Apple is reportedly preparing new iPads and MacBook Air models equipped with the recently unveiled Apple M3 chip to be launched in spring next year.
That is according to Bloomberg chief correspondent and persistent and accurate Apple tipster Mark Gurman, who claimed that such a launch will be a step to revive iPad sales, which have collapsed recently. A new iPad Air with a 12.9-inch screen will reportedly be thrown into the mix, alongside refreshed Magic Keyboard models and a new Apple Pencil.
NEW: Apple is planning a spring launch for the updated iPad Pro, the new iPad Air (also in 12.9-inch format), the updated Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil and the M3 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs. https://t.co/zVvMGmKSubDecember 6, 2023
A spring launch for such a device would make sense. The iPad Air hasn't gotten the M2 chip treatment yet, so skipping a generation and loading the tablet with an M3 chip makes a lot of sense. While both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models have access to the M2 chip, it seems sensible to upgrade them to M3 silicon to ensure the most powerful iPads stay that way.
But the more interesting element of the next generation of iPad Pros is that they will have the chance to get OLED screens, with the 12.9-inch models seeing a reduction in screen size to a full 13 inches. Rumors about this have been circulating for a while, but the jury was curious when we would see iPads with OLED panels.
However, Gurman noted that according to people with knowledge of Apple's unreleased products and release pipeline, these OLED iPads will also arrive in spring 2024. This could be one of the bigger upgrades the iPad Pros have seen in a while – while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's mini-LED display certainly isn't bad, a move to OLED could lead to better contrast and better colors, probably great for professional photo editors and artists.
As for the new Magic Keyboards, Gurman noted that they are expected to have a sturdier aluminum frame, which will give the iPad Pro a more laptop-like appearance. Unfortunately, Gurman did not indicate what to expect from a new Apple Pencil.
iPads may be getting closer to MacBooks
If these rumors become reality, the increase in power, combined with what can still be improved, Magic Keyboards with some minor tweaks to make the cover accessory more user-friendly and flexible, could add up to iPads that truly are anyone's laptop for anyone could replace. the most niche of tasks. Now that Apple manages to run true console-quality games on the iPhone 15 Pro, I'd be curious to see what it could do for gaming on iPads with access to M3 power.
A larger iPad Air also ticks all the boxes when it comes to a logical release. There are almost certainly people who would like an iPad with a larger screen for digital artwork, for example, but who also don't need the advanced features of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. So an iPad Air with a 12.9-inch screen seems like a happy medium, provided Apple makes sure it's reasonably priced.
On the MacBook Air side, a move to M3 chips would also make sense. Come spring, the original MacBook Air M2 will be almost two years old – that's hardly old in terms of laptop lifespan, but it does make the machine ripe for a chip refresh. The 15-inch MacBook Air came out this year, but again, in 2024 it wouldn't hurt if it had an M3 chip that it could use for better performance and efficiency. These upgrades could be aimed squarely at people looking to upgrade from older M1-based MacBooks and who may not be convinced by the performance boost that switching to M2-based equivalents would bring.
While a spring launch may sound vague, Gurman noted that the iPads and their accessories will likely arrive in March. The upgraded MacBook Air models could also arrive around March. This would make sense as Apple has been more likely to unveil new devices around that time of year, but as always, time will tell.