Apple is preparing to launch new M3 iPads and MacBooks this month. But don’t expect an Apple March event for their unveiling. Instead, the company reportedly will announce the devices through a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns.”
Update: This is now confirmed, as Apple unveiled the M3-powered MacBook Air on Monday via a press release.
M3 iPad Pro won’t get a product launch event
In the past, Apple typically held events in March to announce new products. With several new iPads and MacBooks ready for an update, speculation about an Apple March event was swirling for months. But Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims otherwise in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter.
While these products will be released relatively soon, they won’t get a dedicated launch event, according to Gurman. Instead, Apple will likely announce them through its website and a marketing campaign.
His sources say Apple has a “special version of iOS 17.4 with support for new hardware” due for release in late March. So, these devices could launch in March or April.
Apple did not refresh its iPad Pro or iPad Air lineup in 2023. It was the first time in years that the company did not announce new iPads in a calendar year.
No Apple March event, but iPads and MacBooks could bring modest upgrades
Rumors suggest Apple is working on M3-powered iPad Pros with a slimmer chassis and OLED displays. We also hope that Apple’s next flagship iPad features even longer battery life and MagSafe support for wireless charging.
An iPad Air refresh is also in the pipeline. While the Air will retain the same design as the current model, a new 12.9-inch variant purportedly will join the lineup. Leaked renders indicate it will look like its smaller 10.9-inch sibling.
A revamped Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with an aluminum top case supposedly will launch alongside the new devices.
Upgraded 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with Apple’s latest M3 chip are due for release as well. Beyond a modest spec bump, these devices are not expected to bring other changes.
Apple announced the M2 iPad Pro in 2022 through a press release as well. So, the company taking a similar approach again won’t be surprising.
