Leaked renders show what Apple’s iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display could look like

Last year, Ming-Chi Kuo hinted that an iPad Air model with a larger 12.9-inch screen would launch in 2024. This model may be released with an updated 10.9-inch version. Now, 91Mobiles has shared alleged CAD renders of the iPad Air 12.9-inch variant, revealing what it will look like.

The new iPad looks similar to the existing model, but it’s bigger. It may have similar button placement along with the Touch ID sensor on the top of the iPad. However, the camera module is slightly redesigned, with a border around the lens – reminiscent of recent iPhone models.

This comes after Apple decided not to update any iPad models last year – be it the iPad Air, iPad Pro, or the iPad mini lineup. The company is expected to improve its entire lineup this year, according to multiple analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

It remains to be seen when Apple decides to bring out a new iPad Air model with the Apple M2 chip. Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned last year that it could go into mass production in the first quarter of 2024, so the launch may not be as far away as you might have thought. These new models may be powered by the Apple M2 chipset, which represents a generational leap from the Apple M1 that currently powers the outgoing 10.9-inch model.

He further revealed that this 12.9-inch iPad model will not have the rumored Mini LED display technology like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro; Instead, it will be equipped with an LCD display. However, it will still look better than the 10.9-inch model as it will use an oxide backplate (also used in the iPad Pro 12.9-inch) and not an A-Si backplate.