Highlights

• New iPad Pro and Air models might feature advanced M3 and M2 chips, respectively.
• MacBook Air could support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, with M3 chip integration.
• iPhone 15 series to likely introduce a new colour option, alongside updated cases and bands.
• Apple VP Dan Riccio to retire after leading the Apple Vision Pro project.

Apple is set to refresh its product lineup with the introduction of new iPad and MacBook models.

Contrary to the usual fanfare associated with its product launches, the tech giant has chosen a more subdued approach this time around.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there will be no special event to unveil the new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air.

Instead, Apple plans to roll out these updates through press releases, accompanied by online videos and marketing campaigns.

iPad Pro, iPad Air, MacBook Air: Expected Specs

The upcoming releases are not short of innovations and enhancements.

The new iPad Pro models are rumored to boast the M3 chip, OLED displays, and a slimmer design.

Key improvements include a landscape-oriented front camera, a redesigned rear camera bump, and potential support for MagSafe wireless charging.

Additionally, Apple is expected to introduce two new iPad Air models equipped with the M2 chip, marking the debut of a 12.9-inch model in the iPad Air lineup.

For MacBook enthusiasts, Apple is preparing to launch new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, featuring the M3 chip.

These laptops are anticipated to support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, offering enhanced connectivity.

Alongside these hardware upgrades, Apple is also expected to release a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, featuring a larger trackpad and a partially aluminum enclosure, and at least one new Apple Pencil.

iPhone 15 Getting a Colorful Addition

In addition to the hardware upgrades, Apple might introduce a new colour option for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, continuing its tradition of refreshing its color palette.

Fans can also look forward to new color options for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.

While there’s excitement around these confirmed updates, the rumor mill suggests more could be on the horizon.

Speculation about a new Apple TV and a HomePod with a screen for the first half of 2024 persists, though details remain uncertain.

Similarly, rumours of a fourth-generation iPhone SE are also in the air, with a launch possibly pushed to 2025.

Mark Gurman hints at the release of a “special version of iOS 17.4” to support the new hardware by the end of March, suggesting the devices could hit the market sometime in March or April.

Apple VP of Hardware Engineering to Soon Retire

In more news, there has been significant development within Apple’s ranks involving Dan Riccio, the former Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, who is reportedly on the brink of retirement after dedicating over a quarter-century to the company.

Riccio’s tenure at Apple has been marked by pivotal contributions, particularly his recent leadership on the Apple Vision Pro project.

With the Apple Vision Pro now launched, Riccio is preparing to retire, celebrating an illustrious career that spans just over 25 years with the tech giant.

His legacy at Apple includes the development of Touch ID and Face ID, groundbreaking security technologies that have become foundational to the security framework of Apple products.

Furthermore, Riccio played a crucial role in Apple’s transition from reliance on Intel chips, leading the charge towards in-house chip design, a move that has significantly shaped the company’s hardware strategy.

Riccio’s journey with Apple saw him rise to prominence in 2010 as the vice president of iPad hardware engineering.

He ascended to the role of SVP of hardware engineering in 2012, a position he held until John Ternus succeeded him in the summer of 2021, allowing Riccio to devote his focus to the Apple Vision Pro.

As Gurman explains, however, there were some speed bumps along the way:

Riccio is known as a hard-driving and controversial boss within Apple, and things haven’t always gone smoothly.

There was the company’s shaky entry into smart speakers, a failed TV set project and, of course, the car.

There also was a period in which Apple attempted to wind down the Mac in favor of the iPad

That clearly didn’t work, but the 2020 shift from Intel Corp. to Apple’s homegrown chips — an effort Riccio helped lead — turned things around.

After all that, getting the Vision Pro out was a capstone moment.

Here is how Apple described Riccio when it announced that transition in 2021:

Has been a leader in designing, developing, and engineering almost all of Apple’s products.

From the first generation iMac to the more recent 5G iPhone lineup, M1-based Macs, and AirPods Max, Riccio built the Hardware Engineering teams and scaled Apple’s ability to innovate across multiple new product lines with the highest quality.

After joining Apple in 1998 as a leader on the Product Design team, Riccio became vice president of iPad Hardware Engineering in 2010, and in 2012 he joined the executive team as the leader of Hardware Engineering.

Here is what Riccio said in that press release:

Working at Apple has been the opportunity of a lifetime, spent making the world’s best products with the most talented people you could imagine.

After 23 years of leading our Product Design or Hardware Engineering teams — culminating with our biggest and most ambitious product year ever — it’s the right time for a change.

Next up, I’m looking forward to doing what I love most — focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something newand wonderful that I couldn’t be more excited about.

FAQs

What updates can we expect in the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models?

The anticipated updates for the iPad Pro models include integration of the M3 chip, the introduction of OLED displays for better visual quality, and a new design that features a landscape-oriented front camera for improved video calls.

The rear camera is also expected to see a redesign, and there may be support for MagSafe wireless charging.

The iPad Air is set to receive two new models powered by the M2 chip, with the most notable addition being a first-ever 12.9-inch model, expanding the choices for users seeking larger screens.

When are the new Apple products expected to be available for purchase?

While specific release dates have not been announced, reports suggest that Apple plans to launch the new products in the near future, potentially in March or April. This timeline is based on the anticipated release of a special version of iOS 17.4, designed to support the new hardware.

Exact availability will depend on the completion of the product launch process, which is being handled through press releases and online marketing efforts.

How will Apple announce the launch of its new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air models?

In a departure from its traditional launch events, Apple is expected to introduce its latest products through a series of press releases. This approach will be supplemented by online videos and targeted marketing campaigns.

The decision to forego a special launch event suggests a strategic choice by Apple to highlight its products through digital channels, allowing for a broader and more immediate reach.

What is Dan Riccio’s contribution to Apple?

Dan Riccio, who is nearing retirement, has been instrumental in developing key technologies like Touch ID and Face ID.

Is Apple Executive Dan Riccio Reportedly ‘Nearing Retirement’ Following Vision Pro Launch?

Apple’s former hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio told colleagues he is “nearing retirement” after more than 25 years at the company, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

John Ternus succeeded Riccio as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021. That year, Apple said Riccio would “transition to a new role focusing on a new project,” which Gurman said was the Vision Pro headset.

Here is how Apple described Riccio when it announced that transition in 2021?

Riccio has been a leader in designing, developing, and engineering almost all of Apple’s products. From the first generation iMac to the more recent 5G iPhone lineup, M1-based Macs, and AirPods Max, Riccio built the Hardware Engineering teams and scaled Apple’s ability to innovate across multiple new product lines with the highest quality.

After joining Apple in 1998 as a leader on the Product Design team, Riccio became vice president of iPad Hardware Engineering in 2010, and in 2012 he joined the executive team as the leader of Hardware Engineering.

Here is what Riccio said in that press release :

Working at Apple has been the opportunity of a lifetime, spent making the world’s best products with the most talented people you could imagine.

After 23 years of leading our Product Design or Hardware Engineering teams — culminating with our biggest and most ambitious product year ever — it’s the right time for a change. Next up, I’m looking forward to doing what I love most — focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something new and wonderful that I couldn’t be more excited about.

Apple launched the Vision Pro in the U.S. in early February, and it said the headset will be released in additional countries later this year.

There is no timeframe for Riccio’s retirement, as Gurman said specific details related to his planned departure are still being worked out.

Apple to Announce New Products This Week. Details?

Apple plans to announce new products with press releases on its website this week, a proven source familiar with the matter told MacRumors.

While the products that Apple plans to announce have not been disclosed, there are rumors about new iPads, Macs, and accessories. It is unclear exactly what will be announced this week.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today reiterated that Apple is planning new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air models, along with new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories for select iPads.

Gurman believes that Apple is not planning to hold a traditional event to unveil these products, and instead plans to announce them “on its website” and with a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns” at some point in March or April.

The following announcements are expected in this March-April window:

Two new iPad Pro models with the M3 chip, OLED displays, a thinner enclosure, a landscape-oriented front camera, a redesigned rear camera bump and other design tweaks, and possibly MagSafe wireless charging.

Two new iPad Air models with the M2 chip, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model
A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with a larger trackpad, a partially-aluminum enclosure, and other design tweaks.

At least one new Apple Pencil

New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip, and the laptops will likely gain support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

A new color option for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus has not been definitively rumored, but it is likely based on precedent.

New color options for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.

There have also been rumors about a new Apple TV and a HomePod with a screen launching in the first half of 2024, but it is unclear if these products are ready.

There are also alleged CADs for a fourth-generation iPhone SE, but it is likewise unclear if that device is imminent, as 2025 has been a more widely rumored timeframe for it.

Gurman: No Apple Event Planned for Upcoming iPads and Macs.Details?

Apple does not plan to hold a traditional event to unveil new iPads and Macs, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Instead, he said Apple plans to announce the products on its website with a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns.”

If this plan is accurate, we can expect the new products to be announced with press releases on the Apple Newsroom website.

Gurman expects Apple to announce the following products:
Two new iPad Pro models with the M3 chip and OLED displays
A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro
Two new iPad Air models, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model
At least one new Apple Pencil
New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip
The new iPad Pro models are expected to be thinner, and they are rumored to be equipped with a landscape-oriented front camera like the iPad 10.

March or April are also common months for Apple to release a new iPhone color, and new colors for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.

In terms of timing, Gurman said that Apple is planning to release a “special version” of iOS 17.4 with support for the new hardware at the end of March, leading him to expect the devices to “arrive sometime in March or April.”

Presumably, there would also be special iPadOS 17.4 and macOS 14.4 versions preinstalled on the new iPads and Macs.

iOS 17.4 includes major changes to the App Store and more in the EU, as a result of the Digital Markets Act.

Apple has until March 6 to comply with the Digital Markets Act, in order to avoid fines, so the common belief has been that iOS 17.4 will likely be released by then. The special version would follow later in the month.

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