For Apple fans, nothing rouses excitement quite like an unveiling event.
Now, the tech giant is gearing up to host its first one of the year – and it’s expected to unveil at least four new products.
The event, dubbed ‘Let Loose’, will be streamed online on Apple TV, Apple’s website and Apple’s YouTube channel from 10am Eastern Time (3pm BST) today.
Apple has posted a cryptic animated teaser for the event of the Apple logo being drawn in a variety of colours and styles, including one with a hand holding a stylus.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has already told his X followers to ‘pencil us in’, alluding to what the Cupertino company has in store.
Apple has posted a cryptic animated teaser for the event of the Apple logo being drawn in a variety of colours and styles, including one with a hand holding a stylus (pictured)
Although the company hasn’t confirmed what new products will be announced, rumours have been furiously circulating online.
Respected Apple tipster Mark Gurman claims that Apple is announcing new iPads today, as well as a compatible Apple Pencil.
‘Apple has a chance to kick off a new era for the iPad at its “Let Loose” launch event planned for Tuesday,’ Gurman says in his latest newsletter.
‘The presentation, which is expected to be about 35 minutes, should set the product on a new path.
‘New iPads are due to arrive on Tuesday, and Apple should go all-in on making them into true laptop replacements.’
Apple will be announcing new iPad Pro and iPad Air models with OLED screens, he says, which provide better image quality than LCD and MiniLED used in previous iPad models.
The Apple boss has told his X followers to ‘pencil us in’, alluding to what the company has in store for today. The event will be streamed online on Apple TV and Apple’s website from 10am Eastern Time (3pm BST)
Apple hasn’t released new iPads since 2022. Pictured, the sixth-generation iPad Pro released in October 2022
OLED – which give a richer array of colours and allow faster screen response times – have been fitted on iPhones since 2017 but not on iPads.
Because OLED panels don’t require an illumination device called a backlight, they can be incredibly slim and lightweight, so it’s likely these will be the thinnest iPads yet.
Both the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models will be available in two screen sizes – 11 inches and 12.9 inches
What’s more, the Pro model will gain a new M4 chip – a component that will power yet-to-be announced artificial intelligence (AI) features, Gurman says.
If he is correct, the two new devices will be the first new iPads since 2022 and mark the longest wait for new iPads in the company’s history.
There will also be an Apple Pencil with a squeeze gesture for certain actions and potentially ‘haptic feedback’ for the first time, which will send subtle vibrations to the user’s hand.
Lastly, Gurman is expecting a new Magic Keyboard (Apple’s line of wireless computer keyboards).
‘The new aluminum Magic Keyboard is expected to be more durable, with a laptop-like aesthetic,’ he says.
Apple Pencil is a line of wireless stylus pen accessories by Apple for use with supported iPads. Pictured are the first and second generation Apple Pencils
Apple CEO Tim Cook (pictured) also recently teased a big AI announcement – but it’s unclear if this will come on May 7 or at WWDC in June
It’s likely these new devices will be on the shelves within the month after they’re announced today, if previous Apple product releases are anything to go by.
In terms of prices, the addition of the OLED screens will likely bump the cost above the last iPad Pro and iPad models released in 2022.
The last iPad Air was priced at £569 and £719 depending on storage and Wi-Fi, while the last iPad Pro went from £899 to an eye-watering £1,429.
Although Apple is said to be working on several new smartphones, they are not expected to be revealed at today’s unveiling event.
The first – the iPhone 16 – should be unveiled towards the start of September and could feature a new ‘Capture Button’.
The second new phone will allegedly be the iPhone SE 4, the latest in Apple’s ‘budget’ SE line, expected to be released in spring 2025.
Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly also working on its first ever foldable phone, copying the likes of Samsung, Huawei, Google, Motorola and many more.
Insiders say Apple’s long-rumored competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z, Motorola’s Razr Plus, and Google’s Pixel Fold now has a working title: the iPhone Flip. Above, a render by YouTuber ConceptsiPhone, who has been experimenting with foldable iPhone designs for years
Shortly after today’s event is Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), from June 10-14.
Although WWDC generally focuses on new software rather than hardware, the event may even include a big update on Apple’s recent work on AI, where it’s been falling behind compared to rivals such as Microsoft and Google.
Apple boss Tim Cook has also teased a ‘huge’ AI announcement that’s coming ‘later this year’ – possibly a product akin to ChatGPT.
Speaking on Apple’s quarterly earnings report at the start of February, he said: ‘As we look ahead, we will continue to invest in these and other technologies that will shape the future.
‘That includes artificial intelligence, where we continue to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort.
‘We’re excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year.’
