Despite a quiet year for iPad releases in 2023, anticipation is building as reports suggest a comprehensive overhaul of Apple’s entire iPad lineup in 2024. Recently, alleged schematics of the redesigned iPad Air have surfaced, courtesy of 91Mobiles, offering a glimpse into the anticipated changes.
The most notable revelation from the leaked schematics points to a significant upgrade in the display size for the iPad Air. The current 5th Gen iPad Air boasts a 10.9-inch screen, but according to the leak, Apple is poised to introduce two sizes for the iPad Air, aligning it with the iPad Pro range and bridging the gap between the two series.
The larger variant of the iPad Air is expected to feature an expansive 12.9-inch IPS LCD screen, maintaining continuity with the previous model. Meanwhile, the iPad Pro lineup is rumoured to undergo an upgrade to OLED displays. Notably, the rear design showcases a distinctive change, with a single island housing the camera and microphone unit, reminiscent of the vertical iPhone X camera module.
Despite the resemblance in bezels around the display to the previous generation iPad Air, housing a single camera unit, the overall dimensions of the 12.9-inch iPad Air may exceed that of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
While the industrial design largely remains unchanged, featuring a metal unibody frame and likely multiple colour options, the upcoming iPad Air is expected to include features such as a quad-speaker setup, a USB-C port, and a power button doubling as a Touch ID sensor. Hardware-wise, the M2 chip is anticipated to power the iPad Air, with the more powerful M3 chip potentially reserved for the iPad Pro lineup.
Additional features include a Pogo pin connector at the bottom for accessory connections like the Magic Keyboard, and a side-mounted antenna band indicating 5G connectivity, with a Wi-Fi-only option also in the cards.
The leaked information suggests that the larger 12.9-inch iPad Air could come with a slightly more affordable price tag than the 11-inch iPad Pro, catering to consumers seeking a larger iPad without the Pro’s premium price. Bloomberg’s recent report indicates a potential timeline for Apple’s iPad releases in 2024, with the new iPad Pro lineup expected to be announced in Q1, followed by the iPad Air in Q2, and the base iPad mini and 11th Gen iPad in Q3, alongside the iPhone 16 series.
(With inputs from agencies)