Apple to Simplify iPad Lineup in 2024

The number of Apple Pencil versions available for sale will also decrease.

Apple plans to revamp its iPad lineup in an effort to simplify choices and boost sales. This was shared by Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman in the latest edition of the Power On newsletter.

Changes have been overdue for a while. While 10 years ago Apple sold only two tablets, one larger and one smaller, now there are five models available: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, as well as the base iPad of the 9th and 10th generations. Additionally, both Air and Pro are available in two sizes. The choice is complicated not so much by the number of options as by the minor differences between them. For example, the 11-inch iPad Pro is only a couple of millimeters larger than the 10.9-inch iPad Air, and the other differences are insignificant for most people. At the same time, the 10th generation iPad hardly lags behind the iPad Air, yet it costs $150 less.

The situation is further complicated by the accessory lineup: it is difficult to understand what is compatible with what. Currently, there are three Apple Pencil versions available, with the cheapest version not compatible with the cheapest iPad 9, and the top-tier second-generation stylus not working with the new iPad 10.

However, starting in 2024, Apple will begin simplifying the tablet options. The first step will be the separation of the Pro and Air lines. The next iPad Pro models will feature a new design, an OLED display, an M3 processor, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard. This will distinguish the Pro as the flagship version. The new Air models will be limited to the addition of the M2 processor, which will separate them in terms of power from the base iPad, which will not be updated in 2024. In terms of sizes, the models will be similar: Air will be available in 10.9 and 12.9 inches, while Pro will have screens of 11 and 13 inches. The presentation of both models is expected in March.

When the iPad 11 is released, the iPad 9 will be removed from sale - the last tablet with a "Home" button and large bezels around the display. This will also allow the first generation of Apple Pencil to be removed from sale, leaving only the second generation and the cheaper USB-C version available. The iPad mini will not be discontinued: it will also receive an update later with a more powerful processor.