The 2024 iPad Air, released in May 2024, may soon be replaced by a newer model. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports dwindling inventory of the popular tablet, a strong indicator of an impending launch. This suggests Apple is preparing to introduce the 2025 iPad Air in the near future.
The current iPad Air lineup features both 11-inch and 13-inch models, both equipped with vibrant Liquid Retina displays and the powerful M2 chip. This provided a noticeable performance boost over the previous 2022 model, although design changes were minimal.
The upcoming 2025 iPad Air is expected to house the M4 chip, the same processor found in the 2024 iPad Pro and the entry-level MacBook Pro. This aligns with Gurman’s earlier prediction of “specification upgrades” rather than “design changes” for the new Air.
This news arrives amidst a resurgent tablet market. Canalys reports a 9.2% increase in global tablet shipments in 2024, with Apple retaining its market leadership and experiencing a 5.3% year-over-year growth in iPad sales. This growth can be attributed to Apple’s 2024 releases of the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini, particularly after a year without new tablet releases in 2023.
The current iPad Air has a starting price of $599.
Beyond the iPad Air, Apple is also anticipated to unveil a new iPhone SE in the coming weeks. The budget-friendly iPhone SE last saw an update in 2022. With new hardware releases on the horizon, Apple appears poised to continue its momentum in both the tablet and smartphone markets.
