New Apple iPad, iPad Mini and iPad Air Models on Track to Launch in the Coming Months: All Details

Not all of them have received a design upgrade

Written by Sheldon Pinto, Edited by Ketan Pratap | Updated: 6 October 2023 13:46 IST

New Apple iPad, iPad Mini and iPad Air Models on Track to Launch in the Coming Months: All Details

Apple’s M2 iPad Pro was its last major release

Highlights

Apple’s new Mini is expected to appear the same as the old model
The new 11th Gen iPad will also be limited to spec-upgrades
The new iPad Air and iPad Pro models will get the bigger upgrades

Apple, off late, has been a bit slow when it comes to new iPad launches. Its last iPad launch took place in October last year when it released its new iPad Pro variants powered by its then-new M2 processor and a new 10th Gen iPad with a new design and a new keyboard accessory. While we have been hearing rumours about some new and interesting iPad models, there is finally some news which sort of confirms that they are indeed being tested and should be launching soon.

9to5mac as per its sources claims that everything is on track and that Apple will be announcing some new iPad models soon. This would include a new iPad Mini (or Mini 7), which will replace the currently available iPad Mini 2021. As per the source, it will retain the design of the older model and only offer a spec upgrade. However, when Apple plans to release this one, it is strangely still a tough question to answer. The last Mini (review) was released in September 2021 and got an upgraded design with thinner bezels, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity and more.

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Next in line is the new 11th Gen iPad which is expected to replace the 10th iPad (review) launched last year. What also isn't clear is whether Apple will continue to retain the much more affordable 9th-Gen iPad after this launch. According to the source, Apple will again be expected to retain the same design as on the previous model and will only go for a spec bump on this one.

Coming to the models that are expected to get notable upgrades are the iPad Air and the new M3-powered iPad Pro. According to the source, Apple is reportedly experimenting with two versions of the iPad Air one of which could be a larger 12.9-inch model of the same. This is still under testing, so there's a good chance that this second version may not be announced altogether, as the base model will still get an upgraded processor. Apple is also testing two variants (11-inch and 12.9-inch) of the new iPad Pro with an M3 processor inside.

9to5Mac's report also corroborates Bloomberg's previous report about a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad. It will evolve from a soft keyboard to a regular one made of aluminium and will snap onto the new iPad Pro models. The new keyboard will also come with a larger trackpad, new sensors (which also include an accelerometer) and will make the tablet appear like one of Apple's MacBooks.

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Apple iPad mini (2021) Wi-Fi + Cellular

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Light, ergonomic design
Great performance for gaming and entertainment
Bigger display is great for comics, magazines
Very polished iPadOS app ecosystem
Works great with Apple Pencil (2nd gen)

Bad
No 3.5mm audio socket
Top-end variants are expensive
Apple’s ecosystem is too restrictive for some

Read detailed Apple iPad mini (2021) Wi-Fi + Cellular review

Display 8.30-inch

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Resolution 2266x1488 pixels

OS iPadOS 15

Storage 64GB

Rear Camera 12-megapixel

More Apple Tablets

Apple iPad (2022) Wi-Fi + Cellular

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Premium build quality, USB Type-C port
Large Display
Smooth performance
Feature-rich software
Excellent front camera
Good battery life
20W charger in the box

Bad
No support for Apple Pencil (2nd gen)
Slow data transfer speeds
Display could have been brighter for outdoor use
Pricing on the higher side

Read detailed Apple iPad (2022) Wi-Fi + Cellular review

Display 10.90-inch

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Resolution 2360x1640 pixels

OS iPadOS 16

Storage 64GB

Rear Camera 12-megapixel

More Apple Tablets

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Further reading: Apple, Apple iPad, Apple iPad Mini, Apple iPad Pro

Sheldon Pinto

Email Sheldon Pinto

Sheldon Pinto is based in Mumbai, and has several years of experience in reviewing smartphones and gadgets. As a Senior Reviewer at Gadgets 360, you will always find him deeply immersed in his reviews, switching from one phone to another. When the battery dies out, Sheldon is always browsing the web for a good sci-fi movie or reading up on cars and bikes. He also loves creating lists of interesting places to eat and travel. Sheldon is available on Twitter at @shellshocd, and you can mail him at ...More