It’s hard to believe, but the iPad Air is now over ten years old.
This original model was launched in November 2013 and became the most expensive iPad ever. It has long been replaced by the iPad Pro at the top of Apple’s tablet lineup, but is a happy medium between it and the regular iPad.
The next generation of iPad Air will be the sixth, and there are plenty of rumors circulating about what to expect. Here’s everything you need to know about its potential release date, price, and key specs.
When will the new iPad Air be released?
The iPad Air was rumored to be announced at Apple’s October 2023 event, but that never came to fruition.
According to Mark Gurman, Apple has started production of the next generation iPad Air, iPad Pro and MacBook Air in anticipation of a late March launch. This corresponds to the next Apple event expected in spring 2024.
Ross Young too complaints in his tweet, billboard shipments for a new 12.9-inch iPad Air began in December, suggesting a spring release.
Ming-Chi Kuo also suggested that a new iPad would arrive in the first quarter of 2024, so between now and the end of March.
Apple held similar events in April 2021 and March 2022, but skipped 2023. For context, here’s when recent iterations of the iPad Air arrived:
- 5th generation: March 2022
- 4th generation: September 2020
- 3rd generation: March 2019
How much will the new iPad Air cost?
Pricing is usually one of the last things to be revealed about a new product, so it’s no surprise that there’s no news yet.
For reference, here’s how much the current iPad Air lineup costs:
- iPad Air (64GB, Wi-Fi): £569/$599
- iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): £719/$749
- iPad Air (64GB, Wi-Fi and cellular): £719/$749
- iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi and cellular): £869/$899
It is difficult to predict whether Apple will increase prices for the next generation. If the rumors about the screen improvements turn out to be true, it’s very possible.
But the iPad Air represents the happy medium between the $449/£499 regular iPad and the $1,099/£1,249 iPad Pro, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
For more alternatives, check out our guide to the best iPads.
What specs and features will the new iPad Air have?
The next iPad Air probably isn’t far away and we already have a general idea of what to expect.
Design
The next iPad Air model is expected to feature minimal design changes, looking very similar to its predecessor.
However, new color options are likely, although it’s unclear whether they will match the vibrant tones of the 10th generation iPad or the more muted palette of the iPhone 15.
Display
The big rumor so far is about the iPad Air’s screen. According to DigiTimes (via Forbes), the next Air will be available with a 12.9-inch screen.
In November 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a strong reputation in Apple news) said the iPad Air line would be split into a 10.9-inch model and a new 12.9-inch model. inches. A subsequent tweet from the leaker Ross Young seems to confirm this information.
A report from 9to5Mac is another source indicating that Apple is considering introducing either a larger version of the iPad Air or a more expensive model with improved specifications. This speculation stems from the presence of two code names linked to the new iPad Air: J507 and J508.
According to sources close to 9to5Mac, the larger iPad Air is expected to have dimensions of 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.0mm, indicating that the screen size will also be very similar. But the smaller iPad Air is unlikely to see any significant design changes.
This would match what we see on the larger version of the current iPad Pro and would be a significant increase over the 10.9-inch iPad Air 2022.
However, it doesn’t look like the iPad Pro’s mini-LED display will make its way to the Air. Forbes says this will likely stick with the LCD panels we see now, and there’s no word on a refresh rate higher than 60Hz.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, “The 12.9-inch iPad Air is an all-new model, and while it lacks Mini-LED, it benefits from an Oxide backplane (the same specs as the iPad Pro miniLED existing), offering a better display. performance than the 10.9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.
A report from Omdia also suggests that Apple could move to OLED displays at some point, but this is unlikely to be the case on the 2024 iPad Air.
Performance
A new processor is one thing we can be almost certain of. According to the famous leaker Revegnus, it will use Apple’s M2 chipset:
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reports that Apple’s intention is to equip the iPad Air with an M2 chip.
This would make sense, given that the M3 chips are largely official and M1 powers the 2022 iPad Air. Apple will likely limit the M3 to the iPad Pro, at least for now.
Apple now offers 128GB base storage on the iPhone, but iPads still start at 64GB unless it’s a Pro model.
The new iPad Air will likely feature 128GB, making it a viable option without the need for a more expensive 256GB model. Expect more expensive versions with more storage to be available as well.
Cameras
MacRumors also thinks we could get upgrades to the front and rear cameras, with hardware and software improvements possible.
However, it’s unclear how many changes will actually be made to the current 12MP rear and 12MP front lenses.
While we wait for more news, it’s worth reading our review of the latest iPad Air to see if it’s worth buying. You might also be interested in more of the best iPads and tablets on the market.
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