Apple is preparing to unveil its latest devices for the spring, including new versions of the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air. The tech giant is expected to announce the new products as early as March or April, ahead of its annual developers conference WWDC in June. Here are some of the features and specs that are rumored or likely to be included in the new iPad and MacBook models.
The iPad Air is Apple’s mid-range tablet that offers a balance between power and affordability. The current fifth-generation iPad Air was launched in March 2022, featuring the M1 chip, 5G connectivity, and a 10.9-inch display. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to release two new iPad Air models in the spring, with 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch display sizes. This would be the first time that the iPad Air comes in a larger size, matching the iPad Pro.
The new iPad Air models are also expected to have the M2 chip, which would provide faster performance and better battery life. The M2 chip is already used in the latest iPad mini, which was released in September 2022. The new iPad Air models may also feature a redesigned rear camera bump, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Bluetooth 5.3. However, the overall design of the iPad Air is not expected to change much, and it will likely retain the Touch ID sensor in the power button.
iPad Pro: OLED Display and MagSafe Charging
The iPad Pro is Apple’s most advanced and expensive tablet, designed for professionals and creative users. The current iPad Pro models were released in October 2022, featuring the M2 chip, a mini-LED display, and a Thunderbolt port. The next iPad Pro models are widely expected to be the first iPads to have OLED displays, which would offer improved brightness, contrast, and color accuracy compared to the LCD panels used in the current models. OLED displays are already used in the latest iPhone and Apple Watch models, except for the iPhone SE.
The OLED display would also enable the next iPad Pro models to have a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, thanks to the ProMotion technology. This would allow the iPad Pro to adjust the refresh rate depending on the content, saving battery life and enhancing the viewing experience. The current iPad Pro models have a variable refresh rate from 24Hz to 120Hz. The OLED display would also make the next iPad Pro models thinner and lighter, but also more expensive.
The next iPad Pro models are also likely to have the M3 chip, which is Apple’s latest processor for its Mac and iPad devices. The M3 chip offers faster performance and graphics, as well as hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for gaming and 3D rendering. The M3 chip is already used in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and the 24-inch iMac, which were released in 2023.
Other rumored or possible features for the next iPad Pro models include MagSafe wireless charging, which would allow the iPad Pro to attach magnetically to a wireless charger or accessories. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models already support MagSafe charging and accessories. The next iPad Pro models may also have a redesigned Magic Keyboard, with a larger trackpad and an aluminum top casing. The current Magic Keyboard has a plastic top casing and a relatively small trackpad. The next iPad Pro models may also have a less prominent camera bump on the back, similar to the iPhone 13 models.
The next iPad Pro models are expected to come in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, the same as the current models. However, some reports have suggested that Apple may introduce a 14-inch iPad Pro model in the future, which would be the largest iPad ever.
MacBook Air: M3 Chip and Wi-Fi 6E Support
The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular and affordable laptop, offering a thin and light design and long battery life. The current 13-inch MacBook Air was launched in July 2022, featuring the M1 chip, a fanless design, and a 13.3-inch Retina display. The first-ever 15-inch MacBook Air was launched in June 2023, featuring the same M1 chip, a larger 15.4-inch Retina display, and a fan.
According to Gurman, Apple plans to release multiple MacBook Air models with the M3 chip in the spring, so it sounds like the 13-inch and 15-inch models will be updated simultaneously. The M3 chip would offer faster performance and graphics, as well as hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading. The M3 chip would also enable the MacBook Air to run more apps natively, without the need for emulation or translation.
The next MacBook Air models are not expected to have any major design changes, but they will likely support Wi-Fi 6E, which is the latest standard for wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi 6E offers faster speeds, lower latency, and less interference than Wi-Fi 6, which is supported by the current MacBook Air models. Wi-Fi 6E also supports 6GHz bands, which are less crowded than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands used by Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6E is already supported by the latest iPad Pro, iPhone 15 Pro models, and most new Macs.
The next MacBook Air models may also support Bluetooth 5.3, which is the latest version of the wireless technology. Bluetooth 5.3 offers improved security, reliability, and power efficiency, as well as new features such as direction finding and broadcast audio. Bluetooth 5.3 is already supported by the latest iPad Pro, iPhone 15 Pro models, and most new Macs.
The next MacBook Air models are expected to come in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the same as the current models. However, some reports have suggested that Apple may introduce a 14-inch MacBook Air model in the future, which would be similar to the 14-inch MacBook Pro model.
Apple is expected to launch its new iPad and MacBook models in the spring of 2024, possibly in March or April. The new devices will offer improved performance, displays, and connectivity, as well as some new features and design changes. The new devices will also set the stage for Apple’s WWDC in June, where the company will unveil its latest software updates and innovations.