The present iPad Air was launched in March final 12 months, including the M1 chip, Heart Stage on the front-facing digicam, a sooner USB-C port, and a number of other new coloration choices, nevertheless it was nonetheless a reasonably minor improve over the earlier mannequin from September 2020. As we close to a 12 months for the reason that fifth-generation iPad Air was launched, what can customers anticipate from the sixth-generation mannequin?
As of 2023, it has been a while for the reason that iPad Air had a serious {hardware} refresh. But as a result of its positioning between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Professional, it’s not instantly clear what a brand new iPad Air mannequin might acquire with out cannibalizing the iPad Professional. There have been few concrete rumors in regards to the options the subsequent iPad Air will supply as but, so the general image of what to anticipate continues to be fluid. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has stated that an iPad Air replace this 12 months with a minor “spec bump” will not be out of the query, suggesting that the improve might be pretty iterative, concentrating on a number of small however vital areas.
A chip improve is essentially the most sure function coming to the subsequent iPad Air. The iPad Air at the moment comprises the M1 chip. There have been no reviews about what chip the next-generation iPad Air will function, however by early 2024, the M2 chip may have been within the iPad Professional for over a 12 months, that means that the chip must be greater than appropriate for the iPad Air. There may be even the likelihood that it might skip the M2 and get the M3 chip as an alternative, relying on timing.
A minor spec bump can be prone to embrace upgrades to the entrance and rear cameras, doubtlessly bringing options like Photonic Engine to the iPad for the primary time. ProRes video recording, Audio zoom, stereo audio recording, Portrait mode, and Portrait Lighting help are all believable upgrades on this space.
A horizontally oriented front-facing digicam and a Thunderbolt port are among the many different potential options for the sixth-generation iPad Air. The most recent iPad Professional fashions introduced connectivity upgrades like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to the iPad for the primary time. By 2024, these capabilities might be overdue to make their technique to the iPad Air. Equally, Apple Pencil hover, one other iPad Professional-exclusive function, might lastly trickle all the way down to the iPad Air in 2024.
A brand new iPad Air launching this 12 months is definitely extra possible than a brand new iPad Professional rising, however Apple traditionally has solely up to date the gadget round each two years. Whereas a refresh so as to add the M2 chip is feasible in 2023, it might be extra possible that Apple will once more wait two years to replace the gadget and goal 2024 for a extra worthwhile improve.
2023 seems to be shaping as much as be a quiet 12 months for iPad {hardware} refreshes, and whereas it’s attainable we might see some new fashions, the present image means that new iPads this 12 months are unlikely on the entire. 2024, however, is wanting like it is going to be a way more vital 12 months for the iPad lineup.