The iPad Air was last updated in March 2022 and rumors suggest that the arrival of a new model, or even two, could be coming soon, if a new Pro model is eventually released. Here's everything we know so far about the Sixth generation iPad Air and a new Pro model.
Apple's most recent event took place on October 30, but there were no new iPads at that event, but we expect one in early 2024. Here's everything you need to know about the new model. Let's see it!
Release date When will the new model arrive?
The company's October 30 Apple event only launched the new Macs, and 2023 passed without a single update to iPad models for the first time since Apple's late CEO and founder, Steve Jobs introduced the category in 2010. The last three generations of iPad Air arrived about 18 months apart, and since the fifth generation arrived in March 2022, we've been waiting for an update.
But we may not have much longer to wait. In early December 2023, Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to launch new iPads and an M3 MacBook Air in March 2024. And regarding that claim, later in January 2024, he reported that The new iPads had gone into production ahead of their launch in March.
The iPad is unlikely Air be the only iPad to be updated in 2024. In November 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote that Apple will refresh all four lines of iPad base, mini, Air and Pro in 2024. Mark Gurman believes that a new Pro model will also be launched at the March event.
Ross Young, an analyst specializing in the display industry, tweeted that shipments of display panels for a new 12,9-inch Air began in December, indicating a spring launch.
2024 iPad Air sizes: Is Apple preparing to launch a larger model?
A standard 10,9-inch model and a new 12,9-inch option are rumored to arrive. A 9to5Mac report from October 2023 stated, not only that «There are several new iPads on the way for the coming months«But this includes two new iPad Air models.
The site indicates that Apple "may be considering introducing a larger version of the iPad Air, or a more expensive model with better specifications«. This theory seems to be based on the fact that there are two codenames associated with the new iPad Air: J507 and J508, and the only other iPad to have two codenames is the iPad Pro, which also comes in two sizes.
In November, Ming-Chi Kuo discussed the additional size of the iPad Air, saying that the iPad Air line will be split into two sizes: 10,9 inches and a new 12,9-inch model. And Young's tweet above also confirms the existence of a new screen size for the iPad Air.
iPad Air 2024 price: How much will the new model cost?
Apple buyers hope the company will reverse the price increases of recent years, as they did with the iPhone. As for the possible prices of the iPad Air 6, we can look at the generations that have preceded it as a clue to what we will have to pay when it finally arrives.
Apple has kept most prices more or less the same for its American customers when moving between recent generations, while outside the US, buyers were hit with aggressive price increases, a trend that occurred in all Apple products.
However, Apple reversed these price increases in 2023 when it introduced the iPhone 15, so we expect it to be out of the US, Apple buyers may see iPad prices decline.
If Apple introduces a higher specification or a larger iPad Air to go with the current size, we could see lower prices for the entry-level model and higher prices at the top of the range.
iPad Air 2024 features: How will the new model be better?
For a device whose release could be imminent, there are a lot of rumors about the iPad Air 6, here's what we know:
A new M2 processor
The most obvious area where the iPad Air 6 will be superior to the iPad Air 5 is in the processor. The iPad Air 5 already features an M1 chip, but the Pro model has been sporting M2 silicon for over a year, and It is likely to receive an update to the new M3 chipset in 2024.
Therefore, Apple is likely to keep the iPad Air in the previous generation of M2 to make the Pro model more attractive to high-end users. Mark Gurman and others have reported that Apple's plan is, in fact, to put an M2 chip in the iPad Air.
A bigger and better screen
While the Pro model is rumored to get an OLED display for the first time, the iPad will likely get the same treatment.
Rather, Apple is planning to introduce a larger iPad Air with the same 12,9 inches as the iPad Pro, but without slightly different technology, according to Ming-Chi Kuo:
«The 12,9-inch iPad Air is a completely new model, and although it lacks mini-LED, it benefits from an Oxide backplane - the same specification as the existing mini-LED iPad Pros - which offers better screen performance than the 10,9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.
The same design with new colors
Unfortunately, the iPad Air is unlikely to get a new design with the new model. The leaked renders of the new device show a design that is almost identical to the current model, including placing the front camera on the short edge. We were hoping that Apple could change the location to landscape after the 10th generation iPad changed positions. However, it seems that it is not.
The only design change to speak of is a slight adjustment to the rear camera. While we don't expect it to get a second camera, Apple will apparently put the flash inside a new oval camera. We're also expecting new colors, either brighter to match the 10th-gen iPad or more muted to match the iPhone 15.
More storage options
Since the launch of the iPhone 13, Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), has offered a reference storage capacity of 128 GB. Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case with the iPad lineup, which currently starts with a 64GB device unless you opt for a Pro model.
We hope it is equipped with 128 GB space so that it can become a laptop replacement without paying extra for the 256 GB model. With a larger screen, there have also been reports of higher storage options like the Pro model.
