Based on latest reviews from Bloomberg, Apple will likely be releasing one other iPad Air with “inside enhancements” as early as spring 2025.
The iPad Air was simply refreshed with M2 earlier this yr, that means there’d be round 12 months between refreshes, somewhat than the standard 18-24 months between iPad Air refreshes. With such a brief turnaround time, it leaves you questioning: what is going to Apple really be updating in these iPads?
New Magic Keyboard
On the very least, Apple is reportedly designing a model new Magic Keyboard particularly for iPad Air. At present, the iPad Air makes use of the unique Magic Keyboard design that was launched in 2020 with the iPad Professional. Since then, the bottom mannequin iPad has obtained a brand new Magic Keyboard Folio, and the iPad Professional has a brand new aluminum Magic Keyboard.
Based on Gurman, the brand new Magic Keyboard ought to have a brand new perform row, much like the aforementioned iPad Keyboards. Nonetheless, in contrast to the brand new iPad Professional Magic Keyboard, this Magic Keyboard for iPad Air is not going to have an aluminum high case.
Hopefully, this new iPad Air Magic Keyboard can have a decrease beginning worth. At present, the older Magic Keyboard and iPad Professional Magic Keyboard have the identical beginning worth of $299 for 11″ and $349 for 13″, even if the iPad Professional Magic Keyboard is way superior.
New chip?
In Gurman’s preliminary report, no particulars have been specified relating to the chip. Nonetheless, it’s fairly unlikely that Apple would replace the iPad Air and go away the very same chipset inside. That leaves a number of prospects:
- M2 chip w/ 10 core GPU
- M3 chip
- M4 chip (possible binned model)
At present, the iPad Air has the M2 chip, though a binned model with a 9 core GPU. It’s attainable that Apple may merely replace the iPad to have the complete 10 core GPU model of the M2 chip. It’d be a small replace, however a risk.
Apple may additionally implement the M3 chip within the subsequent iPad Air, though that’s unlikely. Apple is seemingly making an attempt to maneuver away from the primary era 3nm course of as shortly as attainable, because of excessive prices and low yields. Perhaps producing the M3 chip only for one mid vary iPad could be effective, although price remains to be a priority.
Final however not least, Apple may implement a model of the M4 chip within the iPad Air. At present, the bottom mannequin iPad Professionals have an M4 chip with a 9 core CPU and 10 core GPU, whereas the iPad Professionals with at the least 1TB of storage have the complete 10 core GPU and 10 core GPU.
Mark Gurman has beforehand reported that Apple is planning a binned model of the M4 chip with an 8 core CPU and eight core GPU. Apple may select to make use of this binned M4 chip within the subsequent iPad Air. iPad Air and iPad Professional have by no means each contained the most recent Apple Silicon, however maybe the less cores could be ok for Apple to ship the M4 within the iPad Air so quickly.
Different potential enhancements
This part is extra speculative, however there are some enhancements Apple has been making with different merchandise that we may probably see within the 2025 iPad Air:
- 600 nits of brightness normal (at present unique to the 13-inch M2 iPad Air, 11-inch mannequin remains to be 500 nits)
- Wi-Fi 7 help, launched on the iPhone 16 lineup
- Rear LED flash (launched on iPad mini in 2021, nonetheless by no means carried out on iPad Air)
- Thunderbolt help (unique to iPad Professional at present)
- Higher mic array
Are you wanting ahead to the brand new iPad Air refresh in 2025? Do you assume this refresh will likely be price it? Tell us within the feedback.
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