Apple has not released a new iPad since 2022 and several models are overdue for an update. The company has already announced new MacBooks this month, and fresh tablets are likely to come next. Let’s take a look at what we can expect from the new generation of iPads and what has been rumored so far.
2024 iPad Pro
Apple last updated the iPad Pro line in the fall of 2022. We saw new 11- and 12.9-inch tablets from the company, both of which adopted the M2 processor but otherwise remained mostly the same as the previous two generations. That leaves us hungry for big changes.
It’s about time that Apple’s iPad Pro switches to OLED displays. Samsung has been using OLED in its Galaxy Tab S series for years, and this technology would allow iPads to produce deeper blacks and more accurate colors, which is essential for photo and video creators. There have been rumors about OLED displays for Apple’s 2024 iPads since 2022, and these rumors have gained traction in recent months.
According to a report on Weibo, the upcoming MacBook Pro might be available in both glossy and matte screen versions. A matte OLED screen would be less reflective and more convenient to use in bright environments. However, it is expected that the matte version would cost more. To provide context, Apple currently sells a nano-texture version of its Studio Display, which costs $300 more than the standard glass model.
It is possible that the release of the Pro models may be delayed until later in April due to the OLED screen. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new software designed for the updated models, which is a variant of iPadOS 17.4, won’t be ready until the end of March or even sometime in April. Once the OS is completed, it needs to be sent off to the factories to be installed on the new hardware. This process could last a couple of weeks, which will probably take us deeper into next month. Gurman further explained that it is now more likely the iPads won’t launch until May, citing the ongoing software work as one potential issue behind the launch timeframe.
The Pro iPads are expected to benefit from the OLED display technology, as it could make the tablets thinner and lighter. OLED panels are thinner than the LED panels used in the current-gen Pros. Based on some mockups, the thickness of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro could be reduced from 6.5mm to as little as 5mm. Additionally, the screen size is expected to increase slightly to 13 inches. As for the 11-inch model, the display size would remain the same but the tablet itself could lose up to 0.8mm in thickness.
Apple should consider the needs of professional users who want to look their best during video calls. Currently, the TrueDepth camera on the iPad Pro is located on the side of the tablet, which results in unflattering off-center angles during video chats. To address this issue, Apple should relocate the camera to the center of the tablet’s long edge, just like they did with the standard iPad model. This overdue update is highly anticipated by many. Additionally, upgrading the user-facing camera to 4K video capture from the current 1080p would result in sharper video and improve the overall video call experience, particularly on platforms like Zoom.
Something else pros need? Ports. The iPad Pro’s single USB-C port just doesn’t cut it. Adding a second USB-C port would go a long way toward improving the peripheral story for the iPad Pro. There aren’t too many reports suggesting that more ports are on the way, though Bloomberg‘s Gurman believes we may see the addition of MagSafe charging. If added to the iPad, MagSafe would theoretically free up the USB-C port for connecting to peripherals while still allowing the iPad to charge. That would be a step in the right direction.
The current iPad Pros still don’t know what to do with all the power provided by the M2 processor, but we should expect Apple to upgrade the 2024 models to its M3 chip regardless. The only real question here is which apps will be able to put that M3 power to effective use.
Since the original iPad’s debut in 2010, Apple has touted the tablet’s 10 hours of battery life. Given the incredible power efficiency advancements of processors over the last 12 years, it’s a wonder that current iPads still ship with the same 10 hours of expected battery life. Apple should take a cue from its MacBooks and push iPad battery life forward significantly. The latest MacBook Airs have 18 hours of battery life and the MacBook Pro models reach beyond 20 hours. It shouldn’t be too much to ask the iPad Pro to last for at least 12, if not 15, hours per charge.
As always, Apple should give most specs a small bump across the board. The current iPad Pros ship with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Adjusting those to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 isn’t too big of an ask. The Pros include either 8 or 16GB of RAM depending on the storage. The base RAM should jump to 12GB. The tablets already offer up to 2TB of storage. Surely someone out there will want more. The latest in GPS and 5G wouldn’t hurt, either.
2024 iPad Air
It’s been two full years since Apple last gave the iPad Air a gust of change. Back then, Apple redesigned the Air to look more like the Pro line, improved the power and screen, and gave it better peripherals. What’s on deck for 2024? Probably not a whole lot.
The biggest change we’re looking for here is an additional model. The Air probably won’t get an OLED display, but it will likely come in both 10.9- and 12.9-inch sizes. Similar to the way the iPhone 15 Plus provides a more affordable big-screen option to the 15 Pro Max, a 12.9-inch iPad Air would give iPad buyers who want or need a larger screen a more affordable way to get one. What’s not clear is what screen tech (LCD or mini-LED) Apple may use here.
A processor jump certainly makes sense. The current iPad Air relies on the M1 chip. It’ll likely move to the M2 chip, giving the Pro line a chance to stand apart with the heftier M3. A bump in the base storage from 64GB to 128GB would also make sense, as well as a jump in maximum storage from 256GB to at least 512GB.
Like the Pro, the Air’s front camera is mounted on the side edge, making video chats awkward when the tablet is attached to a keyboard. Pushing the camera to the center of the long edge would allow for properly framed FaceTime calls and bring the Air in line with the Pro and standard models. The same jump from 1080p to 4K resolution would be ideal. Whether or not Apple chooses to update the radios from Wi-Fi 6 to 6E or 7 and from Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3 or 5.4 is questionable.
It would be a shock if Apple didn’t also update the color selection. The Air stands as the most colorful lot of iPads available. Given the balance of features, performance, and price, we often recommend the iPad Air to students.
It’s possible the iPad Air will reach retail ahead of the iPad Pro. A fresh report claims the Air tablets are already shipping from China to overseas destinations for sale ahead of the announcement.
2024 Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
Apple sells three Pencils right now. The most recent USB-C model reached the market in October 2023. The 2nd Gen Pencil has been around since 2021 and could use a refresh. The same is true of the Magic Keyboard, the company’s heavy and pricey keyboard accessory for the Air and Pro.
Reports suggest that Apple is working on a third-generation Pencil that would be compatible only with the new iPad Pro tablets. The big difference would be tips that can be switched magnetically. All three of the current Apple Pencil models have screw-on tips. It’s hardly onerous to change them, but artists looking to swap out tips in the middle of creating might prefer a faster method. There’s no word what other new features might be written into a sharpened Apple Pencil.
As for the Magic Keyboard, Apple is revising it to match the new iPad Pro line. Reports say the new design may feature aluminum panels as well as a larger trackpad to make the iPad act more like a laptop. If there’s anything we truly want from the next-generation Magic Keyboard, it’s less bulk and less weight. When added to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the keyboard combo weighs more than a 13-inch MacBook Air.
What About the Standard iPad and iPad mini?
Apple gave the entry-level iPad a makeover in the fall of 2022. It saw a big redesign, gaining a new screen, a new USB-C port, and even a properly centered FaceTime camera. Of all the iPads in Apple’s stable, this model is the least likely to enjoy a glow-up. It probably won’t be updated until the fall months, which is when Apple has been apt to renew it the last few years. If and when that happens, expect the basic design to remain unchanged with modest spec bumps across the board.
The iPad mini, on the other hand, is ripe for an overhaul. Apple still sells the iPad mini it released in 2021, which looks a lot like the iPad Air. The smallest iPad is the most portable. It’s compact enough to fit into a purse or good-sized coat pocket. Paired with an Apple Pencil, it’s an excellent device to have with you for taking notes. While it would be great to see an entirely new design for the mini, rumors about a refresh for this form factor are few and far between.
Vaunted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the basic form factor will remain largely the same. The biggest difference compared with the 2021 model will be an upgraded processor and upgraded RAM. It’ll jump from the A15 Bionic to the A16 Bionic, and from LPDDR4x RAM to LPDDR5x RAM, which is faster. The tablet may see a base storage jump from 64GB to 128GB and the maximum storage move from 256GB to 512GB.
An improved screen seems the least Apple can do, as well as spec bumps to the radios and other internal components.
What to Expect: Higher Prices
Apple won’t be giving these upgrades away. The Pro models, in particular, are expected to see significant price jumps due mostly to the switch to OLED panels. (Samsung, notably, keeps its OLED-equipped Galaxy Tab S prices in line with Apple’s iPad Pros.) Some are predicting price jumps from $799 for the 11-inch model to as much as $1,500, but that seems out of line. A more modest increase of $160, suggested by DigiTimes, makes more sense considering the competition.
Timing Is Everything
When will the new iPads arrive? Well, who’s to say. Bloomberg’s Gurman repeatedly suggested March would be the mostly likely timeframe. He later reported that the date had been pushed to April due to continued development work. Now, it seems more likely that we won’t see the new iPads until May.
Want to know more about the latest about iPads? Keep your attention focused on PCMag for in-depth coverage of any new slates from Apple as they are announced.
