Apple hasn’t launched any new iPads for fairly a while, because the final ones – the M2 iPad Professional and the iPad 10 – have been launched in October final yr. Rumors have been conflicting about when Apple will announce new iPads and which fashions the corporate plans to replace first. Now 9to5Mac has discovered from sources that there are a number of new iPads on monitor for the approaching months, together with iPad mini 7 and two new iPad Air fashions.
iPad mini 7 and eleventh era iPad
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in December 2022 that Apple has been engaged on a brand new iPad mini anticipated to be launched in late 2023 or early 2024. The data was later corroborated by leaker ShrimpApplePro. 9to5Mac’s sources revealed that Apple nonetheless has plans to introduce the iPad mini 7 quickly, though the precise timing remains to be unclear.
Most probably the brand new iPad mini will hold the identical design as the present era, however this time with a sooner chip. For context, the present iPad mini 6 was launched in September 2021 and remains to be powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the identical because the iPhone 13.
Apple has additionally been operating assessments with an up to date model of the entry-level iPad, codenamed J126b. The tenth era iPad was launched final yr with an identical design to the iPad Air and USB-C port, however with the A14 Bionic chip inside. It’s additionally possible that the brand new entry-level iPad will solely get spec upgrades in comparison with the present mannequin.
New iPad Air and M3 iPad Professional
In relation to the iPad Air, Apple might have extra formidable plans for its mid-range pill. That’s as a result of 9to5Mac’s sources have instructed us that the corporate has been experimenting with two new variations of the iPad Air. Codenamed J507 and J508 (additionally for Wi-Fi and mobile variations), iPad Air 6 is prone to change iPad Air 5 with a brand new chip.
These fashions are in step with what Bloomberg reported again in June. However Apple has additionally been engaged on different iPads recognized as J537 and J538 which can be primarily based on the iPad Air. As an example, the one iPad that at present has multiple model is the iPad Professional, because it is available in 11 and 12.9 inches, so there are two fashions for every model.
Particulars are imprecise at this level, however this means that Apple could also be contemplating introducing a bigger model of the iPad Air, or a dearer mannequin with higher specs. In fact, Apple’s plans might change and this second model of the brand new iPad Air might by no means see the sunshine of day.
Unsurprisingly, there’s additionally a brand new era iPad Professional with an M3 chip on the best way. These are recognized as J717 and J718 for the 11-inch fashions and J720 and J721 for the larger-sized fashions.
A redesigned Magic Keyboard
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported final month that Apple has been growing a brand new Magic Keyboard for the iPad that makes it look extra like a laptop computer. The construction could be fabricated from aluminum as a substitute of plastic, and the trackpad could be bigger.
9to5Mac’s sources corroborate this report. The brand new Magic Keyboard for the iPad is recognized as R219 (the present model is codenamed R1x) and is supplied with new sensors, together with an accelerometer. It’s anticipated to be unveiled alongside the brand new iPad Professional.
In relation to the brand new iPads, they’re all on monitor to be launched with a future model of iPadOS 17, which suggests they need to be introduced between now and WWDC 2024 in June.
