iPad 2024 Rumors: New iPad Professional and Air Fashions Arriving on Might 7

The present iPad lineup is a cluttered and complicated mess. There are two sizes of iPad Professional, a single iPad Air, two generations of the common iPad and the iPad Mini which are nonetheless alive and kicking. It is hit and miss with which Apple Pencil works with which iPad, and just one iPad has the digital camera on the facet for panorama FaceTime calls. 

Not solely are the present iPad choices confounding, however they’re additionally getting stale. Apple did not launch any iPads final yr, making it the primary calendar yr with no new iPad since Apple’s pill was first launched in 2010. However the lengthy wait for brand new iPads is nearly over — Apple introduced yesterday that it is holding an occasion on Might 7, and iPads are anticipated to be the main focus. 

The most recent iPad rumors level to new iPad Professionals with OLED shows and a brand new 12.9-inch dimension for the iPad Air. The entry-level iPad and iPad Mini aren’t anticipated to see updates on the Might 7 occasion; new fashions in these strains aren’t doubtless till the autumn.

Apple must do one thing with the iPad to maintain customers inquisitive about its system that is neither iPhone nor MacBook. The iPad has all the time occupied the center floor between the corporate’s telephones and laptops, and now it has firm on this in-between zone with the arrival of the Imaginative and prescient Professional. CNET’s Scott Stein mentioned the Imaginative and prescient Professional appears like “an iPad exploded into area.” The Imaginative and prescient Professional is much too costly proper now to cannibalize iPad gross sales, however as its value comes down within the years to come back, it is going to compete with the iPad for our third-screen wants and {dollars}.

We are going to quickly get affirmation as to which path Apple is taking its tablets. This is what the rumored updates will appear like for every iPad line.

Watch this: What to Count on at Apple’s Might 7 iPad Occasion

OLED coming to iPad Professional

iPad Pro and Pencil 2 on a table

Scott Stein/CNET

OLED is the large information with Apple’s top-end iPad Professional. The brand new fashions will reportedly ditch mini-LED screens for OLED shows that can ship extra vibrant colours, true black ranges and superior distinction. The OLED panels might additionally help a wider vary of refresh charges. The newer iPhone Professional fashions characteristic always-on OLED shows that may function as sluggish as 1Hz to increase battery life.

The up to date iPad Professionals will are available in 11- and 13-inch sizes, with the latter being barely bigger than the present huge Professional at 12.9 inches. The brand new Professionals are additionally anticipated to improve from Apple’s M2 chip of the present fashions to the M3 chip. Different rumored modifications embody USB-C and MagSafe wi-fi charging together with an up to date Magic Keyboard with an aluminum cowl and bigger trackpad.

iPad Air increasing to 12.9 inches

iPad Air 2022 on wooden background

Scott Stein/CNET

A bigger iPad Air is predicted to be added to the road this spring. The present, fifth-gen iPad Air relies on a ten.9-inch show and an M1 chip. The brand new lineup will probably be based mostly on M2 chips and out there in each 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch fashions. A 12.9-inch Air would give pill patrons the flexibility to get a bigger display with no need to pay the premium for a Professional mannequin.

The brand new iPad Airs are usually not anticipated to maneuver to mini-LED or OLED shows and can hold their LED-based liquid retina panels. The rear digital camera, according to 9to5Mac, is predicted to be housed in a brand new digital camera bump that features a flash, a characteristic not supplied on the present Air. The brand new fashions are additionally anticipated to work with the present Magic Keyboard and never the keyboard replace that will probably be unique to the brand new Professional fashions.

iPad and iPad Mini updates later this yr

iPad Mini and 9th Gen iPad

Scott Stein/CNET

The rumors are foggier for the entry-level iPad and iPad Mini. Every might get a processor bump, with the Eleventh-gen iPad transferring to the A15 chip and the seventh-gen iPad Mini getting the A16 chip. With the arrival of the Eleventh-gen iPad, Apple will doubtless hold the Tenth-gen iPad as its funds providing and part out the ninth-gen mannequin, which is the final remaining mannequin with the house button. These updates are anticipated not this spring however later within the yr.

And by the tip of the yr, maybe we are going to lastly see the long-rumored foldable iPad.