by Tim Hardwick
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26.
Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an official launch date. Instead, Apple could announce pre-order availability, with shipping dates to follow.
Separately, Chinese website IT Home claimed that March 26 will see Apple release new iPads. However, the outlet appears to have interpreted this as a launch date based on when several Amazon listings for third-party protective cases for the new iPads go live, rather than specific information from a trusted source.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release new iPad Pro and iPad Air models around the end of March or in April. That said, the well-connected reporter now seems to be leaning more towards the possibility of an April release.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Writing in the latest subscriber edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said he wanted to clear up confusion about when he believed Apple would release new iPads (specifically new iPad Pro models).
Gurman reiterated that a new variant of iPadOS 17.4 designed for the updatedmodelswon't be complete until the end of March or even sometime in April. "Once the OS is finished, Apple needs to send it off to the factories to be installed on the new hardware. That process could lasta couple weeks, probably taking us deeper into next month," he wrote.
Two new iPad Pro models are expected to feature a new M3 chip, OLED displays, a thinner enclosure, a landscape-oriented front camera, a redesigned camera bump, and possibly MagSafe wireless charging.
The two new iPad Air models are expected to feature Apple's M2 chip and a landscape-oriented front camera, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model.
Other announcements expected in the March-April window include a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with a larger trackpad, and a new Apple Pencil.
Gurman previously ruled out an Apple Event for the new iPads. Instead, he believes they will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, like the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were earlier this month.
Related Roundups: iPad Pro, iPad Air
Tags: Instant Digital, Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Don't Buy), 12.9" iPad Pro (Don't Buy), iPad Air (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad
[ 63 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
Aiii83
5 days ago at 04:14 am
Was hoping for this week, but at least I can save myself the trouble of refreshing Newsroom twenty times a day. Looking forward to going back to 11-inch from 12.9 now that it finally gets the proper screen, I've used the (M1) 12.9-inch with pleasure, but I never fully got used to the size. Prefer the smaller form factor.
xmarcuswildx
5 days ago at 04:24 am
Still holding out hope iPad mini is coming with these…
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sc00ba
5 days ago at 04:26 am
"We've pushed the price up by $300 because we're such an altruistic company that believes in equal human rights and we think you're gonna love it!"
?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlmightyKang
5 days ago at 04:24 am
Gonna sell my M2 iPad Pro this weekend before it devalues.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
David1964
5 days ago at 09:52 am
Yeah I keep hearing that. I don’t see the reason to release an iPad mini along side an iPhone with a 7” screen.
There is a big difference between a 7” iPhone and 8.3” of the iPad mini though because of the aspect ratio.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
entropys
5 days ago at 04:38 am
Darn it, hoping it was this week.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Popular Stories
Seven Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17
Tuesday March 19, 2024 5:20 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
Read Full Article • 100 comments
Apple Releases iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Bug Fixes and Security Improvements
Thursday March 21, 2024 10:06 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems. The new software comes a couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 with app changes in the European Union, new emoji, and more. iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software...
Read Full Article • 143 comments
iPhone 16 to Adopt Ultra-Thin Bezel Technology to Maximize Display
Wednesday March 20, 2024 2:22 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple plans to maximize the display size on the upcoming iPhone 16 series by using a new ultra-thin bezel technology, claims a new report out of Korea. According to Sisa Journal, Apple will use Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology to minimize the bezel at the bottom of the display. BRS achieves this by rolling up the internal copper wiring into a more compact package. Apple...
Read Full Article • 138 comments
New iPad Pro Rumored to Have Matte Screen Option Like Studio Display's Nano-Texture Glass
Wednesday March 20, 2024 6:21 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
Apple's next-generation iPad Pro models will be offered with a matte display option for the first time, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." The Weibo user explained that the iPad Pro's new matte display option will be offered in addition to the standard, glossy glass finish. It apparently features -4° to +29° of haze and may tout some kind of blue-light blocking...
Read Full Article • 144 comments
New iPad Air Now Shipping From China Ahead of Announcement
Tuesday March 19, 2024 6:30 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
The next-generation iPad Air is now reportedly shipping to the United States and other countries in preparation for launch. The rumor comes from the leaker known as "Instant Digital," who claims that manufacturers in China are now shipping the 2024 iPad Air in two sizes to overseas locations. "Everything is ready" for launch, the Weibo user says. The sixth-generation iPad Air is rumored...
Read Full Article • 126 comments
Gurman: No iPad Announcement Planned for March 26
Wednesday March 20, 2024 9:32 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Earlier this week, leaker "Instant Digital" on Chinese blogging site Weibo claimed that Apple will be making an iPad-related announcement next Tuesday, March 26, suggesting a potential press release introduction ahead of pre-orders and a launch date. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has now weighed in, however, to say that this claim is "not true." While disputing a March 26 announcement, Gurman has...
Read Full Article • 92 comments
New iPad Pro Rumored to Feature Thinner Bezels Than Previous Models
Wednesday March 20, 2024 11:47 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
The next-generation iPad Pro models will feature thinner bezels around the screen compared to previous models, according to a rumor shared today by a previously-accurate leaker known as "Instant Digital" on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The leaker claimed that the next 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will have 7.12mm and 7.08mm bezels, respectively, when excluding the metal...
Read Full Article • 69 comments