New iPad sizes detailed in anonymous leak
All signs point to multiple iPads launching in the first half of 2024, but a new leak has detailed exactly what customers can expect, at least in terms of dimensions.
iPad Pro and iPad Air could have similar sized lineups
There have been multiple claims stating that the next iPad Air could come in two sizes like the iPad Pro. The new 12.9-inch iPad Air would lack a mini-LED backlight but would otherwise benefit from the larger size.
According to a new leak from an anonymous source speaking to 9to5Mac, the exact dimensions of the new iPad Pros and iPad Airs have been revealed. The iPad Pros are slightly slimmer, and the new larger iPad Air could be using the same chassis as the existing 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The next-generation 11-inch iPad Air will retain the dimensions of the existing model.
Here are the new dimensions:
- 11-inch iPad Air (current and new): 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm x 6.1 mm
- 11-inch iPad Pro (current): 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm x 5.9 mm
- 11-inch iPad Pro (new): 249.7 mm x 177.5 mm x 5.1 mm
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (current): 280.6 mm x 214.9 mm x 6.4 mm
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (new): 281.5 mm x 215.5 mm x 5.0 mm
- 12.9-inch iPad Air (new): 280.6 mm x 214.9 mm x 6.0 mm
Understanding new dimensions
It seems the 12.9-inch iPad Air could use the existing 12.9-inch iPad Pro chassis, while the new iPad Pro models have an entirely new chassis. Apple sometimes recycles case designs, especially when moving designs to lower-priced products.
The 12.9-inch iPad Air is identical in length and width but slightly thinner by 0.4 mm than the iPad Pro. That's such a small margin it could be attributed to rounding error, but it likely indicates the different display technology and not a different case design, but that won't be known until the actual products are in hand.
The updated iPad Pros don't have consistently changing dimensions except for getting thinner by about 1 mm.
The 11-inch iPad Pro gets slightly longer by 2.1 mm, loses a little width by 1 mm, and gets thinner by 0.8 mm. This adjustment doesn't make much sense given that Apple is expected to move the selfie camera to the long side, meaning it likely needs more width, not less.
However, the 11-inch iPad Pro has always been slightly less square than the larger model, which may be attributed to these specific alterations.
Differences in thickness could be attributed to display technology
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has an even more confusing dimension change. It's gaining 0.9 mm in length and 0.6 mm in width.
It is inexplicable why the 11-inch iPad Pro would be losing width while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is gaining width, at least according to this anonymous leak. It seems more likely that the width would need to increase on both models to allow for a landscape-oriented selfie camera.
We're rating this rumor as possible, not likely, if only because it is impossible to verify the accuracy of an unknown source. It seems possible that these metrics could be accurate, but only time will tell.
During a March event, Apple could announce the new iPad Pro and iPad Air lineups. An Apple Event hasn't been announced, but rumors and code seem to indicate new product announcements are due soon.
Rumor Score: Possible
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Comments
Hence why they are adding a 12.9" iPad Air. Because it's going to be the only affordable way for most people to continue to get their hands on that size.
A Nomad leather back that makes it flat at least.
I can totally see the 2024 iPad Pro models being about 20% thinner than the corresponding 2024 iPad Airs. That's an immediately obvious visual, theoretically more pleasing, more premium difference between the Air and Pro models. They need to make the upsell worth it.
But, 5mm is pretty darn thin! If so, hopefully it can maintain its flatness well. Well, obviously, it will have to if Apple want people to buy it at $1500 or so.
Lighter is better.
They can probably sell an iPad mini at $400 if they used a non-laminated display and older SoC. Defeaturing it like the iPad 10 is a defeatured iPad Air. Kind of too bad their ebooks initiative is vestigial or obligatory. If they had a decent chunk of the ebook market, that would drive more iPad mini sales. And comic book reading could sell bigger iPads, but Apple has a "strategy" or "App Store" debt with that. So, alas no.
And yes, it is a UX thing for me. I want my iPad to lay flush on a table. I do not like it if it is rocking or at an angle, it they do with a camera bump. The solution is to buy a case and make it thicker, but I've used my iPP10.5 naked for 6+ years now. I like the slimness.