According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to release new models of the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air “around the end of March.” He stated in his Power On newsletter today that production, at least in Apple’s Asian supply chain, is well under way for the upcoming iPad Pro models and a new 13-inch MacBook Air.
Gurman’s predictions for the upcoming iPads and Macs are restated here, along with additional speculated features and modifications.
Air iPad
Along with an upgraded 10.9-inch model, the iPad Air lineup is anticipated to receive a new 12.9-inch display size.
Redesigned rear camera bump, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Apple’s M2 chip for faster performance are among the rumored and/or likely features for the upcoming iPad Air models. Major alterations to the external design are not anticipated.
March 2022 saw the release of the fifth-generation iPad Air, which is equipped with the M1 chip.
Apple iPad Pro
The upcoming iPad Pro models, measuring 11 and 13 inches, are anticipated to be the first to sport OLED screens.
More brightness, richer color reproduction, a greater contrast ratio, reduced power consumption, and other advantages over current LCD-panelled iPad Pro models would be possible with OLED technology. The most recent iPhone and Apple Watch models—aside from the entry-level iPhone SE—already use OLED displays.
More expensive iPad Pro models are anticipated as a result of the transition to OLED.
A variable refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz is possible with iPad Pro models released in 2017 and later that support ProMotion. This would probably allow the refresh rate to be further reduced to 10Hz or less in order to conserve battery life in OLED and LTPO displays. While in constant-on display mode, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models can reach as low as 1Hz.
The newest M3 chip from Apple, which promises faster performance, MagSafe wireless charging, a redesigned Magic Keyboard with a larger trackpad and an aluminum top casing, and a front camera that faces landscape are some other features that have been rumored or are probably coming to the next iPad Pro models. Rear camera design modifications might also occur, perhaps on the upcoming iPad Air models.
October 2022 saw the release of the current iPad Pro models equipped with the M2 chip.
Apple MacBook Air
Due to production delays, the current 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were released a year apart; however, an update should be available for both models in March. The latest M3 chip from Apple will be the main new feature of the laptops.
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for better graphics rendering in games, including more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows, will be available in the upcoming MacBook Air models equipped with the M3 processor. Earlier in the year, Apple added the M3 chip to the 14-inch, 16-inch, and 24-inch MacBook Pro.
Though the MacBook Air shouldn’t see any significant design changes this year, it should support Wi-Fi 6E like other Macs.
Prior to the June 2023 release of the first-ever 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Air in July 2022.
