In 2023, Apple did not make any updates to the iPad lineup, and it has been even longer because the iPad Air was refreshed. Apple final unveiled a brand new iPad Air in March 2022, so we’re on the two-year mark and it is overdue for an replace. Fortunately, rumors counsel that we’ll get new iPads as quickly as March, and there are thrilling adjustments in retailer for the Air lineup.
On this information, we have rounded up all the rumors concerning the new iPad Air fashions to this point.
Measurement and Design
Apple is planning for an additional 10.9-inch iPad Air that is comparable in design to the present model, however for the primary time, we’re anticipating two iPad Air fashions relatively than one. As with the iPad Professional lineup, Apple will launch the iPad Air in two sizes.
The usual 10.9-inch mannequin would be the smaller dimension, and on the bigger finish, Apple is engaged on a 12.9-inch model. At 12.9 inches, the bigger iPad Air would be the identical dimension as the present 12.9-inch iPad Professional.
There aren’t rumors of design adjustments, so we will anticipate each fashions to have the identical edge-to-edge show with slim bezels and an aluminum chassis with flat, rounded edges that wrap across the display. The iPad Air has at all times been a bit thicker than the iPad Professional with thicker bezels, and that is going to proceed.
Rumors counsel that the upcoming iPad Professional fashions that can even be refreshed in March will have thinner frames because of the swap over to OLED show know-how. With OLED, the brand new larger-screened iPad Professional shall be over 1mm thinner, whereas the 11-inch mannequin shall be virtually 1mm thinner.
The adjustments to iPad Professional thickness ought to be fairly noticeable and the design will distinguish the iPad Professional from the iPad Air, although Apple may have two iPads which are roughly the identical dimension.
We have additionally seen leaked renders of the 12.9-inch iPad Air, which counsel that the brand new fashions might have a redesigned rear digital camera with a protruding pill-shaped digital camera bump just like the design that we’re anticipating for the iPhone 16 digital camera.
Based mostly on rumors, we can’t see design adjustments, however Apple will probably introduce new coloration choices. The iPad Air is available in a variety of pastel colours proper now, and Apple might introduce a number of new shades.
M3 Chip
Because the M1 chip got here out, Apple has used M-series chips within the iPad Air and iPad Professional fashions. This time round, we’re anticipating Apple to convey both the M2 chip or the M3 chip to the iPad Air.
The M2 chip is the prior-generation M-series chip that first got here out in 2022, and it is virtually two years previous. The argument for the M2 is that it could give Apple a technique to additional distinguish the iPad Air from the iPad Professional, plus it could hold prices down. The three-nanometer M3 chips are costlier to provide than the M2.
If Apple opts for the M2, it’s going to convey pace and energy effectivity enhancements, however it could be a a lot smaller bump than the M3 chip. It’s not fully clear which chip Apple will use.
The M3 chip got here out final yr, and it is the primary chip constructed utilizing next-generation 3-nanometer structure. It has an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, and it helps hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for video games with higher graphics.
Apple’s M3 Macs are capable of play console-level video games like Demise Stranding and Resident Evil, so we will anticipate the identical know-how for the iPad Air if it finally ends up with the M3 chip.
The M3 presents 2.5x higher GPU speeds than the M1 within the iPad Air with half the ability. As for the CPU, the M3 is as much as 30 % sooner than the M1 efficiency cores and as much as 50 % sooner than the M1 effectivity cores.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Because the present iPad Air is 2 years previous, it is missing a few of the basic know-how enhancements that Apple has delivered to different units.
Apple has been updating its merchandise with Bluetooth 5.3, so we will anticipate that to return to the iPad Air. Bluetooth 5.3 brings extra dependable connectivity with Bluetooth equipment in addition to higher energy effectivity for longer battery life.
Wi-Fi 6E can also be anticipated, and it’ll let iPad Air fashions hook up with sooner 6GHz Wi-Fi networks.
iPad Air vs. iPad Professional
Show know-how shall be one of many foremost distinguishing elements between the iPad Air and the iPad Professional. Whereas the iPad Professional fashions may have an OLED show, the iPad Air fashions will proceed to make use of extra reasonably priced LCD show know-how.
Apple would not use Face ID on the iPad Air and as a substitute the present mannequin has a Contact ID energy button, which Apple could keep as a way to hold the premium Face ID characteristic unique to the iPad Professional.
We’re not anticipating main variations in efficiency as each fashions rumored to make use of the M3 chip, however the iPad Professional could have extra reminiscence for the OLED show. Rear digital camera know-how can even be a differentiator as a result of the iPad Professional has a twin digital camera setup with Huge and Extremely Huge lenses, whereas the iPad Air has only a single-lens Huge digital camera.
Pricing
The present 11-inch iPad Air is priced beginning at $599, and the brand new mannequin is more likely to have the identical beginning value.
As for the 12.9-inch model, it could take advantage of sense to cost it at $200 over the 11-inch mannequin, so it might begin at $799. Previous to when the 12.9-inch iPad Professional was up to date with mini-LED, there was a $200 value distinction between the 2 sizes.
Apple’s purpose with the iPad Air is to supply clients extra choices at a wider vary of value factors. For across the value of the 11-inch iPad Professional, clients will as a substitute have the ability to decide for a bigger 12.9-inch iPad Air.
Launch Date
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has mentioned a number of instances that new iPad fashions will come within the March/April timeframe, and the most recent information suggests a launch towards the finish of March.
Apple typically holds a spring occasion proper round March, so we could possibly be listening to information a few attainable occasion within the subsequent week or two.
