iOS 7.1 Includes Support for Two Unannounced iPads, Likely Minor Tweaks - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 7.1 Includes Support for Two Unannounced iPads, Likely Minor Tweaks

by

iOS 7.1, released earlier today, includes support for existing iPad models along with support for two unannounced models, labeled iPad4,3 and iPad4,6. It is possible that these new model numbers represent minor hardware revisions for existing iPads that will be introduced to the market silently, as a more substantial upgrade would push the model numbers higher.

On occasion, Apple has implemented new hardware components for its iOS devices without a public announcement and these minor changes often go unseen by consumers as they tend to introduce very minor improvements in efficiency. For example, an Apple TV update in January of 2013 revealed a new Apple TV, which turned out to be a minor update with a smaller A5 chip. That change was not obvious to Apple TV purchasers, but it did warrant a model number jump to 3,2 from 3,1.

newipads

Image courtesy of 9to5Mac

Existing iPad Air models are numbered 4,1 and 4,2, while Retina iPad mini models are numbered 4,4 and 4,5, suggesting one new iPad Air for the 4,3 designation and one new Retina mini for the 4,6 designation.

As noted by 9to5Mac, it is also possible that iPad4,3 and iPad4,6 represent iOS devices that are optimized for networks in other countries.

Top Rated Comments

160 months ago
Maybe they're the models with 2GB of RAM, since 1GB is a joke.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sundragon Avatar
160 months ago
Maybe they're the models with 2GB of RAM, since 1GB is a joke.
Ultimately, 2GB is would be fantastic but the comparison is not a direct apples to apples. It's Apples to Androids... :D

LOL, unlike Android, nothing runs in VM (it's all native code and 64-bit OS/Apple apps on the 5S iPad Air - 32bit OS/Apple apps on previous models) so the need for 2GB is a lot less than Android which runs the UI in VM along with everything else...

Google (LOL) ART is replacing Android's Dalvik to improve this disparity. It's the reason a dual core A7 1.3 GHZ with 1GB of RAM runs circles around a quad core Snapdragon 800 at 2.2 GHZ...

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/09/review-with-the-iphone-5s-apple-lays-groundwork-for-a-brighter-future/
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/170677-android-art-google-finally-moves-to-replace-dalvik-to-boost-performance-and-battery-life
https://source.android.com/devices/tech/dalvik/art.html
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Parasprite Avatar
160 months ago
What can't you do on an iPad that you think requires more RAM?

Endless animated gif scrolling on tumblr.

Not that I condone using tumblr or anything.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
160 months ago
Maybe they're the models with 2GB of RAM, since 1GB is a joke.

What can't you do on an iPad that you think requires more RAM?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bushido Avatar
160 months ago
Endless animated gif scrolling on tumblr.

Not that I condone using tumblr or anything.

omg loading gifs on an iPad is the worst. i cant even count how many times tumblr or safari crashes loading them
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
160 months ago
iPad 2 replacements?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

Sunday May 31, 2026 8:47 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said. "I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV...
Apple Wallet

iOS 27 Will Add Two New Apple Wallet Features to Your iPhone

Monday June 1, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and the update will reportedly include two new Apple Wallet features. First, iOS 27 will reportedly let users create their own digital passes by scanning items like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards. Many apps already offer Apple Wallet passes, but now users will be able to create a custom...
Apple Foldable Thumb

First 'Confirmed' iPhone Ultra Color Allegedly Revealed in Leaked Image

Monday June 1, 2026 4:39 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year. Rumors suggest the "iPhone Ultra" will come in two color options, and a leaker shared an image today that allegedly shows one of them. Posted on Weibo by the Chinese leaker known as Ice Universe, the image purportedly offers a first glimpse of Apple's foldable in white. The device is believed to have entered early mass...