A new iPadOS 16 beta build has confirmed that Apple is moving away from making Stage Manager an M1-exclusive feature. Instead, the multitasking feature has been opened up to iPads with A12X Bionic and A12Z Bionic chipsets.https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-enables-Stage-Manager-software-support-on-older-iPad-Pro-tablets-with-a-catch-for-newer-models.659214.0.html
So basically, the only feature I was looking forward to in iPad OS 16 (full external display support) is being pulled so for yet another year or 10 the iPad can still play second fiddle to the Mac. I Bought an M1 11" Pro to be ready for this feature... and have been thinking about getting a 12.9" M2. Sorry Apple, announce what you like, not buying anything else until I see it in a released product. Time to take another look at the Surface Pro 9. ;-)