The rumor around the campfire is that the next-gen iPad Air and iPad Pro models, which could be updated as soon as March, will be significantly thinner according to leaked dimensions.
According to sources with knowledge of Apple’s plans, the larger version of the upcoming iPad Pro could be more than one millimeter thinner.
The current 12.9-inch iPad Pro measures 6.4mm thick, but the new model is said to be 5mm thick. As for the 11-inch iPad Pro, it is currently 5.9mm thick, while the updated version is said to be 5.1mm thick. Both tablets may also be slightly bigger.
The current and anticipated specs are as follows:
- Current 11-inch iPad Pro – 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 5.9 mm
- Upcoming 11-inch iPad Pro – 249.7mm x 177.5mm x 5.1mm
- Current 12.9-inch iPad Pro – 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.4mm
- Upcoming 13-inch iPad Pro – 281.5mm x 215.5mm x 5.0mm
Such a slimmed-down body could suggest a notable design change, such as a transition from an LCD display panel to an OLED display panel, which would allow Apple to cut down on the thickness of its tablets.
Alongside the iPad Pro, Apple is expected to introduce two new iPad Air models, including a larger 12.9-inch version for the first time. The larger iPad Air will be almost the same size as the current iPad Pro, measuring 280.6mm by 214.9mm by 6mm.
Apple is said to be limiting its OLED display technology to the iPad Pro lineup, which would leave the 12.9-inch iPad Air to be somewhat thicker than the iPad Pro model given its LCD display.
All of the new iPads are expected to feature Apple’s M3 chip, which was first introduced last year in updated MacBook Pro models. It’s also rumored that the new tablets could debut in late March to early April.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.