Charles Martin
Apple stores will reportedly prepare for a long-awaited update its iPad Pro and iPad Air models in the first week of May.
In his weekly newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the refreshed lineup will feature new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. Also expected are an all-new 12.9-inch iPad Air, another new Apple Pencil model, and a refreshed Magic Keyboard lineup.
It has been rumored for almost two years that the iPad Pro models will move up from mini-LED panels to OLED displays, and feature a slimmer and lighter overall design. The more expensive display technology will necessitate a price increase in at least the 12.9-inch Pro model.
Rumors have claimed that Apple may offer a matte option with an anti-glare coating for the iPad Pro models for the first time. The new Pro models are expected to get the M3 processors
How much more expensive isn't clear. Early — and dubious — rumors suggested that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro would sell for nearly $2000. More recent rumors have put it starting at about $1500.
To soften the blow, Apple will introduce a new 12.9-inch iPad Air, likely using an M2 processor and a conventional display, at a lower price compared to the Pro. On Sunday morning, Gurman also said that the base iPad and iPad mini will receive updates later in 2024, likely closer to the holiday season.
The forthcoming Apple Pencil model has been rumored to have several new features, including additional sensors and haptic feedback. Some reports have suggested a new chassis that could respond to squeezes, and an updated tip for faster and more accurate drawing.
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9 Comments
Where can I pre-order?
I find it hard to believe that the new iPads would be released:
*after the earnings report 2 May (iPad sales will be woeful last quarter); and
*just prior to WWDC, so after the first week of May might as well wait.
Thus, if I was to do a slightly less than wild arsed guess, toss tha dart on the board I would still go for April sometime. And my own bias wants that of course as I have the cash sitting there ready and my old M2 IPP is gone and the backup will be getting old.
Wow, $1500 for an iPad Pro being considered the low end of price spectrum? and that's probably for the entry level storage capacity, that means the 1 and 2 Tb variants are likely to hit the $2K mark for a device that people mostly use to read the news and watch movies, now you are talking real inflation.