Apple’s May 7 iPad event: Last-minute predictions on what to expect

On May 7, Apple will hold its first official conference Apple Event of the year. What new products will the Cupertino company offer its users?

All-new iPad models and iPad accessories like an all-new Apple Pencil, based on the roundup of leaks and rumors we’ve collected from the event.

Apple is calling the event, dubbed “Let Loose,” a “different types of Apple events”, but it is not clear what is meant by this.

Apple events usually occur within specific time frames, like June for WWDC and September for iPhones. Apple does not normally hold an event in May. The last time he hosted an Apple event that wasn’t his usual schedule was the “Scary Fast” livestream, when the MacBook M3 were revealed the day before Halloween.

Although we already have a pretty good idea of ​​what Apple will drop on Tuesday, Gurman put together a last-minute report to solidify his predictions for the upcoming event. Here are his final predictions before the livestream:

A new iPad Pro

Apple’s graphic for Apple’s “Let Loose” event features an image of a hand holding a pencil. So it seems pretty obvious that this event will focus on the iPad and its associated accessories.

However, according to Gurman, Apple will likely focus on two specific new iPad models. First of all, the “star” of the event, the iPad Pro.

Gurman says the new iPad Pro will be the first iPad with an OLED display, which will improve the iPad’s picture quality and likely result in a thinner device. Apple will launch two versions, an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch model.

Although it remains to be confirmed, it is possible that these new Apple iPad Pros will be the very first Apple devices with Apple’s brand new M4 chipset. The M4 chip is expected to begin rolling out across Apple’s computer and mobile device lines this year and next and is expected to play a major role in Apple’s future direction in AI.

iPad Air refresh

The “mid-range” iPad, the iPad Air, will also benefit from a refresh.

While it’s not a huge step forward from its predecessor the iPad Pro, it appears that Apple will offer the usual 10.9-inch model as well as an all-new 12-inch version. .9 inches from the device.

The iPad Air is expected to be powered by the M2 chip, which Apple first released in 2022 with the M2 MacBook Air.

Updated Apple Pencil

As previously mentioned, Apple’s graphic for the event primarily features a Pencil, so a new version of the Apple Pencil seems pretty locked down.

According to BloombergThe new Apple Pencil is an update to the high-end model launched in 2018 – not the low-end version that was updated last year.

This new premium Apple Pencil will include haptic feedback, meaning users will feel a “vibration effect” when using the device, corresponding to the action they perform on the iPad.

Gurman says another new feature likely to be added will allow users to perform tasks with the Apple Pencil by applying pressure to the device with their hand while squeezing it.

Magic Keyboard for iPad

It also appears that these new iPad models will also launch with an all-new Magic Keyboard for iPad.

The new version will still come with an iPad case, keyboard and trackpad, but will be “more durable” because it will use aluminum and look “more like a laptop.”

A smaller event but Apple has more to come

This appears to be a much smaller Apple event than usual, however, it is not unusual for Apple to hold device-specific events, especially in recent years.

A new iPad Mini, the iPad model that hasn’t been updated at all since 2021, isn’t expected yet. This isn’t a new base iPad model, either. The new MacBooks are also not expected to be part of the event.

It is possible that Apple will offer new AI features, especially if the iPad Pro model is equipped with the M4 chip. However, Apple will save most, if not all, of its AI announcements for the big WWDC event in June.