Apple is organizing a new conference on May 7at four p.m. (Paris time). During the event, we expect to discover new tablets, seen in the heart of persistent rumors since the spring. We think thata stylusand perhaps a Magic Keyboard wireless keyboard are also for iPad Pros. The release date of the Apple Vision Pro for the European continent could also be confirmed occasionally. But many highly anticipated new features should not be seen during this Apple Event, particularly on the iPad side, in fact.
This is exactly what is being discussed here, without mentioning in detailthe anticipated new developments, on the contrary, to be on the front page of the keynoteLet Loose. Make yourself comfortable, we're off.
No new “classic” iPad
To begin with, know that we should not discover a “classic” eleventh generation iPad this year.Only iPad Pros and iPad Airswould thus be on their way for May 7, it seems. However, there is indeed a basic tablet in the works, from Apple. But this could only be announced at the end of the year, according to rumors previously reported by the journalist fromBloombergMark Gurman, who has often been right in the past.
At the same time, we assume that Apple could also revisit the tenth generation iPad currently available and released in October 2022. A more affordable version could thus see the light of day, again later. September could be suitable, because the manufacturer generally organizes a keynote there to also launch high-end iPhones.
No new iPad mini
Along with the “classic” iPad, it is also the iPad mini which should not be renewed during the keynoteLet Loose. However, a new generation would also be in the pipelinefor the end of the year, according to rumor. It should then be the seventh. We do not yet know its technical sheet at the moment.
As a reminder, the sixth generation iPad mini available today has an 8.3-inch panel and was released in 2021. With a mass of less than three hundred grams, it is not only the smallest tablet, but also the lightest from Apple. A compact format very popular with restaurateurs, but which, contrary to what one might believe, does not appeal more to those with reduced budgets. And for good reason: despite a smaller panel, the device is more expensive than the tenth generation iPad. However, among the subcontractors who design Apple's touch displays, these are the most expensive parts of all those that make up a tablet.
No new iPad range
If you are a regular at our columns, you are probably aware that Apple plans to unveil a15-inch iPad XL, some sources even mentioning the case of a 20-inch tablet. Several reasons could explain this, starting with the development of a folding screen as Samsung or Google already offer today, on smartphones. Respectively with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Pixel Fold – among others.
The concern for the May 7 keynote is that these three supposed products are not expected to be released for a while. More precisely, several years would separate us from their commercialization. Suffice it to say, too late for next month.
The iPad XL could in particular be dedicated to the living room, with a value proposition close to that of the Nest Hub Max (Alphabet) or that of the Meta Portal and other Amazon Echo Show 10. Understand that an imposing speaker could be associated with the tablet, and that it would also serve as a control panel for the smarthome with HomeKit.
No other Apple product category in the spotlight
If the iPad ecosystem will probably be the only one highlighted during the Apple keynote, this would therefore be synonymous with an absence of most of the brand's other product categories during the conference. Particularly Macs, some models of which have been awaiting renewal for several quarters now. This is for example the case ofMac mini, which does not yet have an M3 version, or Mac Studio. These devices could wait until WWDC to be announced, while we will probably have to wait until September for new iPhones.
The exception is the Apple Vision Pro, since as mentioned previously, the American mixed reality headset should have a release date for the European market during the keynote. The schedule in question has not yet been leaked, but other regions are apparently concerned, including China which would be entitled to the device before next year.
Neither AirPods nor HomePod are also expected during the keynote, which should therefore really focus on new iPads and the Apple Pencil. In any case, this is what the various official images of the event, recently shared by its organizer, suggest. We thus recognize sometimes the silhouette of the stylus, sometimes the curves which seem to result from its movements. Judge for yourself:
© Capture of the Apple.com site by iPhon.fr
No new software features?
The main new software products announced by Apple this year will certainly be announced during theWorldwide Developer Conference, from June 10 at 7 p.m. (Paris time). During this event, organized at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, we should be able to learn more about the improvements to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, as well as the update to visionOS 2 for the Vision Pro.
It is possible that Apple will also unveil watchOS 11, but this update would not be the most provided. At the same time, tvOS 17 as well as macOS 15 are also expected. It sometimes happens that the publisher also presents new features for the software of its wireless headphones, the AirPods, or for its connected speaker, the HomePod. But we don't know if this will also be the case at WWDC 2024.
No price drop
As the iPad Pro M4s will undoubtedly be equipped with a panelOLED, it is very likely that these will be more expensive than their predecessors. And for good reason; This display technology requires a greater investment from Apple, in favor of its subcontractors.
However, price reductions had taken place with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, compared to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. This revaluation follows a certain inflation, since the 2022 smartphones were on the other hand more affordable than the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro.
The iPad notch is long overdue
The patents which suggest that Apple is working on a notch for the iPad, finally, have not been followed by clues concerning a supposed commercialization soon. It is therefore difficult to know if or when we will be entitled to this new feature. But you may have to wait several years before being entitled to it.
In the meantime, Macs and iPhones are already equipped withnotch.
- No iPad mini or “classic” iPad should see the light of day on May 7
- The keynote will also not be the opportunity to discover iPadOS 18, which will probably require waiting until WWDC
- The price of iPad Pro and iPad Air may seriously increase
- Still no notch on iPad, in 2024, it seems
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By : Keleops AG
