According to a new leak, the new iPad Pro 2021 will launch in April and may feature an upgraded display, a new Apple Silicon chip, and Thunderbolt connectivity.

Bloomberg said a source familiar with Cupertino's tablet plans told Bloomberg that Apple's new top-of-the-line iPad has a mini LED display, a chipset "equivalent to the faster M1 chip" found in the MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro M1, as well as a more versatile Thunderbolt connector, according to the report.

Earlier leaks indicated that the iPad Pro 2021 would be available as early as next week, but the usually reliable Mark Gurman reports that he spoke to "someone familiar with the matter" and that the release date has been pushed back to April.

Mini LEDs and chip upgrades have been rumored for some time, but this is the first indication that Thunderbolt will be included in the iPad Pro 2021.

Apple has already adopted Thunderbolt 3 ports on the MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro M1 models, while the current iPad Pro and iPad Air models remain standard USB-C ports.

According to Gurman, the new iPad Pro 2021 model has used the Thunderbolt connector in testing. If true, the upgraded port will allow the iPad Pro 2021 to sync data faster and will also add connectivity to external monitors, hard drives, and other peripherals.

The change to a mini-LED display could be more significant as the iPad Pro 2021 could offer better video playback and richer visuals for games and other content.

In case you are not familiar, mini-LEDs are a new backlighting technology that backs up the device's LCD panel with diodes that are only one-fifth the size of standard LEDs. This allows for hundreds of LEDs to be placed on the back of the iPad Pro's screen, allowing for tighter control of lighting zones.

As for Apple silicon chips, the iPad Pro 2021 is expected to feature a revamped A14 chip with performance comparable to the Apple-designed M1 chip.

Other Gurman reports mention that the iPad Pro 2021 is expected to feature an improved camera, that it will look similar to the current model, and that it will be available in the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch display sizes.

We have also previously seen speculation that it will be the first iPad with 5G and that Apple is considering producing a new Magic Keyboard and a matching Apple Pencil 3.

Pricing is expected to remain at $750 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $999 for the 12.9-inch model, which, if the rumored upgrades take place, would ensure its place on our best tablets list.