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Cupertino, California, USA
iPad Air is expected to get a new 12.9-inch model like the Pro this year
iPad Air and Pro 2024 models are expected to be announced by Apple in the first week of May and the new model has got people excited.
Apple is rumoured to bring the iPad Air model in two sizes this year. The next generation iPad Air, which is set to release next month alongside the new iPad Pro, is said to be emulating its Pro line for the first time. While the next iPad Pro will switch to OLED for its screen technology, it is expected that the upcoming larger iPad Air might feature a mini-LED display, similar to the one used in the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro generation.
Analyst Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) shared this information on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The move to Mini LED for the 12.9” iPad Air will provide users with increased brightness for HDR content, lower battery consumption, and deeper blacks compared to the current iPad Air’s IPS LCD technology.
Young revealed that the next generation 12.9-inch iPad Air would use some leftover mini-LED display panels produced from the current-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro production. The upcoming 10.9-inch iPad Air will continue to use the standard LCD panel. The lack of existing inventory of 10.9-inch mini-LED display panels suggests that this smaller variant will continue to employ the same technology.
In addition to that, the upcoming iPad Pro will include M3 processors, a slimmer design, and possibly MagSafe charging. It is also expected to include OLED displays, offering higher contrast ratios and true blacks. The iPad Air series is also said to introduce a larger 12.9-inch model equipped with an M2 processor.
The tech giant is also expected to introduce a new Magic Keyboard and an Apple Pencil. Pro versions are expected to come with a price rise, with the 12.9-inch model starting at around $1,500 (approximately Rs 125,000). The 12.9-inch iPad Air, which features an M2 processor and conventional display, will be a more affordable alternative.
Other than the new iPads, Apple could also introduce a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro along with the launch of new iPads. This new keyboard is likely to feature a larger trackpad, a partially aluminium enclosure, and other design changes. Moreover, it seems like a new Apple Pencil is also on the cards on the same day as new iPad models.
