It looks like Apple might not introduce a new entry to its iPad line-up this year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims. In his recently published notes, it is said the Cupertino-based tech giant isn’t planning to release any tablets in the next “nine to twelve months”, meaning to say we’ll only see new entries to the tablet line-up sometime in 2024.
Kuo adds that we’re expected to see two models by then, with the first in line to be announced will be an all-new iPad mini. This particular model is said to begin mass production in the first quarter of next year, but details regarding its onboard hardware or features are still not known at this time.
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Anjie Technology will be the new beneficiary of the all-new design foldable iPad. There may be no new iPad releases in the next 9-12 months as the iPad mini refresh is more likely to begin mass production in 1Q24.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 30, 2023
The second iPad product which Apple may introduce in 2024 is perhaps the more interesting of the two, as it is claimed to be the company’s first ever foldable tablet. It is believed that its main beneficiary will be Anjie Technology, a Suzhou manufacturer that will make a “carbon fibre kickstand” for the device. Kuo says that Apple will “continue benefiting from the growing trends of foldable devices equipped with kickstands in the future”, indicating that the brand may be aiming to set a new standard for foldable tablets with this new product.
Kuo’s prediction does conflict with another rumour that was brought up by The Information, which suggests that a 16-inch iPad model is expected to be introduced in the fourth quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, a separate report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is claiming that Apple may introduce its first OLED-powered iPad Pro model in the first half 2024, as well as an iPad-esque smart display also coming within the same year.
(Source: Ming-Chi Kuo [Twitter])
