iPad Pro to get the biggest update in years

For years, Apple has been putting a lot of emphasis on making the high-end iPad Pro feel like a laptop. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

The high-end iPad Pro is likely to hog the limelight, and for the right reasons. Apple has spent years pitching the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, and with the right mix of accessories, the tablet feels like a hybrid between a tablet and a Mac. For this year, the new iPad Pros will undergo a significant redesign for both 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes. Both are rumoured to get OLED displays, a huge step up from the LCD display (the 12.9-inch iPad Pro previously featured a MiniLED display). The tablets are expected to receive a new chassis design, making them a bit thinner and lighter. Other changes also include a landscape-oriented camera on the tablet’s front.

However, the biggest change coming to the iPad Pro is the AI-ready chip, which might unlock AI features in the future. The M3 chip that’s already there in the new MacBooks is the logical processor Apple may go with. However, some reports have suggested that Apple will introduce the M4 at this event, with the iPad Pro becoming the first device to use Apple’s cutting-edge processor. Nothing much is known about what the M4 might bring to the market, but given how Apple is teasing its AI efforts at WWDC early next month, the new chip could lay the groundwork for Generative AI. This move, if Apple launches the M4 chip, is more to compete with Microsoft’s upcoming event where it is likely to launch the new Surface 2-in-1s with Qualcomm’s new AI chips, with a special focus on the hardware and changes to Windows.

iPad Air could come in two screen sizes

Both iPad Pro and iPad Air are going to get the biggest makeover in years, (Image: Apple)
Alongside the iPad Pro, Cupertino could also introduce new iPad Air models. However, for the first time, Apple could launch the mid-ranger in two different screen sizes. This will make the iPad Air (if rumours of a 12.9-inch screen size turn true) even closer to the iPad Pro. Just don’t expect the new iPad Air to get the M3 chip or OLED screen.

Special emphasis on accessories

Further, Apple is expected to introduce a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro as well as the Apple Pencil 3. Accessories add a new layer to the iPad, making the device not only more flexible but also adding a key differentiator to a traditional laptop form factor. The new Magic Keyboard will apparently be made of aluminum and will have a bigger trackpad. The new Pencil, meanwhile, will have swappable tips as well as haptic feedback for the first time.

What about the new software experience?

It remains to be seen if Apple announces changes to the iPadOS at its May 7 event. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

However, insiders believe that more than the updated hardware, Apple needs to reboot the software experience on the iPad. Though Tuesday’s event might only focus on the iPad’s hardware, with Apple showcasing what’s new coming to the iPadOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in early June. But Apple could surprise users by adding new features to the upcoming iPadOS 17.5 update, which could be rolled out when new iPads go on sale.

Is Apple done with budget iPads?

It’s been 18 months since Apple hasn’t launched any new iPads on the market. (Image Source: Apple)

Probably not. Despite the messy iPad lineup, Cupertino won’t give up on budget iPads just yet, and it shouldn’t. Apple needs entry-level iPads to fend off competition from Chromebooks and budget tablets from the likes of Samsung, Lenovo, and OnePlus. A budget iPad is not only critical to grabbing market share but also helps increase its footprint in the education market. Although there are rumours of Apple getting rid of the 9th generation iPad, it might not happen soon. Apple will continue to sell the budget tablet while also selling the 10th generation model. Apple is working on an iPad mini 7 featuring a faster processor. However, it likely won’t launch alongside the iPad Pro and iPad Air. Expect Apple to focus on entry-level iPads later this year.

We’ll be covering the Let Loose event on May 7 live, so make sure you read the latest news and analysis on indianexpress.com.

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