An odd quirk of manufacturing delays and scheduling has meant Apple has not up to date any iPad mannequin this calendar yr, for the primary time ever.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he expects the corporate will aggressively catch up in 2024, updating all the lineup with new fashions of iPad Air together with a bigger 12.9-inch dimension possibility, iPad Professional with OLED shows, updates to iPad mini and a brand new technology of the most cost effective entry-level iPad.
Regardless of delivering updates to all the lineup, the analyst just isn’t notably optimistic about unit gross sales. Kuo presently anticipates complete iPad shipments of round 52-54 million items, a minor enhance of the estimated 50 million items shipped this yr, and nonetheless far beneath the 2022 pandemic peak of 63 million.
In calendar order, Kuo first expects the iPad Air lineup to be up to date within the first quarter of 2024. This contains an replace to the present 10.9-inch dimension, and a brand new 12.9-inch mannequin. The existence of a 12.9-inch dimension corroborates earlier provide chain rumors. Kuo says the iPad Air will nonetheless use LCD show panels, albeit upgraded with a brand new oxide backplane. Other than the brand new display dimension possibility, anticipate chip upgrades for higher efficiency.
Within the second quarter, the iPad Professional is on observe for a brand new technology launch. The brand new iPad Professional fashions will function a redesigned chassis, the most recent M3 chip, and an OLED show for the primary time in Apple pill. OLED must be a big improve over mini-LED, in each show high quality and energy consumption.
Within the second half of the yr (possible fall), Apple will then refresh the decrease finish of its pill lineup with new variations of iPad mini, and the bottom mannequin iPad (Eleventh-generation). The present most cost-effective iPad on sale, iPad (ninth technology), will lastly be discontinued earlier than the tip of 2024. That may full the Lighting port transition for the iPad lineup.
