It has been greater than 18 months since Apple Inc. last updated its iPad lineup, marking the longest gap in recent models since Steve Jobs first unveiled the product in 2010. The drought finally ends on May seventh.
Apple will alternately hold the presentation at 7 a.m. Pacific time, three hours sooner than usual. That means Tuesday's event will happen right inside business hours for European Apple fans and, perhaps more importantly, will probably be something people in Asia can watch before bed. Increasing sales in China is currently a key focus for the corporate.
It's also a critical moment for the iPad business. After a surge in sales through the pandemic, demand has fallen over the past two years. Sales of the iPad were particularly weak last quarter, after they fell 17% and missed analysts' estimates. Apple predicted that iPad sales will get better in the present period, betting that the brand new models will help win back consumers.
Unlike Apple's larger product launches – the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and the iPhone reveal in September – there will probably be no large in-person meeting at the corporate's headquarters in Cupertino, California. Instead, Apple is hosting smaller hands-on sessions in New York and London where members of the media can watch the video announcement and take a look at out the devices.
Here are the brand new products you may expect on the event – and what's more likely to come later:
The recent iPads:
- The star of the event will probably be a brand new iPad Pro with an updated design and sharper screen. It will probably be the primary iPad to feature an OLED display – organic light-emitting diodes – the technology utilized in the iPhone since 2017. In addition to improving image quality, OLEDs also enable thinner devices, and Apple is anticipated to slim down the Pro tablet accordingly. The recent iPads are expected to are available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes and can also feature Apple's first M4 processors. These chips will help advance artificial intelligence tasks, a part of a broader push into AI that Apple will detail in June.
- The iPad Air, Apple's mid-range tablet, may also receive an update on Tuesday. The big story here is that Apple will probably be adding a second, larger screen option for the primary time. The recent 12.9-inch version will match the dimensions of the iPad Pro, offering consumers a less expensive solution to purchase a large-screen tablet. The current 10.9-inch version will remain, and each models will likely be updated with the M2 chip that Apple first introduced within the MacBook Air in 2022.
Updated Accessories:
- It's no secret that the Apple Pencil will play a distinguished role at Tuesday's presentation: the corporate introduced the device within the invitation to the event. The redesigned pen will feature haptic feedback, a feature that permits users to feel a small vibration-like effect when triggering actions with the pen. Users may also likely have the option to press the stylus to perform certain tasks. The accessory was last updated in 2023, when Apple released a brand new low-end version. The recent one will probably be a substitute for the high-end model introduced in 2018.
- Apple may also unveil an updated Magic Keyboard, a tool that acts as an iPad case and features a keyboard and a small trackpad. The new edition is alleged to be more durable, use aluminum and make the iPad look more like a laptop. Users have complained that the present version can crack or crumble after several months of use.
Come later:
- Apple is working on a reduced-cost version of its tenth generation iPad. That model currently costs $449, but Apple will likely need to bring the value closer to the $329 ninth-generation model – a move that might allow the older version to be phased out. However, such a step shouldn’t be expected until the top of the 12 months on the earliest.
- The company can also be planning an updated iPad mini, which was previously revised in 2021. This recent model with a faster processor won’t be released on Tuesday either.
- New AI features could also be announced for the iPad Pro, but a proper unveiling of software features isn't expected until June. Then Apple will present iPadOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference.
- The company can also be near producing redesigned low-end AirPods, but these won't hit the market until the autumn – together with recent iPhones.
- Finally, Macs will not be expected to attend the event. Although the iPad Pro may feature the corporate's M4 chip – a component that's also coming to the Mac – recent computers won't launch until later in 2024.
For more stories like this, take a look at Bloomberg.com
©2024 Bloomberg LP
image credit : www.mercurynews.com