12.9-Inch iPad Air Display Shipments Reportedly Underway Ahead of March 2024 Launch

2023 is set to become the first calendar year with no new iPads released in the device's history, but updates to the entire iPad lineup are expected next year. Notably, it has been rumored that the next iPad Air will be released in two sizes.

iPad Air 12
Apple's supply chain started shipments of display panels for a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air this month, according to a post on X today from Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants. Young has a good track record for display-related Apple rumors, so the information he shared today is likely accurate.


Multiple other sources have claimed that Apple is planning to release a 12.9-inch iPad Air, including Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes, Apple analyst Ming-Chu Kuo, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Earlier this week, Gurman said that he expects the 12.9-inch iPad Air to be released around March 2024.

Beyond its larger display size, no major design changes have been rumored yet for the 12.9-inch iPad Air. The current iPad Air is equipped with a 10.9-inch display, and that model is also expected to be updated around March next year.

The next iPad Pro models are widely expected to be equipped with OLED displays, and they will likely be more expensive than the current iPad Pro models as a result. By sticking with a more cost-friendly LCD panel, the 12.9-inch iPad Air should be priced between the 10.9-inch iPad Air and the next 11-inch iPad Pro.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. New 'Slim' Design Rumors have taken to referring to the new iPhone 17...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

ApplesAreSweet&Sour Avatar
8 months ago
Please, let the base configurations start with 128GB!

??
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
8 months ago

Just read a report about Apple wanting to simplify the iPad lineup.

So what do they do?

Add a second iPad Air screen size.

SMH Tim
The article's rationale is that people wanting a larger screen would no longer be forced into the highest-end iPad Pro. Similarly to how the 15" MacBook Air and larger iPhone Plus models bring larger screen options to consumer oriented hardware. Maybe simplified isn't the word they should have used - the the varying product tiers are now more complete.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TigerNike23 Avatar
8 months ago

Are you saying that dealing with choices is simply too complicated for buyers to comprehend?
Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Steve Jobs said the same thing 26 years ago.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Abazigal Avatar
8 months ago

Entire books and studies have been written on The Paradox of Choice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice
That rubicon has long been crossed. I don't think a company of Apple's current size can expect to sell just one model of smartphone and tablet and expect to meet the needs of their 1+ billion users. The reality is that as your user base grows, their needs will naturally become more diverse, and so Apple will need a larger portfolio of products to cater to them.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flash1420 Avatar
8 months ago
I mean it kinda defeats the point of an iPad and makes the existing lineup even more confusing. I am betting the price won't be cheap either and add the Magic Keyboard, it would make it even more expensive. At that point, the MacBook Air M1 will be much better from a price and functionality standpoint. They should honestly just have 3 iPads in their lineup:
1. iPad mini
2. Combine the iPad Air and iPad Pro 11-inch
3. iPad Pro 12.9-inch.

People are complaining that iPadOS is too limiting, I mean what more could they add to prevent overlap with macOS? The iPad was designed to offer more functionality and utility than an iPhone but not as much as a Mac.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TigerNike23 Avatar
8 months ago
Just read a report about Apple wanting to simplify the iPad lineup.

So what do they do?

Add a second iPad Air screen size.

SMH Tim
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)