Apple Launches iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air to Revive Sales
According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple Inc. is making preparations to launch multiple new models and upgrades in early 2022 in an effort to counter the decline in sales of Mac and iPad devices.
The work includes upgrading the iPad Air, iPad Pro and MacBook Air, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the products have not been disclosed. The new iPad Air comes in two sizes for the first time, and the Pro model gets OLED screens – short for organic light emitting diode. The MacBook Air, on the other hand, has a faster M3 processor.
Mac and iPad account for a total of 15 percent of Apple’s revenue, and they have been particularly hard hit by the decline in consumer technology spending. The iPad’s collapse has been compounded by the lack of new models. In fact, 2023 is the first calendar year in the product’s history when no new versions were released.
There have been Mac releases over the past year, but this market is facing a broader PC retreat due to the pandemic cost boom. Mac sales fell 34% last quarter to $7.61 billion, while iPad revenue fell 10% to $6.44 billion. They also make up a smaller part of Apple’s total sales these days, with services – once a minuscule part – now making up a much bigger part.
Apple is waiting with new models to help revive demand next year. According to people familiar with the plans, the iPads and accessories are expected to be released in late March — alongside iPadOS 17.4. Macs are developed together with macOS 14.3. This software update will likely be released between the end of January and February, but the hardware may not ship until March.
It’s not unusual for Apple to hold Mac and iPad launch events around March. A spokesman for the Cupertino, California-based company declined to comment on the company’s plans.
The iPad Air, the company’s mid-range tablet, currently comes with a 10.9-inch screen. For next year’s launch, the company will add a version that’s about 12.9 inches, which is the same size as the currently largest iPad Pro. The company is preparing four models – codenamed J507, J508, J537 and J538 – which will offer Wi-Fi only and mobile versions of both sizes.
The increased screen size of the iPad Air is part of a strategy to offer more options at different prices. It allows consumers to get a larger screen without having to pay for the iPad Pro, which costs several hundred dollars more. This approach mirrors Apple’s strategy with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The new Pro models are currently scheduled to be announced at the same time as the iPad Air. OLED screens display a wider range of colors and give the company’s tablets the same display technology that has been used in the iPhone since 2017. The high-end tablet will get the M3 chip that was introduced with the MacBook Pro in October.
The company is planning four new iPad Pro models, codenamed J717, J718, J720, and J721, with roughly 11- and 13-inch screen sizes and both Wi-Fi-only and cellular configurations.
Apple’s new iPad Pro will be the first update to the product since the current design was introduced in 2018. The company had previously made smaller changes to the line, including bringing chips from Macs and adding new cameras. These more expensive tablets — which can top $2,000 for the highest storage capacity — are a key part of Apple’s push to generate more revenue from the iPad.
The company is also preparing updated versions of the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories, which it will sell alongside the new iPad Pro. The new Pencil – codenamed B532 – represents the third generation of the product. The company released a new low-cost model in November.
The new Magic Keyboards – codenamed R418 and R428 – make the iPad Pro look more like a laptop and have a sturdier aluminum frame. The latest MacBook Airs – codenamed J613 and J615 – will continue to come in 13- and 15-inch versions. The main focus there is adding an M3 chip.
In addition to these product lines, Apple also plans to release Vision Pro headphones early next year. Later in 2024, it will work on an updated Apple Watch with a blood pressure sensor and an update to the iPad mini. There’s a new cheaper iPad and bigger high-end iPhones, as well as revamped low-end and mid-range AirPods that add a USB-C port.
