Kuo: Larger 12.9-inch iPad Air Coming Early 2024 Amid Lineup Refresh

[darngooddesign]

I’m trying to remember and I sell the damned things. Uh…it could be the M2 Air 13 was initially $1499 CAN and now it’s $1449, but I ‘m not sure when that happened. Wait, it could be when they introduced the M2 MBA 15 at $1749.

At launch in CA
13" M2Air - $1500
14" M2-ProPro was $2000

Now
13" M2Air - $1450
15" M2Air - $1750
14" M2ProPro - $2000

So apple still dropped the 13"s CA price to fit the 15", but not as much as they did in the US. To make up for it you get universal healthcare.

 

[Abazigal]

Sounds like the iPhone, Macbook and now ipad are getting two sizes, each of which comes in normal and pro version. A cheaper iPad with a larger display sounds pretty attractive indeed.

 

[zombierunner]

What does larger 12.9 inch mean? It is 12.9 inch already. Will it be larger than 12.9 inch?

 

[Warped9]

The previous M2 MBP 14 was $2499. The current M3 MBP 14 is $2099 (M3), $2349 (M3 Pro) and $2699 (M3 Max).

 

[snipr125]

It still seems like the lack of an iPad Air update this year is akin to the lack of an update for the iMac — meaning the iPad Air will go from M1 to M3. The primary differentiator between the iPad Air & Pro will be LED vs OLED.

I dont think that will happen as its quite clear that Apple is now offering the new Chips in the 'Pro' devices first, and keeping Mid Range 'Air' products with the previous gen chips for further differentiation. They have done this with the iPhones and now the Macs (MBA was not updated to the M3 at the halloween event on purpose).

 

[Seanm87]

Sounds like no one’s buying the pro models and air is unsurprisingly more popular.

Mini LED has been an utter failure of a tech, Apple knew it was a terrible stopgap and that’s why the 11” pro never got it.

Not true. The 11 inch didn't get it because they didn't want to add weight to whats usually more considered a mobile device compared to the 12.9 inch. Apple confirmed this in an interview.

 

[Krypton Deer]

Will Apple release the M3 iPad Air 12.9 with 64GB base storage? Since iCloud is so integrated into the iPadOS, 64GB on the M3 iPad Air is probably analogous to 128GB on other systems and iPad users just happen to be able to use their storage much more efficiently. /s

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Sounds like no one’s buying the pro models and air is unsurprisingly more popular.

Mini LED has been an utter failure of a tech, Apple knew it was a terrible stopgap and that’s why the 11” pro never got it.

An utter failure of a tech? My 14" MacBook Pro screen would like a word with you.

 

[brofkand]

They need to give iPadOS more capability before I'll consider another iPad, personally. The chips in iPads basically sit around doing nothing until the machine is recycled.

 

[nerdAFK]

Another iPad variant!
Yes! That's exactly what iPad users want!
Rather than an actual useful OS

 

[Warped9]

Rather than an actual useful OS

Only on MR do I hear some complain about iPad OS. Whats the beef—because it’s not Mac OS? The iPad is not intended as a laptop or desktop substitute.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Oh good just what people asked for. Another iPad SKU

 

[snow755]

Will the 11” Pro get a micro LED display?

Google is your friend and thats where you find the answer to that

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Only on MR do I hear some complain about iPad OS. Whats the beef—because it’s not Mac OS? The iPad is not intended as a laptop or desktop substitute.

Because the hardware inside the tablet is held back by the OS. It’s such a powerful system that is mostly going to waste.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Sounds like no one’s buying the pro models and air is unsurprisingly more popular.

Mini LED has been an utter failure of a tech, Apple knew it was a terrible stopgap and that’s why the 11” pro never got it.

The 11 never got it because it was an upsell feature for the 12.9.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

priced like the current ipp 12.9 i'm betting (perhaps a bit exaggerated though this is purely an extrapolation from future ipad lineup with ipp oled prices hike by 60% or so iirc)

 

[timber]

The only iPad worth buying is the cheapest.
All are compromised by the OS and the more you pay the more ridiculous the deal looks compared with a MB.
Yes, there are some special use cases for larger pro iPads.

 

[darngooddesign]

What does larger 12.9 inch mean? It is 12.9 inch already. Will it be larger than 12.9 inch?

I think they said 'larger 12.9 Pro' instead of "larger larger Pro".

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

This is the problem with the iPad lineup, not enough models. This sixteenth model should fix that.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Will Apple release the M3 iPad Air 12.9 with 64GB base storage? Since iCloud is so integrated into the iPadOS, 64GB on the M3 iPad Air is probably analogous to 128GB on other systems and iPad users just happen to be able to use their storage much more efficiently. /s

12.9” iPad Air will have an M2, not M3 and will start with 64GB storage and will be priced at $799. The 256GB version will start at $949.

I noted the /s, but I’m being serious.

 

[swiftapplefan]

Keep only the iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro. iPad would keep the same features and screen size as it does now, but it will get a little bit cheaper. The iPad Air would stay as it is, and it’ll have three screen sizes: the 12.9, the 11 and the iPad Mini would become the smaller one. Give the iPad Pro a more professionalOS, more ports and the newest chip and release it three sizes: Mini, Normal and Plus.

 

[swiftapplefan]

Keep only the iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro. iPad would keep the same features and screen size as it does now, but it will get a little bit cheaper. The iPad Air would stay as it is, and it’ll have three screen sizes: the 12.9, the 11 and the iPad Mini would become the smaller one. Give the iPad Pro a more professionalOS, more ports and the newest chip and release it three sizes: Mini, Normal and Plus.

Oh, and don’t use those iPhone monikers (Plus, Max). It will just be iPad, Air and Pro and then you can select the size at checkout.

 

[eicca]

Still crippled by a glorified phone operating system.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I feel like we’ve heard this rumor last week.

I think I’d still prefer an iPad Pro even if it’s just for Face ID. I have this weird problem with my fingerprints where Touch ID will stop working after a week or two (this happened with every Touch ID device I’ve owned). I just ended up completely disabling it on my MacBook.

Unless there’s something extra special about an M3(?) iPad Air, someone might just be better off getting a refurbished M1 iPad Pro. I’d imagine they’d be right around the same price.

I kind of wish they’d simplify the iPad lineup a little bit. My mom asked me what kind of iPad she should get next. For the first time, I had to tell her I really didn’t know.

 

[Krypton Deer]

12.9” iPad Air will have an M2, not M3 and will start with 64GB storage and will be priced at $799. The 256GB version will start at $949.

I noted the /s, but I’m being serious.

Make sense. The current $300 difference is from Pro 11 not having mini-LED. The M3 Pro will become $899/$1099 or up with the new display.

Then Air with the old display will stay at $599/$799. Not sure about M2 or M3 - that would make no difference to iPadOS experience anyways.