Apple is hosting a new event and it takes place today, May 7, 2024, at 4 p.m. The invitation, available on the manufacturer’s official website, evokes an event called “Let loose” and reveals a colorful apple. The latter is crossed by a hand holding a Pencil, the stylus that Apple offers with its iPads. It is rare for the Cupertino company to so clearly mention a product in an invitation card, but this confirms the rumors around this “special event”.
A colorful event, dedicated to the iPad
After a particularly calm year 2023, we should find out more about the future of iPads during this keynote. As we mentioned several times in our columns (here and here), the indiscretions evoke the arrival of new iPad Pro and Air with significant improvements.
The iPad Pros would feature new OLED panels in 11 and 13 inch versions. This development would be accompanied by a horizontal repositioning of the front camera. Inside, we are expecting a technical update to improve the performance of the tablet and a surprise cannot be ruled out. While the integration of the recent M3 chip has been discussed for several weeks, Apple could offer a new M4 chip in its iPad Pros.
This rapid renewal would be motivated by the desire to offer tasks linked to artificial intelligence. Like others, Apple is interested in AI and Tim Cook confirmed its arrival when announcing the company’s financial results. For our part, we remain cautious about this trend which is not in Apple’s habits.
Finally, Apple could accompany its slates with a new Magic Keyboard and a new Apple Pencil. The stylus was the only product related to the iPad to have undergone an update in 2023. The main new feature would be the introduction of haptic feedback in order to improve the experience with the tablet. The new Pencil should also work with the Find My app, making it easier to find. The approach would be similar to that used with AirPods and AirTags.
A new iPad Air to accompany the iPad Pros
This event should also make it possible to update the iPad Air. The technical developments would be slimmer, even if we can expect the arrival of the M2 chip. A new large-format 12.9-inch iPad Air could also see the light of day, and this model could inherit the mini-LED panel currently offered on the large iPad Pros. A fairly logical scheme from Cupertino which could also rework the connectivity of its tablet and its photo part.
With all these improvements, a price increase cannot be ruled out on these new generations of iPad. On the other hand, we should not wait for new iPad 11 or iPad mini 7. These tablets, more affordable, should not arrive before the fall.
All this information will have to be confirmed on May 7, at an unusual time for Apple. The announcement will take place at 4 p.m., not 7 p.m., which suggests a new format for the presentation. It will be possible to follow the event from the Apple website, the TV app or on YouTube. As a reminder, Apple will also organize its WWDC 2024 conference from June 10 to 14.
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