The current iPad lineup is a disorganized, confusing mess. There are two sizes of iPad Pro, a single iPad Air, two generations of the regular iPad and the iPad Mini that are still alive and kicking. It's a hit or miss as to which Apple Pencil works with which iPad, and only one iPad has the side camera for landscape FaceTime calls.
Current iPad offerings are not only confusing, they're also becoming obsolete. Apple didn't release any iPads last year, making it the first calendar year without a new iPad since Apple's tablet launched in 2010. But the long wait for new iPads is almost over – Apple announced yesterday that it is holding an event on May 7, and iPads are expected to be the focus.
The latest iPad rumors point to new iPad Pros with OLED displays and a new 12.9-inch size for the iPad Air. The base iPad and iPad Mini are not expected to receive updates at the May 7 event; New models in these lines likely won't launch until the fall.
Apple needs to do something with the iPad to keep consumers interested in its non-iPhone, non-MacBook device. The iPad has always occupied the middle ground between the company's phones and laptops, and now it has company in that middle zone with the arrival of the Vision Pro. CNET's Scott Stein said the Vision Pro looks like “an iPad exploded in space.” The Vision Pro is too expensive right now to cannibalize iPad sales, but as its price drops over the next few years, it will compete with the iPad for our third-screen needs and dollars.
We will soon have confirmation of the direction Apple is taking with its tablets. This is what the rumored updates for each iPad line look like.
See this: What to expect from Apple's iPad event on May 7
OLED coming to iPad Pro
OLED is the big new feature of Apple's top-of-the-line iPad Pro. The new models will ditch mini-LED displays for OLED displays that will provide more vibrant colors, true black levels and superior contrast. OLED panels could also support a wider range of refresh rates. The latest iPhone Pro models feature always-on OLED displays that can operate at speeds as slow as 1 Hz to extend battery life.
The updated iPad Pros will come in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with the latter being slightly larger than the current large Pro at 12.9 inches. The new Pros are also expected to upgrade from Apple's M2 chip in the current models to the M3 chip. Other rumored changes include USB-C wireless charging and MagSafe along with an updated Magic Keyboard with an aluminum lid and larger trackpad.
iPad Air expanding to 12.9 inches
A larger iPad Air is expected to be added to the lineup this spring. The current fifth-generation iPad Air is based on a 10.9-inch screen and an M1 chip. The new line will be based on M2 chips and will be available in 10.9 and 12.9 inch models. A 12.9-inch Air would give tablet buyers the ability to get a larger screen without needing to pay more for a Pro model.
The new iPad Airs are not expected to switch to mini-LED or OLED displays and will retain their LED-based Liquid Retina panels. The rear camera, according to 9to5Mac, is expected to be housed in a new camera that includes a flash, a feature not offered on the current Air. The new models are also expected to work with the current Magic Keyboard and not the keyboard upgrade that will be exclusive to the new Pro models.
iPad and iPad Mini updates later this year
The rumors are more nebulous for the entry-level iPad and iPad Mini. Each could see a processor boost, with the 11th-gen iPad moving to the A15 chip and the seventh-gen iPad Mini getting the A16 chip. With the arrival of the 11th generation iPad, Apple will likely keep the 10th generation iPad as its budget offering and phase out the ninth generation model, which is the last remaining model with the home button. These updates are not expected this spring, but later in the year.
And by the end of the year, we might finally see the much-talked about foldable iPad.
