Insider information from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman hints at Apple's strategy to unveil iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air models this spring, with a potential launch window in March or April.
Gurman suggests that after this release, the tech world's focus will shift to Apple's annual developers conference, WWDC, set for June.
Here, we present speculations and anticipations surrounding these upcoming devices.
Intrigues of the iPad Air
The iPad Air is predicted to come in two variants, boasting 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch displays.
The new iPad Air is expected to have new features, including a faster chip called the M2 from Apple, a new camera on the back, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. No substantial modifications to the external design are anticipated.
Probing the iPad Pro
The forthcoming 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are widely speculated to introduce the integration of OLED displays into the iPad series.
OLED technology assures an elevation in brightness, enhanced contrast ratio, reduced power consumption, and other advantages compared to current models sporting LCD panels.
Apple has previously embraced OLED displays in its latest iPhone and Apple Watch variants, excluding the more budget-friendly iPhone SE.
Due to this shift to OLED, the next iPad Pro releases are expected to carry a higher price tag.
iPad Pro models introduced in 2017 and onwards support ProMotion, easing a variable refresh rate ranging from 24Hz to 120Hz.
The transition to OLED could possibly push the refresh rate even lower, perhaps to 10Hz or below, maintaining battery life.
Moreover, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models can reach an impressively low 1Hz in an always-on display mode.
Additional anticipated or highly likely features for the iPad Pro models include the use of Apple's latest M3 chip for enhanced performance, the inclusion of MagSafe wireless charging, and a revamped Magic Keyboard.
The Magic Keyboard features an expanded trackpad and an aluminium top casing. Similar to the iPad Air, alterations to the rear camera bump are also within the realm of possibility for the iPad Pro.
The current iPad Pro models, equipped with the M2 chip, made their debut in October 2022.
MacBook Air's Next Chapter
Gurman's insights hint at Apple's purpose to unveil multiple MacBook Airs equipped with the M3 chip this spring, suggesting a simultaneous release of the next 13-inch and 15-inch models, a difference from past separate launches.
With the introduction of the M3 chip, the coming MacBook Air models are set to incorporate hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, upgrading graphics rendering in games with improved accuracy in lighting, reflections, and shadows.
Apple had previously integrated the M3 chip into the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and 24-inch iMac in the preceding year.
No major aesthetic alterations are expected for the MacBook Air in the upcoming release, but it is anticipated to join other Macs in supporting Wi-Fi 6E.
The 13-inch MacBook Air received its last update in July 2022, while the inaugural 15-inch MacBook Air was unveiled in June 2023.
