On May 7, Apple will hold its first official Apple Event of the year. Which new products will the Cupertino-based company have in store for its users?
Brand new iPad models and iPad accessories like an all-new Apple Pencil, based on the roundup of leaks and rumors we’ve collected about the event.
Apple is calling the event, dubbed “Let Loose,” a “different kind of Apple event,” but it’s unclear what it means by that.
Apple events typically occur within specific time frames, such as June for WWDC and September for iPhones. Apple doesn’t normally hold an event in May. The last time it held an Apple event that didn’t fit its routine schedule was the “Scary Fast” livestream, when the M3 MacBooks were unveiled, on the evening before Halloween.
Although we already have a pretty good idea of what Apple will drop on Tuesday, Gurman has pulled together a last-minute report to solidify his predictions for the upcoming event. Here is his final forecast ahead of the livestream:
A new iPad Pro
Apple’s graphic for the “Let Loose” Apple Event showcases an image of a hand holding a pencil, so it seems pretty obvious that this event will focus on the iPad and its relevant accessories.
However, according to Gurman, Apple will likely focus on two specific new models of iPads. First up, the “star” of the event, the iPad Pro.
Gurman says that the new iPad Pro will be the first iPad with an OLED display, which will improve the iPad’s image quality and probably result in a thinner device. Apple will release two versions, an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch one.
While this has yet to be confirmed, there is a chance that these new Apple iPad Pros will be the very first Apple devices with Apple’s brand new M4 chipset. The M4 chip is set to start rolling out across Apple’s computer and mobile device lines through this year and next and is believed to play a major role in Apple’s coming AI focus.
iPad Air refresh
The “mid-tier” iPad, the iPad Air, will also get a refresh.
While not as much of a leap from its predecessor as the iPad Pro, it does seem like Apple will be offering the usual 10.9-inch model as well as an all-new 12.9-inch version of the device.
The iPad Air is expected to be powered by the M2 chip, which Apple first released in 2022 with the M2 MacBook Air.
Updated Apple Pencil
As previously mentioned, Apple’s graphic for the event predominantly features a pencil, so a new Apple Pencil release seems pretty locked in.
According to Bloomberg, the new Apple Pencil is an update of the higher-end model which launched in 2018 — not the lower-end version which was updated just least year.
This new premium Apple Pencil will include haptic feedback, meaning users will feel a “vibration-like effect” while using the device, matching whatever action it is that they are performing on the iPad.
Gurman says another new feature likely to be added will allow users to perform tasks with the Apple Pencil by applying pressure to the device with their hand by squeezing it.
Magic Keyboard for iPad
It also appears that these new iPad models will launch with a brand new Magic Keyboard for iPads as well.
The new version will still come with an iPad case, keyboard, and trackpad but will be “more durable” as it will use aluminum and look “more laptop-like.”
A smaller event but Apple has more to come
This does appear to be a much smaller Apple Event than usual, however, it’s not out of the ordinary for Apple to hold device-specific events, especially in recent years.
A new iPad Mini, the iPad model that hasn’t been updated at all since 2021, isn’t expected yet. Neither is a new base iPad model. New MacBooks aren’t expected to be part of the event either.
There is a chance Apple will tease new AI features, especially if the iPad Pro model features the M4 chip. However, Apple will save most, if not all, of its AI announcements for the big WWDC event in June.
