Apple has scheduled an event under the tagline “Let Loose” on Tuesday, May 7, expected to serve as a launchpad for the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models.
The presentation will kick off at 7am Pacific Time / 10 am Eastern Time, according to the announcement on the Apple Events page at apple.com/apple-events.
There’s little doubt as to what this event is about. “Pencil us in for May 7,” Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted on X. The invitation on the Apple Events page includes an animation of an artistic Apple logo morphing into a hand handling an Apple Pencil.
The event will be in the online format that Apple established in the pandemic, where the entire keynote is pre-recorded and broadcast online through its website, TV app and official YouTube channel. It doesn’t seem there will be in-person attendance like with its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
What to expect from the “Let Loose” Apple event
The rumor mill expects new iPad and Apple Pencil hardware to arrive on May 7, starting with the first iPad Pros equipped with OLED panels, MagSafe wireless charging and a thinner appearance. There may even be an optional matte display option.
The iPad Air should see a refresh, too, and bring a new size with a 12.9-inch screen that should feature mini-LED backlighting like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Pencil us in for May 7! ✏️ #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/1tvyB7h450
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 23, 2024
Both the new iPad Pro and iPad Air are expected to use a landscape FaceTime camera as featured on the tenth-generation iPad. The upcoming iPad Pros should run the latest M3 chip, while the iPad Air refresh will bring last year’s M2 chip.
On top of that, Apple is said to roll out an overhauled Magic Keyboard attachment with an aluminum enclosure and a bigger trackpad for a laptop-like feel.
Mark Gurman got it wrong
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is one of the most reliable Apple reporters. but he was wrong about the new iPads and Apple Pencil not warrantying a dedicated event.
New Mac, iPad, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard updates are coming — but don’t expect a launch event. https://t.co/nLZvgiQs8p
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) March 3, 2024
“New Mac, iPad, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard updates are coming—but don’t expect a launch event,” he wrote on his X in March.