9 Reasons to Wait for the 2024 iPad Pro & 4 Reasons Not To

We didn’t see changes to the iPad lineup in 2023, but that won’t be the case in 2024. Apple’s working on a new iPad Pro and the device is rumored to have significant changes on board.

If you’re in the market for a new tablet, you’ll want to take a look at Apple’s iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini lines. These are all among the best tablets out on the market right now and they should be on your shopping list if you want to buy a new tablet.

The iPad Pro line represents Apple’s high-end and it’s aimed at people who want a ton of horsepower for video editing, intense multitasking, and gaming.

While many of you will be perfectly fine buying a new iPad right now, others may want to hang back and wait for the next version of the iPad Pro.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says there are multiple iPad Pros in development, codenamed J717, J718, J720 and J721 behind the scenes at Apple.

There will be four new devices because we’ll see two different screen sizes as well as Wi-Fi only and cellular-enabled 2024 iPad Pro models.

Apple is targeting a release in early 2024 which puts those of you in the hunt for a new tablet in a tough position. Upgrade right now or wait?

While there are some great reasons to buy a new tablet right this second, there are also some great reasons to hang around and wait for the new iPad Pros.

In this guide we’ll take you through the best reasons to consider waiting for the rumored 2024 iPad Pro and the best reasons to buy something else.

Wait for Apple’s May 7th Event

If you’re in a rush to buy a new device, you’ll have to look elsewhere. However, if you can wait until May 7th, you should do so.

Apple’s hosting an event on May 7th and that’s when we’ll see the company launch the new iPad Pros.

The special event kicks off on Tuesday at 7AM Pacific/10AM Eastern and it will be live streamed on Apple.com and YouTube.

Wait for an OLED Display

The 2024 iPad Pro models will have OLED displays.

Display analyst Ross Young, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, South Korea’s ETNews and several other sources all maintain that OLED iPad Pros will debut in 2024. This lines up with rumors we heard back in 2022.

Young believes the “OLED iPad panels are expected to be by far the best OLED tablet panels on the market with LTPO, 120Hz refresh, a tandem stack and glass thinning resulting in ultra-thin and light displays with high brightness, extended battery life and long lifetime.”

Back in the summer of 2022, ETNews said the new OLED iPads will feature a lightweight design and “unrivaled image quality.”

Apple’s current iPad lineup features backlit LCD displays. If the company does move to OLED, you can expect the 2024 iPad Pro’s display to offer better power consumption, higher contrast ratio, and improved color accuracy.

While the 2024 iPad Pro models will likely be the first models with OLED displays, Apple will reportedly bring the technology to the iPad Air and iPad mini.

Research firm Omdia believes OLED will land on the iPad Air and iPad mini starting in 2026. ETNews says we’ll see an 8.7-inch iPad mini with OLED and a new 10.9-inch iPad Air with OLED in 2026.

That’s a long way away so if you really want an OLED display on an iPad in the near future, you’ll have to buy a newer iPad Pro.

Wait for a Better Front-Facing Camera

We haven’t seen a whole lot in regards to the iPad Pro’s camera setup, but it’s an area where we could see improvements.

The iPad Pro comes equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with Center Stage support. It’s a serviceable camera, but don’t be surprised if Apple brings the iPad Pro’s setup in line with the 10th-generation iPad’s camera.

The 10th-generation iPad comes with a landscape front-facing camera. It was the first iPad to come with this orientation.

Here’s how Apple describes it:

“For the first time on any iPad, the front-facing camera is now located along the landscape edge. Whether users are on a FaceTime call or recording a video for social media, they will always be looking right toward the camera. The landscape Ultra Wide front camera with a 12MP sensor and 122-degree field of view supports Center Stage, which automatically pans and zooms to keep users in view as they move around.”

This makes it perfect for conference calls or more leisurely chats with friends and family members. It would also be a welcomed change on board the iPad Pro series.

According to code found in iOS 17.4 by 9to5Mac, Apple’s working on a new, unreleased iPad model that features a landscape Face ID camera.

Given what we’ve heard about the iPad Pro’s redesign, this unnamed device could definitely be the new Pro models.

Chinese leaker Instant Digital believes Apple will bring the landscape camera to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air 6.

The leaker has reiterated the claim in a new blog post on Weibo.

Wait for a Thinner Design

It looks like the move to OLED could help Apple usher in a thinner iPad Pro design in 2024.

According to DigiTimes, the shift to “hybrid” OLED technology could enable the company to deliver a thinner and more lightweight design. We could also see thinner bezels which would lead to more screen real estate.

This rumor has been backed up by Korean publication The Elec which adds a bit more fuel to the fire.

9to5Mac has revealed potential dimensions for the new iPad Pros and, if legit, they will indeed be thinner than the the previous models.

• 11-inch iPad Pro (current): 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm x 5.9 mm
• 11-inch iPad Pro (new): 249.7 mm x 177.5 mm x 5.1 mm
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (current): 280.6 mm x 214.9 mm x 6.4 mm
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (new): 281.5 mm x 215.5 mm x 5.0 mm

This would obviously be a plus for those who like to take their iPad on-the-go and for those who want as much screen as possible for multitasking, gaming, and other activities.

Wait for Larger Displays

Rumors suggest we could see bigger displays on the next iPad Pros. If you want more real estate, think about waiting.

According to display analyst Ross Young, the 2024 iPad Pro models will have larger 11.1-inch and 13-inch displays.

It’s not a huge leap, but it means we could see the devices come with slimmer bezels in a form factor that’s similar to the current iPad Pros. The 2022 iPad Pros measure in at 11-inches and 12.9-inches.

Combined with the power of OLED, the 2024 iPad Pro’s display looks like it will be one of its most attractive qualities.

Wait for Even Better Performance

The 2022 iPad Pros provide enough firepower for most people, but the 2024 iPad Pro models should usher in even better performance.

Apple will almost certainly put a new processor (either the M3 or the M4) inside next iPad Pros which means you can expect performance to take an even bigger step forward.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes the new iPad Pro may skip the M3 and move directly to the M4 which he says will have a “new neural engine” that will “pave the way for fresh AI capabilities.”

There’s skepticism about this rumor, given how new the M3 processor is, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the M3 instead of the M4 but we’ll find out soon enough.

Other potential improvements could include an improved modem which could enhance connectivity.

Wait for the Apple Pencil 3

According to Mark Gurman, a new third-generation Apple Pencil will launch alongside the iPad Pro’s.

Gurman says the new Pencil is codenamed B532 behind the scenes and it will replace the second generation version of the product.

The most up-to-date version of the Apple Pencil, the second-gen model, was released all the way back in 2018.

In the buildup to the 2021 iPad Pro launch, we heard a lot about a new Apple Pencil. The accessory didn’t make it into Apple’s announcements or the 2022 iPad Pro announcements.

A fairly reliable leaker named Mr. White shared an image of what very well could be a third-generation Apple Pencil.

The stylus in the photo appears to have a glossy finish rather than a matte finish. Apple’s current Apple Pencil uses a matte finish.

It also has a different tip. Specifically, the tip looks like it’s much larger than the tips on the first and second-generation Apple Pencils.

These changes are backed up by a purported video of the new Apple Pencil from an anonymous user on Twitter.

Another leaker named “Uncle Pan Pan” (via Chinese micr0-blogging site Weibo), also says Apple is prepping a new Pencil.

Leaker Majin Bu, in a tweet from October, says Apple is still working on a new Apple Pencil and it will come with “interchangeable magnetic tips” that can used for different activities like drawing, technical drawing and painting. They didn’t provide any information about a release date.

Code discovered by 9to5Mac lurking within Apple’s upcoming iOS 17.4 update seems to confirm a new Apple Pencil.

The code hints at compatibility with the Find My app which would be extremely useful for those who like to take accessories on-the-go.

Chinese leaker “Instant Digital” also believes Apple will announce a new Pencil model alongside the new iPad Pro.

If you’re interested in a new iPad Pro and a new Apple Pencil, you might want to put your wallet away and wait.

Wait for a New Magic Keyboard

It looks like Apple will release a new Magic Keyboard alongside the 2024 iPad Pro models.

According to Mark Gurman, the company is working on a new version of its popular keyboard that will address complaints about the current model.

Namely, it will come with a larger trackpad which “makes the ‌iPad Pro‌ look even more like a laptop than the current setup.”

Gurman also says the top case, which is the area around the keyboard, will be made of aluminum. This should improve its durability.

9to5Mac has unearthed additional information about the new Magic Keyboard. The site says the accessory will have new sensors including an accelerometer. The device is expected to debut alongside the new iPad Pro.

Gurman says the accessory will be exclusive to the iPad Pro which, for some of you, might give it an edge over the iPad Air and iPad mini.

Wait for Wireless Charging

In the buildup to the 2022 iPad Pro’s release, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Debby Wu claimed the 2022 iPad Pros would feature wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Unfortunately, those rumors failed to pan out. Fortunately, we could see these features debut on the 2024 iPad Pros.

Currently, Apple’s iPads charge via USB-C or Lightning. If Apple brings wireless charging to the iPad line, it would bring it closer to the iPhone. Newer iPhone models like the iPhone 14 series can all be charged wirelessly.

The other major change could be reverse wireless charging. This would allow iPad Pro owners to use their device to charge other devices like iPhones and AirPods by laying them on the back of the iPad.

This is a feature that was rumored for Apple’s iPhone 11 series. The feature was reportedly explored before it was killed off.

We’ve heard that Apple is still working on reverse wireless charging (for the iPhone, at least) which means there’s a chance we see it debut on the 2024 iPad Pros or perhaps models in the future.

MacRumors claims the new iPad Pros might come with MagSafe charging support. The info comes “from a source that is familiar with companies that manufacture magnets for Apple products.”

If these features sounds interesting to you, you might want to hang back and wait.

Don’t Wait If You’re Unwilling to Spend

If you’re on a budget, you may not want to wait for the new iPad Pro.

The iPad Pro is Apple’s most expensive iPad and far more expensive than the company’s budget iPad and iPad mini.

According to multiple reports, the devices could cost a lot more than their predecessors thanks to the panel production process.

Currently, the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $799 while the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $1099. It’s unclear how big of a jump we could see, but virtually every rumor hints at a price jump.

Apple is reportedly considering its pricing strategy and the company might start the 11-inch model at $1,500 and the 13-inch iPad Pro at $1,800.

The aggregator account yeux1122 on Naver says the 11-inch iPad Pro may start around $1,500 while the 13-inch iPad Pro may start around $1,800-2,000.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also believes the OLED iPad Pro could see a price increase.

According to Aju Korea Daily, by way of TrendForce, Apple is reducing orders for the new iPad Pro by as much as 30%.

TrendForce believes this could be due in part to the iPad Pro’s expected price increase, a move that could stunt demand.

Hit-or-miss publication Digitimes says that while we’ll probably see a price increase, it may be lower than some of these estimates. The site believes we could see the price increase up to $160.

If you aren’t prepared to spend that kind of money on a new tablet, it’s time to start looking at some alternatives.

Don’t Wait for a Foldable iPad

Apple is reportedly working on a foldable device, but it has nothing to do with the 2024 iPad Pro’s and its release is much further out.

We’ve heard rumblings about an Apple foldable for awhile now and rumors have continued to pickup this year.

Nikkei Asia says the company doesn’t “have a concrete timeline” for its foldable iPad and that its current focus is on OLED displays.

The Information believes Apple’s first foldable device is several years out with a launch in 2024 and 2025 unlikely right now. The site says it will launch in 2026 at the earliest.

Digitimes says the company’s first foldable won’t be an iPhone. It’s said to be a larger device that’s more like a tablet or notebook.

In other words, the tech won’t be ready for the next version of the iPad Pro and Apple doesn’t appear to be in any rush.

Don’t Wait for iPad Deals

You don’t have to wait for Apple’s announcements to save money on a 2022 iPad Pro or any of the company’s other tablets.

Apple and its retail partners are offering trade-in deals and we’ve seen numerous price cuts in the months since their release.

We’ll see additional deals emerge throughout the year so there’s no reason to pay full price for Apple’s newest iPad Pro models.

Same goes for the 2021 iPad Pros, 2020 iPad Pros, iPad Air 5, entry-level iPad, and iPad mini 6. We’ve seen deals on these tablets as well and we should see a lot more as the days go on.

Don’t Wait If You Find Something You Like

If you find a tablet you really love in the days ahead, don’t let rumors hold you back.

There are a number of excellent 2024 iPad Pro alternatives on shelves right now including several within the iPad family of devices.

You’ll obviously want to investigate the 2022 iPad Pros, but we also recommend taking a look at the 2021 and 2020 models as well.

Make sure you also take a look at the most recent versions of the entry-level iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini as well.

There are also some great alternatives that fall outside the Apple ecosystem. These devices include models like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S7.

Gather intelligence about all these devices right now or in the near future. Who knows, you find something you like before Apple launches the new iPad Pros.