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Is Apple iPad’s Lack of New Releases in 2023 Setting the Stage for 2024?
December 18, 2023
When the Apple iPad range was first launched back in January 2010, Steve Jobs was consistent in following up with new releases over the years, and in turn, the company led the way in the tablet market. However, it appears that the multinational leading tech giant that set out to bridge the gap between phones and laptops has been taking a relaxed approach to new iPad releases in 2023.
Since Apple first launched, it rapidly grew the line to include two premium tiers in the shape of the iPad Air and iPad Pro families, as well as the iPad Mini. So, what could be the reason for this downtime?
TechRadar described this slowdown as Apple’s “second-longest dry spell in the famed tablet’s history.” However, the “silver lining” for iPad fans is that “a lack of new tablet hardware right now sets the stage for a refreshed iPad lineup in 2024 — a refresh that feels long overdue.”
Apple’s latest financial figures from last month showed it had a quarterly revenue of $89.5 billion. There is no question as to whether the company is still able to entice and hang on to a devoted customer base of iPad users, but it’s evident that the figures aren’t quite where they should be, with iPad revenue down by more than 10% compared to the same quarter last year, according to CNBC.
In this past quarter’s official financial report, Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer, said, “During the September quarter, our business performance drove double digit EPS growth and we returned nearly $25 billion to our shareholders, while continuing to invest in our long-term growth plans.”
Commenting on the iPad’s dry spell, TechRadar said that it is due to the lack of new hardware, with the release of iPadOS 17 and a new Apple Pencil with integrated USB-C charging doing very little to bring in new customers and upgraders. Meanwhile, TechRadar noted that “navigating the current assortment of Apple slates and suitable accessories is an undeniably convoluted and confusing experience, especially when trying to discern which blend of features, design, and power might best suit your needs.”
In a Bloomberg report written by Mark Gurman early last month, he said, “Apple could have tried to rush out more new products, but revamped iPads and AirPods aren’t yet ready. The company plans to update its entire iPad lineup during 2024.”
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