It’s been more than two years since Apple released a new iPad Air, so it’s starting to look like the company is due for an update. That seems even more likely now that some companies are selling accessories for an iPad Air that we’ve never seen before.
Specifically, attentive 9to5Mac readers recently noticed that accessory maker ESR now sells cases on Amazon designed to fit a 12.9-inch iPad Air. This falls in line with other reports we’ve heard about a possible 2024 iPad Air release, notably that it will be the first iPad Air model to debut with the standard 10-inch design and a larger 12.9-inch version.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that the launch of the new iPad Air will likely arrive in May, so this latest news isn’t a surprise.
If true, that would mean the new iPad Air 2024 will come with a screen size that will rival that of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. And since it would presumably come with at least the same Apple M2 chip that powers the current iPad Pro if not the even more powerful Apple M3 chip. Some analysts have even suggested that the iPad Air 2024 could have a mini-LED display, offering brightness and visual quality that rivals OLED.
If that happens, the $599 (to start) iPad Air could suddenly become a serious rival to the iPad Pro, which starts at $799 for the 11-inch model or $1,099 for the 12.9-inch model. But of course, the iPad Pro will also likely receive a new model in 2024 with some updates we haven’t confirmed yet, including a possible OLED display, so perhaps the 2024 12.9-inch iPad Pro will retain significant advantages over the iPad Air. 2024.
Even if Apple makes minimal changes to the Pro line while launching a faster and larger iPad Air 2024, it still won’t be able to match all the features of the iPad Pros. The most notable trade-off for opting for the iPad Air over the Pro is a less impressive camera array, as modern iPad Pros come with a LiDAR scanner in the rear camera array, while iPad Airs do not.
Indeed, this discrepancy remains in the cases that we have seen for sale for a 12.9-inch iPad Air since they only have a small cutout. But that helps solidify our hunch that these 12.9-inch iPad Air cases are legitimately based on a real product, rather than just being 12.9-inch iPad Pro cases rebranded as 2024 iPad Air cases for a rapid boost in sales.
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After no iPad will be released in 2023, Apple is set to start releasing new tablets in 2024. The iPad Air seems like a great option as it is a popular mid-range iPad that hasn’t been updated since it got a shot M1 in 2022.
A 12.9-inch model makes a lot of sense, offering the extra size of an iPad Pro at a (hopefully significantly) cheaper price. I happen to have a 12.9-inch iPad Pro model here with me, and while the extra screen real estate is great, the size and weight of the tablet make it a little tiring to hold for long periods. Perhaps a 12.9-inch iPad Air could be a compelling alternative by being just as large and somewhat lighter, although the weight difference between the 10-inch iPad Air and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is only half a pound.
Whatever changes Apple makes, it’s likely to release some new tablets this year, and we may get our first taste of what’s coming at WWDC 2024 in June. Stay tuned!
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