The iPad is going to get an amazing new feature in 2024

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published November 18, 2023

iPad 2022 first setup. — Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

Apple did not release new iPads this year, despite October rumors to the contrary. However, it’s likely to do so in 2024 with one significant change on the horizon.

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According to ET News, Apple will release the first iPad Pro models with organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) sometime next year. Perhaps in even bigger news, Apple also plans on increasing the size of the iPad mini from 8.3 inches to 8.7 inches.

According to the fresh report, an 8.7-inch iPad mini will debut in 2026 alongside a new 10.9-inch iPad Air. The following year, a 12.9-inch iPad Air will debut for the first time. All three tablets are expected to feature OLED. Current iPads feature liquid crystal displays (LCD). Compared to LCD, OLED is thinner and lighter.

iPad Air 5 alongside the iPhone and MacBook. — Digital Trends

Though the upcoming iPads mentioned above will all have OLED displays, there will be a crucial difference between them. The 2024 iPad Pro series is expected to have an LTPO panel, allowing for a ProMotion feature with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. However, the other models will have LTPS panels, limiting refresh rates to 60Hz.

All of this sounds great unless you’re someone looking to upgrade their iPad mini or iPad Air. The current models, released in 2021 and 2022, might soon be updated, but not to OLED. A seventh-generation iPad mini is expected to come with an A16 Bionic chip, which slightly improves over the current model’s A15 Bionic chip. Additionally, it may feature a new display controller that resolves the pesky jelly scrolling issue that has affected some iPad mini 6 users.

On the other hand, the sixth-generation iPad Air is expected to include an M2 chip instead of the current model’s M1 chip. The regular iPad, updated in 2022, could also see an update in the new year.

OLED isn’t just coming to iPads. ET News also notes the first MacBook to feature OLED panels will debut in 2025. The 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 15-inch MacBook Air could see OLED updates in 2026.

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Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Mobile

iPad Pro with next-gen M5 silicon could arrive later this year

Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro.

It seems tablets are increasingly becoming the unofficial launch testbed for Apple’s next-gen silicon. The 2024 iPad Pro marked the debut of Apple’s M4 chip, ahead of its appearance inside the Mac hardware.
Carrying forward the torch, the next iPad Pro refresh could be “one of the first devices” to get a M5 series processor. According to Bloomberg, the next-gen iPad Pro has progressed into the advanced stages of internal testing. Moreover, it is expected to hit the shelves later this year, likely in the Fall season.
Apple gave the M4 series refresh to the Mac lineup, including the MacBook Air, Pro, and Studio models, earlier this year. The M4 Pro and M4 Max processors were only introduced late last year, so it seems increasingly plausible that the baseline M5 would arrive later this year, followed by its Pro, Max, or Ultra variants.
Given the “freshness” status of the current Mac hardware, the upcoming iPad Pro seems like the first candidate to get a taste of the next-gen M5 processor. “The new versions of that model, code-named J817, J818, J820 and J821, are in late testing within Apple and on track for production in the second half of this year,” adds the report.
What to expect from M5 iPad Pro?

Starting with the design , Apple is not expected to make any notable changes, given the company’s history. The iPad Pro got a major design overhaul in 2024, embracing a super-sleek look, one fewer camera, and a new keyboard accessory to go with it.
As far as the silicon goes, the M5 series will reportedly be based on the 3nm process and built atop ARM’s next-gen CPU architecture. In addition to the 2025 iPad Pro, Apple is also expected to launch new MacBook Pro models later this year, armed with an M5-tier processor.

Mobile

The iPad doesn’t need AI, but Apple must fix something else

Top view of the rear shell on the 11th Gen iPad.

I just finished testing the new entry-level iPad, and so far, I am fairly impressed by the tablet. You can’t get a better value than this slate for $349. From the external hardware to the innards, there is hardly any alternative from the Android side that can deliver a superior experience.
This year, Apple delivered a couple of surprises, in addition to the expected chip upgrade. You now get twice the storage for the same ask, and the RAM has also been bumped up. In a nutshell, it’s faster, better at multi-tasking, and without any storage headaches, even if your budget is tight.
Apple, however, hasn’t fixed the software situation with iPadOS, which continues to bother with its fair share of quirks in tow. This year, however, the software gulf is even wider between the baseline iPad and every other tablet in Apple’s portfolio. Stage Manager has been the big differentiator so far, but in 2025, we have another deep chasm.

A good riddance with AI

Mobile

WWDC 2025: everything you need to know

The Worldwide Developer Conference or WWDC is one of Apple's most vital annual events where software updates take the center stage. At WWDC 2025, Apple is expected to showcase changes to the iOS and macOS that will substantially improve how we interact with the iPhone, iPad, and the Mac. But that are not all the announcements, as Apple will also discuss improvements to all of its interface running on different categories of devices. Besides software, we might witness some hardware announcements too.

Here's everything you need to know about the potential announcements Apple is likely to make in June this year at WWDC 2025.
WWDC 2025: When will it happen?
WWDC typically takes place in the first half of June every year, though the dates change every year. Apple likes to kick off the event with a keynote on a Monday, and will continue the tradition this year.

	
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