Last year, Apple did something it hadn't done since 2010. Throughout 2023, not a single iPad tablet was released by Apple. Last year marked the first time since Apple unveiled the first-generation iPad tablet in 2010 that the tech giant failed to release a new iPad model. In September, TF International's reliable Apple analyst Mig-Chi Kuo said the company had no new iPad models planned for release in 2023. As Kuo said at the time, “it's “Unlikely new iPad models will be available before the end of the year.” And as usual, he was right.
Given that Apple hasn't released any new iPads in 2023, we would expect several new tablets for 2024, and in November, Kuo released a roadmap with his expectations for this year. He expects Apple to shake up the iPad Air lineup by offering two variants of the device. One will feature a 10.9-inch display and the other will feature a larger 12.9-inch display. Both models could be powered by the M2 chip; Currently, the iPad Air (2022) is equipped with the M1 chip. The two new iPad Air tablets will be manufactured in the current quarter, Kuo said.
Current premium iPad Pro released in 2022
Later in the first or second quarter, Apple will begin mass production of two updated iPad Pro models. The high-end 11- and 13-inch tablets will feature an OLED panel for the first time in iPad history, offer an improved form factor and feature a powerful 3nm M3 chip.
Kuo says the iPad Pro's OLED displays will use the same LTPO backplane used on the
iPhone 15 Pro handsets, allowing the ProMotion display to drop from a 120Hz refresh rate to 1Hz when there is has static content on the screen. This allows the tablet to save battery power by not using the 120Hz refresh rate when it is not needed.
Apple is looking to more clearly differentiate the iPad Air and iPad Pro ranges this year and could notably increase the price of the new iPad Pro models in order to maintain a price gap between the two different tablet ranges. According to Kuo, there will nevertheless be some cannibalization by the new 12.9-inch iPad Air. As for the next iteration of the iPad mini, Kuo expects mass production to begin in the second half of 2024. At the same time, Apple will begin manufacturing the base 11th generation iPad.
If Kuo is right, Apple will be busy making new iPads throughout this year, making up for a dismal 2023. While demand for the iPad took off during the pandemic as businesspeople and students were turning to tablets for work and play, the end of the year pandemic led to a drop in demand for these devices. Apple hopes that by refreshing the lineup it can generate business from those who haven't upgraded their iPad in years.
Moreover, for the record, the last iPad released by Apple was the 10th generation iPad released on October 26, 2022.
