Apple is gearing up for its next major announcement, which will take place on May 7, 2024. The secretive Californian company has sent out invitations to a “special Apple Event” set to begin at 3pm BST / 7am PT. The invite reads "let loose" in a cursive handwritten font.
Apple has a history of hiding clues about its upcoming announcements in the artwork and taglines used on its invitations, causing fans to speculate for hours on social media about the incoming products.
However, the iPhone manufacturer has taken a different approach this time around, with the invite prominently featuring an Apple Pencil doodling the iconic fruit logo — making it abundantly clear the next Apple Event will be all about the iPad.
"Pencil us in for May 7," Apple CEO Tim Cook posted on X, formerly Twitter, with an animated version of the illustration from the invite, showing the Apple logo in a variety of different artwork styles.
Apple didn't release any new iPad models last year, so the line-up is due for a refresh. Whispers suggest we'll see the OLED display technology used on the iPhone and Apple Watch make its debut on the iPad Pro.
For those who don't know, OLED is a pricier display technology that offers cavernous shades of black and vibrant contrast than LED. Because every individual pixel is self-illuminating, Dark Mode and other styles with darker shades on-screen can help to converse battery life.
Elsewhere, Apple is tipped to use its powerful new M3 system-on-a-chip, which made an appearance in a refreshed MacBook Air earlier this year, to power the next generation of iPad Pro. The front-facing camera could be repositioned, so that it's in a similar location as you'll find on laptops — improving video calls when using the iPad with a Smart Folio-style case or keyboard accessory.
Tipsters have suggested that a new Apple Pencil could be planned too, something that now seems all-but assured given the choice of artwork used on the invitations.
It's not just the iPad Pro lineup, which starts from £899, that will be in the spotlight at the May 7 event, according to the latest rumours. The mid-range iPad Air, last updated back in March 2022, will be treated to a faster processor, and a new larger 12.9-inch screen size — something previously reserved for the pricier Pro range.
This would be similar to what the Californian company has done with the iPhone. Apple lowered the starting price for those who wanted a palm-stretching 6.7-inch screen size with the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus. Previously, those who wanted the biggest screen had to plump for the most expensive iPhone Pro Max model, spending an additional £300 in the process.
GB News will be tuning into the Apple Event on May 7, so stay tuned for the latest news and reaction.
