Apple could be preparing to give its next iPad Pro a serious cooling upgrade – one borrowed straight from the iPhone 17 Pro.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming M6 iPad Pro could feature a vapor chamber cooling system, the same technology Apple introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro earlier this year.
This would mark the first time the iPad Pro has used liquid-based cooling, signalling Apple’s intent to push the tablet even harder as a full-fledged performance machine.
The iPad Pro M5 only hit shelves in October, so this is very much future-looking stuff and shouldn’t really put anyone off investing in Apple’s latest high-end tablet.
Vapor chamber cooling isn’t new in the wider tech world. It’s been used for years in gaming laptops and the best Android phones, but this would be a first for Apple’s tablets.
The system works by circulating liquid inside a sealed metal chamber to dissipate heat more evenly, helping the device stay cooler under heavy workloads.
Moreover, better cooling could have a significant impact on the next-generation iPad Pro, which is anticipated to run on Apple’s upcoming M6 chip, which is said to be constructed using TSMC’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer process.
Gurman notes that the vapor chamber should lessen thermal throttling and extend the iPad’s ability to run demanding creative and professional workflows, such as 4K video editing and 3D design.
If the change proves successful, Apple could extend vapor chamber cooling to other fanless devices like the MacBook Air. This could provide its ultraportables with a comparable performance advantage without sacrificing thinness or noise.
Apple seems to be settling into an 18-month refresh cycle for the iPad Pro, which means that the next model with the M6 chip and vapor chamber could arrive by spring 2027. However, that could change, and nothing is set in stone at this stage. It’s also worth taking any rumours like this with a pinch of salt, as plans can always change.
The same report also claims that adverts could be on their way to Apple Maps, perhaps as early as 2026.
