Key Takeaways:
Apple has sent out invites to tech journalists for an event scheduled for May 7th dubbed “Let Loose” where the company is expected to introduce the next-generation iPad Pro and iPad Air models alongside a new Apple Pencil.
The event set to be hosted at the Apple Park HQ in Cupertino, California, will be live streamed on its website and YouTube channel at 10 AM Easter time.
Apple CEO Tim Cook made an X post on Wednesday where he wrote, “Pencil us in for May 7!”, and shared an inviting graphic featuring the Apple Pencil – the stylus for its tablet computers.
Apple to Announce New M3 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air at the ‘Let Loose’ Event
According to various reports, the company is preparing to release a refreshed iPad Pro and iPad Air lineup two years after the last-gen was announced. The higher-end iPad Pro is said to include the 11 and 12.9-inch models, with the bigger version featuring an OLED panel for the first time. The tablet, which will be powered by the M3 processor, is claimed to be the company’s most capable iPad yet.
Meanwhile, the iPad Air, also expected in two sizes – 11 and an all-new 12.9-inch model – will feature a mini-LED screen. The mid-tier tablets will be equipped with the company’s M2 chip which was released in 2022.
Some reports also suggest that after years of persistence, Apple will finally release a first-party calculator app for the iPad.
The American tech behemoth is also expected to announce other accessories, such as an updated Magic Keyboard for the iPad, with a sturdier build, better key travel, and a larger trackpad. The accessory is claimed to give the iPad a more Mac-like appeal.
Apple might also move the iPad Pro’s front-facing camera from the shorter top side to the longer side as it did with the 10th-generation iPad from 2022. The last major redesign for the iPad came in 2018 with the release of the 2nd-generation iPad Pro. Since then the company has incorporated its tried and trusted design language into all iPads in its lineup.
Squeezable Apple Pencil with Interchangeable Magnetic Tips Expected
The new Apple Pencil, compatible with both the iPad Pro and iPad Air, is likely to offer more precision with lower latency and higher pressure sensitivity. Last year, the company announced a budget Apple Pencil with a USB-C port for charging.
There are rumors that the new stylus could have interchangeable magnetic tips suited for different purposes, like drawing and sketching, and that it might also support a new squeezing gesture.
Evidence of this was found in the code of iPadOS 17.5 beta, which was released to developers earlier this month. The new gesture called “squeeze” can be used for quick interactions on the iPad Pro and Air models such as adding shapes, signatures, stickers, or a text field. The gesture will supposedly be triggered by pressing on the Pencil’s surface.
With the new upgrades, the higher-end iPads are expected to cost more than their predecessors. Currently, the iPad Air starts at $599 while the iPad Pro starts from $799.
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