Apple, seeking to stem the decline in sales of Mac computers and iPad tablets, is preparing several new models and updates for early next year or in the spring, Bloomberg reports.
According to the people, who asked not to be identified because the products have not yet been announced, the effort includes updates to the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air to 13 and 15 inches. The new iPad Air will be available in two sizes for the first time, with the Pro model getting OLED screens. And the MacBook Air will be equipped with a newer M3 processor.
Mac and iPad computers together account for 15% of Apple’s revenue, and they have been particularly hard hit by the drop in consumer spending on technology. The iPad’s decline is compounded by the lack of new models. In fact, 2023 will be the first calendar year in the product’s history when no new version will be released.
Last quarter, sales of Macs fell by 34% to $7.61 billion, and revenues from iPad sales fell by 10% to $6.44 billion. Together, they account for a smaller and smaller portion of Apple’s total sales, while services are growing.
Apple hopes that the new models will help revive demand next year. The iPad and its accessories are expected to hit the market around the end of March, along with iPadOS 17.4. Mac computers are being developed along with macOS 14.3. This software update is likely to be released between the end of January and February, but computers will not be available until March.
The iPad Air, which is the company’s mid-range tablet, currently comes with a 10.9-inch screen. Next year, the company plans to release a version with a 12.9-inch diagonal, which corresponds to the size of the largest iPad Pro.
The additional diagonal size for the iPad Air is part of a strategy to offer more options at different prices. This will allow consumers to get a larger display without having to pay for an iPad Pro that costs several hundred dollars more. This approach will be similar to Apple’s strategy for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The new Pro models are currently scheduled to be announced at the same time as the iPad Air. The OLED screens will give the company’s tablets the same display technology that has been used in iPhones since 2017. The top-end versions of the tablet will feature the M3 chip, which was introduced in October in the MacBook Pro.
The new iPad Pro from Apple will be the first product modernization since the current design was introduced in 2018. Previously, the company has made smaller changes to the lineup, including moving chips from Macs and adding new cameras. These higher-priced tablets, which can cost upwards of $2,000, are a key part of Apple’s attempt to generate more revenue from the iPad.
The company is also preparing updated versions of Apple’s Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories to be sold with the new iPad Pro. In November, the company released a new budget model of the Pencil. The new Magic Keyboard is supposed to make the iPad Pro look more like a laptop and will have a stronger aluminum body. Future MacBook Airs will continue to be available in 13- and 15-inch sizes. The main focus will be on the addition of the M3 chip.
