Apple is reportedly developing a new iPad Pro model with a redesign that will feature a glass-backed design to enable wireless charging support. The company is also rumoured to be working on refreshing the iPad Mini and a new thinner entry-level iPad.
One of the requirements of adding support for wireless charging is to not a have a metal back as it would interfere with the charge transfer. To circumvent this, manufacturers use a glass back, that also have the benefit of being premium material.
The iPhone series has supported wireless charging for quite a few generations now. It appears that Apple is finally thinking about bringing the feature to the iPad models. Apple is also rumoured to be working on enabling reverse wireless charging support for the iPad Pro.
Since wireless charging will be magnitudes slower than direct wired charging, so Apple is expected to keep the Thunderbolt port on the iPad Pro for now.
The iPad Mini has not seen an update since 2019, when it received support for the Apple Pencil and got a faster chip inside. Apple is expected to update the iPad Mini in 2021 along with a refreshed design for the base-level iPad that will be geared towards customers.