Apple’s spring hardware refreshes could include M3 MacBook Air laptops, iPad Air tablets with 11 and 13-inch screens and iPad Pros equipped with OLED displays.
The rumor mill is adamant that the next iPad Air will come in two screen sizes, 10.9 inches and 12.9 inches (matching the biggest iPad Pro display). As for the iPad Pro, the next update is expected to bring OLED panels superior to LCD technology.
As for the MacBook Air, Apple’s most popular laptop, it’s expected to get the latest M3 chips which debuted in the MacBook Pro and iMac last October.
What’s next for the MacBook Air, iPad Pro and iPad Air?
Purported details about these alleged launches (some known from before) were published in the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg.
He claims the new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air will arrive sometime in March or April before Apple shifts its attention to this year’s WWDC in June.
MacBook Air: Â Major graphics boost via M3 ray tracing
Last refreshed in June 2023 with a 15-inch display size, the MacBook Air is up for a major graphics upgrade in the form of the Apple M3 chip. It looks like both 13 and 15-inch models will get the M3 and be released simultaneously.
While these laptops will certainly get the M3’s base version, it’s nevertheless a significant upgrade given these chips accelerate ray tracing graphics in hardware.
iPad Pro: An OLED rollout years in the making
The next iPad refresh will bring OLED, enabling perks like higher resolutions, deeper blacks and better contrast. Apple first began using OLEDs for the Apple Watch display, expanding later to the iPhone X in 2018 and the second-generation iPhone SE. This is the year OLED panels should come to the iPad Pro.
The next iPad Prop models should run the latest M3 chip and use MagSafe charging. Also, Apple should redesign its Magic Keyboard with a bigger trackpad and a laptop-like top case made from aluminum. The current model is fantastic but doesn’t hold up well over a few years, or at least that has been my experience.
Both 11 and 12.9-inch versions are expected to include OLED technology. OLED panels are more expensive than their LCD counterparts, meaning these tablets could easily cost more than today’s LCD-based iPad Pro. Apple will likely keep both LCD and OLED models in the lineup for pricing flexibility.
iPad Air: A new display size to match the biggest iPad Pro
The fifth generation iPad Air was released in March 2023 and was equipped with Apple’s M1 chip. A sixth-generation update is rumored to swap the M1 for the faster M2 processor and be available in 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch display sizes.
The rear camera bump is said to be tweaked so that the camera module and flash are housed in a protruding module like on iPhones. According to purported schematics published by 91Mobiles, the overall design should remain unchanged.
Are you looking forward to these launches?
All new iPad Pro, iPad Air and MacBook Air models are expected to include faster, more reliable networking via Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. These computers and tablets will mark new launches for Apple after its Vision Pro arrives on February 2.
With three device families to discuss—and especially considering the long-expected addition of OLED technology to the iPad Pro lineup— there will almost certainly be a pre-taped keynote to maximize press exposure. Like every year, we also expect new spring-themed Apple Watch bands and, possibly, other accessories.