So far, the The biggest surprise about the May 7th “Let Loose” event is that it’s happening at all. Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is just over a month away, and yet the company decided there was enough news to warrant a standalone event. iPads (including the iPad Pro and iPad Air) will be the focus, while the neglected Apple Pencil finally gets some love. It was, after all, the focus of the event’s invitation.
Rumors have also started swirling around a possible M4 announcement. If true, it would represent a key shift in Apple’s silicon release pace, though that hasn’t exactly been consistent over the year. The likely reason for the change is Microsoft’s expected first-party, ARM-based silicon release at its Build conference at the end of the month. Speculation is that Microsoft’s AI-focused silicon will smoke Apple’s M3 chips.
It’s only been seven months since Apple announced a trio of M3 chips. That’s a quick turnaround for a replacement chip, but keep in mind that the company was believed to be working toward a more staggered release schedule last year, only to have those plans derailed by some ongoing supply chain issues. Perhaps this rescheduling could announce additional M4 SKUs during WWDC in a month.
Meanwhile, it’s possible that, for the first time, the latest chip could appear in an iPad first — specifically the iPad Pro. At the very least, the high-end iPad needs to be refreshed. The latest model, which features the M2 chip, will be released towards the end of 2022. Apple has spent the last several years blurring the line between the iPad and the Mac, so why not let the tablet get its hands on it first? new silicon for a change ;
The other big change to the Pro is said to be the long-awaited upgrade to an OLED screen. Bloomberg suggests that this can’t be done soon enough, as the tablet category is “in a deep funk right now”. Certainly the days of the iPad, one of Apple’s superstar devices, seem mostly behind us.
Image Credits: Matthew Panzarino
The company continues to dominate the category, but the tablet had a rough 2023, giving Apple a big slice of an ever-shrinking pie. Canalys says the overall market down 10% last year. Given the slow launch of the Vision Pro, Apple could really use a shot right now — although a redesigned iPad doesn’t really fit the bill.
A pair of new iPad Airs are said to arrive in 11- and 12.9-inch versions. Current rumor still has the more affordable models getting an M2 chip – if the M4 arrives next week, though, maybe they’ll get an extra bump too.
For what remains a relatively niche device, the Apple Pencil is apparently ready for the close-up. The stylus is said to get a new updated compression detection feature (which was earlier reported on an iPad). Haptic feedback could be on the docket as well, along with interchangeable magnet tips. Find My support could arrive as well — a welcome addition for a perennially misplaced peripheral. Speaking of blurring the lines between iPad and Mac, Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard makes the tablet look even more like a laptop than before.
Image Credits: apple
As for the Macs themselves, with the arrival of the M4, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see the company sneak in a PC refresh or two. It seems just as — or even more — likely that Apple is saving major additions to the Mac line for WWDC in June.
The event is early for you West Coasters. Starts at 7 am. PT/10 a.m. ET. You can watch it live here and stay tuned to TechCrunch for news as it comes out.
