Apple iPad Air and iPad Pro: New models in 2024
Apple plans to revamp and simplify its iPad lineup in 2024 to boost sales. A decade ago, the iPad lineup was pretty clear: there were two main models – a big one and a small one. And last year’s versions were sold at a discount. Over time, Apple added more options. In addition to the standard and mini iPads, there were new low-end models. Apple also launched a high-end Air and more powerful Pro versions with large displays and more power.
The idea was to appeal to different types of consumers and ultimately sell more tablets. The iPad has had a huge surge since its debut in 2010, and Apple wanted to keep it going – to the point that the Mac was pushed into the background for several years. But all of this had its price – the range became more confusing.
Today, Apple sells five main models: the iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad mini, as well as the ninth and tenth generations of the regular iPad. Some of the products have only slightly different display sizes and similar functions. For example, the current 11-inch iPad Pro is only a few millimeters larger than the iPad Air and the remaining differences are negligible for most users. The regular 10th generation iPad is now almost as good as the Air, but costs significantly less in our Apple iPad price comparison.
To make matters worse, there is a huge market for accessories and it is often unclear which add-ons are compatible with which iPads. For example, Apple currently sells three different Apple Pencils. The new low-end stylus doesn’t work with Apple’s cheapest iPad, while the high-end stylus isn’t compatible with the latest iPad.
This complicated setup might have made sense if the iPad had replaced the Mac as Apple’s main computer. But that never happened. In fact, the Mac has experienced a resurgence in recent years. On the one hand, there was money for technology due to the pandemic and, on the other hand, the iMacs and MacBooks now have Apple’s faster in-house chipsets under the hood.
However, MacBooks are much easier to understand these days. Apple offers two main classes, each in two different sizes. There are the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro as well as the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. The two lines differ clearly: The Pro models have larger displays and faster processors, but at a much higher price.
Apple iPad Air or iPad Pro
The same simplicity should also be available on the Apple iPad. First of all, Apple wants to differentiate the iPad Pro and iPad Air more. Big changes are coming to the Pro, including an OLED display, an updated design, the M3 chipset and a redesigned Magic Keyboard. This is clearly the high-end model.
In terms of screen sizes, the two models will be similar, but the Pro will offer a little more space. The iPad Air will be available in 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch configurations, while the Pro will be 11 and 13 inches. This mirrors the approach taken with the MacBook Air and Pro, where the latter model also features a slightly larger screen.
So the Apple iPad Air will clearly be in the lower price segment compared to the Pro, but it will also be a significant improvement over the standard iPad. It will have two screen sizes and an M2 processor, making it superior to the 10th generation model. The latter will only be updated much later. The new Pro and Air models are expected to launch in March.
When the 11th generation iPad comes to market, Apple will also phase out the ninth generation model, which still has a home button and large bezels. The iPad mini will also receive a refresh later with a faster processor. Apple is also likely to use the discontinuation of the ninth iPad generation to slowly retire some of its older Pencils and further clean up the range.
The new Magic Keyboard offers another differentiator for the iPad Pro. Apple is not planning a new version of the keyboard for the iPad Air. The new 12.9-inch model will continue to use the current Magic Keyboard. So if you want the best keyboard, there’s another reason to go for the Pro.
The easiest way to simplify the iPad lineup would be to only offer the iPad Pro and Air. But Apple needs a cheaper model for the education market, otherwise it would lose even more ground to Chromebooks. It would also be hard to cancel the iPad Mini. Although there hasn’t been a smaller iPhone since the iPhone 13 mini, some people still prefer a smaller tablet.
The big question is whether this simplification is enough to breathe new life into the tablet category. In the short term, new models at higher prices will help generate more sales. But in the long term, an iPad comeback is anything but certain – especially if the device has to compete with MacBooks with touchscreens in a few years.
