Apple fans may not have to wait much longer for new products. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to announce the M4 MacBook Air as early as this week, with updated iPads following shortly after.
Gurman, a reliable source for Apple news, shared these details in his latest Power On newsletter. He stated that an “unveiling is imminent” and Apple is ready to make “a Mac-related announcement as early as this coming week.”
Signs of New Products
One key indicator supporting these predictions is the dwindling inventory at Apple retail stores. When Apple lets supplies of specific products run low, it often signals that newer versions are on the way. According to Gurman, this pattern is now happening with the iPad Air and regular iPad.
“There are now signs that a launch is getting closer,” Gurman writes. “The company is beginning to wind down inventory of the device at its retail stores, a trend we saw with the now-discontinued iPhone SE and the existing MacBook Air.”
The stock of entry-level iPads is also showing shortages, suggesting these models will be updated around the same time as the iPad Air. However, iPad Pro users will need to wait longer, as Gurman notes that the line won’t be refreshed “until the M5 chip is ready.”
What to Expect from the New MacBook Air
The upcoming M4 MacBook Air is expected to maintain its current design rather than undergo major changes. It will likely continue to be available in two sizes: a portable 13-inch model and a larger 15-inch version for those who prefer more screen space.
As the name suggests, the laptop will feature Apple’s newest M4 chip—the same processor found in the recently released M4 MacBook Pro. While the MacBook Air’s fanless design might slightly limit performance compared to the Pro model, leaked benchmarks indicate the difference will be minimal.
Users can expect a speed increase of approximately 23-25% over previous models, based on benchmarking data from earlier M-series MacBooks.
iPad Updates
The iPad updates are also expected to be incremental rather than revolutionary, but they could bring significant improvements to the iPad Air line.
The current iPad Air features an M2 chip, and there’s speculation about whether Apple will upgrade it to the M3 or skip directly to the M4. Leaker Evan Blass believes it will include an M3 chip, while Gurman has previously mentioned he “wouldn’t be terribly surprised if the 2025 models get bumped up to the M4.” Either way, customers can likely expect both 11-inch and 13-inch models again.
For the standard iPad 11, Apple is expected to upgrade to the A17 chip—the same processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro and last year’s iPad mini 7. This upgrade would be particularly important as it would give the entry-level iPad access to Apple Intelligence features.
Gurman notes that the iPad Air has been performing well in the market, having “done particularly well over the holidays and bested the more advanced iPad Pro” in sales. This success might explain Apple’s eagerness to refresh the lineup.
While these updates may seem modest, they represent Apple’s consistent approach to keeping its product lines current with the latest technology. For consumers waiting to upgrade their devices, the coming weeks may bring exciting news.
