Earlier this month, Apple released the new M3 MacBook Air with a surprise press release on Monday, March 4. This was notable for several reasons: first, we expected Apple to hold a spring event this year, and second, they didn’t. accompanied by new iPads.
With no event happening, we thought the new iPads would launch the next day or week, but more than two weeks later that hasn’t happened. Then there was a rumor earlier this week that Apple would unveil the new iPads on Tuesday, March 26, but this week has passed without an announcement, so it looks like the new iPads will officially launch in April now. Or based on the last report, maybe even from May.
So what happens ? When exactly will the new iPads arrive? Let’s look at what we know.
Multiple reports have claimed that the new iPads won’t ship until April. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that a new version of iOS 17.4 for the new iPads “won’t be completed until late March or even sometime in April,” a process that “could last a few weeks, likely plunging us deeper into what’s next.” . month.”
Separately, Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants says that although new OLED panels for the iPad Pro began shipping in February, production and pricing issues have led to some delays, particularly with the 11-inch model. .
Now that we’re officially looking at April, we’re hearing reports that Apple won’t launch new iPads until May, which is a very rare month for new Apple products. Here is a list of Apple’s announcements via press release since 2019:
- MacBook Air M3: Monday March 4, 2024
- MacBook Pro M2 Pro/Max: Tuesday January 17, 2023
- 2nd generation HomePod: Wednesday January 18, 2023
- iPad 10th generation/iPad Pro 6th generation: Tuesday October 18, 2022
- 2nd generation iPhone SE: Wednesday April 15, 2020
- 4th generation iPad Pro: Wednesday March 18, 2020
- 7th generation iPod touch: Tuesday May 28, 2019
- 5th generation iPad mini: Monday March 18, 2019
- 3rd generation iPad Air: Monday March 18, 2019
- iMac (Intel 9th generation): Tuesday March 19, 2019
The only recent new Apple product to arrive in May was the iPod touch in 2019, a product that isn’t as important to Apple’s lineup as an iPad. It’s probably more likely that Apple will announce the new iPads later in April and start shipping them in May, as it did with the new M1 iPad Pro in 2020.
Apple announced iPads on Mondays and Tuesdays and once on Wednesdays due to Covid upheaval. However, major announcements (10th generation iPad, MacBook Pro M2) usually happen on a Tuesday, while Mondays are relegated to smaller updates, like the recent MacBook Air M3.
So what does all this mean? Put all the clues together and our best guess for an iPad release is either Tuesday, April 16 or April 23. We’re looking ahead to April 23, which gives Apple plenty of time to gather inventory, finish the new iPadOS 17.4 release, and generate a little more buzz. So plan accordingly.
While you wait, check out our iPad Air and iPad Pro rumor summaries so you know what to expect from the releases when they arrive.
