iPad Air stock across multiple Apple Store locations in the United States has reportedly been dwindling in the last few weeks in the run-up to the announcement of new iPad models that could happen in a few weeks, reports Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of the weekly Power On newsletter, Gurman explains that multiple Apple Store locations are beginning to report lower levels of iPad Air stock than usual, which is usually a sign that new models are imminent. However, lower stock levels are reportedly yet to be seen with the iPad Pro, suggesting that Apple has a lot of iPad Pro inventory it will be forced to move ahead of the OLED iPad Pro’s expected announcement with new iPad Air models in early May.
The higher-than-expected iPad Pro inventory leads credibility to a new rumor that suggests the new 12.9-inch iPad Air will reuse the iPad Pro’s mini-LED panels rather than a typical LCD screen with a uniform backlight. It’s plausible that Apple might have already suspended production of the current iPad Pro as it ramps up assembly of the upcoming OLED model, forcing it to readapt the remaining inventory of mini-LED panels for the larger iPad Air.
Apple is rumored to reveal the new iPad Air alongside the OLED iPad Pro as soon as the first week of May. The new iPad Air lineup will feature a 12.9-inch size for the first alongside a performance upgrade thanks to the M2 chip. 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 MacBooks. The iPad Air and iPad Pro could feature a landscape Face ID camera, while the latter could boast a much thinner design with slimmer bezels.
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.
