pencil with all-new squeezable feature, has other treasures in its trove. As spotted by MacRumors, it looks like the Battery Health setting found on the iPhone is coming to the iPad as well.
This makes sense. The feature on the iPhone is useful, telling users exactly how many charging cycles that particular device has been through, and what the battery capacity is. This is shown as a percentage: on day one it should have 100% capacity but declines later.
Code strings in the software have telling phrases like, “iPad batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a limited lifespan and may eventually need to be serviced or replaced.”
It may also reveal something else. Since there are no Battery Health menus visible on any iPads with the iPadOS 17.5 beta installed, the publication says, it could mean that this is just for the iPads believed to be launched in May, such as the predicted iPad Pro. Which is also exciting.
April 5 update. The wait is almost over for the new iPad and its accidentally revealed Pencil. That’s the conclusion you might come to because the Bureau of Indian Standards has two new iPads on its website, as spotted by 91 Mobiles. This database lists products in regulatory filings before they go on sale, usually just weeks before. Which tells us that new iPads will almost certainly go on sale in the coming weeks.
Of course, it doesn’t tell us which iPad models they are, that would be far too revealing. Instead, it lists the model numbers, A2836 and A2837. Some have surmised that this means an iPad Pro and an iPad Air are revealed here, which would fit with some recent rumors, but I’d urge caution.
The current iPad Pro comes with four model numbers attached, just for the 12.9-inch tablet. There’s A2436 which is the wi-fi version, A2437 which is the same but also includes cellular connectivity. Then there’s A2764 which is specifically the wi-fi and cellular version with mmWave connectivity. And finally, there’s A2766 which is wi-fi and cellular, but designed for China mainland only.
There are another four numbers for the 11-inch iPad Pro.
All of which suggests that the references we’ve seen are just for one tablet, for wi-fi and wi-fi and cellular versions respectively. The mmWave and China mainland versions would not appear in the Indian database, of course.
And then there’s the fact that Apple has never launched a new iPad Pro and a new iPad Air at the same time. Many analysts think both are coming but I honestly think it will be no surprise if it’s the iPad Pro alone—which is still a pretty enticing prospect, of course—plus that Apple Pencil with squeezability.
