Apple could reveal refreshes to the iPad mini and entry-level iPad by the end of this year. The minor updates will mainly focus on updated processors as is the case with recent iPad refreshes, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman in the latest edition of the weekly Power On newsletter.
Per the report, Apple is preparing to update the entire iPad lineup this year after 2023 came and went by without a single new hardware for the device, a first since the original iPad was introduced in 2010. The company will first announce the much-awaited OLED iPad Pro and a revamped iPad Air lineup in early May, before reportedly unveiling updates to the iPad mini and the entry-level iPad towards the end of the year at the earliest.
The report hints that there is a chance the iPad mini and iPad refreshes won’t come to life until early 2025, but that seems improbable given that Apple will likely want to reinvigorate the entire iPad lineup during 2024. Nevertheless, the iPad mini and iPad updates will likely be minor and won’t bring any unexpected changes. The upcoming iPad mini will reportedly gain a new processor, representing a formidable upgrade from the current A15 Bionic chip. The tablet could also come in new colors and a landscape camera, which is already present on the iPad and rumored to make its way to the iPad Pro.
With the entry-level iPad, Apple is said to be more focused on reducing the cost of making the tenth-generation tablet in an attempt to discount its $449 starting price tag, thus bringing it more in line with the ninth-generation iPad’s price that started at $329. Apple could also upgrade the iPad’s processor from the A14 Bionic to something more modern, as the four-year-old chip is beginning to show its age.
In the shorter term, Apple is preparing to announce four new iPad models by May, namely two OLED iPad Pros and two iPad Air sizes for the first time. The new iPad Air lineup will reportedly be based on the M2 chip and continue to use LCD panels. 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. The new iPad Pro could also feature a landscape Face ID camera and a much thinner design.
Apple will also upgrade key accessories alongside the 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 tablet appear more laptop-like when docked.
