Apple is now said to be preparing to launch the OLED iPad Pro alongside the new iPad Air lineup in early May. Overseas assembly has now ramped up as Apple continues to iron out production kinks with the OLED iPad Pro’s advanced display, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
The upcoming OLED iPad Pro and new iPad Air were previously rumored to launch sometime in April, but Apple reportedly delayed their launch to early May due to multiple factors. The company’s engineers are still working to iron out the devices’ iPadOS software, with the new iPads said to run iPadOS 17.4 out of the box. Apple’s supply chain partners responsible for manufacturing the iPad Pro’s OLED display are still grappling with “complex new manufacturing techniques,” with the display rumored to feature an advanced dual-stack tandem design.
The report reiterates new features expected for the OLED iPad Pro as well as the iPad Air, which is said to offer a new 12.9-inch display size for the first time. The new iPad Air lineup will reportedly be based on the M2 chip and continue to use conventional LCD panels. On the other hand, the iPad Pro is expected to gain next-generation OLED displays with brighter and more vibrant colors while also gaining the M3 chip powering the latest MacBook generations.
Apple will also upgrade key accessories alongside the OLED iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil will receive its first revamp in several years that could include Find My support and magnetic replaceable tips. The Magic Keyboard is also said to receive a key upgrade that could make the iPad Pro appear more laptop-like when docked.
