Apple planning to refresh iPads & Macs next year; line-up may house latest M3 chip
Apple is rumoured to unveil a range of refreshed iPad and MacBook Air models in the early months of 2024,
The update regarding the new line-up comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
iPad Line-Up Expansion
Apple is set to introduce a larger iPad Air, expanding the line-up to include a 12.9-inch model alongside the existing 10.9-inch variant. This marks a notable shift for the iPad Air, aligning it more closely with the iPad Pro's size options.
Gurman suggests that the move is strategic, providing customers with more choices at different price points, akin to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro series.
On the iPad Pro front, the traditional 11-inch and 13-inch models are in line for a revamp, with a departure from miniLED to OLED displays.
Further, the Pro models are expected to receive a performance boost with the use of the M3 chip, originally introduced with the MacBook Pro in October.
Accompanying these iPad developments are new Magic accessories, including an updated Apple Pencil and two Magic Keyboards.
The latter, constructed from aluminium, promises to deliver a laptop-like experience, expanding the functionality of the iPad Pro.
MacBook Air Gets A Boost
While the MacBook Air won't undergo a design overhaul, Gurman suggests a significant hardware refresh. Both the 13-inch and the recently introduced 15-inch MacBook Air models are poised to receive the M3 chip, providing a performance boost.
This upgrade aligns with Apple's strategy to refresh its line-up and rekindle demand.
Release Timeline & Strategic Moves
The new iPad models and MacBook Air are expected to hit shelves in March, coinciding with the release of iPadOS 17.4 and macOS 14.3 updates.
Gurman notes that Apple aims to counter recent declines in iPad
