According to reports, Apple is preparing new iPads and MacBook Air models coupled with the recently unveiled Apple M3 CPU for release early next year.
According to Bloomberg top journalist and consistent and accurate Apple tipper Mark Gurman, a “spring launch” (so March-May) will come as a move to reinvigorate previously slumping iPad sales. A new iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display, redesigned Magic Keyboard variants, and a new Apple Pencil all said to be in the works.
It would make sense for such a device to be released in the spring. The iPad Air hasn’t yet received the M2 chip treatment, so bypassing a generation and equipping the tablet with an M3 chip makes sense. While both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models use the M2 chip, it seems reasonable to upgrade them to M3 silicon to ensure the most powerful iPads stay so.
The more intriguing aspect of the next-generation iPad Pros is that they are expected to have OLED displays, with the 12.9-inch models getting a small screen size increase to a full 13 inches. Rumors about this have been circulating for a while, but it was unclear when we would see iPads with OLED displays.
However, Gurman observed that, according to insiders familiar with Apple’s unannounced goods and release pipeline, these OLED iPads will also be available in spring 2024. While the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s mini-LED display isn’t bad, a switch to OLED might result in improved contrast and colors, which would be ideal for professional photo editors and artists.
The new Magic Keyboards, according to Gurman, will have a stronger metal frame and will make the iPad Pro look more laptop-like. Regrettably, Gurman did not elaborate on what to expect from a new Apple Pencil.
iPads may get closer to MacBooks
If these reports are true, the increase in power, along with what could be upgraded Magic Keyboards with some nips and tucks to make the cover-accessory more user-friendly and flexible, could result in iPads that can actually replace one’s laptop for all but the most specialized of work. With Apple able to run full console-quality games on the iPhone 15 Pro, I’m excited to see what it can achieve for gaming on iPads with M3 capability.
A bigger iPad Air also checks all of the boxes for a sensible release. There are almost likely some people who would appreciate a larger iPad display for, say, digital artwork but do not require the sophisticated features of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. So an iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display appears to be a good compromise, as long as Apple keeps the pricing reasonable.
A switch to M3 chips for the MacBook Air would also make sense. The original MacBook Air M2 will be nearly two years old next spring, which isn’t old in laptop terms, but it does make the computer ripe for a processor refresh. The 15-inch MacBook Air was released this year, but it wouldn’t hurt if it had an M3 chip to tap into for greater speed and efficiency by 2024. These enhancements could be directed specifically at those wishing to upgrade from older M1-based MacBooks who may not have been convinced by the performance boost that shifting to M2-based equivalents would provide.
While a spring launch may sound unclear, Gurman stated that the iPads and their accessories will most likely be available in March. The upgraded MacBook Air versions are also expected in March. This makes likely because Apple has traditionally shown new products around this time of year, but only time will tell.
