Theoretical discussion here, but ever since the iPad first came out, I've always viewed it as a sheet of glass driven by the software as far as functionality, etc.
Apple's upgrade cycles, as they've always been, are very iterative, in that one generation to the next doesn't necessarily prompt mass upgrades.
So, for a fun topic, hardware wise, what would be a great way for Apple (or any hardware manufacturer) to innovate on the iPad hardware for the next generation?
12.9" iPad Air, especially if the iPad Pro moves to OLED and even higher prices.
Rebrand the current iPad Mini as a Mini Air and introduce a low-cost Mini again even if that means previous-gen chipsets.
Move everything to USB-C and USB 3.0+, none of this USB 2.0 bullshit they did on the phones.
More RAM everywhere. App reloads and resprings are killing me when trying to get any real work done on an allegedly "Pro" iPad.
puts on my dipshit hat
From a software perspective, I want people to normalize open bootloaders again. The iPad is really capable hardware held back by an overly opinionated OS that feels like a toll-booth on a treadmill. I want to love iOS, but iOS loves to hate me... even booting into a Termux instance on Linux would be preferable to me. I know that's a passe opinion though, so I'll add some other complaints.
Hardware-wise, I think Apple should take a few cues from the Surface Pro. The kickstand on that really emphasizes it as a laptop alternative, and user-replaceable storage was a respectful addition that earned the "Pro" moniker. I think the iPad is capable of reprising both features, even if only for the Pro models. As-is, the current iPad Pro features feel more like enthusiast upgrades rather than professional tools. That's not bad, but they could do better.
I'll be the first to admit that I far prefer the iPhone 4-style boxy design of the newer iPads. It's so much better than the rounded space-age models in a lot of ways. The only tweak I'd make in that department is a return to flush camera modules (even if it means lower-quality cameras). As a former iPad owner, I can count the number of photos I took on one hand. I can count the number of times the iPad didn't lay flat in the thousands.
So honestly, I think most of the iPad's problems are in software right now. While we're dreaming, it would be nice to see a more repairable/accessible design that emphasizes repairing/replacing the front glass panel. It's a very expensive repair, and third-party covers are already quite popular in the aftermarket.