According to the previous news, the iPad product line, which has been silent for more than a year, is finally going to be updated this year. A wave of new products is expected in May, including the new iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions, as well as the new iPad Air 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch versions.
For the iPad Air series, this is the first time that a dual-model strategy has been adopted, and it is also a major adjustment. According to Ross Young, CEO of research firm DSCC, the new iPad Air 12.9-inch version will feature a Mini-LED display.
The Mini-LED display is exclusive to the 12.9-inch version of the current iPad Pro. Compared to traditional LCD panels, Mini-LEDs provide deeper blacks and increase the brightness of HDR content. At the same time, it has the advantage of lower power consumption.
Referring to Apple's consistent upgrade ideas, the iPad Air 12.9-inch may directly use the same screen as the current Pro, which has a 2732*2048 resolution, 264ppi, peak brightness of 1600nit, and ProMotion adaptive refresh rate.
Elsewhere, the exterior of the new iPad Air will be CNC with a single rear camera with a camera island design, but the overall changes are not much. In terms of performance, it is equipped with an M2 chip, which is also the same as the current Pro, so you don't have to worry about performance at all.
The new iPad Pro will be upgraded to an OLED display with narrower bezels. At the same time, the new iPad Pro is also expected to support MagSafe wireless charging, so the design of the back of the body may also change.
In addition, the new iPad Pro will be powered by an M3 chip, upgraded with 24GB of RAM, and may be available with a matte screen option. The Magic Keyboard for the device will also be updated, with an aluminum alloy case, a larger trackpad, and a new space gray colorway.
Overall, for the iPad Air lineup, this should be considered the biggest upgrade since the facelift in 2020. The new 12.9-inch version uses a Pro-level screen, and if you have ProMotion, it can really be used as a "replacement" for the iPad Pro.
However, the change of the Air series to two models is also bound to increase the price of the Pro series. Therefore, the new iPad Pro also needs to have a bigger upgrade to support the higher price, and the main upgrades that have been exposed so far are the OLED display, MagSafe charging, 24GB of RAM, and some changes to the appearance.
Are you planning to upgrade your iPad this year?