For the first time since 2010, Apple has not introduced a new iPad in 2023. For fans of the product series, there was only an Apple Pencil with a USB-C port. But why is that the case?
• For the first time in twelve years, no new iPad version in 2023
• Due to chip production difficulties: focus on MacBooks
• New iPad versions expected in 2024
In 2023 there will be no new iPad for the first time since 2010
For more than ten years in a row, Apple has released a new version of the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad every year. At the end of October 2023, Apple introduced new Macs – but there was no new iPad. In the summer of 2023, rumors were still circulating about new versions of three iPads: two iPads Air and an iPad Mini. However, that didn’t happen. In particular, the period of time surrounding the introduction of new Macs and the publication of the September quarter results probably allows for some conclusions that explain why there were no new iPads in 2023, argues Macwelt.
Apple recently updated the fifth generation iPads Air to the M1 chip, while the iPads Pro have been using the M2 chip since fall 2022. The future generations should finally integrate the M3 chip, which is also installed in the new 14-inch MacBooks Pro. According to Macwelt, it appears that Apple had already produced and prepared the new MacBook Pro with the M3 chip in the summer of 2023. The date of the iPhone keynote on September 12th would have been ideal for the presentation of the new basic MacBook Pro. Instead, Apple decided to wait until the end of October and at the same time introduce the MacBook Pro models with the more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max variants.
What happened?
Tim Cook and Apple’s CFO Luca Maestri indicated at the September quarter earnings conference that there were still delivery bottlenecks, particularly for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. At the time, Apple executives hoped that these bottlenecks would resolve by the end of the year – whatever happened, according to Macwelt.
At the beginning of 2023, TSMC was still having difficulties producing the necessary amount of 3 nm chips. Back then, Apple even went so far as to buy up TSMC’s production of new processors for a whole year. Some leakers at the time claimed that no M3 devices, neither Macs nor iPads, would be released in 2023. This prediction didn’t come true for Macs, but it did for iPads. But why did Apple choose to introduce M3 chips in MacBooks instead of iPads?
Accounting may have been the deciding factor in this case: The MacBook Air is Apple’s best-selling Mac, as Apple has already emphasized in many keynotes and annual accounting conferences. However, the MacBook Air was not taken into account when the M3 chips were presented, explains Macwelt. Instead, Cupertino has equipped its higher-priced MacBook Pro with the new generation of Apple Silicon. With this move, the manufacturer was able to avoid the problem of mass production while TSMC could continue to concentrate on manufacturing the A17 Pro for the iPhone 15 Pro (Max).
The MacBooks Pro with M3 Pro and Max are in less demand due to their high price, which allows Apple to have the chips produced for them alongside the A17. Nevertheless, even in this case there are significant delays in delivery. People who order a MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max today will have to wait until the end of November for their order. According to Macwelt, an analysis of the approximate product numbers makes it clear why Apple chose the MacBook instead of the iPad. In the fourth quarter of 2022, one of the most successful quarters for the Mac, Apple generated around $11.5 billion in sales from its laptops and desktops. Dividing this amount by the price of the cheapest MacBook Air M2 at the time of its launch ($1,199) gives an approximate count of about 9.6 million devices.
The highest revenue quarter for the iPad to date was the first fiscal quarter of 2023 (October-December 2022), with total revenue of around $14.42 billion. The record sales are likely to be mainly attributable to the iPads Pro with M2, which were introduced on October 18, 2022. Dividing that total by the starting price of the iPad Pro 11-inch with M2 ($799) reveals that, given comparable demand, Apple would need to produce about 18.1 million iPads – twice as many as MacBooks.
Apple’s decision not to introduce new iPads in 2023 ultimately becomes understandable when viewed from this point of view: high demand for the new generation would place even greater strain on TSMC’s production capacity than in the case of MacBooks. Although the processors, in this case the M3, are identical, the manufacturer would have to produce twice as many chips for iPads as for Macs.
New iPads in 2024?
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all current iPad models will now receive new variants in 2024. As PCGH (PcGamesHardware) reports, the iPad Air will be updated in the first quarter of the year. This will be a new edition of the 10.9-inch model as well as a larger 12.9-inch version. In addition to the larger LED screen, new chips should also be installed.
The iPad Pro is scheduled to appear for the first time with an OLED display in the second quarter. It should also be equipped with the new M3 chips. Kuo expects the changes to result in better display quality with lower power consumption.
New variants for the iPad Mini and the regular iPad will follow in the second half of the year. However, there is currently no more detailed information about these models.
Ultimately, the expert assumes that around 52 to 54 million iPads will be delivered in 2024. If you take into account that his forecast includes all the new variants of the tablet, it is not particularly optimistic, as PCGH explains. However, the statements are still insider rumors. So what iPad fans can actually expect in 2024 remains to be seen.
Editorial team finanzen.net
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