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Apple will reportedly upgrade its current iPad models next year and the rumour mill is already churning out a lot of information on that front. Now, noted analyst Ming Chi-Kuo has delved out some more details, including key upgrades and production schedule, of the 2024 iPad lineup.
Kuo said that Apple’s upgraded iPad models in 2024 will feature the M3 processor and OLED displays.He also noted that shipments of iPads are still far from the peak in 2022 due to the decline in work-from-home (WFH) demand.
The analyst also attributed a lack of structural change in the entertainment and productivity user experience as another reason for low demand.
“iPad shipments in 2024 are estimated at 52–54 million units (vs. about 50 million in 2023 and about 63 million in 2022),” he said.
iPad Air production in 1Q24
According to Kuo, Apple will launch two iPad Air models – one with a 10.9-inch display and other with a 12.9-inch panel. These iPad models are scheduled for mass production in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24).
The 12.9-inch iPad Air is said to pack an Oxide backplane (the same spec as the existing iPad Pro models), offering better display performance than the 10.9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.
OLED iPad Pro production in late 1Q24–2Q24
Two new OLED iPad Pros are scheduled for mass production in late 1Q24–2Q24. Kuo says that the mass production was previously planned for early 1Q24. Apart from an M3 processor, the OLED iPad Pros will also get an improved form factor design.
“The OLED panels for the new iPad Pros will adopt the Tandem design and LTPO backplanes (the same backplanes used in the iPhone 15 Pros), outperforming the existing mini-LED iPad Pro in terms of display performance and power consumption,” he added.
When it comes to shipments, it is estimated that 6–8 million units of the two OLED iPad Pro models will be shipped in 2024. This suggests a slightly weaker shipment momentum when compared with the existing iPad Pros, possibly due to the higher price of OLED iPads and potential cannibalisation from the 12.9-inch iPad Air.
“If the price of the new 10.9-inch iPad Air remains unchanged, and the new 12.9-inch iPad Air is definitely more expensive than the 10.9-inch model, then if Apple wants to maintain the price gap between the iPad Air and iPad Pro to preserve its existing product segmentation strategy, it means that the new OLED iPad Pros may see a price increase,” Kuo noted.
More affordable models will be produced in 2H24
The analyst also predicted that the mass production of the new iPad mini is delayed to 2H24 (vs. the previous prediction of 1Q24) and the new iPad 11th generation will enter mass production in 2H24.
Lastly, he said that the iPad 9th generation production will go to end-of-life (EOL) before the end of 2024.
Kuo said that Apple’s upgraded iPad models in 2024 will feature the M3 processor and OLED displays.He also noted that shipments of iPads are still far from the peak in 2022 due to the decline in work-from-home (WFH) demand.
The analyst also attributed a lack of structural change in the entertainment and productivity user experience as another reason for low demand.
“iPad shipments in 2024 are estimated at 52–54 million units (vs. about 50 million in 2023 and about 63 million in 2022),” he said.
iPad Air production in 1Q24
According to Kuo, Apple will launch two iPad Air models – one with a 10.9-inch display and other with a 12.9-inch panel. These iPad models are scheduled for mass production in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24).
The 12.9-inch iPad Air is said to pack an Oxide backplane (the same spec as the existing iPad Pro models), offering better display performance than the 10.9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.
OLED iPad Pro production in late 1Q24–2Q24
Two new OLED iPad Pros are scheduled for mass production in late 1Q24–2Q24. Kuo says that the mass production was previously planned for early 1Q24. Apart from an M3 processor, the OLED iPad Pros will also get an improved form factor design.
“The OLED panels for the new iPad Pros will adopt the Tandem design and LTPO backplanes (the same backplanes used in the iPhone 15 Pros), outperforming the existing mini-LED iPad Pro in terms of display performance and power consumption,” he added.
When it comes to shipments, it is estimated that 6–8 million units of the two OLED iPad Pro models will be shipped in 2024. This suggests a slightly weaker shipment momentum when compared with the existing iPad Pros, possibly due to the higher price of OLED iPads and potential cannibalisation from the 12.9-inch iPad Air.
“If the price of the new 10.9-inch iPad Air remains unchanged, and the new 12.9-inch iPad Air is definitely more expensive than the 10.9-inch model, then if Apple wants to maintain the price gap between the iPad Air and iPad Pro to preserve its existing product segmentation strategy, it means that the new OLED iPad Pros may see a price increase,” Kuo noted.
More affordable models will be produced in 2H24
The analyst also predicted that the mass production of the new iPad mini is delayed to 2H24 (vs. the previous prediction of 1Q24) and the new iPad 11th generation will enter mass production in 2H24.
Lastly, he said that the iPad 9th generation production will go to end-of-life (EOL) before the end of 2024.
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