Though standard knowledge means that Apple nonetheless has some massive iPad plans, we might have to attend till subsequent month to truly hear about them.
Rumors have been swirling for some time that March can be an enormous month for Apple product releases, and whereas a part of that got here true within the type of Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air lineup, which it quietly introduced on March 4, we’re nonetheless ready for the promised debut of a brand new OLED iPad Professional and dual-sized iPad Air lineup.
Nonetheless, as this month bought nearer, reviews started to floor saying that the brand new iPads won’t be prepared till April. However, with the tip of March approaching, some people have been anticipating that Apple will no less than unveil the brand new iPads earlier than the tip of the month, even when we’ve to attend for them to ship till subsequent month.
Earlier this week, leaker Prompt Digital put a pin in that timeline, claiming that Apple would have an announcement for us on March 26 and likewise suggesting that the iPad Professional would characteristic a matte display possibility with nano-texture glass and narrower bezels, including to earlier rumors of a a lot thinner design total.
Sadly, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has thrown a bucket of chilly water on these hopes, with a single tweet noting that the March 26 date is “Not true.”
Whereas one may learn that in a number of methods — maybe Apple will announce the brand new iPads on Monday as a substitute, which might be March 25 and align with its Monday MacBook Air announcement from earlier this month. Nonetheless, it’s more likely that Apple isn’t prepared to drag the set off on an announcement till it’s nearer to a sensible ship date.
In December, Gurman predicted a March launch for the brand new iPads, however lots has occurred since then. Possibly that’s what Apple was aiming for initially and has fallen not on time, or maybe issues have simply come extra into focus as we get nearer to the precise date.
However, though Gurman had pegged late March or early April for an iPad announcement as just lately as March 11, he hedged on {that a} bit on this week’s Energy On publication, saying that the “variant of iPadOS 17.4” meant to be put in on the brand new iPads wouldn’t be prepared till no less than the tip of March, after which Apple would nonetheless want to put in it on the preliminary shipments.
That course of would seemingly push the discharge “deeper into subsequent month,” Gurman mentioned, and whereas Apple may nonetheless make an announcement a bit sooner, it normally prefers to have merchandise no less than out there for pre-order inside every week or so of their debut, or presumably even hitting cabinets by that point.
It’s additionally unsure whether or not Apple will slip these new iPads out by press launch or schedule a digital occasion to point out them off. If the latter, we’ll most likely get no less than every week’s advance discover so Apple can make sure the press is able to “attend.”
What We’re Anticipating from Apple’s Early 2024 iPad Lineup
The excellent news is that there’s each indication the additional wait will probably be value it, as Apple has some fairly massive plans for the iPad Professional and iPad Air this time round.
The iPad Professional will probably be getting the most important upgrades, lastly making the transfer to an OLED display in each sizes. Whereas the 12.9-inch mannequin has packed in a reasonably spectacular mini-LED show since 2021, the 11-inch model has been left behind on the identical LCD panel that Apple has used since its redesign in 2018.
The transfer to OLED is predicted to make the brand new iPad Professional fashions thinner than ever, and if Prompt Digital’s different claims are true, they’ll additionally characteristic narrower bezels and a nano-texture matte display. We’d take that declare with a a lot bigger dose of salt, but it surely’s definitely potential. An M3 chip can also be anticipated just because that’s the subsequent logical evolution for Apple’s high-end pill.
In the meantime, the iPad Air is predicted to get an enormous brother within the type of a bigger 12.9-inch model, plus an improve to the M2 chip used within the present iPad Professional.
Each fashions may transfer to a panorama digital camera orientation much like what Apple did with its Tenth-generation iPad in late 2022. They’ll be accompanied by a brand new Magic Keyboard and third-generation Apple Pencil, though it’s unclear what new options these equipment will supply; they might merely be redesigned to accommodate the brand new type elements and digital camera positions.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]