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It has finally happened! Mark your calendars for May 7th because Apple has announced a spring event focused on new iPads and a new Apple Pencil.
New iPads have been rumoured for months now, with the first rumblings surfacing in December 2023. But Apple has taken their time, with many suspected release dates passing us by. We still don’t have many specifics, but there are strong indications that we can expect a new OLED iPad Pro, iPad Air 6, a highly anticipated Apple Pencil 3 and maybe even an iPad Mini 7.
Let’s take a look at what this new Apple Event may bring us.
Apple Spring Event Announcement
Apple recently sent out invitations to select members of the media, teasing them with the tagline “Let Loose.” The invitation featured the unmistakable image of an Apple Pencil, leaving no doubt that iPads will take center stage during the event.
Additionally, Apple CEO Tim Cook fueled the excitement by hinting at the arrival of the Apple Pencil 3 in a social media post. Admittedly, after the months of speculation about iPads, the potential for a new Apple Pencil (an actually new one, we’re looking at you USB-C Apple Pencil!), completely flew under the radar.
What to Expect from the New iPads
According to insiders like Mark Gurman, the spotlight will be on the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro, in particular, is rumoured to receive significant upgrades, making it the most powerful and versatile iPad to date.
OLED iPad Pro
One of the biggest anticipated announcements at the Apple event is the inclusion of an OLED display on the iPad Pro. OLED displays offer more vibrant colours and improved contrast than standard LED. The larger iPad Pro model may also receive a slight display size increase to a 13-inch screen.
The iPad Pro will be equipped with the latest M3 chip, further bolstering the Pro’s multitasking and graphics rendering capabilities. The more you can do on an iPad, the more likely people will be tempted to go iPad-only. A new OLED display and M3 chip would go a long way to nudging people towards that persuasion.
iPad Air 6
The iPad Air, a stripped-back, more affordable version of the standard iPad, is also expected to receive an upgrade.
Some reports are suggesting that a larger 12.9-inch version of the iPad Air will be introduced, providing users with significantly more screen real estate to work on.
Under the hood, it isn’t entirely clear what chip the iPad Air will be receiving. The current generation iPad Air 5 is powered by the M1 chip. Logically, an M3 chip would make it the most up-to-date, but an M2 chip would still provide a performance boost whilst keeping the cost down.
Either way, the iPad Air is a great mid-range tablet option for those who don’t want to completely break the bank. So it’s great to see it get an update.
Apple Pencil 3
A new Apple Pencil was always a prospect in 2024, but it certainly wasn’t the main event in the rumour mill. However, it has the potential to be a sleeper hit.
In 2023, we got the highly anti-climatic Apple Pencil USB-C which was a new Apple Pencil with USB-C charging compatibility, but fewer features than the Apple Pencil 2. For example, there was no pressure sensitivity. So what will the Apple Pencil 3 bring?
Find My Integration and Interchangeable Tips
We’re expecting the Apple Pencil 3 to feature Find My integration, similar to AirPods and AirTags. This will allow users to easily locate their Apple Pencil if misplaced or lost.
While this is slightly more wishful thinking, the new Apple Pencil could also introduce interchangeable magnetic tips, providing users with more flexibility and customisation options for different creative tasks.
Squeeze Gesture and Enhanced Functionality
Excitingly, the Apple Pencil 3 is also rumoured to feature a “Squeeze” gesture. This would allow users to perform quick actions by pressing down on the Apple Pencil’s surface, much like the philosophy behind the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Double Tap on the Apple Watch.
A squeeze-like feature would add something entirely unique to Apple’s offering to further set it out as the premium smart pencil.
The End Of The iPad Mini?
All of the focus in the run-up to this event has been around the iPad Pro and iPad Air, there has been little about a possible update to the iPad Mini.
That’s not to say that Apple won’t announce the iPad Mini 7, but there is usually some indication beforehand. It would make sense to bring it in line with the other iPads and chuck in an M3 chip, but you never know with Apple. One thing’s for certain, as our favourite ever iPad, we certainly hope the iPad Mini doesn’t go the way of the iPhone 13 Mini.
Conclusion
So we finally have a date when we’ll see what Apple has been cooking up in the iPad kitchen.
An OLED iPad Pro would be a welcome addition, but an iPad Air with an M2 chip would certainly be underwhelming. Apple should introduce the iPad Air 6 with an M3 chip and keep the price the same. But as we know, Apple is a company with its own priorities.
However, we’re excited nonetheless! Stay tuned here on 7th May for all the updates and analysis on Apple’s new products.
What do you want to see from the new iPads? Let me know below!
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Cover image courtesy of Apple
