Anyway, I've been thinking about it lately, and I don't know if you have this feeling-
Apple's new products last year, is there a little bit less?
Of course, to be specific, mobile phones, watches, and computers are still out as usual, only the tablet is too quiet, except for the iPad 10 eSIM version that was launched in October last year, Apple has not released any new iPad in the real sense.
If you break down the days, the last iPad new update, we have to go back to October 2022, more than 400 days ago. In other words, Apple's iPad product line was almost shut down last year, and 2023 has become a blank page in the history of the iPad.
(Source: Lei Technology)
You know, since the release of the original iPad in 2010, Apple's iPad product line has been updated every year, although the upgrade is not large, but it will also become the first choice of many old users.
During the epidemic, Apple will carry out an update in the first and second half of the year to ensure that the new products of the iPad digital series, iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini can be evenly distributed throughout the year's release cycle, so as to continue to improve features, performance, and users' purchase intentions.
As the saying goes, when things go wrong, there must be demons.
Apple can stand the temperament of not updating the tablet product line for a whole year, and the high probability is to hold back a big wave, and to squeeze some toothpaste for the iPad.
（图源：MacRumors）
According to multiple sources, Apple's iPad product line will be completely reformed this year, and it is expected that the four iPads will usher in new successors this year.
Could it be fruit, is it really going to stand up this time?
iPad Pro
As the flagship positioning of the iPad lineup, iPad Pro will be improved in all aspects, further breaking the ceiling of productivity.
Since it is necessary to further break through the upper limit of productivity, the M3 chip naturally cannot be left behind.
(Source: Apple)
Of course, don't think about the M3 Pro and M3 Max, at most it is a standard version of the M3 chip.
As Apple's hottest self-developed chip last year, the specifications of the M3 chip are also clear to you, using 3nm process technology, the number of CPU and GPU cores is the same as M2, with 8 CPU cores (4 performance and 4 efficiency), the number of GPU cores reaches 10, and the graphics processing power is further improved.
In any case, this M3 chip is enough for the iPad Pro to maintain its position as the strongest tablet.
(Source: Apple)
If the chip is the brain of the iPad Pro, then the screen is the face of the iPad Pro.
According to multiple sources, after years of rumors, Apple has finally confirmed that the next iPad Pro will fully adopt OLED screens for the first time.
To briefly introduce it, the existing iPad Pro 11" screen material is LCD, and iPad Pro 12.9" is Mini-LED, and the display difference between the two is actually quite large.
After the whole line is replaced with OLED panels, there will be no obvious difference in the display effect of the two sizes of iPad Pro, and OLED is better than Mini-LED in power consumption control, and the battery life and extreme performance duration will be increased.
(Source: X)
Although OLED screens also have their own problems, such as high cost, easy screen burn-in, and not as aggressive as Mini-LED in brightness.
But it doesn't have the existing flood, green screen problems with Mini-LED screens, and according to Ross Young, the upcoming devices will also be the first tablets to feature tandem stacking technology, which could quadruple the durability of the iPad Pro OLED panel while tripling the overall brightness.
Anyway, the long-awaited narrow bezel iPad Pro is really promising this time.
（图源：MacRumors）
Elsewhere, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next iPad Pro will be launched alongside a redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.
The new touchpad will offer a larger trackpad, and the overall look and feel of the iPad Pro will be more like a laptop.
From this point of view, at least in terms of hardware, it also seems to indicate that the next iPad Pro will be the biggest update in the past five years.
The question is, is the change in hardware really enough?
(Source: Apple)
Cook once said, "The iPad Pro is the most powerful iPad ever, and it provides users with performance comparable to that of a MacBook." ”
Yes, Apple has always defined the iPad as a device that sits between a phone and a laptop, representing the future direction of computing technology.
The problem is, no amount of hardware can save the iPad OS from its sparse file management, multitasking, and not very rich professional software resources.
Replace the M3 chip and OLED screen, everything will take a turn?
I don't think so.
iPad Air
When it comes to iPad Air in the past, you will always say that it is a replacement for iPad Pro.
After all, most people don't use an iPad to work, unless you really use an iPad to fix pictures and cut videos, otherwise the iPad Air is half as cheap as it is enough to meet most use cases.
Well, now Apple really has the idea of making it an "iPad Pro 1:1 replacement".
（图源：MacRumors）
Judging by the current news, the biggest change in the iPad Air 6 is in size.
The iPad Air 6 will add a 12.9-inch version, but unlike the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 12.9-inch iPad Air uses the same LCD technology as the current 10.9-inch iPad Air.
In other words, in addition to a larger screen, there will be no LTPO and Pro-Motion high brush.
It's the half-brother of the iPhone 15 Plus.
(Source: Lei Technology)
Like the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPad Air 6 is mostly unpleasant in other categories.
The usual upgraded M2 processor, 60Hz LCD screen, 60Hz, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, that's pretty much it.
（图源：MacRumors）
If you really want to say it, the main selling point of the iPad Air 6 is really to give those users who like a large screen but don't want to buy an iPad Pro with an extra option.
Well, that's good, too.
iPad mini
If you want to say the most popular product line at Apple's conference every year, the iPad mini series will not be absent.
However, just like fishing, we haven't heard from the iPad mini series for more than two years since updating the iPad mini 6 in 2021.
(Source: Apple)
Now it seems that the biggest highlight of the iPad mini 7 is still the improvement in the performance part.
According to the breaking news, the previous generation of products caused huge controversy was the Liquid retina display that landed on the "mini" series for the first time, which not only failed to meet expectations, but even had a "jelly screen" problem. At present, it is difficult for Apple to really eliminate the "jelly screen" problem on the iPad mini, which is determined by the screen material and packaging technology, unless you use an OLED panel that supports ProMotion technology, the probability of a complete solution is not large. There is a high probability that the new A17 Bionic chip will be used, not the M series chip expected by the public, after all, from the perspective of product positioning, the possibility of the iPad mini series using the M series chip is still a bit small.
Now we finally know where the disappeared A17 chip in the iPhone 15 series went.
(Source: Apple)
As for the "jelly screen" that caused huge controversy in the previous generation...
For now, it is difficult for Apple to really eliminate the "jelly screen" problem on the iPad mini, which is determined by the screen material and packaging technology, unless you use an OLED panel that supports ProMotion technology, it is unlikely to be completely solved.
Anyway, I can understand why people are paying so much attention to the iPad mini series.
After all, few people can refuse the feeling of mastering the "performance steel cannon" in one hand, hoping to meet the needs of reading, painting, e-sports games, watching dramas and mobile light office at one time through more compact devices.
But for now, the iPad mini 7 can only be regarded as a regular hardware specification update, and there is no incentive for users to upgrade, and whether Apple will add more highlights to stimulate the demand for upgrades, may have to wait until the new product launch conference to see.
iPad 11
No change.
That's right, even in this drastic year, the iPad 11 is not expected to change much.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the design concept of the iPad 7, iPad 8 and iPad 9.
(Source: Apple)
Considering that the iPad 10 has changed significantly in terms of design compared to the iPad 9, this design has encountered something that can be used until the iPad 12.
Therefore, it is expected that these problems will still exist on the iPad 11.
With a high probability, just change the processor to A15 and it should be used as a college user.
(Source: Apple)
If you're just looking to buy a basic iPad, the iPad Air 4 is a superior replacement for the iPad digital series in every sense of the word, as long as you don't mind the old one.
Say it at the end
You may wonder why Apple suddenly fell in love with the iPad series.
At the end of the day, it's about money.
(Source: Apple)
According to Apple's financial report for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, iPad's revenue for the quarter was $6.443 billion, compared with $7.174 billion in the same period last year, a decrease of 10.2%.
It is not difficult to see that under the continuous emergence of Android competitors and the pricing of their own products, even the iPad has encountered a market crisis.
Letting the iPad "stop" for a year also happens to give Apple enough time to rethink the positioning and development direction of various iPad products, at least, there will be no more products like the 10th-generation iPad that are disappointing in pricing and positioning.
(Source: Apple)
In the end, there are only two paths in front of Apple.
Drop or upgrade.
The stubborn Apple vows not to bow its arrogant head, so the whole line of change has naturally become the last way out for the iPad product line.
One might ask, will Apple's drastic change succeed?
I don't know the answer to that question.
I only know that this year's tablet market will definitely have a good show.
CES (Las Vegas International Consumer Electronics Show) 2024 is about to be grandly opened, and Lei Technology will send a reporting team led by "One Tianming" to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA CES 2024 on-site reporting, so stay tuned.