The primary few months of 2024 could possibly be a reasonably thrilling time for Apple followers, with a brand new report that means the corporate will usher in a number of new iPads and Macs to kick off the brand new yr.
Whereas we’re nonetheless not anticipating an excessive amount of from the primary frosty months of 2024, by the point March rolls round, we’ll possible see not solely Apple’s long-anticipated Imaginative and prescient Professional headset arrive in shops but in addition a brand new M3-powered MacBook Air lineup and the primary OLED iPads.
The information comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who shared a report at present outlining a part of Apple’s 2024 roadmap, for which new iPads and Macs will solely be the beginning.
Whereas an M3 MacBook Air appears inevitable following the discharge of Apple’s newest piece of Mac silicon within the 24-inch iMac and new MacBooks Professional, many weren’t certain these would arrive earlier than June’s Worldwide Builders Convention.
Nevertheless, Gurman says Apple is pushing for a March launch to assist “reverse a decline in Mac and iPad gross sales,” in response to “individuals aware of the scenario.”
M3 MacBooks and Bigger iPads
The M3 MacBook Air received’t possible function something revolutionary; like the brand new MacBook Professional fashions that Apple launched in October, the M3 chip would be the spotlight of the replace. Nevertheless, Apple will use the chance to refresh each the 13-inch and 15-inch fashions on the similar time, bringing them into lockstep when it comes to specs — and certain holding them on the identical improve cycle going ahead.
The extra thrilling information is Apple’s plans for the iPad Air and iPad Professional, the latter of which shall be getting its first main overhaul since 2018 when the flat-edged design that’s now grow to be the norm throughout the complete household was first launched on the higher-end fashions.
The largest change shall be a shift to OLED screens on each the 11-inch and 12.9-inch fashions, bringing the 2 again into unity after the 12.9-inch model gained a mini-LED panel two years in the past whereas the 11-inch mannequin remained left behind on the identical Liquid Retina LCD display screen it’s had since 2018.
In response to Gurman’s sources, the brand new OLED screens will help a wider vary of colours and at last match the show expertise used within the iPhone. Naturally, the iPad Professional will even transfer to an M3 chip, however that’s significantly much less shocking contemplating the M2 within the late 2022 mannequin.
The iPad Air will see an much more important change, with Gurman confirming latest reviews that Apple is engaged on a bigger 12.9-inch model of the mid-tier pill. It will permit it to match the iPad Professional in dimension, though it’ll nonetheless use an LCD panel and certain lack Face ID to make it a extra inexpensive choice for many who would really like a bigger iPad with out breaking the financial institution. As Gurman notes, this mirrors Apple’s technique in introducing the 15-inch MacBook Air earlier this yr.
It’s much less clear what chip these will use, however because the present iPad Air sports activities an M1, it’s a protected wager that it’ll transfer to an M2; Apple will possible reserve the newest M3 for the dearer iPad Professional, though that’s under no circumstances a certain factor.
The brand new iPad Air and iPad Professional will launch alongside iPadOS 17.4, plus “revamped variations” of the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. The brand new stylus is alleged to be an upgraded, third-generation model of the Apple Pencil, reasonably than the low-end mannequin that was introduced final month, whereas the brand new Magic Keyboards “will make the iPad Professional look extra like a laptop computer,” with sturdier frames and extra aluminum within the design.
The brand new MacBooks and iPads will possible arrive across the similar time the Imaginative and prescient Professional headset goes on sale, though there’s no phrase on whether or not they’ll have any particular new options to tie into its mixed-reality spatial computing gadgets. The iPhone 15 Professional lineup will acquire Spatial Video recording in iOS 17.2 to permit customers to file 3D movies that may be performed on the brand new headset, and the brand new USB-C AirPods Professional will supply high-fidelity lossless audio when paired with the headset.
Gurman additionally provides that Apple is hoping to deliver blood stress sensing to subsequent yr’s Apple Watch Collection 10 (which could possibly be dubbed the “Apple Watch X”), in addition to a refreshed iPad mini, a brand new lower-end iPad, and “bigger upscale iPhones.” Nevertheless, all of those seem like slated to reach later in 2024.
[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.]