Several iPad models are reportedly coming out in the coming months
By the end of this year, we could at least see more new Apple devices as Apple seems to be planning to release several iPad models in the coming months. These include the iPad mini 7 and two new iPad Air models, 9to5Mac claims, citing sources.
Analyst Ming Chi Kuo reported at the end of last year that Apple is working on a new iPad mini device, which is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024. This information is now confirmed by the aforementioned portal, but the exact timings other than “soon” and no more.
When it comes to design, the new iPad mini will most likely be the same as the current generation, but it will have a faster chip. The current iPad mini 6 was introduced in September 2021, and is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the same one found inside the iPhone 13 phone.
The tenth-generation iPad was introduced last year with a similar design to the iPad Air, but with an A14 Bionic chip inside. It's also likely that the new entry-level iPad will only get spec upgrades compared to the current model.
New iPad Air and M3 iPad Pro
Rumors about the iPad Air series indicate that Apple seems to have slightly more ambitious plans for its mid-range tablet. The company is reportedly experimenting with two new versions codenamed J507 and J508, and the iPad Air 6 is likely to replace the iPad Air 5 with a new chip.
AppleThese models are consistent with what Bloomberg reported in June of this year. However, the company also worked on other iPad devices that were then identified as the J537 and J538, and were based on the iPad Air model. For example, the only iPad that currently has more than one version is the iPad Pro because it comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch diagonal sizes, so there are two models for each version.
Details are still unclear at this point, but it suggests that Apple may be considering introducing a larger version of the iPad Air or a more expensive model with better specs. Of course, plans can change and this second version of the new iPad Air model will never see the light of day.
If that happens, however, a new generation of iPad Pro tablets with an M3 chip is reportedly on the way. These devices are identified as J717 and J718 for the 11-inch models and J720 and J721 for the larger models.
Redesigned “Magic Keyboard”
Well-known journalist Mark Gurman reported last month that Apple is developing a new magic keyboard for the iPad that will make it look more like a laptop. The structure would be made of aluminum instead of plastic, and the trackpad would be larger.
In addition to Gurman, 9to5Mac's sources also confirm this information. New Magic Keyboard – The Magic Keyboard is internally called the R219, and its version is reportedly codenamed R1x and is equipped with new sensors, including an accelerometer.
The keyboard should be presented together with the new iPad Pro tablet. The operating system that all new tablets should have will be the upcoming version of iPadOS 17, which means that the devices will be released between now and next year's WWDC conference in June.