Toni Hobrecht
Apple plans to not launch any new iPads until 2024, according to a new report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. But next year there will be a new Apple iPad mini, a completely renewed iPad Pro and the first iPad Fold.
Apple iPad mini 7
The analyst stated that no releases are planned in the next “9-12 months”. The first to be announced in 2024 will be the new seventh-generation Apple iPad mini, with mass production expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024. The main selling point will be a new chipset, while little will change on the rest of the hardware. The iPad mini 2021 is powered by an Apple A15 Bionic processor. The iPad mini 2024 should therefore get at least the Apple A16 Bionic. The same CPU should also end up in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
The 2021 iPad Mini also features an 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, and a Touch ID button. All of these specs are likely to remain in the iPad mini 2024. However, there are rumors about the launch of ProMotion displays with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
Apple iPad Fold
Kuo also shared that a foldable iPad Fold will come in 2024. The main beneficiary of the new technology is said to be the company Anjie Technology, a manufacturer from Suzhou, China. AT has developed a mixture of case and kickstand made of carbon, which is apparently intended to become the standard accessory for the iPad Fold. The company will “continue benefiting from the growing trends of foldable devices, equipped with kickstands in the future”.
Apple is expected to have a tough 2023 in terms of tablet sales. The projected annual decline is 10-15% due to the lack of new products. The launch of a new Mini and the first foldable Apple iPad Fold should at least slow, if not reverse, this trend. Especially since there are also rumors about a foldable iPad with a size of 20.25 inches.
Apple iPad Pro 2024
The rumor mill is already rumbling about the Apple iPad Pro 2024. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple is gearing up for a “major revamp” of the iPad Pro next year. Gurman also believes that Apple will make very few adjustments to the product line in 2023. Therefore, the new iPad Pro 2023 “will not have any noteworthy new improvements”.
An upgrade to OLED displays was always discussed. According to consistent media reports, the new panels will only be used in the iPad Pro 2024. In addition, the dimensions of the 2024 tablets are expected to increase slightly from 11 to 11.1 inches and from 12.9 to 13.1 inches. A December report even hinted at a 16-inch iPad. In addition, there are rumors of a glass back instead of the current aluminum unibody and MagSafe charging.
