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Apple tree'due south announcement of the iPad in 2022 heralded a new historic period for tablets, but that age was brusk-lived. Already consumers are tiring of tablets equally sales decline. Even Apple is struggling to convince people to upgrade their tablets on a regular basis, and selling high-margin hardware is what keeps Apple running. The rumor mill currently points to a complete refresh of the iPad lineup with new features, new sizes, and more.

The latest leak comes from Japanese site Mac Otakara, which oftentimes nails Apple rumors months alee of time. According to Mac Otakara (via MacRumors), Apple will hold an consequence this spring to denote its new iPad lineup. It will consist of a refresh for the 7.ix (Mini), 9.7 (Pro), and 12.9 (Pro) inch models. However, at that place will also be a new iPad variant clocking in at 10.5-inches. That seems questionable on the surface, as information technology'due south basically the same size equally the 9.vii-inch model. Nevertheless, information technology'due south expected to pack the higher resolution of the larger iPad Pro, making it the crispest display available on an iPad.

The new Mini (although Apple tree may drop that name) is expected to be remade as a smaller iPad Pro. It will accept a Smart Connector for accessories, a 12MP rear camera with wink, quad speakers, an auto-adjusting True Tone display, and (probably) Apple Pencil support. The improved photographic camera and True Tone brandish are also expected to come to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which launched before those were debuted on the smaller model. The supposed 10.v-inch model might send later on than the residue due to the added challenges in manufacturing it. The bezel of the iPad will reportedly be scaled downward to make the larger loftier-resolution screen fit in the same course factor equally the smaller 9.vii-inch model.

These changes to the lineup sound respectable, but exercise they alter the essential nature of tablets? Probably non. Apple tree has seen falling iPad sales since early on 2022, and shortly thereafter it started pushing new variants of the iPad, the Apple Pencil, and more than accessories. This has not reversed the downward trend of tablet sales, which is probably causing some panic around Cupertino.

There are a few reasons for the drib in tablet sales. For one, tablets are primarily consumption devices. They don't need to be the fastest to get that done, and we long agone hit the point of "expert enough." A lot of Apple users too simply buy the iPhone Plus variant instead of getting a smaller iPhone and an iPad. The Pencil and keyboard dock are attempts to position the iPad every bit a productivity machine, but there these things chosen Chromebooks now. Google'southward Chromebook platform has provided an cheap fashion to become work washed efficiently, and they've go hugely popular.

Proceed an eye out for Apple to send out invites to its spring iPad result. We should know in the next few weeks if the rumors are truthful.