iPad 2024: What to expect on May 7th and what I want next

There it wasn't a new iPad since end of 2022but new models should be coming. Next Apple event – virtual, broadcast live on May 7 – promises new iPads, with a pencil featured as part of the main graphic. The iPad Pro lineup is expected to have new OLED displays, while iPad Air models with larger screens could arrive alongside.

Does this mean the iPad of your dreams is almost here? Well, maybe, maybe not. Apple's next wave of iPads, according to some of the latest reports, are likely upgrades to the more expensive models; the entry-level iPad and iPad Mini may arrive later.

See this: What to expect from Apple's iPad event on May 7

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I've been following Apple's iPad lineup for years and have reviewed nearly every model for CNET. I hoped that someday the iPad could finally incorporate MacOS into its iPadOS software, becoming a true MacBook replacement in tablet form. Even though the iPad Pro and Air now share the same processors as Macs, I've given up on some of those hopes. It's not that people are not yet dreaming of this type of product: but Apple didn't make any. Clearly, Apple is evolving the iPad — slowly — to become a little more Mac-like every year, without ever making it run MacOS. And I hope that plan continues.

But if you want a tablet that's a surprisingly versatile portable computer, the iPad is already great at that. Apple may not change the equation much from the models we already know, but some useful and long-overdue improvements should be available. Here's what to expect, and also what I want for the base models later on. Furthermore, some reflections on the Professional Vision and iPads and that pencil…

iPad Pro: OLED, new cameras, new Pencil… higher price?

Apple has never had OLED screens on its iPads, and all reports indicate that the upcoming iPad Pro models will get them. Will this update only be on the larger screen model? Hard to say. Previous M2 iPad Pros only had improved mini-LED displays, which offered better black levels and contrast, on the 12.9-inch models. Adding OLED screens to the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions would mean even better colors and dynamic range, regardless of size.

Apple is late to OLED in tablets: Samsung's line of Galaxy tablets It's had OLED screens for years. While iPad screens are already great in general, OLED is a logical upgrade for a premium tablet focused on offering the best display. Apple's iPhone models have switched to OLED displays, starting with the iPhone X in 2017.

The new iPad Pros can also be switched to the M3 chip instead of M2, just like Recent Macs. The M3's performance may not be a huge leap compared to the M2, but it should improve graphics and AI performance on the device.

Another long overdue and almost guaranteed change: a proper landscape-facing front camera. O 10th generation iPad it is the only one with the “proper” position for frontal video chats; its camera sits on the long edge, like a laptop. With a keyboard attached, this means I don't look off-center in Zoom or FaceTime chats. The iPad Pro should finally receive this upgrade with the next model.

Will a new Pencil and Magic Keyboard case also come? The Pencil 2 debuted in 2018. Apple could make a new, smaller version, possibly allowing it to clip onto the side of the iPad instead of the top for charging. And as for the expensive and clunky Magic Keyboard case (which I still love using), Apple may need a new one to fit what could be a new thinner iPad Pro design. Maybe Apple has figured out a better way to the case opens and also works in flat folio mode.

The pencil that appears so prominently in Apple event graphics suggests that the new accessory could be the flashiest “new” thing the new iPads have. Apple introduced a “hover” input feature with iPad Pros in 2022, but perhaps Apple has even more interactive tricks in store. Could the Pencil become a true 3D tool… and if so, could it become an accessory for the Vision Pro as well?

However, taking these measures could mean an increase in prices. The reports say these OLED models can be significantly more expensive. That alone could be enough to encourage most iPad buyers to stick with what they already have or look for less.

iPad Air: finally bigger

The iPad Air line is where Apple offers high-end iPad Pros – with minor redesigns – at a discount. Expect the latest Airs to be the same, perhaps with M2 chips and reoriented front cameras. The biggest change expected is a 12.9-inch model similar to the 2022 iPad Pro, offering a larger, more affordable option than the likely super-expensive iPad Pro OLED. Maybe it has the mini-LED screen that the bigger professionals also had.

Apple is expected to announce the new iPad Pros and Airs at the same time, meaning Apple could launch four iPad models at the same time. So if you're looking for a high-end iPad, hold on.

Budget Options: What Could the iPad and Mini Bring Later?

Low-cost iPads tend to arrive in the fall, and I'd expect the same for the 11th-gen iPad and iPad Mini. The last budget iPad was more expensive than previous models, but it featured a more modern design, USB-C, and a much better landscape-oriented front camera for video chats. The last Mini it also had support for USB-C and Pencil 2, since 2021.

I would love it if an entry-level iPad had a dock similar to Google Pixel Tablet dock for use in home and family video chats. This could turn the iPad into more of a home hub. Of course, a better processor would also be nice, and hopefully better built-in support for the Pencil 2, rather than the weirder, lower-cost Pencil that Apple debuted last year, which needs to be charged via USB-C.

The iPad Mini was great last time, but it cost a lot for its relative size. A smaller, more portable pencil for a new Mini would be great if I could create my own wish list for the next one. An updated front camera positioning could also be nice, but it's not as necessary for a small device that's held more regularly like a book rather than in a laptop-like keyboard mode. Would Apple add M1 processors to these models, making all iPads part of the M-series chip family, or would they continue to use iPhone-based A-series chips? It's hard to say, but most people I know who are interested in cheap iPads are more concerned about the price. And for now, it doesn't look like new low-cost iPads will arrive this spring… so be patient and wait until fall if you can.

Will Vision Pro be taken into account in these new professional iPads?

I've been wondering when Apple's iPad lineup would actually become integrally connected to Apple's new Vision Pro mixed reality headset, and for good reason. The Vision Pro runs iPad-optimized 2D apps natively, and yet all of the Vision Pro's input accessories are Mac- or Bluetooth-based keyboards and trackpads. The iPad and its Magic Keyboard and Pencil seem to pair perfectly with a mixed reality headset, especially for creative artistic tasks. Would Apple include iPads Pro in Apple's Vision Pro vision?

It's a long shot, but I'm curious. Apple lacks a precision input device for mixed reality art, something I've been thinking about since the Vision Pro was first announced. from Sony business-focused mixed reality headset It has its kind of air pen. Apple may hope to further evolve the Vision Pro through new software in its WWDC Conference in June and think about new inputs later on. But if Apple is indeed readying an entirely new Pencil, wouldn't this be a good time to make it compatible?

We'll know more soon: May 7th isn't that far away.