iPad Air will add 12.9 inches, and iPad Mini will be updated again
At a recent financial conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that no new iPad models would be launched before the end of this year, leading to market speculations about Apple’s forthcoming iPad product launch plans. According to recent reports by Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst, Apple is planning to update existing iPad models in 2024, while also introducing entirely new designs. However, the overall shipment volume may still not surpass the performance seen in 2022.
Analysts predict that Apple will refresh its existing iPad models in 2024, with the iPad Air expected to feature a new 12.9-inch model and the iPad mini slated for another update.
Ming-Chi Kuo notes that the demand for iPad replacements has significantly decreased due to the easing of the pandemic and the consequent reduction in remote work and online learning needs. Therefore, even though Apple plans to update several iPad models next year, it may still struggle to attract the consumer market for device upgrades. As a result, Kuo forecasts that the total iPad shipments in 2024 will be between 52 and 54 million units, compared to about 50 million in 2023 and approximately 63 million in 2022.
Regarding model updates, Kuo anticipates that Apple will start mass-producing the new iPad Air in the first quarter of 2024. This will include an update to the existing 10.9-inch version and the addition of a new 12.9-inch model. As it will use the same oxide backplane technology as the mini-LED display iPad Pro, the new models are expected to offer superior display quality compared to the current 10.9-inch version.
For the iPad Pro models, Apple plans to replace the current mini-LED displays with OLED specifications and incorporate the M3 processor. There will also be changes to the exterior design, with mass production expected between the end of the first quarter and the second quarter of 2024. Furthermore, with the planned introduction of a 12.9-inch model in the iPad Air lineup, the pricing of the new iPad Pro series is expected to increase, potentially accelerating the clearance of existing iPad Pro models.
The entry-level iPad (11th generation) is expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2024, while the next update for the iPad mini is also projected to be delayed until the latter half of 2024.
