Apple’s next-generation iPad Air is now shipping to the United States and other countries ahead of its impending launch, claims a leaker known as “Instant Digital.”
The leaker says manufacturers in China are now shipping out the 2024 iPad Air in two sizes. “Everything is ready” for launch, the Weibo user says.
The iPad Air has not been updated since March 2022, when it received a then-new M1 chip, 5G cellular connectivity (on select models), a USB-C port, a 12-megapixel front camera, and new color options.
In addition to the usual 10.9-inch iPad Air, many expect to see a new 12.9-inch model debut next year during the first half of the year. Rumored features for the upcoming iPad Air models include an M2 chip for faster performance, a redesigned rear camera bump, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Bluetooth 5.3. No major external design changes are expected.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the 12.9-inch iPad Air will sport an LCD screen that will not use the mini-LED technology of Apple’s current iPad Pro models but will use the same oxide backplane. This will offer better display performance than the current 10.9-inch iPad Air which uses an a-Si backplane.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple will launch the new iPad Air, as well as the new iPad Pro, models sometime around the end of March or in April. At least one report out of Asia indicates Apple will unveil the new iPads on Tuesday, March 26.
