What’s next for Apple’s hardware products? After 2023 was the first year since 2010 in which there was not a single new iPad, things should get better in the spring of next year. This is reported by the usually well-informed Bloomberg author Mark Gurman. According to his report from Wednesday evening up to four new tablets and new MacBook Air models on Apple’s note.
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More choice with the Air plus OLED with the Pro
For the first time, there will be two versions of the iPad. In addition to the 10.9-inch version that we already know, Apple is supposedly introducing a 12.9-inch version in order to open up new customer groups for whom the large iPad Pro is too expensive. Gurman already knows four internal code numbers for the devices (each with WiFi or 5G) – J507, J508, J537 and J538. Apple is improving the internal workings of the devices. The Air from 2022 is currently running with the M1 SoC – whether it will switch to the M3 straight away remains to be seen. Alternatively, Apple could simply switch to the M2.
Parallel to the Air, two completely new iPad Pro models will also be presented in the spring. These should be “approximately” 11 and 13 inches and will be the first time Apple has ever had a larger OLED screen. The company has so far only installed the organic light-emitting diodes in the iPhone and the Apple Watch; Mac and iPad have so far had to remain outside. Apple’s quality standards were so high that it took a long time for the company to have the technology to the point where it also fits into the iPad – later it could also end up in MacBooks. Internally, the new iPad Pro models probably run an M3 SoC in 3 nm production, believes Gurman.
MacBook Air with M3
The iPad mini and standard iPad are also expected to get an update in 2024, but only “later this year”. Gurman predicts blood pressure measurement will be available for the first time on the Apple Watch in the fall, but this will only relate to changes in a baseline, not to the direct reading of values.
Gurman continues to report that the MacBook Air M3 will also be available in March 2024. Apparently Apple will update both 13- and 15-inch variants. That would make sense, as the update cycles are currently spread out, which makes it difficult for users to understand. But the design probably won’t change. CPU performance could increase by around 20 percent and GPU performance by 15 percent.
(bsc)