It’s mid-November 2023, and it needs to be clear to any iPad fan on the market that Apple gained’t replace any iPads in its lineup this 12 months. The iPad 11, iPad mini 7, and iPad Air 6 fashions gained’t launch till someday subsequent 12 months. That’s additionally when Apple will update the iPad Pro line with OLED panels and different design modifications.
It’d all begin with the iPad Air 6 refresh, which might launch early subsequent 12 months. Properly-known Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned in a brand new report that Apple has a shock for patrons, prepping a 12.9-inch iPad Air mannequin. This might be the primary of its sort, and a extra reasonably priced large-screen iPad than the upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Professional.
The analyst mentioned on Medium that the important thing iPad upgrades coming subsequent 12 months are the M3 processor and the OLED shows. Nevertheless, iPad shipments in 2024 possible gained’t attain 2022 figures. Kuo estimates gross sales to take a seat between 52 million and 54 million subsequent 12 months. Apple offered 63 million items final 12 months and can promote about 50 million iPads this 12 months.
All of it begins with the iPad Air
The 2024 iPad Air sequence (iPad Air 6) will embody two fashions, per Kuo. We’re taking a look at 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch sizes. The Sixth-gen iPad Air will reportedly hit manufacturing within the 12 months’s first quarter. A launch date isn’t talked about, nevertheless.
As for the 12.9-inch iPad Air 6, Kuo says the pill is an “all-new mannequin” relatively than a repurposed 12.9-inch iPad Professional. The pill doesn’t have a mini-LED display, but it surely options an oxide backplane similar to the mini-LED iPad Execs. The element ought to enhance show efficiency in comparison with the present iPad Air.
iPad Professional OLED
Apple will change the present Sixth-gen 12.9-inch iPad Professional and 4th-gen 11-inch iPad Professional with OLED variations. The brand new iPad Pros ought to hit manufacturing late within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months or within the second quarter.
The OLED panels will function tandem designs and LTPO backplanes. Apple used the latter within the iPhone 15 Execs. The OLED screens will function higher efficiency and extra environment friendly energy use than the present mini-LED screens. The complexity of those designs reportedly pressured Apple to push again mass manufacturing. Apple wished to fabricate the brand new iPad Execs in early 2024.
Kuo additionally says the brand new tablets will function an M3 processor and the “improved kind issue designs.” It’s unclear what the redesign will carry to the desk.
The insider additionally expects worth hikes for the iPad Execs. The iPad Air 6 could be responsible for that. The 12.9-inch mannequin needs to be dearer than the ten.9-inch model. It’s unclear what kind of processor bump the iPad Airs will get. The M3 could be a terrific shock, however the M2 looks as if the extra possible selection for the mid-range pill.
Kuo warns that the bigger iPad Air, mixed with dearer OLED iPad Professional fashions will cut back shipments. He expects Apple to promote between 6 million and eight million iPad Professional OLED items.
iPad mini 7 and iPad 11
Kuo additionally addressed the cheaper iPads that Apple will unveil subsequent 12 months. In keeping with him, the iPad mini 7 was additionally alleged to hit manufacturing within the first quarter of 2024. However Apple will begin manufacturing it within the second half of subsequent 12 months.
The iPad mini 7 is the most exciting of the bunch for me as a result of its measurement. It’s the pill I’ve been ready for from Apple because the starting of this 12 months.
The iPad 11 may even hit mass manufacturing within the second half of 2024. The analyst doesn’t go over the iPad 11 upgrades, however he says that the iPad 9 might be discontinued earlier than the tip of 2024. It’s unclear if the iPad 10 will stay in Apple’s stock at a cheaper price level as soon as the iPad 11 arrives.
