Code discovered in Apple's latest iOS 14.5 beta references an as-yet-unreleased "A14X" chip, silicon expected to power the company's upcoming iPad Pro refresh.
The latest iOS beta release includes mention of a GPU called "13G," a designation not seen in past or current A-series chips, reports 9to5Mac. Based on Apple's silicon naming schemes, "13G" is thought to be a next-generation variant of the A14 system-on-chip design that has been tentatively dubbed "A14X" and is anticipated to power a revamped iPad Pro line.
Interestingly, the "A14X" design is based on Apple's T8103 SoC, the report claims. Better known as M1, T8103 was the first Apple Silicon chip to see release with the M1 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini last year.
The publication also claims Apple's internal codenames for the upcoming iPad Pro line are J517, J518, J522 and J523. How those numbers correlate with specific hardware specifications is unknown, though past iPad releases typically include Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models.
Today's report lines up with previous rumors regarding Apple's next A-series silicon. Last week, Bloomberg reported that the expected "A14X" chip would be as fast or faster than the M1.
Apple is expected to launch a new iPad Pro line with updated internals in the coming weeks, potentially as soon as April. The larger 12.9-inch variant is also expected to be the first Apple device to benefit from Mini LED technology that delivers better local dimming, color reproduction and contrast ratios than conventional LCD screens. Thunderbolt connectivity is rumored for both models.