Apple will allegedly offer both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with a minimum 256GB of storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time.  
  
Currently, Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and comes with the minimum 128GB of storage, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 with a minimum 256GB of storage.  
  
However, according to a post on X (Twitter) by [LeaksApplePro](https://x.com/LeaksApplePro/status/1779949119609421946), Apple will bump up the base storage of the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro to 256GB to match the minimum capacity of the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the starting price of Apple's smaller Pro model will remain at $999.  
  
The X account has no recent track record for accurate Apple leaks or rumors, so we are filing this one under sketchy. Having said that, the claim is not outside the realm of possibility.  

*   [Is 128GB Enough iPhone Storage?](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/is-128gb-enough-iphone-storage/)

If Apple drops 128GB as the base on the iPhone 16 Pro, that will leave three Pro storage options across the board: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.  
  
It's also worth noting that in 2018, Apple's premium iPhone X came with 64GB, an entry-level storage tier that persisted in successive generations until the iPhone 13 in 2021, when Apple adopted 128GB as the new baseline. If Apple makes 256GB the new minimum across its premium devices, it could be settling into a pattern of doubling the minimum capacity every three years.  
  
At the other end of the scale, a rumor in January out of Korea [claimed](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/19/iphone-16-pro-2tb-option-rumor/) that both iPhone 16 Pro models will be available with double the maximum storage capacity as the iPhone 15 Pro devices, increasing from 1TB to 2TB.  
  
The maximum storage increase is said to be a result of Apple's switch to higher-density Quad-Level Cell (QLC) NAND flash for higher storage models. Apple's use of QLC NAND could allow Apple to fit more storage into a smaller space and it is less expensive than Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND, which current iPhones use.  

*   [Every iPhone 16 Rumor We've Covered So Far](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/31/every-iphone-16-rumor-weve-covered-so-far/#)

  
This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting [bigger display sizes](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/08/iphone-16-pro-larger-display-sizes/), increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes will be the largest ever for the iPhone, and should also increase the physical space for internal components and parts.

iPhone 16 Pro to Come With Upgraded Storage Capacity to Match The iPhone 16 Pro, But it Will Not Hurt Your Pocket

Both iPhone 16 Pro Models to Feature 256GB Base Storage, Claims Sketchy Rumor

Next year's iPhone 17 will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to a new rumor out of Asia.  
  
Chinese Weibo leaker [Instant Digital](https://weibo.com/n/刹那数码) claimed on Tuesday that the outer glass on the iPhone 17 is set to have a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" that is "more scratch-resistant than you think." The coating equipment has just been handed over to China's supply chain, according to the leaker, but not in time for it to feature in this year's upcoming iPhone 16 series.  
  
"Ceramic Shield" is a marketing name for a glass-ceramic material developed by Corning in collaboration with Apple. Apple says the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 15 is "tougher than any smartphone glass." Introduced on iPhone 12 models in 2020, Apple advertised the ceramic-infused glass as increasing drop performance by 4x compared to the iPhone 11.  
  
More recently, Samsung debuted its newest Galaxy S24 Ultra, which features a Gorilla Glass Armor display panel, also developed by Corning. [According to Corning](https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/corning-gorilla-armor.html), the Armor panel cuts reflections by 75 percent compared to a typical glass surface, and is resistant to micro scratches that build up over time on competing glass panels. Corning also claims the panels offer over 4x more scratch resistance than competitive aluminosilicate cover glasses.  
  
It's not clear whether Apple is planning to adopt Gorilla Glass Armor for the iPhone 17, but the description matches the Chinese leaker's claims. Corning could also be supplying Apple with an equivalent technology that will be branded under another name.  

iPhone 17 to Feature New Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display

In addition to adding support for alternative app marketplaces and alternative payment methods in the European Union, Apple is making several other changes to comply with the terms of the Digital Markets Act. Apple today outlined some of its upcoming plans in a DMA Compliance Report \[[PDF](https://www.apple.com/legal/dma/dma-ncs.pdf)\].  
  
Apple is going to make it easier for [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/) users to switch over to another operating system in the European Union. Apple says it is working on a solution that will help mobile operating system providers create "more user-friendly solutions" for transferring data from an ‌iPhone‌ to a non-Apple phone. The solution will be available by fall 2025, after which point companies like Samsung and Google will be able to offer better tools for transferring data from an ‌iPhone‌.  
  
EU ‌iPhone‌ users will be able to remove Safari from their devices entirely starting at the end of 2024, with an alternate browser able to take the place of Safari. As part of this plan, Apple is developing a browser switching solution for exporting and importing browser data into another browser on the same device. Apple has already began supporting alternative web browser engines, another DMA requirement.  
  
To improve interoperability between ‌iPhone‌ and other smartphone platforms, Apple is allowing third-party payment apps to access the ‌iPhone‌'s NFC chip for contactless payments that are not done through [Apple Pay](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-pay/), plus it is allowing developers to submit requests for additional interoperability.  
  
Interoperability requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are under the scope of the DMA, and if an effective interoperability solution can be developed.  
  
Developers in the EU are able to [request additional mediation](https://www.cedr.com) that goes beyond the standard App Review Board evaluation. Developers who want to contest unsuccessful appeals to the App Review Board can request mediation, a process that Apple says is "EU-based, easily accessible, impartial, independent, and free-of-charge."  
  
All of these changes are limited to developers and users in the European Union as they are required by the Digital Markets Act.


Apple to Let EU iPhone Users Delete Safari and More Easily Transition to Android

A refreshed [Apple Pencil](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-pencil/) model will be announced this month, according to a rumor shared on Chinese social media.  
  
The rumor comes from Weibo user "[Instant Digital](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/setsuna-digital/)," who notes that after over five years without an update, Apple finally plans to refresh the second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ this month. This corroborates _Bloomberg_ reporter [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/)'s [recent claim](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/03/no-apple-event-for-new-ipads-macs-gurman/) that new Apple Pencils are on the way "in the next several weeks."  
  
There is a limited amount of information about what an updated ‌‌Apple Pencil‌ might feature‌, but there have been rumors about [magnetically interchangeable tips](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/02/apple-pencil-3-could-feature-magnetic-tips/), [color sampling capabilities](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/17/apple-pencil-color-sensor-patent/), and a [shorter design with a glossy finish](https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/03/new-apple-pencil-allegedly-leaks/).  
  
Apple's next-generation [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) models with OLED displays are widely rumored to launch this month, so it would make sense for a new ‌Apple Pencil‌ to arrive alongside them. The company is also expected to introduce a [redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/03/gurman-new-ipad-magic-keyboard-to-feature-aluminum/), so it seems that both of the [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/)'s accessories may be refreshed simultaneously.  
  
Instant Digital has a mixed track record in terms of revealing accurate information about Apple's plans, but its claims are worth paying attention to. The source was [first to report](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/03/iphone-14-new-color-rumor/) the [iPhone 14](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-14/)'s Yellow spring refresh, [Spatial Video](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/04/future-iphone-could-capture-spatial-photos-videos/) capture on the [iPhone 15 Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-15-pro/), and the [Apple Watch Series 9](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-watch/)'s [minor hardware update](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/04/apple-watch-series-9-basically-unchanged/), as well as being the only source of the only rumor claiming that the [iPhone 15](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-15/) and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature [frosted back glass](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/17/iphone-15-and-15-plus-frosted-glass-rumor/). However, they also made claims about [several iOS 17 features](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/25/ios-17-lock-screen-apple-music-rumors/) and the release of a [new iPad Air in October 2023](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/10/ipad-air-6-rumored-to-launch-in-october/) that did not pan out.


New Apple Pencil Rumored to Launch This Month

Apple remains committed to microLED, despite recent reports that its project to bring the display technology to Apple Watch Ultra has been ditched, according to a new Taiwanese report.  
  
Last week, Apple supplier arms OSRAM [announced](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/29/microled-apple-watch-ultra-canceled-for-now/) that a "cornerstone project" was "unexpectedly cancelled." Counterpoint Research's Display Supply Chain Consultants informed _MacRumors_ that this project related to the rumored Apple Watch with a microLED display.  
  
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later weighed in on the matter, saying that Apple has [canceled](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/01/kuo-says-microled-apple-watch-ultra-canceled/) the project for the "foreseeable future."  
  
In an apparent pushback against the reports, despite terminating cooperation with Osram, Apple still has multiple internal teams dedicated to microLED projects, and has been "actively seeking alternative suppliers since 2023," according to _[DigiTimes](https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240304PD200/apple-ai-micro-led-osram.html)_.  
  
Taiwan's AU Optronics (AUO) and PlayNitride are said to be among the prospective frontrunners to fulfill Apple's production needs. AUO has just begun mass production of microLED watch display panels, while PayNitride is mass producing related chips.  
  
Talks between Apple and PlayNitride have reportedly faltered due to scale limitations, but AUO has apparently emerged as a "promising partner" with its advancements in microLED display applications.  
  
The report aligns with comments made by [TrendForce](https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20240301-12054.html), which previously said that Taiwan and South Korea have a "robust lineup of manufacturers for Micro LED chips, backplanes, and related transfer processes."  
  
Kuo last week claimed that microLED production costs are currently "too high" for its Apple Watch Ultra project to be "economically viable." But according to industry sources cited by _DigiTimes_, the high costs of early microLED production remain within expectations.  
  
"Based on Apple's track record in development, high expenses tied to pioneering technologies are typically manageable and can be addressed as long as production scales up," said the report. "However, the primary challenge persists in overcoming associated technological bottlenecks."  
  
These bottlenecks are said to include an absence of circuit control design within the LEDs, which potentially increases the risk of LED chip damage. "Furthermore, the stamp technology solution falls short in achieving precise transfer, particularly when interfacing with Osram's vertical chips," according to _DigiTimes_.  
  
The main takeaway from today's report is that Apple likely still hopes to eventually transition to microLED in the future, but the Apple Watch Ultra may not be the first product to adopt the technology. According to a separate report by _[The Elec](https://www.thelec.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=26333)_, Apple may instead decide to prioritize microLED technology for future, lighter versions of Apple Vision Pro while it waits for watch implementation costs to come down.


Apple Still Plans MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra, Seeks New Suppliers

A photo claiming to show a mold of Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 standard model has appeared online, offering another preview of the rumored new vertical camera arrangement.  
  
Over the last few months, Apple has been experimenting with [different camera bump designs](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/12/early-iphone-16-prototypes/) for the standard iPhone 16 models, all of which have featured a vertical camera arrangement.  
  
The [latest prototype](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/06/apple-iphone-16-slim-camera-bump/) features the same arrangement with two separate camera rings for the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras, housed within a pill-shaped raised surface, suggesting Apple has drawn inspiration from older iPhone models, such as the ‌iPhone‌ X.  
  
With the vertical camera layout, Apple is expected to bring Spatial Video recording to the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus models. Current iPhone 15 models have a diagonal camera arrangement and are not able to capture spatial video, a feature that is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and the Vision Pro headset.  
  
In addition to the updated camera bump design, recent ‌iPhone 16‌ prototypes have also featured a smaller Action Button, similar to the one used on ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌, along with a pressure-sensitive Capture Button for [shooting horizontal video](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/18/iphone-16-capture-button-touch-pressure/) that sits flush with the frame of the device.  
  
When _MacRumors_ first revealed the latest prototype [earlier this month](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/06/apple-iphone-16-slim-camera-bump/), we cautioned readers that it was sourced from pre-production information, and so may not ultimately reflect the final design that goes into mass production.  
  
![](https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2024/02/iphone-16-molds.jpeg)  
Likewise, the existence of case maker molds at this early stage does not necessarily confirm that Apple has settled on this design for the iPhone 16. The molds could simply be being used as test samples based on early schematics. Case makers also often base their initial case designs for upcoming iPhones based on leaks and rumors, so the images may not be true representations.  
  
The latest images were [shared by Majin Bu](https://x.com/MajinBuOfficial/status/1759148932028854647?s=20) on X (formerly Twitter). Bu has a mixed track record for accurate rumors, but schematics and images Bu has [previously leaked](https://twitter.com/MajinBuOfficial/status/1754127911202828783) show the same design and align with our own information independently sourced from the supply chain.  
  
We should know more when the devices move closer to the Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) phase of development. For additional details on Apple's next-generation 2024 smartphones, check out our dedicated rumor roundups for [iPhone 16](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-16/) and [iPhone 16 Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-16-pro/).


First Alleged iPhone 16 Molds Show Vertical Camera Layout

Apple's new Vision Pro headset can serve as an external display for a Mac, letting you view and control your computer's screen in a visionOS window. The feature can currently be used with only a single Mac display, but analyst [Ben Thompson today suggested](https://stratechery.com/2024/the-apple-vision-pro/) that Apple has internally tested the ability to use multiple displays.  
  
"I have heard through the grapevine that Vision Pro users at Apple headquarters can project two Mac screens," said Thompson, in [his review of the headset](https://stratechery.com/2024/the-apple-vision-pro/).  
  
Apple engineers have access to future visionOS versions, and feature flags that enable extra functionality, so this revelation is certainly believable. However, it's unclear if Apple plans to let the public use the feature with multiple displays.  
  
For now, if your Mac has external displays connected to it, the Vision Pro only shows the main display that you have set in the Mac's System Settings app. While the Vision Pro is showing a Mac's display, the computer's built-in display and any external monitors that are connected to it appear black and cannot be used during that time.  
  
The feature is compatible with any Mac running macOS Sonoma, but the maximum display resolution is [limited for Intel-based Macs](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/03/apple-vision-pro-can-display-intel-macs/).

Apple Engineers Allegedly Able to Use Vision Pro With Two Mac Displays

OLED displays for both of Apple's next-generation iPad Pro models will have entered the production phase by this week in time for device shipments to begin in April, claims a new report by _[The Elec](https://www.thelec.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=25343)_.  
  
According to the Korean-language outlet, LG Display recently began manufacturing the thin film transistor (TFT) for the new 13-inch iPad Pro displays, while Samsung will this week similarly kickstart its own TFT production for the new 11-inch iPad Pro. The TFT essentially acts as a switch to turn off and turn on individual OLED pixels.  
  
Finished 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Pro models are expected to go into mass production around March, in time for a scheduled release in April, according to today's report. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said he expects the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models to launch in the second quarter of 2024, which runs from April to June.  
  
The timeframe given by _The Elec_ also dovetails with an earlier _Bloomberg_ report that [claimed](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/06/ipad-air-ipad-pro-2024-refresh/) the new iPad Pro models could be announced at a March event, along with a new iPad Air that will be available in two sizes for the first time. Apple usually opens pre-orders during an event or a week or two after it, and then begins delivering the devices to customers the following week.  
  
OLED displays are a first for the ‌iPad‌ lineup. Apple has been using OLED technology for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, but larger OLED screens are more expensive. Compared to LED or mini-LED, OLED brings deeper blacks and more vivid colors.  
  
Apple's OLED iPad Pro shipments forecast for the year have reportedly decreased to 8 million units, down from the 10 million units that were projected for 2024 last year. The reduction is said to be a reflection of broadly sluggish performance across Apple's product lineup. Apple did not release any new iPad models last year, so it will be interesting to see if pent-up demand can offset poor sales.  
  
Along with new displays, the ‌iPad Pro‌ models are expected to be powered by Apple's latest M3 chip, which debuted in new MacBook Pro models last year. The M3 is built on 3-nanometer technology, and should bring a notable graphics improvement over the M2 chip that is currently used in the ‌iPad Pro‌.  
  
The displays are expected to be three times the price of those used in iPhones, which could translate to [much higher prices for customers](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/08/oled-ipad-prices-to-start-1500-dollars/). Apple is also rumored to be releasing a [redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/03/gurman-new-ipad-magic-keyboard-to-feature-aluminum/) for the devices, since the screens will be slightly larger and the tablets themselves could be slightly thinner.

OLED iPad Pro Displays Now in Production, Devices to Ship in April

The Apple Watch Ultra will gain a 10% percent larger display upon switching from OLED to microLED in 2026, according to Taiwanese research firm [TrendForce](https://www.trendforce.com/news/2023/12/15/trendforces-first-seminar-in-japan-spotlights-tsmc-rapidus-and-japanese-semiconductor-revitalization/).  
  
The current Apple Watch Ultra has a display size of 1.93-inches, whereas the upcoming microLED model is apparently due to feature a 2.12-inch screen. The microLED panel is estimated to cost two to three times more than the equivalent OLED display used in the current model, at a price of around $120. It is due to be supplied by Germany's ams OSRAM and South Korea's LG Display.  
  
Apple's plan to bring a microLED display to the Apple Watch Ultra is very widely corroborated, starting with a [report](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/10/microled-apple-watch-2025/) from display analyst Ross Young in January 2023. The advanced display offers improved brightness, color reproduction, dynamic range, viewing angles, and efficiency, making images look more like they are "painted" atop the display glass. The project is part of Apple's plan to [reduce its reliance on Samsung](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/06/apple-microled-struggle-led-to-reliance-on-samsung/) as a supplier while yielding benefits from engineering its own displays in-house, just like its chip technology.  
  
TrendForce's 2026 launch time frame for the [microLED Apple Watch](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/microled-apple-watch/) Ultra [remains unchanged](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/04/apple-watch-ultra-microled-delayed-early-2026/) and is later than many other sources, which have largely [centered on 2025](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/10/microled-apple-watch-2025/).  
  
Apple has reportedly been working on custom microLED display technology for [almost a decade](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/06/apple-microled-struggle-led-to-reliance-on-samsung/). The company is said to have plans to replace all of its existing LCD, OLED, and mini-LED panels with microLED in the long term, with the technology being [designed to be scaled up](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/15/apple-custom-displays-heading-to-iphone-ipad-and-mac-after-apple-watch/) from the Apple Watch to the [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/), [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/), Mac, and Vision Pro headset.

Apple Has Big Plans For The Apple Watch Ultra in 2026, Slated to Feature Micro-LED Technology With 10 Percent Bigger Screen

Apple Watch Ultra With 10% Larger Display and MicroLED Expected to Launch in 2026

Apple is focusing on bringing OLED displays to its [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/) and MacBook lineups rather than offering its first foldable, [_Nikkei Asia_](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Supply-Chain/Apple-to-switch-to-OLED-displays-for-iPads-and-MacBooks) reports.  
  
Apple is widely expected to [bring OLED displays](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/oled-ipad-pro/) to the [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) for the first time next year ahead of a wider expansion across the MacBook lineup. _Nikkei_ today corroborated this information citing sources said to be to be familiar with the matter, adding that the first OLED MacBook model is under development for production in the second half of 2025.  
  
_Nikkei_ claims that Apple is currently evaluating the potential of offering a foldable ‌iPad‌ after the transition to OLED is complete, but it is not a main focus and the company does not yet have a solid timeline for releasing such a device, mirroring a [report from _DigiTimes_](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/25/apple-considering-foldable-ipad-digitimes/) earlier this year.  
  
Reports from a multitude of reliable sources are fairly consistent that Apple plans to launch a foldable ‌iPad‌ before a foldable [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/). In October, [_DigiTimes_ reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/18/foldable-ipad-now-in-intensive-development-could-be-announced-as-soon-as-late-2024/) a range of details about Apple's tentative work on foldable iPads, including necessary design changes and small-scale production plans.

Apple will initially launch iPads with OLED displays instead of foldable iPads

Apple is considering launching a foldable iPad, but one problem needs to be solved first

Report: Apple Focusing on OLED Rather Than Foldable iPad

With no new [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/) models launched this year, Apple ostensibly has some significant changes in store for its tablet lineup and accessories in 2024.  

The entry-level ‌iPad‌, [iPad mini](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-mini/), [iPad Air](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-air/), and [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) models are all reportedly due a hardware update in 2024. Here's how the lineup of 2024 could compare to today based on rumors:  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2023

2024

‌iPad‌ (10.2-inch, A13 Bionic, 9th generation)

‌iPad‌ (10.9-inch, A14 Bionic, 10th generation)

‌iPad‌ (10.9-inch, A15 Bionic, 11th generation)

‌iPad mini‌ (8.3-inch, A15 Bionic, 6th generation)

‌iPad mini‌ (8.3-inch, A16 Bionic, 7th generation)

‌iPad Air‌ (10.9-inch, [M1](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m1/), 5th generation)

‌iPad Air‌ (10.9-inch, [M2](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2/), 6th generation)

‌iPad Air‌ (12.9-inch, ‌M2‌)

‌iPad Pro‌ (11-inch, ‌M2‌, 6th generation)

‌iPad Pro‌ (11.1-inch, M3, 7th generation)

‌iPad Pro‌ (12.9-inch, ‌M2‌, 6th generation)

‌iPad Pro‌ (13-inch, M3, 7th generation)

  

  
  
Apple is also reportedly [working on a new Apple Pencil](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/06/ipad-air-ipad-pro-2024-refresh/) and a [redesigned Magic Keyboard](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/27/new-ipad-pro-and-redesigned-magic-keyboard/) accessory for the ‌iPad Pro‌ [with an aluminum top case](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/03/gurman-new-ipad-magic-keyboard-to-feature-aluminum/) and a larger trackpad. The ‌iPad‌ accessory lineup could look as follows by the end of next year:  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2023

2024

[Apple Pencil](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-pencil/) (1st generation)

‌Apple Pencil‌ (2nd generation)

‌Apple Pencil‌ (3rd generation)

‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB-C)

‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB-C)

Magic Keyboard Folio for entry-level ‌iPad‌

Magic Keyboard Folio for entry-level ‌iPad‌

Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌

Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌

High-end Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Pro‌

  

  
  
In his latest ["Power On" newsletter](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-12-10/apple-aapl-to-fix-confusing-ipad-lineup-with-new-ipad-pro-mid-tier-ipad-air-lpzjekw4), _Bloomberg_'s [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/) said that Apple is seeking to reduce confusion between the ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ next year by introducing OLED displays, an updated design, the M3 chip, and a revamped Magic Keyboard accessory on the high-end models. This "will make it unmistakably the highest-end model," Gurman says.  
  
He also highlighted that the ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ will feature slightly different display sizes, just like the [MacBook Air](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-air/) and MacBook Pro, where the high-end models have larger screens. The ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ will reportedly be discontinued upon the release of the 11th-generation version, allowing the company to ultimately phase out the first-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌.  
  
Apple also plans to use the Magic Keyboard as a differentiator for the ‌iPad Pro‌ in 2024. The redesigned version of the accessory will not be compatible with the ‌iPad Air‌, being exclusive to the ‌iPad Pro‌. The 10.9- and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ models will only be able to use the current Magic Keyboard accessories.  
  
Gurman said that the new ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ models are due to launch around March 2024, with the updated entry-level ‌iPad‌ and ‌iPad mini‌ set to arrive later in the year.

Related Roundups: [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/), [iPad Air](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-air/) , [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/), [iPad mini](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-mini/)

Tags: [Bloomberg](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/bloomberg-com/), [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/)

Buyer's Guide: [iPad (Caution)](https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPad), [iPad Air (Don't Buy)](https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPad-Air), [11" iPad Pro (Don't Buy)](https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#11-iPad-Pro), [12.9" iPad Pro (Caution)](https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#12-9-iPad-Pro), [iPad Mini (Caution)](https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPad_Mini)

Related Forum: [iPad](https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/ipad.137)

  
This article, "[Here's What the iPad Lineup Could Look Like in 2024](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/11/what-the-2024-ipad-lineup-could-look-like/)" first appeared on [MacRumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com)  
  
[Discuss this article](https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/heres-what-the-ipad-lineup-could-look-like-in-2024.2413375/) in our forums

Here's What the iPad Lineup Could Look Like in 2024

The way vehicles take advantage of new connectivity standards could be improving in the near future, leading to updates on how smartphones like the [iPhone](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone/) control cars.  
  
This month, the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and the FiRa Consortium that oversees the development of the Ultra-wideband (UWB) standard, [announced a partnership](https://carconnectivity.org/car-connectivity-consortium-and-fira-consortium-partner-on-uwb-technology-used-in-the-ccc-digital-key/) for the future development of UWB features used for the CCC Digital Key function.  
  
Apple is a member of both the CCC and FiRa. The CCC's Digital Key specification has been adopted by Apple for its [Car Keys](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/carkey/) feature that allows the ‌iPhone‌ and the Apple Watch to unlock compatible vehicles over NFC. Select BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes, and Genesis vehicles [work with Car Keys](https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/), but Apple undoubtedly wants to expand adoption.  
  
The CCC and FiRa Consortiums will work together to "develop and maintain" the UWB technology specifications used for the Digital Key standard that serves as the basis for ‌Car Keys‌ on Apple devices. Apple engineer Jinjing Jiang will oversee the joint effort.  
  
The partnership is expected to encourage broader adoption of UWB technology use in vehicles. As of now, UWB is used for the Digital Key standard to relay how close a user is to their vehicle, allowing a smartphone or wearable to be used for vehicle access or to start the car when at the appropriate range.  
  
Apple uses UWB for the ‌iPhone‌, Apple Watch, and AirTag. UWB enables more precise location awareness and it powers features like Precision Finding for the AirTag.  
  
Along with Apple, CCC members include most vehicle manufacturers like Ford, BMW, GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and more, while FiRa members include Apple, Google, Qualcomm, Cisco, Samsung, NXP, and more.  

Digital Car Key and Ultra Wideband Groups Team Up for Future Apple Car Keys Improvements

Apple on Tuesday seeded a sixth beta of [visionOS](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/visionos/), the software designed to run on the Vision Pro headset, and it includes two new tutorial videos shown to the user during the setup process.  
  
The first 36-second onboarding video, shared by [@M1Astra](https://x.com/M1Astra/status/1724506943425757367?s=20), is called "Input Training" and demonstrates how the user interacts with vision OS by looking at UI elements and selecting them using a double-tap gesture. The narrator says the following:  

> Your eyes and hands are how you navigate Apple Vision Pro. You browse the system by looking, and it responds to your eyes. Simply look at an element and tap your fingers together to select it. It's like a click on your Mac. To scroll, pinch your fingers together, and gently flick. You can keep your hands where they're comfortable, such as resting on your lap.

> New onboarding video added in visionOS beta 6!  
>   
> "Input Training" [pic.twitter.com/ThKGBL4FbA](https://t.co/ThKGBL4FbA)
> 
> — M1 (@M1Astra) [November 14, 2023](https://twitter.com/M1Astra/status/1724506943425757367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
  
With the [Apple Vision Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-vision-pro/) headset, the built-in cameras create a customized "Persona" that resembles the user, and this Persona is used in video chat apps like [FaceTime](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/facetime/). In a second, 50-second video also shared by [@M1Astra](https://x.com/M1Astra/status/1724539857752519028?s=20), "Persona Enrollment," Apple demonstrates how Personas are set up by using the EyeSight display to guide the user:  

> To set up your Persona, you'll remove Apple Vision Pro to capture your appearance. Take your time getting ready, and ensure nothing is covering your face. To start capturing, hold Apple Vision Pro at eye level. Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed. Then, follow the instructions.  
>   
> Turn your head to the right, to the left, and tilt up, and down. Then you'll capture your facial expressions. Smile with your mouth closed, smile showing your teeth, raise your eyebrows, and close your eyes. When you're done, put Apple Vision Pro back on to see your Persona.

> New video tutorial showing Persona Enrollment for Apple Vision Pro added in visionOS beta 6!  
>   
> The enrollment uses the EyeSight display to guide the user. [pic.twitter.com/cGfsdTuIaY](https://t.co/cGfsdTuIaY)
> 
> — M1 (@M1Astra) [November 14, 2023](https://twitter.com/M1Astra/status/1724539857752519028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

  
As we [previously reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/05/apple-vision-pro-persona-glasses/), the 3D capture process requires users to remove anything that covers the face, such as glasses. There does not appear to be any kind of secondary scanning mechanism to separately capture a user's glasses, and instead, Apple will allow users to "Select Eyewear" from a variety of options.  
  
Personas are one aspect of ‌‌visionOS‌‌ that Apple is working on perfecting before the launch of the Vision Pro headset. In September, Apple [began surveying developers](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/14/apple-vision-pro-developer-survey/) who have the Vision Pro about their Personas, soliciting opinions on facial expressions, appearance matching, and more.  
  
The Vision Pro headset is set to launch in early 2024 in the United States, and it will be priced at $3,500. The headset will likely be [released in the UK and Canada later the same year](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/07/apple-vision-pro-launch-uk-canada-end-of-2024/).

Apple Vision Pro Onboarding Videos Unearthed in visionOS Beta 6

Apple internally believes its iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18 updates next year will be "ambitious and compelling," thanks to major new software features and designs in the works for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac. That's according to the latest information relayed by [_Bloomberg_ reporter Mark Gurman](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-11-12/apple-aapl-plans-ambitious-ios-18-and-macos-15-updates-seeks-to-squash-bugs-lovjlsf6).  
  
While little is known about the specifics, many of the changes are believed to involve [generative AI](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/apple-generative-ai-features-and-smarter-siri/), including a smarter version of Siri that takes the virtual assistant's integration with the operating systems to a new level. According to the leaker [@Tech\_Reve](https://x.com/Tech_Reve/status/1722418466647625999?s=20), Apple is relying on large-language models (LLMs) to completely revamp Siri and make it the "ultimate virtual assistant" and "Apple's most powerful killer AI app."  
  
Apple is reportedly working on revamped interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, enabling users to field complex questions and auto-complete sentences more effectively, according to Gurman. We may also see auto-generated Apple Music playlists and integration with productivity apps like Pages and Keynote, such as AI-assisted writing and slide deck creation.  
  
Apple is said to be on course to spend $1 billion per year on AI research, with some of the company's biggest executive names overseeing development. Indeed, Gurman says the company is "racing to catch up with Google and OpenAI" in the generative AI space, and with few major iPhone 16 hardware advances on the cards next year, the stakes are even higher. As a result, Gurman believes iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 could be "groundbreaking" relative to updates in the last few years.  
  
With so much riding on the outcome, however, Apple is said to be taking a particularly cautious approach to its software development. Recently we learned that all development on future features was [paused within Apple](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/07/apple-engineers-ios-18-bug-fix-focus/) to allow its engineers to work solely on improving the existing software.  
  
According to Gurman, Apple last month finished the first "M1" versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15, but the software engineering management team found too many bugs that were missed in internal testing, so a week was set aside to address the issues. Development has since resumed, but Apple is still said to be debating whether to deploy its new generative AI technology via the cloud, as an on-device experience, or a mixture of both.  
  
Apple is expected to reveal its LLM-powered version of Siri at WWDC 2024 during its iOS 18 developer preview, although other generative AI features it is working on could be [exclusive to iPhone 16 models](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/09/iphone-16-exclusive-ai-features-ios-18/) and therefore may not be revealed until Apple launches its next-generation flagship smartphones in September 2024.

AI-Infused iOS 18 Lauded as 'Ambitious and Compelling' by Apple Execs

Apple will add a new larger 12.9-inch [iPad Air](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-air/) to an entirely refreshed [iPad](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/) lineup coming next year, with two ‌iPad Air‌ models taking priority in Apple's launch roadmap, according to Apple analyst [Ming-Chi Kuo](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ming-chi-kuo/).  
  
In his [latest outlook](https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/2024年新款ipad機型與量產時程預測-predictions-for-new-ipad-models-and-production-timeline-in-2024-650a5fc9bbee), Kuo predicts that Apple will compensate for this year's lack of movement in its ‌iPad‌ lineup by updating all existing models, starting with 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad‌ Airs with new chips scheduled for mass production in the first quarter of 2024.  
  
Kuo says the [previously rumored](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/19/apple-working-on-larger-ipad-air/) all-new 12.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ will have a new LCD screen that lacks the mini-LED technology of Apple's current [iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) models, but will benefit from the same oxide backplane. This will offer better display performance than the current 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ that uses an a-Si backplane.  
  
Next in line for release are the [OLED iPad Pro](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/oled-ipad-pro/) models that have been rumored for some time. Apple will launch a new 11-inch and 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with a redesigned chassis and new M3 chip in the second quarter.  
  
Kuo believes that last on Apple's 2024 production roadmap are a new [iPad mini](https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-mini/) and an 11th-generation ‌iPad‌, Apple's most affordable tablet. This will see the discontinuation of Apple's 9th-generation ‌iPad‌ currently still offered alongside the 10th-generation model in Apple's lineup.  
  
Kuo believes these changes will see only modest gains in ‌iPad‌ shipments compared to this year, and predicts around 52-54 million units in 2024 compared to 2023. Such an increase remains way off Apple's peak of 63 million iPads shipped during 2022 during the pandemic.  
  
_Bloomberg_'s [Mark Gurman](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/) recently also [suggested](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/05/all-ipads-expected-to-be-updated-in-2024/) Apple will update its entire ‌iPad‌ lineup throughout 2024, but his timeline prediction is slightly different to Kuo and does not mention a new larger ‌iPad Air‌.  
  
Gurman [previously reported](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/22/gurman-new-ipads-scheduled-for-march-2024-launch/) that the low-end to mid-range iPads could be updated as early as March 2024, while he expects new 11-inch and 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models with the M3 chip and OLED displays to launch in the first half of 2024. The next ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad mini‌ are likely to be equipped with [M2](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2/) and A16 Bionic chips, respectively.