Sometimes the rumor mill has the best idea as to when Apple’s upcoming products can be expected.
Following the release of Apple’s most recent iOS 18.3 beta, the rumors began to spread that Apple might release its new iPhone SE and iPads along an iOS 18.3 release later this month. This rumor was quickly dispelled by a more reliable source, and per the mighty Mark Gurman, Apple is developing the iPhone SE 4 and new iPads with iOS 18.3 in mind for the launch. Gurman also stated that Apple would release these products “by April if all goes to plan.” Apple will allegedly release the new hardware ahead of iOS 18.4, which is due before WWDC in June. The post arrived after a private social media account suggested that Apple would release the new hardware alongside the iOS 18.3 update.
This, in turn, lines up with previous rumors that Apple could release the iPhone SE 4, M4-based iPad Air, and iPad 11 after a MacBook Air update this year. That would leave room for a potential new product reveal in May or during WWDC for the square display Home Hub device, though some believe that’s been pushed back to the fall.
The iPad 11 is expected to be a straightforward update that will offer Apple Intelligence to the device thanks to its A18 processor. Apple’s upcoming iPad Air is expected to feature the M4 processor, and could herald an M5-equipped iPad Pro for the fall. Apple also has historically avoided product releases in January, and tends to release flagship iPhone models in the fall, while the iPhone SE has always launched in the spring.
It’s also thought that while the holiday quarter is Apple’s most intense retail period, and that the majority of the demand for a new iPhone was met during this season. An April launch of iPhone SE would line up with previous releases, enable the supply chain to catch up with chip demand, and coincide with customers that upgrade in the spring.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and @markgurman.bsky.social