Apple has introduced a fresh lineup of iPads, marking what CEO Tim Cook dubbed as the “biggest day for iPad since its introduction.” The tech giant unveiled two new versions of its high-end iPad Pro and two new editions of its mid-range iPad Air, signaling the most significant upgrade to the iPad series in years as Apple aims to revitalize interest in its tablet offerings.
The new iPad Pro boasts a high-quality OLED display, a first for the series, and is powered by Apple’s latest M4 chip, promising a 50% performance boost over its predecessor and a staggering ten-fold improvement over the original iPad Pro model. John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, hailed the new Pro as a groundbreaking device that pushes the boundaries of what an iPad can achieve, describing it as the culmination of Apple’s long-standing vision for the product.
In addition to its impressive performance, the new iPad Pro sets a new standard for slimness, becoming Apple’s thinnest product to date, with a thickness of just over 5mm, even slimmer than the pocket-sized iPod Nano. It is set to hit shelves next week alongside an updated version of the iPad Air, featuring the new M2 chip for a 50% boost in speed compared to its predecessor.
Accompanying the new tablets is the Apple Pencil Pro, a stylus with interactive squeeze functionality, and an updated iteration of the Magic Keyboard. Industry analyst Ben Wood noted that Apple aims to rejuvenate its tablet lineup with these updates, particularly targeting the premium tier to bolster revenue amidst declining sales.
While Apple did not unveil major new AI tools during the event, executives emphasized the enhanced AI capabilities enabled by the new chips in both devices. Further discussions on Apple’s AI strategy are anticipated at its upcoming developer conference, WWDC, scheduled for next month in California.
