2024 will be a busy year for Apple and for iPad users. In any case, this is what Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst renowned for his knowledge of the Apple ecosystem, thinks. In an article published on Medium (free account required), Kuo presented his predictions for the iPad market next year, focusing on the new versions of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, of the iPad Mini and the classic iPad.
What’s new on iPad Pros in 2024?
According to the analyst, the screens of the 11-inch and 12.9-inch Pro models in 2024 will switch from LED and mini-LED to OLED, respectively. An evolution that promises more accurate colors, higher contrast, better sharpness, higher refresh rates and lower power consumption.
The new iPad Pros will be equipped with Apple’s M3 processor. They are currently equipped with the M2 processor. Mr. Kuo also indicated that the tablets will feature a new form factor, although he did not specify the exact changes to come.
The OLED screen of the new Pro versions will adopt the Tandem LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) design. This is the same process that is used on the iPhone 15 Pro smartphones.
This means that new OLED tablets will outperform current LED and mini-LED models in display performance and power consumption.
The new iPad Pros were initially expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2024. But Kuo said production issues with OLED panel modules delayed the launch until late in the first quarter or even into the second quarter of the year. year 2024.
According to Mr. Kuo, the price has not yet been set. If the price of the new 10.9-inch iPad Air remains the same and the new 12.9-inch Air is naturally more expensive than its smaller cousin, Apple will have to maintain a price gap between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. In this case, the Pro models could see a price increase.
Shipments of the new iPad Pros will be between 6 and 8 million units in 2024, Kuo predicts. Shipments will be slightly lower than existing Pro models, due to their higher price and possible cannibalization by the 12.9-inch iPad Air.
What’s new on iPad Airs in 2024?
As for the iPad Air, two new versions of this model are expected to be produced during the first quarter of 2024, according to Kuo.
The 12.9-inch iPad Air is a brand new model. Although it will retain LEDs instead of switching to mini-LEDs, it will use an oxide backplane (the same as the current mini-LED iPad Pro).
The 10.9-inch iPad Air will use an a-Si (amorphous silicon) backplane. Oxide backplanes provide better display performance than a-Si backplanes.
What’s new on iPad Minis in 2024?
Mr. Kuo did not provide concrete details about the 2024 iPad mini. His only prediction is that mass production of next year’s iPad mini model will be delayed until the second quarter, which is a change from to the previous estimate for the first quarter.
What’s new on the classic iPad in 2024?
The new 11th generation iPad will also enter mass production in the second quarter of next year, while the 9th generation model, released in 2021, will reach its end of life before the end of 2024.
Mr. Kuo estimates that overall iPad shipments will be between 52 million and 54 million next year, up from 50 million this year but down from 63 million shipments in 2022. have fallen from the peak in 2022 due to lower demand from remote workers and changing user experience around entertainment and productivity.
Although Kuo’s report is naturally based on his own forecasts rather than information announced by Apple, the analyst has a reputation for accuracy. Through his contacts in Apple’s supply chain, Kuo proved he could provide reliable information about upcoming Apple products.
Apple hasn’t unveiled a new tablet since 2022, making 2023 the first year without a new iPad since 2010. The last update for the iPad and iPad Pro was in October 2022, that of the iPad Air to March 2022 and that of the iPad mini to September 2021.
Tablet deliveries down
The global tablet market has seen better days, with shipments down 14.2% in the third quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago, according to IDC. Waiting until next year to release new versions of the iPad could work in Apple’s favor, provided the market improves.
“Tablets have unfortunately always found themselves in an awkward middle position between PCs and smartphones, which continues to put downward pressure on the market,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research director at IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers .
“However, the most successful tablet makers have realized that the tablet works best when paired with a PC or smartphone, and so we expect other tablet makers to follow suit by offering a more unified software experience and services, although this will take some time to come to fruition.
Source: “ZDNet.com”