Apple plans to release two sizes of the mid-range iPad Air for the first time early next year. The current size will be joined by a larger model that closely resembles the configurations of the current iPad Pro, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
In the latest edition of the weekly Power On newsletter, Apple’s work on two sizes for the upcoming iPad Air is corroborated after earlier reports from multiple sources. Reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was one of the first sources to break Apple’s work on a new larger size for the iPad Air, stating that the company will release a 12.9-inch iPad Air alongside an updated version of the current 10.9-inch size in early 2024.
Unlike the iPad Pro, the expected 12.9-inch iPad Air will still carry an LCD panel that will be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate to differentiate the mid-range lineup from the top-of-the-line iPad Pro. On the other hand, the new iPad Air lineup will be upgraded to the M2 chip, which should provide a nice performance improvement over the M1 chip powering the current iPad Air. Not much else is expected to change, save for a possible new palette of color options as is the case with most product refreshes.
Separately, credible displays analyst Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) stated that display shipments of the 12.9-inch iPad Air are already underway. In a post on X, Young attests that panel shipments for the larger iPad are already underway and have begun since December. In a reply, Young also states that OLED panel shipments for the upcoming 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro will likely start in January.
Apple is strongly expected to upgrade the entire iPad lineup next year after not releasing a single new model throughout 2023 for the first time since the device’s introduction in 2010. Besides the new iPad Air lineup, the company will announce an overhauled iPad Pro generation with an OLED display, the M3 chip, and a new design. The base iPad and iPad mini will receive a minor refresh later in the year.
