Apple has scheduled its next product presentation for May 7, a few weeks before the start of the Worldwide Developers Conference. While the company is, as always, a little cautious about what’s on deck, the signs are all there. There have been rumors for months that Apple would update its iPad lineup in May. In fact, the image on the announcement of this “Let Loose” event includes an illustration of a hand holding an Apple Pencil.
Various reports in recent months have shed light on what Apple has to offer. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the upcoming iPad event:
M3 iPad Pro
It’s been about 18 months since Apple updated one of its iPads, so an update to its tablet lineup is due. It won’t exactly be surprising to see Apple putting M3 chips into the latest iPad Pro models, as the latest versions run on M2 chipsets.
Otherwise, the biggest update is likely to come in the form of OLED displays, they say BloombergThis is Mark Gurman. This is intended to give the iPad Pro bolder colors and deeper blacks.
Since OLED panels are thinner than LCD panels, this should allow Apple to reduce the thickness of the iPad Pro. Accordingly 9to5 MacThe 11-inch iPad Pro will be 0.8mm thinner at 5.1mm, while the 12.9-inch model will be significantly slimmer, with the thickness expected to drop by 1.5mm to 5mm. A leaker has suggested that the frames could also be up to 15 percent thinner than previous models.
Rumors have been circulating for some time that Apple might offer a glass-backed iPad Pro this year to enable MagSafe charging. In the meantime, there’s evidence that Apple will solve one of our biggest iPad problems and move the front camera to the Pro’s landscape edge, as it did with the entry-level iPad in late 2022. This means the camera will be more optimally placed for those who use a Magic Keyboard or simply prefer landscape orientation.
M2 iPad Air
As for the iPad Air, which Apple has kept stalled for over two years, it is expected to get an upgrade to M2 chips from the M1 that the tablets currently use. There are rumors that Apple will use the older chip in the iPad Air to differentiate it from the Pro models and ensure that the latter remain clearly its top-of-the-line tablets. Fortunately, the iPad Air’s front camera also reportedly moves to the edge in landscape mode.
There’s another big change we’re expecting for the iPad Air, and I mean that literally. According to rumors, Apple is preparing the first 12.9-inch iPad Air. It’s probably the most cost-effective option for a large-screen iPad, although that would be somewhat at odds with the “Air” part of the name.
Display analyst Ross Young previously suggested that the iPad Air’s 12.9-inch screen would feature a mini-LED display, but that no longer appears to be the case – at least for now. However, Young says Apple may release an iPad Air with such a display later this year. Meanwhile, the new iPad Air models may feature a larger camera bump, perhaps so Apple can add a flash.
New Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil
Gurman reported last year that Apple was working on a redesigned Magic Keyboard, but only for the iPad Pro, not the Air series. The updated keyboard is intended to make the iPad Pro look more like a laptop with a larger trackpad. It will be made of aluminum to make it sturdier than previous models, although “the outer shell of the Magic Keyboard will retain the cover material of the current model,” says Gurman.
Additionally, Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple Pencil to replace the second-generation model. Dataminers have suggested that an updated peripheral could include a press gesture to perform certain actions and have Find My support. Some reports suggest that the next Apple Pencil could also work with the Vision Pro drawing apps.
What you can’t expect: A new iPad or iPad mini
Even though the iPad mini in particular is already showing its age – the latest model was launched in September 2021 – you probably shouldn’t expect a new model to show up at the Let Loose event. We don’t expect a new basic iPad. An 11th-generation iPad and an updated iPad mini could reportedly launch later this year, but maybe don’t hold your breath.