The current iPad lineup is complicated and confusing. The iPad Pro comes in two sizes, a single iPad Air, two generations of the regular iPad, and the still-going-and-great iPad Mini. The issue arises depending on which iPad the Apple Pencil works with, and only one iPad has a camera on the side for landscape FaceTime calls.
The current iPad product lineup is not only confusing, but it’s also constantly changing. Apple didn’t release an iPad last year, making it the first year without a new iPad since Apple tablets first launched in 2010. If the rumors are true, the long wait for a new iPad is almost over. According to a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new iPad Pro and Air models are expected to launch in early May.
Apple needs to do something with the iPad to keep consumers interested in Apple devices that are neither iPhone nor MacBook. The iPad has always occupied a middle ground between the company’s phones and laptops, and now the launch of the Vision Pro puts the company in that middle ground. CNET’s Scott Stein said the Vision Pro “feels like an iPad exploded into space.” The Vision Pro is currently too expensive to cannibalize iPad sales, but when the price drops in the next few years, it will compete with the iPad for third screen requirements and costs.
We’ll soon see where Apple takes tablets. Rumored updates for each iPad line include:
Take a look at this: New iPad 2024: What We Expect (OLED, M3, and More)
OLED appears on iPad Pro
OLED is big news when it comes to Apple’s top-of-the-line iPad Pro. The new model will reportedly ditch the Mini LED screen for an OLED display that offers more vibrant colors, truer black levels, and superior contrast. OLED panels can also support a wider range of refresh rates. The latest iPhone Pro models feature an Always-On OLED display that can run at a slower speed of 1Hz to extend battery life.
The updated iPad Pro will be available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, the latter being slightly larger than the current larger Pro at 12.9 inches. The new Pro is also expected to be upgraded from the current model’s Apple M2 chip to the M3 chip. Other rumors include an updated Magic Keyboard with USB-C and MagSafe wireless charging, an aluminum cover, and a larger trackpad.
iPad Air expands to 12.9 inches.
A larger iPad Air is expected to be added to the line this spring. The current fifth-generation iPad Air has a 10.9-inch display and is based on the M1 chip. The new lineup is based on the M2 chip and is available in both 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch models. The 12.9-inch Air gives tablet buyers the ability to get a larger screen without having to pay a premium for the Pro model.
The new iPad Air is not expected to switch to a Mini LED or OLED display and will retain its LED-based Liquid Retina panel. According to 9to5Mac, the rear camera is expected to be housed in a new camera bump that will include a flash, a feature not currently available on the Air. Additionally, the new model is expected to work with the current Magic Keyboard, rather than a keyboard update that only applies to the new Pro model.
iPad and iPad Mini updates later this year
Rumors about the entry-level iPad and iPad mini are more vague. The 11th-generation iPad will move to the A15 chip, while the 7th-generation iPad Mini will move to the A16 chip, which could see a boost in processor performance for each. With the launch of the 11th generation iPad, Apple is likely to keep the 10th generation iPad as a budget product and phase out the 9th generation model, which is the last remaining model with a home button. These updates are expected to come later this year rather than this spring.
And by the end of the year, we may finally see the long-rumored foldable iPad.