Why Now Is the Wrong Time to Buy an IPad or MacBook Air
Apple is rumored to be planning to release new iPads and an updated MacBook Air in March 2024. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported this back in January , and now MacRumors has new details that further hint at the upcoming launch. A MacRumors report by Joe Rossignol quotes an unnamed source as confirming that Apple’s internal document about “unannounced or unreleased products” has been updated.
This could mean that Apple is preparing to release its upcoming iPad and MacBook Air at the end of March 2024, but has not directly confirmed this yet. The timing of Apple’s internal updates indicates an upcoming product launch. There’s a good chance that Apple won’t even release a pre-recorded video presentation to introduce its new products in March 2024: the company could simply issue a few press releases and update its lineup on its website.
What this means for you is that it’s best to put off any thoughts of buying a new iPad or MacBook Air until Apple makes these announcements. If you wait, you’re not only more likely to get a significantly upgraded device, but you’re also more likely to get a good deal on previous models.
Here are the devices Apple could release in March 2024:
MacBook Air M3
The Apple M3 processor was released in October 2023 along with the updated MacBook Pro . MacBook Air (13- and 15-inch models) are expected to feature this processor in a March 2024 update. The new processor delivers improved performance and maintains excellent battery life—and that should be reason enough for people to wait before buying a MacBook Air. It will be more expensive than the base M1 MacBook Air, but for many people, upgrading from an M1 processor to an M3 processor may be worth the extra money.
New iPad Air
It’s been two years since Apple released the fifth-generation iPad Air with the M1 chip. This product has been in need of an upgrade for a long time and will most likely be upgraded to the M2 chip which will provide better performance. Beyond that, you can expect minor feature updates, but probably not a complete redesign.
Updated iPad Pro
According to rumors, Apple may release updated iPad Pro models with OLED displays. Both 11- and 13-inch models are expected to receive this update, almost a year and a half since the last iPad Pro update.