While the upcoming iPhone 15 Series is taking up most attention just now—with the unveiling expected on Tuesday, September 12—there’s still the iPad to be thought about this year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, a new iPad Pro is in development which will change up the market. But it won’t be available until 2024.
That timing is not surprising. Apple has twice released iPad Pro models in a roughly 12-month rhythm, and neither time has been a radical overhaul. More recently, the Pro was updated in April 2021 and then October 2022, hinting at an 18-month cycle for the Pro. Indeed, Gurman predicts that the new model “probably won’t debut until spring or early summer” of next year. This makes sense to me. So, what’s new?
Blazing-Fast Processor
According to the report, the next iPad Pro will see the inclusion of the M3 processor, though let’s note that that’s a chip which doesn’t even exist yet, according to Apple. Assuming it has been launched by then, and I’m expecting to see it in new Macs this fall, it will be the powerhouse at the heart of the new Pro.
Bigger Display
Gurman claims the Pro will come in two screen sizes. An 11-inch model, which is the same as today, and a 13-incher, which is 0.1 inches better than the current one.
OLED
This is a very big change. Since 2010. Every iPad has had an IPS LCD screen, with just two models, the fourth- and fifth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, adding LED backlights. So, the move to OLED would really change things. And it may add a chunk to the price, too.
Still, assuming both 11-inch and 13-inch models have the same tech, it will remove a disparity in display quality that exists right now between the two.
Magic Keyboard
Finally, Gurman says there’ll be a revamped Magic Keyboard which adds a larger trackpad and “makes the iPad Pro look even more like a laptop than the current setup.”
What About This Year’s iPads?
Gurman says “I’m not anticipating anything other than minor updates to the company’s other tablets before [2024].” As he points out, the iPad mini hasn’t been updated since 2021 but I’d be astonished if there was a new mini this year.
However, I think there will be an updated regular iPad, replacing the current tenth-generation model, and it may be time to say goodbye to the entry-level ninth-gen model, which still has a Home button. The new iPad will be identical but for a new processor and maybe a color range, I’d guess.
Similarly, I think there could well be a new iPad Air to replace the fifth-generation model released in March last year. An eighteen-month cycle seems to suit the Air well. Again, it’ll be a processor upgrade and color change.
When Will We Know?
The next iPads won’t be announced in September alongside the new iPhones, but I predict we will get them in October, probably when the next Macs are revealed.
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